The Same Things as Quality Assurance and Editor

I've thought about this for a long time. My dream job in my childhood was to be a children's book editor. The answer is simple: I could read the book earlier than the other. However, I never thought deeply about taking a major around literature (because in my high school mind at that time, I could learn literature even though not from a formal major LOL). When the psychological test at high school told me to take Communication studies (I guess because my high passion related to writing and journalistic things), I did not realize that communication is a path to becoming a journalist or something like that, even a career somehow is not linear).

So, my love for Math at that time ended up my undergraduate major, Computer Science.

I started my career after graduating as an intern at Badr Interactive (I should mention the name of the company ofc), a software house that I had known since college because of Muslim culture and lovable vision. After around 3-4 months of internship, I just started my permanent employee contract as... Software Quality Assurance! That I also love at most!

Long story short, now I am a writer, editor, and translator of a children's picture book freelancer. Even though the field was sooo different, I found out that the basic activity was the same. I should find the bug (in the application) or the mistakes (in the logic story or the sentence structure). I also report when I find typos in both activities. Being an editor, especially for copy editor (even though I also tested the story logic) felt so nostalgic. I make sure the flow is okay and no wrong logic in the story (later I will discuss it with the senior editor), while in application testing, I make sure the flow is easy and understandable by the user, if not I will discuss later with the UI/UX or product designer and report and present it in the ending of the sprint.

These activities are fun for me. Attention to detail and knowledge are the keys to getting the perfect final that we all wanted (and the insight from Allah ofc). Even somehow I am insecure if I am too detailing, however, the decision is not on me, I entrust the rest to the team (PM/PO-developer-designer) or the redactional team. Somehow the tension is real but I love to check and ensure everything is well. Realize these all are likely the same made me surprised and grateful at the same time

Wonder

 Being in the middle of my love for children's literature somehow made me feel alienated when I realized that I was a computer science student. (However, personally I am super proud that I came from this background!!!)

However, children's literature is easy to enjoy for all ages, even my friends from Computer Science, especially when they have their loved ones or want to give some prizes to their niece/nephew. 

A friend talked in his blog about books and library in his area right now in America, and I was burning with passion like, let's talk about children's picture books! Anybody can say that children's picture books can be in limited words or maybe silent books. However, much limited words, it will be complicated to create those books. I miss talking much with my friends in the university era, honestly. As my journey was not generally the same, somehow I couldn't find the best one to talk to LOL. Don't worry, I also have some, but I don't know why the feeling is not the same as in the old days. Many things change actually, haha.

I wonder to talk much about children's literature with my friends. Certainly, it is not only me who speaks, I wanna hear much about their literacy journey in developed countries also. Hope it would be true, someday^^

Belajar Tidur sama Ayah (Lagi)

K: Aku tahu kok aku nggak bisa sama Ibu. Aku cuma ingin sama ibu di dalam hati aku saja. 

Kaisa's words in many times ... (to be continued)

2024's books

Today is the first day of 2025. When many friends share their achievements of publishing some books, I don't know why I prefer to share my reading list, even if it is not much. However, it makes me happy. Here is my reading list, which was not arranged by time. 

1. Kesetiaan Mr. X - Keigo Higashino - ipusnas
2. MALICE: Catatan Pembunuhan Sang Novelis - Keigo Higashino - ipusnas
3. Newcomer: Pembunuhan di Nihonbashi - Keigo Higashino - ipusnas
4. Gadis Minimarket - Sayaka Murata - ipusnas
5. Before the coffee gets cold (#1 from Funiculi Funicula series (in Indonesia), glad to read this as my first English finished novel)
6. Before we say goodbye (#4 from Funiculi Funicula series (in Indonesia), because I have this first at the queue list from Libby)
7. Dona Dona (#3 that I read physical book in Indonesian to join the book review competition LOL)
8. Tales from the Cafe (#2 finally finishing the series when the #5 is coming, still Libby myluv)
9. Burung-Burung Kecil - Kemanggisan (I read this after I read @langitabjad POV about children's book)
10. Polaris Musim Dingin - Alicia Lidiwina - GPU di Gramedigi
11. Teruslah Bodoh, Jangan Pintar, Tere Liye, physical book
12. Sekolah untuk Timor - Muhammad Fauzi, my friend, SIBI
13. Misteri Drumben Tengah Malam, Dian Kristiani,  SIBI
14. Take My Hand - Ary Nilandari, Republika's physical book
15. Nirmala - Jutta Nymphius - Gramedigi
16. Misteri Rumah Bernyanyi - Erlita Pratiwi, temanku - SIBI
17. Kepada Utara - Sabrina Ws, my friend, SIBI through Gramedigi
18. Dimensi Langit Manusia - Astrida Hara, Gramedigi, ipusnas also have her book)
19. Siulan dari Dalam Hutan - Adya Tuti, my friend, Forsen books's physical book

DNF - do not finish

1. Days at Morisaki Bookshop - Satoshi Yagisawa (still remember when I read this and my screen was blank because the time is over!)
2. The Whole Brain Child, Bentang, physical book
3. Rumah di Mango Street - Sandra Cisneros, Gramedigi
4. Sweet Bean Paste - Tetsuya Akikawa (The time was over and now I borrow again after queue for twice)
5. Selasa Bersama Morrie - Mitch Albom (Gramedigi)
6. Misteri Bukit Berkabut - Erlita Pratiwi, my friend - Gramedigi
7. Kesatria Penjaga, Fransisca Emilia - physical book

So, the highlight is the Japanese novel! I finished 8 Japanese novels and 2 unfinished Japanese novels, more than a third of the total books this year. And almost all were helped by digital platform. I am so happy to have achieved this so far even it was difficult to list all children's book here.

However, this writing makes me realize that my achievement of the Qur'an is not that far, and not make me proud. Uh, so sad. Let's make the spiritual aspect of my life better a year ahead. 

I also intend to make this 2025: more English writing and speaking, more writing about daily activities in the blog, and more mindful. Make the small things done around. Being calmer day by day, and happier than before. Practicing shukr more to live my life to. the fullest, haha.

Meninggal

 K: Ibu, aku maunya kita meninggal bareng. Terus nanti dikuburnya sebelahan sama-sama bisa nggak sih? Soalnya aku maunya sama ibu terus. 

***

K: Ibu, aku nggak mau meninggal tapi disuruh. *mungkin maksud disuruh itu semacam, tiap orang pasti ada ajalnya

F: Emang kalau masih hidup Kaisa mau ngapain? 

K: Baca buku.