Oleh: Sarmini*
Ketika undangan itu tiba, perasaan saya bercampur antara bangga dan haru. Bapak Yul Edison, Konsul Jenderal Republik Indonesia di Hong Kong, secara langsung mengundang saya untuk menghadiri sebuah acara bertajuk “Pertemuan dengan WNI/PMI dan Diaspora Indonesia terkait Isu-isu Perlindungan WNI/PMI, Ketenagakerjaan, dan Rencana Kegiatan Tahun 2025.” Acara ini digelar pada Minggu, 8 Desember 2024, di ruang Ramayana, lantai satu KJRI Hong Kong, dan dihadiri lebih dari 150 peserta yang terdiri dari pekerja migran, perwakilan organisasi masyarakat, mahasiswa, serta diaspora Indonesia lainnya.
Momen itu membawa saya kembali ke pertemuan pertama kami, meskipun di bulan dan tempat yang berbeda. Saat itu adalah Minggu, 8 September 2024, di Conference Hall 04-07 Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, dalam acara Kumparan Academy yang terselenggara atas kerja sama KJRI Hong Kong dan sponsor dari BRI.
Sayangnya, kala itu Bapak Yul Edison tidak dapat mengikuti keseluruhan acara karena padatnya agenda. Namun, saya tidak ingin melewatkan kesempatan. Dengan menggenggam buku pertama saya di tangan dan jantung berdebar, saya maju mendekati beliau yang tengah bersiap meninggalkan tempat.
“Maaf, Pak. Boleh minta fotonya?” tanya saya, berusaha menenangkan diri.
Senyum ramah beliau menyambut, “Boleh, tentu saja sangat boleh!”
Saat itu, saya memberanikan diri untuk memberikan buku pertama saya, Kata Doa Cinta, sebagai kenang-kenangan. Respons beliau begitu hangat, bahkan langsung membaca judul buku tersebut. “Judulnya bagus sekali. Saya jadi penasaran, pasti isinya menarik,” ujar beliau sambil melanjutkan langkahnya.
Komunikasi kami tidak berhenti di situ. Ketika saya sedang menyusun buku kedua, saya berkonsultasi dengan editor mengenai siapa yang cocok untuk mengisi kata pengantar. Saran editor mengarahkan saya untuk mencoba menghubungi pihak KJRI. Dengan sedikit ragu dan sungkan, saya memberanikan diri mengirim pesan WhatsApp kepada Bapak Yul Edison.
Tak perlu waktu lama, sapaan saya langsung direspons dengan kehangatan khas beliau. Rasa sungkan seketika berubah menjadi keyakinan. Lebih dari itu, beliau dengan tulus menyatakan kesediaannya untuk menulis kata pengantar buku kedua saya. Rasanya seperti mimpi!

Saat acara pertemuan di KJRI Hong Kong berlangsung, Bapak Yul Edison tidak hanya memperkenalkan buku pertama saya kepada hadirin, tetapi juga menyampaikan dukungannya secara terbuka. Sambutan beliau begitu mengharukan, membuat saya merasa dihargai meski masih dalam tahap belajar menulis.
Acara tersebut juga mempertemukan saya dengan banyak sosok inspiratif. Mereka adalah diaspora Indonesia yang telah menorehkan cerita sukses di Hong Kong, para pekerja migran dengan semangat juang luar biasa, serta mahasiswa yang tak henti-hentinya belajar. Dari mereka, saya mendapat pelajaran tentang kerja keras, keberanian, dan pentingnya terus berkembang.
Bagi saya, pengalaman ini menjadi momentum berharga. Dukungan dan motivasi dari Bapak Yul Edison memberikan dorongan besar untuk melangkah lebih maju, tidak hanya dalam dunia kepenulisan, tetapi juga dalam upaya mengembangkan diri di berbagai bidang.
Melalui tulisan ini, saya ingin menyampaikan rasa terima kasih yang mendalam kepada Bapak Yul Edison. Dukungan beliau menjadi pengingat bahwa langkah kecil sekalipun bisa membawa dampak besar, asalkan dilakukan dengan keberanian dan niat tulus.
Semoga saya dapat terus belajar dan berkarya, menjadikan pengalaman ini sebagai pijakan untuk melangkah lebih jauh. Untuk semua pembaca, percayalah, dukungan yang datang dari hati mampu membangkitkan semangat untuk mewujudkan mimpi-mimpi besar. []
*Buruh migran Indonesia di Hong Kong
Foreword from an Inspiring and Warm Figure
By: Sarmini
When the invitation arrived, my feelings were a mixture of pride and emotion. Mr. Yul Edison, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong, personally invited me to attend an event entitled “Meeting with Indonesian Citizens/Indonesian Migrant Workers and the Indonesian Diaspora regarding Issues of Protection of Indonesian Citizens/Indonesian Migrant Workers, Employment, and the 2025 Activity Plan.” The event was held on Sunday, December 8, 2024, in the Ramayana room, first floor of the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong, and was attended by more than 150 participants consisting of migrant workers, representatives of community organizations, students, and other Indonesian diaspora.
That moment brought me back to our first meeting, albeit in a different month and place. It was Sunday, September 8, 2024, at Conference Hall 04-07 Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, in the Kumparan Academy event which was held in collaboration with the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong and sponsored by BRI.
Unfortunately, at that time Mr. Yul Edison could not attend the entire event due to his busy schedule. However, I did not want to miss the opportunity. Holding my first book in my hand and my heart pounding, I approached him who was preparing to leave the place.
“Excuse me, sir. Can I have a photo?” I asked, trying to calm myself.
His friendly smile greeted me, “Yes, of course, it’s very possible!”
At that time, I dared to give him my first book, Kata Doa Cinta, as a souvenir. His response was so warm, he even read the title of the book right away. “The title is very good. I’m curious, the contents must be interesting,” he said as he continued his steps.
Our communication did not stop there. When I was compiling the second book, I consulted with the editor about who would be suitable to fill the foreword. The editor’s suggestion directed me to try contacting the Indonesian Consulate General. With a little hesitation and hesitation, I dared to send a WhatsApp message to Mr. Yul Edison.
It didn’t take long, my greeting was immediately responded to with his typical warmth. The feeling of hesitation immediately turned into confidence. Moreover, he sincerely expressed his willingness to write the foreword for my second book. It felt like a dream!
During the meeting at the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong, Mr. Yul Edison not only introduced my first book to the audience, but also openly expressed his support. His welcome was so touching, making me feel appreciated even though I was still learning to write.
The event also brought me together with many inspiring figures. They are the Indonesian diaspora who have made their mark in Hong Kong, migrant workers with extraordinary fighting spirit, and students who never stop learning. From them, I learned about hard work, courage, and the importance of continuing to develop.
For me, this experience was a valuable momentum. The support and motivation from Mr. Yul Edison provided great encouragement to move forward, not only in the world of writing, but also in efforts to develop myself in various fields.
Through this writing, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Mr. Yul Edison. His support is a reminder that even small steps can have a big impact, as long as they are taken with courage and sincere intentions. Hopefully I can continue to learn and work, making this experience a stepping stone to go further. For all readers, believe me, support that comes from the heart can raise the spirit to realize big dreams. []
*Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong