Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I wake up in Atambua, right? The sun’s blazin’ through my window, and I’m like, “Great, another scorcher.” I grab my coffee from that little warung on Jl. Soekarno-Hatta. You know the one? Best coffee in town, hands down.
Anyway, I’m chugging my coffee, and I get a call. It’s my boss. He’s like, “Hey, we need an estimate for that new project on Jl. Diponegoro.” I’m like, “Sure, no prob.” But inside, I’m thinkin’, “Dude, it’s 8 AM. Can’t a guy have his coffee in peace?”
So, I head out. The streets are packed. Jl. Merdeka is a total mess. Cars honking, people everywhere. I swear, I almost got run over by a motorbike. Like, chill, bro! I’m just trying to cross the street!
Finally, I get to the site. It’s a disaster zone. I mean, they’ve got half the building up, and the other half looks like it’s been hit by a tornado. I’m trying to take notes, but my pen runs out of ink. Classic, right? I’m like, “Really? This is how my day’s gonna go?”
Then, I meet the foreman. This guy is a character. He’s got a mustache that could rival any cartoon villain. He’s all like, “You think this is bad? You should’ve seen it last week!” I’m thinkin’, “Dude, I don’t need more horror stories.”
I start measuring stuff, and I’m sweating like crazy. It’s hot, and I’m wearing this stupid long-sleeve shirt. Why do I do this to myself? I’m like, “Next time, shorts and a tank top.”
So, I’m trying to focus, but then I hear this loud crash. I turn around, and a bunch of bricks just fell off the scaffolding. I’m like, “What the heck?!” My heart’s racing. I’m not ready for a brick shower, thank you very much.
After that little scare, I decide to take a break. I hit up this food stall on Jl. Pahlawan. Best sate in Atambua, no joke. I’m munching away, and this old lady starts chatting me up. She’s telling me about the history of Atambua, how it used to be a quiet town, and now it’s booming. I’m like, “Yeah, booming with traffic and chaos!”
But honestly, she’s sweet. She offers me some of her homemade sambal, and I’m like, “Yes, please!” It’s spicy as hell, but I love it. I’m sweating again, but it’s worth it.
Back to the site, and I’m trying to wrap things up. I’m calculating costs in my head, and I’m getting frustrated. Why is everything so expensive? I mean, come on! I’m just an estimator, not a magician!
Then, out of nowhere, it starts pouring. Like, monsoon-level rain. I’m scrambling to cover my notes. My calculations are getting soaked. I’m cursing under my breath. “This day just keeps getting better!”
Finally, I call it a day. I’m walking back, drenched, and I see this street performer on Jl. Yos Sudarso. He’s playing the guitar, and honestly, he’s pretty good. I stop for a sec, and it lifts my spirits. I toss him a few bucks.
By the time I get home, I’m exhausted. I flop on my bed, and I’m like, “What a rollercoaster.” Atambua, man. It’s wild. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Just another day in this crazy city.