this week

Alrightey, my blog has been left deprived for far too long.

First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to those people who contacted me regarding my previous post. I am extremely touched deep inside eventhough I didn't exactly explain what it was all about. It's really really heatwarming to know lots of people out there care about me; especially hearing from people I've not heard from for so long. You all know who you are. A million thank you's:)

I am not lost anymore. For now:)

Almost everyday I think: Oh! I'm going to blog about that! I'm going to blog about this! But as all bloggers can empathize, it almost always never materialize... So I'll probably jot down those things I wanted to blog briefly. (Though there may be MANY brief points...):

1. General Anatomy Finals coming up on friday. Not so sure if I'm prepared... wait, scratch that... I'm sure I'm not prepared. Oh well, positive thinking! Will be doing intensive studying with my housemates! Previous marks has not been satisfactory. People look at my notes and see my studying and say: Wow! Rajin nye! And I admit: I struggle in Biology- it's one of my weakest subjects. When I got my results , the akak said in a surprising manner: "You physics is better than your bio!"

2. Dr Khin's class is not for the faint heart. I had practical session (lab) with her this week. She is an AMAZING lecturer. She is so good in fact that at the end of the first lecture, she received an applause. Yes she did. The most memorable part of the practical class would probably be when she screamed at us. Yes, she did. She shouted: BE WRONG! LEARN!!! That was when she asked a question and we all mumbled out incoherent answers because we weren't so sure. Nevertheless, I always enjoy her classes. Even if you try to stifle a yawn, you'll probably be bombarded with questions for the next 10 minutes in front of the whole class and be landed with a big fat zero. Once, I asked her a question. After that, Min patted me and said, "That was very brave of you."

3. 10 days of Ramadhan has passed! I have to admit I miss Adni. The atmosphere, the feeling, the... people. Teacher Rasyidah!, I want Islamic Studies classes with you again! I want to see Kausar sitting in the classroom during break time reading the Qur'an. I want to sit at the outside bench with Fuddy and Iman and just talk...buke puase with Nurul Basma Maryam Amalia Rasya and everyone else... solat tarawikh at i'tikaf with them... When Ramadhan came, for some reason I picture all those Adni moments... I miss you all:(

4. Biggest shocker of the week: I found out my dad can draw. I NEVER EVER EVER KNEW! Him being an engineer + human resource guy with 6 kids did not enable him express his artistic capability. He's always into short and concise drawings. Graphs, charts, that's what I'd always see him draw. I found out from my auntie that he could draw. And then my dad admitted he liked to draw portraits- his best was a portrait of Napolean Bonaparte. And that's where I got my artistic talent from. Wow wow wow. I asked him to draw yesteryday - he was like, "Alia, I've not drawn for more than 20 years." After I cajoled/pleaded/begged/persuaded him, he came up with a caricature of what I assume is a cross breed of a rabbit and a mouse. Bummer.

I think that's enough from now. I've been wanting to blog about Amar but have yet to be able to... Next post, next post!:D

lost

Ramadhan is here.

My friends are around.

My family is a call away.

And yet for some reason I am feeling unexplainably lonely and disoriented. I really have no idea why. I'm wondering what happened to that energy and enthusiasm. The smiles that can come so easily now seem so difficult to even fake.

Why do I feel so lost?

cookies

Cookie Monster has always been my favourite:D

sekolah

Today I attended iftar at the surau. Twice I've been asked the same question.

"Adik sekolah kat mane?"

"Oh, saya dah masuk uni."

*surprised, comprehension dawning* "Oh ye kee? Ingatkan masih sekolah..."

"Saya tengah buat degree, 1st year perubatan." *smile smile*

I do hope it's because I LOOK young and not because I act... immature or anything. I'll take it as the earlier anyhow; a great compliment it is thank you very much.

Stunt that Stunned

I have so many things to say but nothing else can beat what happened this morning. It is something so compelling to write, everything has to be put on hold while I recall the insane incident. So crazy it was, that I can assure no one has ever experienced or witnessed something like this before. So here goes:

This morning my dad came to pick me up as agreed; around 7am. When I came down, it was a delightful surprise to find my mom was there. Really, it's always a relief to be seeing your parents' radiant faces after a long long week. My dad then drove off and just as he cornered out of the apartment, a curious sight befell me. There was a thing hanging on to a pole at the bus stop infront. As we came closer, I realized it was a kid and thought it must be some budak sekolah agama waiting for the bus since he was wearing songkok and green baju melayu. Upon nearing, my dad honked at the kid, yknow, just to get him down because probably it was really dangerous to be climbing up that high. Or so I thought.

My dad then stopped directly infront of the bus stop. And I realized that that was no budak sekolah agama but my brother Safi. The next thing I knew, Ahmad was infront of me, Along was opening the front seat door and Syarif was bouncing out; all four of them in their baju melayu and kain pelekat roaring with laughter! I was too stunned to speak and just sat there, with my mouth hanging open and my eyes wide, still glued to the boy on the pole.

Budak Sekolah Agama: Safi- stuck to the pole with that... face.

Roaring with laughter: Them all coming out from their hiding places and surprising me. (Ahmad in red with his kain pelekat)

Still rooted to the spot, speechless and and perplexed, my brothers all filed into the car, in stitches, and recalled their ingenious scheme. So here, I reveal the whole story, bits and pieces chipped in from everyone amidst the sniggering and chuckling with glee:

This morning during Sahur, everyone woke up. My mom told all of my brothers (5 of them) to go for Solat Subuh at the surau and since they were all already there, my dad suggested they all come along to pick me up (It was such a shocker because they've never all come and picked me up). So on the way, apparently Ahmad concocted the idea that they should do a surprise for me. Thus at the bus stop before entering my apartment, they got out. Initially they were meant to sit there and probably wave when we passed by.

Of course, since when will MY brothers do something as normal as that? With ideas running wild and imaginations knowing no boundaries, they agreed that Safi climb up on the pole while the other 3 (Along Ahmad and Syarif) hid behind the wall of the bus stop and came out surprising me with "Well hellooo theree. Would you like to have a cup of tea?" in a British accent. I was meant to be whooping and screaming in surprise and delight (I didn't because it was too early in the morning and my dad concluded that my brain could not comprehend the illogic of it all- my mind was too objective). Anyway, their plans went so wild it even included the rapid KL bus- one which did not happen because it was 'Plan B'.

Still laughing: It was honestly totally unexpected.

Only when they came in did I see Siraj sleeping at the back of the car and my mom and dad were sniggering, not being able to hold in their laughs anymore after having to hide the secret from me.

I felt like crying and laughing and smiling and hugging them and yet, I was still too stunned to speak. I ask you, what kind of brothers would do that? Hide at a bus stop with their baju melayu and kain pelekat early in the morning, imagining an idea on how to surprise their sister. Definitely crazy, I must say. And astronomically sweet. You all are the best. I love you guys:)

The Bus Stop: Where they all came up with the stunt that stunned me.

fixed

My darling is back.

I went into ultimate depression when my dad told me the price of fixing my laptop- and the fact that it's taken out of my savings. My heart sank, my knees quivered, and I fell to the floor. Okay, not that dramatic. It was kinda expected really- that the money was going to be coming from my savings, not the cost. Almost went into irrecoverable (if there's such a word) shock from the information.

Got my laptop back a day after it was sent; ie today. My dad works miracles I tell you. He says I'm lucky they had the parts. I'm just glad that my screen is whole and functioning. No weird black and white blotches. No spider-web pattern of glass reaching out to the edges.

It's just me and my laptop. And Photoshop and Flash MX. And general anatomy assignments; that is once I am able to access the portal. Grrr...

them

Ahmad gloats that he is the only one well in the house (excluding mummy and daddy). He says we all should wear the face mask to stop contaminating the air in the house. I say HE should be wearing the mask instead so that he does not breathe in the virus. He stops arguing.

The house has turned into a makeshift sick bay. The upstairs landing is covered with a mattress with pillows and water bottles around. The master bedroom has an additional two mattresses for the young patients. Honey, lime and Coconut Oil is the medicine everyone now has to take.

Through it all, my mom is more of a cooler mom than I realize. She ensures we all take 3 table spoons of coconut every morning. Cook the food that we like- since she knows our appetite isn't so well. She allows my brothers to be a sloth on the couch and watch TV all day- by right weekdays we're not meant to be watching cartoons. She sent my older brother to the hospital last night at 10pm and only came back at 3am because it takes 2 hours just to see a doctor. She growls at us when we're lazy to freshen up. She lets us sleep in. She uses a damp cloth to make sure that my younger brothers fevers' don't shoot up too high. And more and more and more.

Siraj asks: Ummi, can we bake cookies ? and my mom says: InsyaAllah we can today:)

And my Super Dad? When I received the MC from the doctor that I have to be quarantined for 7 days, I immediately call my dad to know what I should do. He says not to worry and that he'll be coming in an hour. In the car I find out that he droped everything, rescheduled his meetings. He comes to Cyberjaya, sends me back home and goes back to work.

I asked: "Ayah, what did I make you miss at work since you have to pick me up?" He replies, "My dear, I work because of you. Really no point of working if I'm not taking care of you." Something to that effect. Super sweet, I know.

What am I without them.

Beauty Tips

A must watch. Simply beautiful. I am moved, inspired and beside myself with awe and admiration.

Words are below. Just in case.

To all my beloved sisters in Islam, please take a look at these advices so that you can stay attractive and beautiful for the rest of your life, Insha-Allah.

To beautify your eyes, lower your gaze towards strange men. This will make your eyes pure and shiny. Allah says in Surah Noor: 31 “…and tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest.”

To have attractive lips, speak with kindness towards your family and sisters in Islam and speak only the truth and essential matters. As the Prophet Muhammad salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak GOOD WORDS or REMAIN SILENT.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

To have blushy cheeks, keep your hayaa’ (modesty, shyness). As Prophet Muhammad salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Hayaa’ does not produce but goodness.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

To look fresh and radiant, always smile and be cheerful to your family and sisters in Islam. Abdullah ibn Haarith radhiyAllahu 'anh reports, “I did not see anyone who smiled more than Rasulullah salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam” [Shamaa-il Tirmidhi]

To remove impurities from your face and body, make a lot of istighfar and always take wudhu’ (whenever you break it) as insha-Allah it will clear you from your past sins. As Allah mentioned in Surah Baqarah: 222, “Truly, Allah loves those who repent, and He loves those who cleanse themselves.”

To have beautiful hair and skin, guard them from the sight of strange men by covering them up. The Prophet salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Any women who takes off her clothes in other than her husband’s house (to show off for unlawful purposes) has broken Allah’s shield upon her.” [Abu Dawud & At-Tirmidhi]

As for jewelry, beautify your hands with humbleness, and don’t hesitate to lend a helping hand to those in need. The Prophet salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Allah has revealed to me that you must be humble, so that no one oppresses another and boasts over another.” [Abu Dawud]

As for diet, share your food with others. As Prophet Muhammad salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Food for one is enough for two and food for two is enough for three and food for three is enough for four.” [Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa’i, Ibn Majah]

To have a healthy mind and body, constantly pray to Allah and remember Him. Be quick to forgive people who hurt your feelings. Be patient when enduring calamities. And thank Allah because the reward for patience is abundance. The Prophet salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “Musa, the son of Imran once asked, ‘O my Lord! Who is the most honorable of Your servants?’ And He replied, ‘The person who forgives even when he is in a position of power’ ” [Baihaqi]

My sisters, Insha-Allah if you follow these advices, you will be beautiful on the outside as well as the inside.

The Prophet Muhammad salallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “The world is an ornament, and the best ornaments of all are righteous women.” [Muslim]

extended holiday?

CUCMS Orienation for Intake August 2009/2010 began on Thursday and went on for four days. We had an eventful (very much full of events) orientation with talks, talks and... activities. It was a jam packed full timetable from 630am til 1145pm (tentatively) but at some occasion, we only came in contact with our beds at 130am.

Following the H1N1 precautionary steps taken to curb this globally raging pandemic, the college has taken the necessary steps by ensuring that everyone fill in the "Self Declaration" Form, placing sanitizers everywhere, providing face masks, and discouraging any contact whatsoever. I filled up the Self Declaration Form upon registration. Have you been abroad lately? Have you had any contacts with anyone displaying ILI (influenza-like illness)? Are you having fever? Cough? Sore Throat?

I was having a cough on thursday which steadily developed to quite a bad one over the next few days. So, on the 3rd day, my facilitator asked me to go to the Surveillance Centre to get checked. I had to fill up another, but the same, Self Declaration Form. I had cough and perhaps sore throat but no fever. I was the only one who wore the face mask for the whole 4 days because of my violent coughing.

Sunday night I received a message that those who had fever and cough shouldn't be attending class on Monday. No way was I going to miss my first day of classes! So yes, I attended it anyway.

Monday morning came. Yes, that's this morning. So there was an announcement that everyone wear the face masks and fill up the Self Declaration Form. That makes it thrice now; for me. Anyone displaying any ILI symptoms should see the doctor at the surveillance centre so that they can be checked and be given an MC. So alright, I was advised by my lecturer to go, which I did. And I filled up another Self Declaration Form before seeing the doctor. Fourth time.

I didn't think my cough was that bad but apparently the doctor must have thought otherwise.

After he checked, he concluded with: "I'm giving you an MC...." Okay, 1 or 2 days wouldn't be that bad; I might as well recuperate what with my runny nose and coughs so I'll be fresher for class. "... for 7 days."

What??? My eyebrow immediately shot up and my eyes were practically bulging out.

"Sir," I tried to bargain. "Must it be that long?" No way I was going to miss a whole week of class. My FIRST week of class! That's... suicidal!

He looked at me. "Yes, this is to make sure you really do not have the flu. If your condition worsen, make sure to see a doctor immediately. You have to quarantine yourself in a room. Minimise your contact. Are you staying in a hostel?" I nodded. "Then you must stay in your own room, away from your other housemates and even the food has to be delivered to you."

"Sir, is it possible that I go home, like back to my hometown?"

"I don't think that's a good idea. You might infect other people on buses, trains or the airplane."

"Oh, but I stay on 40 minutes away."

"Hmm... even then, if your parents are taking you, then... it's still quite dangerous."

Fine, don't argue. "Sir, I have class at the moment, does this mean I have to skip it?" Stupid question, I know but I can't help it! General Anatomy class with Ms Saheera! "Yes, you have to go home immediately."

Dejected, I gave my MC to my lecturer, packed my bags and called my dad. Hey, I would suffer way more had I stayed at my hostel. Might as well stay at home. Which did get me feeling better with my mom making me take Coconut Oil and downing Honey and Lime hot drink plus her motherly care and affection. Honestly, what can mothers NOT do?

I am more energetic now! Though still with some sneezing, coughing and running noses. Extended week holiday I shall have, but a hectic week I will be facing next week, catching up. Fun. Might as well begin studying as much as I can this week.

Note to others: Keep your immune system up. 26 deaths, 8 confirmed and 200 cases in Malaysia. It's no joke.

her.

Written on 5/6/09. Just not published.

We first met when I was 13. I entered my new secondary school and I was in the same class as her. I thought she was very pretty, albeit her crookedly 'round' tudung. She was very loud too and very outspoken and was always at the centre of attention. At one point in time, we became close friends. I entered the world of Nadia Comenici, Gervasio Defer and Hiroyuki Tomita. I learnt how one's dream can be beyond your imagination.

When I was 14, she hated me. I hated her too. We both knew it, but we both never said it. Sometimes we could be the best of friends and other times we were at daggers with each other. She had many *many!* admirers and many friends.

When I was 15, we were okay most of the time. Sometimes she'd be with me and sometimes she'd be with others.

When I was 16, I entered my first ever debate. An inter(sports)house debate. I hated speaking. I hated being infront of a crowd. And I hated sitting across her with her ever so smug face and I felt like such a loser competing against her.

When I was 17, we were on different paths. She was always with her 'clique'. Don't deny, your kegedikans. I was upset with her a lot for wearing blue socks at school when you're meant to be wearing black; for not buttoning her cuffs; for staying downstairrs during break when you're meant to be upstairs; and especially when i get the retorts from students that prefects-are-not-following-the-rules-so-why-should-we. That part, you made my life as a head girl miserable, missy!
But also during that time, we had our little early morning game. Yes, the game which turned heads and received stares; because the first person to say "I love you" would get a point. Obviously you usually won because you came earlier and you had a spy (naseer you traitor!>_<). I remember once you hid behind the door... another time you screamed from across the basketball court.
The only game I liked was Boggle. because it's the only thing in English I can beat you in. Hey, when you can beat the Cambridge English Award Winner in that game, you'd be pretty proud of yourself too! (and no she does NOT let me win just like that if that's what you're thinking. I try really hard ok!)

She is outspoken and sometimes maybe not so truthful but later on she admits them so. How can someone hate her for so long.

Memories with Iman Azman is innumerable. I've only been able to state 1% in this post and that does not even do justice as to how much of an impact she has created in my life.

I love her. Honestly wholesomely and extremely. What would I have done without the drama queen who taught me everything i knew? If i could, i'd scream my affection to you every morning, my darling. Hope you can hear it all the way in Canada.

final checklist

Tomorrow I will head out to Cyberjaya and make the first step of my million trillion mile journey.

Accomplishment checklist for this holiday:

• Invocation for MIM Toastmasters - well done
  
• Attend SIFE National Competition (be a supporter/fan) - enjoyable experience
  
• Prepare for Ramadhan - could have been more
  
• MBBS - did not even open a book. How depressing
  
• NPC - refer to "The Undeserving Day"
  
• complete comics and badges for Semarak Ramadhan - have done 3.5; wanted to continue if not for my cracked screen laptop *tears*
  
• try out my superawesome new sharpies:) - did a poster campaigning against Coffee Addicts
  
• attend July Intake Orientation - was secretary; did the finishing up report
  
• learn to do digital painting/colouring - this I can proudly say I've accomplished well!:)
  
• learn to make sushi - I got to EAT sushi!:D
  
• prepare 5th speech (this has been overdue for far too long) - sadly was not as satisfactorily done; but this is just to show how I'll improve with time to come
  
• kidnap Farah Firman - :)
  
• hang out with Nurun and Anas - three whole days woot!
  
• execute my VPE duties - perhaps the President can enlighten me on this one...
  
• write a novel... or at least the first draft - chapter one: Done:)

Things yet to do:

• Meet up with the awesome Iman Azman
• Get Amirah to belanje me teriyaki (sushi again!:D)
  
• Pack up for CUCMS- have not done a single packing yet
• Complete application for CUCMS
• Do the rest of the 6.5 comics/posters for Semarak Ramadhan
• Get ready for the best 5 years of my life; and more to come. Yeah!
  

the right one

I have finished reading "Does my head look big in this?" by Randa Abdel Fattah. One of the best books I've read; considering I finished it all in one sitting. Well, two sittings- but it would have only been one had I not need to do some work. I love the style- but mostly I love what is written and how the heroine speaks out.

Anyway; may be spoilers ahead for those who's never read it. But here's one of my favourite excerpts (will write more later):

Adam (apparently the cutest guy in school) is about to kiss Amal at his birthday party behind closed doors. From Amal's account:

But he's silent and he stares awkwardly at me. After a few moments he speaks up.

"So you don't date then?"

"Er... no."

"I don't get it... that means you can never live for the moment. You'll always be repressing yourself."

I shake my head. "I don't see it like that."

"Oh come on. Your parents aren't around to hear you. You can tell the truth."

"It's the truth. It's got nothing to do with them. It's what I believe in."

"So if you meet a guy and you like him and he likes you... what happens? You just ignore your feelings?"

"No. But I'm not... look, I don't believe in the 'playing the field' and 'try before you buy' philosophies, OK? I don't want physical intimacy with a list of people in my life. I want it with one person. And I want to know it's the same with him too. That's my faith. It's not about guys slutting around and virgin girls patiently at home for a guy to come along. It's... look, in my religion we both have to be... pure... untouched... you know? Agh! It's so hard to explain... Oh hey! Jessica Simpson kept her virginity before she got married! There you go!"

"Well, you are repressing yourself." I can tell he's losing his temper and I suppose it's because of the rejection and the confusion but the atmosphere is getting more intense and uncomfortable.

"I'm not repressed. I don't feel left out. I can still care and share with a guy without having to get physical with him."

"How will you know how to find this chick obsession with 'the one' when you've never even been with a guy? Never even kissed a guy?"

"There's no formula to love! If I got with ten guys, each time will be different and each time I'll be thinking this is a risk. And when I finally meet someone I'm still going to be facing the biggest risk of my life but ten other experiences aren't going to tell me if this guy is the right one. Each person is... too unique to be judged by ten others."

"That's crap. You need experience. How will you know if he's the right one if you don't know who the wrong one is?"

"So I have to fall to know how to walk?"

"Yes."

"Well, I don't think so."

cracked

I am looking at my laptop whereby only a quarter of the screen is functioning. It says "Copying 6,190 items from Desktop to My Book : About 4 hours and 17 minutes remaining"

Now, you would probably be wondering why the 3/4 of my screen is non-functioning and why exactly I'm transferring all my files for backup. The story, I shall indulge.

Long story short: Last night I was so sleepy, I placed my laptop onto the floor. Woke up and stepped on my laptop. How clever eh? Screen cracked. White and black blotches everywhere, and a one point crack at the bottom left with the lines reaching out to the edges of the screen. Yknow, like how a window would look like when you throw a baseball at it; you can see the web pattern.

I was horrified. Stupefied. Paralyzed. Horrendously shocked. "Eyes bulging out" kind of moment. No way was all I whispered...

Lesson learnt: Don't be careless. God is teaching you a lesson. Hikmah sebaliknya...

Tomorrow heading out to get my laptop fixed... Hang in there my dear...

Does my head look big in this?

*in a blogging frenzy!*

On a last minute decision, we dropped by Midvalley on the way back from our hometown last night. Only one thing can stop my dad from making a detour from his every meticulous one-year ahead planning; which is the big sale at MPH Bookstore.

With no book in mind that I was searching for, I browsed around fiction, fantasy, thriller... and stopped abruptly in my tracks at "General Reader" because the title "Does my head look big in this? by Randa Abdel Fattah" immediately caught my eye. And suddenly I felt like this surge.. that sometime (quite a long time ago) I was so hyped up on wanting to read the book and then I sort of forgot about it. I became really excited at that moment. Never in my life had I feel such a feeling like.. finding a lost memory.

I started reading the book this morning and it is an absolute page-turner; that i can assure. I've only reached chapter 8 but with a heavy heart, had to put the book down to get some work done. The story is about a 16-year old Australian-Palestinian who is in a conflict as to whether she can face wear the hijab "full-time"; this together with still keeping her friends and getting the cutest guy at school. It would be quite difficult for some Malaysians to relate to the book, since we live in a society where everyone is very much used to the hijab.

But incredibly, I can relate to a lot of the things written in there well. As I read it, it brought a lot of memories from my childhood- having spent my primary schooling years in an International School. Although we lived in the Middle East, the school I attended had all the teachers and students coming from England, Scotland, Nigeria, Holland etc. So I did pretty much live in that kind of environment where it's like living in a society where you are the different one.

It brought a lot of memories especially when I remember those moments where my "Islamic side" stood out. Take for example when I was in primary 2, the teacher asked us to bring music- at that time, I was not entirely sure why, and later I found out that it was for the game Musical Chairs. My biggest worry at that time was not that they wouldn't be able to accept the songs I listen to-but rather the fact that our family listened to Nasyids; and I was worried they wouldn't understand the Malay-lyrics of Raihan's melodious singing. So I got the cassette (yes, that was more than a decade ago) to an English song- which is I cannot recall at the moment- so that when it was played, at least they get some kind of meaning. Alas, the cassette having its never understanding "side A, side B" issues played the different side and we were all rounding the chairs to the malay-singing nasyid.

Other moments included having to sit in a different classroom while everyone were eating during break during Ramadhan. I got really annoyed when there was this one boy who kept asking me why I wear a scarf. I wasn't that smart at the time, so I had no powerful comeback I could have retorted. What more me being an awfully timid child at the time (who would have believed it lol!). There was one time, a different boy kept pulling my scarf when I was on the school van and I always teared-up upon reaching home. My mom was very much puzzled as to why I would be sulking until she found out what was actually going on. She did what any mom would do- and I never got bothered again.

My friends wore shorts and baby tees and I was always with the hijab. It wasn't that lonely since Nurun too wore it. And I think that's mainly how we became really close.

I didn't feel that 'oppressed' or 'disturbed' though- maybe because I was not yet a teenager; and still far away from my egoistic phase. Besides, we were all kids. And like all kids, we looked beyond everything. Sometimes I get comments from my teachers about my "lovely brooch".

I was invited to birthday parties, we laughed, we joked, we did sports and I was just like the rest of them. In the world we live in today; where people think veiled Muslimahs are a sign of oppression and terrorism, it makes me smile thinking that I was so very lucky to be able to experience a time and place where that peace existed- and hopefully still exists and forever will.

2 seconds

Imagine entering a competition 2 seconds before the event begins. Sounds crazy? It does. And here's what happened.

My family attended the MIM Toastmasters Humorous and Evaluation Speech (HES) competition just to support Ahmad who was competing in both contests. In the end, just before the evaluation speech contest, there was a shortage of contestants and Grace approached me to join; of which i instantly declined as I've never done an evaluation before. Imagine doing your first ever evaluation in an Evaluation Contest itself! So I immediately say: how about my mom? So they were fairly satisfied and got her in. After a few minutes, Chong Beng (one of the contestants) approached ME and asked "Alia, why don't you join?" and again, i justified I have no experience whatsoever but when I looked questioningly at my dad; all he said was "Go for it!" And that's how i ended up signing on the dotted line exactly 2 seconds before the event began.

Listened to the 7 minute speech. It was all thanks to my dad who gave me the guidelines of A B C D: Attention, body, conclusion and Delivery. Thus, I was able to elaborate from there. Got quarantined for 5 minutes to wrap up our notes. And then 15 minutes to wait since there were 5 other contestants since I was the final speaker. After the contest though, I ended up crying. Not because of disappointment- but perhaps due to being overwhelmed. It was all kind of sudden and I couldn't hold it in. But many people came up to me, congratulating and saying that it was such a fantastic evaluation- what more it being my first ever evaluation. All for the experience.

Results: Ahmad won 1st place for Humorous Speech, and 2nd place for Evaluation Contest (he entered for both). And my mom won 3rd place for evaluation speech contest. Oh yes, I am so very proud of both of them:)

For this weekend, we went back to our Auntie's house to visit our grandmother. Nothing much to say except with pictures:)

Safi with his very impressive skills of getting close to kids. He can tame the most shy child - aka Syabila, our youngest cousin. I don't know how he does it. Kids all over just open up to him. As you can see, she is every squirmy when Ahmad tries to approach her. But with safi, she's just natural. She doesn't even allow ME to hold her when Safi tries to give her to me. Of course, Safi's just killing my ego - for the fact that we both know she doesn't want me to hold her.

Eating lunch out. We did not plan it out but it was a coincidence that we were all wearing blue! As well as Ummi and Ayah:)

Am learning to sketch with a pen now. Didn't realize so many things can be drawn with Marina Mandarin Singapore pen. Hotel pens are the best. And when you have a sketch book. I am ever addicted to it (thank you nurun for the sketchbook:D)

My weekend summarized.