Ramadhan mubarak

Alhamdulillah, Summer semester has over. Alhamdulillah, even though I did not get the grade as what I expected, alhamdulillah, Allah helped me to go through the super hot summer in Iowa City.

So yes, tomorrow (1st August 2011), most of Muslims will start fasting. In United States as well. So, I would like to apologize to all of you for any mistakes that I made, intentionally or not. I’m just a human being that is not perfect and lacking in many ways.

let us treat this Ramadhan as if it will be our last Ramadhan. Let us aim for HIS blessings. and may Allah make us strong to get through this holy month, insyaAllah. I will be fasting for 15 hours, since subuh here is around 4.30 and maghrib around 8.30. Do your math. But no worries, insyaAllah, Allah will help us.

rindu bazaar ramadhan. Rindu tolong mama siapkan sahur and kejutkan Danish and Aun bangun sahur. and borak-borak dengan mama after sahur sambil tunggu subuh.

life…

Sometimes, you just don’t know whether you are on the right track or not. You just have to believe, and have faith in HIM, and never stop asking for HIS guidance. Because HE knows.

yes, life can be miserable at some point(s). But no matter how hard it is, remember to turn to HIM. if you need, tell your friends or anyone that you can trust. and take their advice. It comes with you action. What to do next, is up to you. whether you want to remain in miserable state or not, totally up to you.

responsibility

I remember when I was standard 4, I was elected to lead my co-curriculum group. That was my first time holding such responsibility. Then I was re-elected for the second time during standard 5, and again, during standard 6, but I gave up the leading responsibility and passed it to my friend and I became the assistant. I didn’t mind at all. I had the position for two years and it was the time to let other people have it.

and during form 1-form 3, I did not have any responsibility, except being a librarian when I was form 2 or form 3 I can’t really remember. I was also a co-operative member during form 2. Oh yes, I was also a group leader, again, in scout, and vice-assistant for my class. and form 4, before I moved to Integomb, I was the librarian vice-secretary, vice-president in scout, and again, was chosen as co-operative member of my school. I was happy and eager because I love it when people trust me with such responsibilities! Who doesn’t?

Then I moved to Integomb where I was elected as vice-president for interactive peers (PRS). Then at KMB, I was the vice-president for my class for 2 years, and a co-operative bureau.

I’m not listing these all just to be so proud of them. No. I’m not a great student. I’m just an average. Some people don’t like to be appointed to hold responsibilities. Why? They have their own reasons. We, a creation of Allah, have a huge responsibility as HIS servant. remember that. It’s a reminder for myself and you readers. No matter how much we have responsibilities, don’t think of it as a burden. Responsibility is also a test from Allah. Face it, Embrace it, Do it with your heart. Allah knows what you don’t know. and He won’t burden you with what you cannot bear.

“…Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear…” [Quran, 2:286]

shame on me.

I just watched a video that really touched my heart, my soul. What video? hmm…

Secara jujur, saya respect orang-orang yang berani suarakan pendapat mereka berkenaan politik. Saya respect. Sebab saya sendiri tak berani nak komen secara terbuka. Yelah, dunia sekarang ni. Malam ni saya tulis, entah2 esok saya dah ada kat penjara. Who knows, right? So saya memang tak berani nak lantang-lantang ni. Sebab saya tahu, tugas saya sekarang belajar. Saya guna duit kerajaan untuk belajar so saya tak boleh nak cakap apa-apa kan? tapi yes, shame on me sebab tak mampu nak berkata apa-apa.

kadang-kadang saya malu dengan diri sendiri. Apa bakti saya kepada negara? Saya tak suka politik, tapi kenapa saya tak boleh nak ubah politik kepada yang lebih baik? saya complain kat mama, and kawan-kawan, tapi kenapa sekadar complain? itu saya. saya tak tahu anda bagaimana. shame on me.

tapi satu video ni buat saya tersentap. Buat saya terfikir sendiri, betapa besarnya pengaruh politik sampai manusia boleh jadi robot, sekadar mendengar kata-kata orang, tanpa berfikir. Bila agama dah jadi number 2, atau 3, atau lagi bawah, mungkin? Ketepikan politik, ketepikan duit, ketepikan pangkat, dan fikir pasal kemanusiaan, pasal agama. Fikir melalui hati dan akal, bukan akal semata.

 

Aku Sayang Malaysia versi saya

Thank you to my A07B’s colleague, Safwan Azman for what he wrote in his super rhetorical blog and his post, Saya Sayang Malaysia.

I have something to say as well. and this is my version of saya sayang Malaysia.

 

I like it here where people don’t tease me for talking English badly. I like it here when people just say “Hello” to you. I like it here where I can just wear whatever I like, of course, covering my aurah without people  (especially my own culture) looking weird at me. I like it here where the customer service is just too good that you just could not NOT buy anything from the stores! I like it here when I can pray anywhere I want. I like it here when people drive without horns! I like it here when I can just walk alone to class worrying nothing. I can say that I like it here more than I like my own country. I’m being serious and I will not lie about that.

These few days or perhaps it has been weeks that I refused to read local tabloids. They were all about politics or what is happening in Malaysia. I refused because I don’t like what is happening there. But mama told me, we are Malaysians, even though you are far away, you have to be concerned about what is happening around here. Whether you like it or not, you have to go back and serve your country. Bak kata orang, “jangan pandai cakap, pandai complaint, tapi takde effort nak buat perubahan.”

But, that does not mean that I will stay here. No, I love Malaysia more than you can imagine. I will go back to my own country. It may be hard to change people’s mind. It needs to start with ourselves. We have to be a good examples to them. I’m just saying. Yes, maybe, I just know how to talk, I just know how to complaint. I want to go back to Malaysia and serve my country. If you, people out there who are in the same boat as mine, let’s do something to change our people’s mind. If we can open our mind to changes, everything is possible. If we are willing to learn, we can make a difference.

Well, that is my thought.

Hubbard Park, 2011.

Yesterday was a warm day. Not as hot as the last few days but it’s still a good day to go out. So my roommates and I went to Hubbard Park to watch the fireworks. There were so many people. and yes, the fireworks are amazing! Laying down on the green grass and just enjoy the fireworks without thinking about anything else. Just so calm and so relaxing.

Oh yeah, see that dress I was wearing. One of my favorites. My friend gave it to me. I think I like skirts/dresses more than pants. yes, I’ll get more of these kinds soon. Another step for a change.

Well, weirdly, make ups make my face worse. Indeed yes. Not better. People said that our face will look better when we go to colder places, but me? I cannot even apply my compact powder. I’ll get pimples. and I have never ever face this problem before. It’s a good thing anyways. No more spending money on those stuff. But still, I love make ups.

Culture is Budaya

So this summer i’m taking rhetoric. For those who don’t know, it’s boring.

Okay so we had this lesson about culture, the assimilation of culture and of course in America, it’s all about the African American and Latin or Mexican. What struck my mind about culture? A lot. I have been thinking, A LOT. Culture is something that you cannot change easily. You are used or brought up with your culture and how can you adapt or change into others’ culture so easily? Anyways, here’s my point. I lived in Selangor since I was born. It’s kind of different culture than ‘you know who’ place. Different culture, food, way of living, places. I went to the East Coast of Malaysia and I did not like it the first time I went there. What a place. I cannot imagine myself living there. I just felt so different, awkward, distant! I couldn’t understand the language. It is kind of exciting somehow to learn other’s culture but what if I cannot adapt? Maybe some of you might say that culture does not matter nowadays but many people still holding on to the culture that they belong to. So, your call! ‘Learn it and live it’  or ‘leave it’. Me? Still, a big question mark.