We were out that day - attending a small birthday party in Gyotoku, if I am not mistaken.
Mida and Acoi had left some jeruk for me at home that evening.
I was really looking forward to eating some jeruk - but we only left Gyotoku at around 9.30 p.m. and when we arrived home about an hour later - there was no sign of the jeruk.
No sign of it on the first floor.
Nor on the second, third, fourth or fifth floor.
Checked the first floor again - on the shoe racks, at the back of the door, in the office area.
Nothing.
Texted Acoi - asking where did he put the jeruk?
Mida called me back almost immediately.
"Dekat pintu depan masjid, kat bawah."
Oh dear, I should have advised them beforehand to put it in front of the house, on the fifth floor.
"Tak ada ke? Orang dah kebas ke? Alaa... kitorang dah bagi semua jeruk yang ada kat rumah ni..."
So there, no rezeki lah kot. I thought I just have to wait a little while longer as I had also asked Mak to post me some jeruk from Malaysia...
The thing is - sometimes hubby and I left some stuff for homeless ojichans next to the masjid's door, but so far, nobody has taken anything left for us on the masjid's door. Stuff like non halal milk (two cans of Meiji Hohoemi formula that I received after giving birth to Humaidi), non halal sweets (containing gelatine, mistakenly bought by hubby), non halal chocolate (containing alcohol, given to us by non Muslim friends) or non halal crisps (mistakenly bought) and as such.
Anyway, right after Mida called, I went back down, and looked at the spot where hubby and I usually leave some stuff for homeless ojichans - and what do you know? There was a white plastic bag containing several disposable bento containers filled with jeruk!
I excitedly texted Mida again, explaining that I found it at the spot where we usually leave some stuff for the homeless.
"Ada jeruk salak, kelubi, mangga 2 jenis, kedondong, pala..." Mida explained the supposed contents for me.
Salak. Checked
2 variety of Mangga. Checked
Kedondong. Checked
Pala. Checked.
Eh,eh - no kelubi lah...
"Hah? Jeruk kelubi tak ada?"
Nope, not one single kelubi was among the assorted jeruk left.
"Agaknya pakcik homeless tu ingat kelubi tu umeboshi kot..."
I hope that ojichan, whoever he is, did not get stomachache from eating jeruk kelubi which might have been mistaken for umeboshi...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Long Time No See
Apologies to all - KI and Che Nah included - for not updating earlier...
As many have suspected, I have been 'melepek' due to vomiting/nausea/headaches.
Sorry for abandoning this blog for some time...
I've been away from blogosphere for so long that I don't know where to start...
#####
Condolences
... to Kak Shaz and Akhi Amin on the loss of their beloved son, Amir Ashraf.
Kak Shaz, one of the kindest, gentlest souls I've ever met, used to be in the same dorm with me back in high school. It's been ages since we last met so the news was really shocking. Her first born is austistic, so Amir Ashraf, the second child used to play the role of the first born - a protective, caring big brother who enjoyed making toys from recycled materials for his siblings. Too often we think of children as gifts from the above - but they are only temporary loans from The Creator - it must had been hard to return this particular loan back to the rightful Owner, but then we are only humans, and we all belong to The AlMighty...
Our doa for the family and the innocent child...
... to Kak Lela on the loss of her beloved mother.
May Allah place her among those blessed by Him always.
#####
Congratulations
... to Rosli and family on the arrival of the latest member of the family, a healthy baby boy and to Kamarul and family on the birth of Adia's baby sister. Mabruk, and may they both grow up as anak soleh/ah
#####
Thesis?
Got five questions during the oral examination - two each from the second and third examiner, and one from my own sensei, the chief examiner. Got some critics and comments from the third examiner too - he seemed to be the only one who actually read the thesis in full. When the second examiner asked a question I didn't expected (as I believed it had been discussed in details in my thesis), the third examiner actually defended me by saying something along the line of "she had written one whole chapter on that..."
Heh.
#####
More later, insya Allah... I really want to share the story of the jeruk kelubi thief...
As many have suspected, I have been 'melepek' due to vomiting/nausea/headaches.
Sorry for abandoning this blog for some time...
I've been away from blogosphere for so long that I don't know where to start...
#####
Condolences
... to Kak Shaz and Akhi Amin on the loss of their beloved son, Amir Ashraf.
Kak Shaz, one of the kindest, gentlest souls I've ever met, used to be in the same dorm with me back in high school. It's been ages since we last met so the news was really shocking. Her first born is austistic, so Amir Ashraf, the second child used to play the role of the first born - a protective, caring big brother who enjoyed making toys from recycled materials for his siblings. Too often we think of children as gifts from the above - but they are only temporary loans from The Creator - it must had been hard to return this particular loan back to the rightful Owner, but then we are only humans, and we all belong to The AlMighty...
Our doa for the family and the innocent child...
... to Kak Lela on the loss of her beloved mother.
May Allah place her among those blessed by Him always.
#####
Congratulations
... to Rosli and family on the arrival of the latest member of the family, a healthy baby boy and to Kamarul and family on the birth of Adia's baby sister. Mabruk, and may they both grow up as anak soleh/ah
#####
Thesis?
Got five questions during the oral examination - two each from the second and third examiner, and one from my own sensei, the chief examiner. Got some critics and comments from the third examiner too - he seemed to be the only one who actually read the thesis in full. When the second examiner asked a question I didn't expected (as I believed it had been discussed in details in my thesis), the third examiner actually defended me by saying something along the line of "she had written one whole chapter on that..."
Heh.
#####
More later, insya Allah... I really want to share the story of the jeruk kelubi thief...
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Acknowledgements...
All praises go to Allah; it is with His blessings that I managed to complete this thesis.
My sincere gratitude goes to my supervisor, Professor L H S, who has shared a lot of his expertise and research insights. I am also indebted to various GSAPS lecturers for their guidance and assistance, and I warmly thank Professor S S, for useful advice and thoughts shared while attending his class on Globalization of Cultures. Yes sir, I agree that often “cultural diversity should come first”.
I especially owed it to Normizan Abu Bakar and Ganjar Nugruho for thoughtful advice and constructive criticisms which often helped me to find the “jigsaw frame” for this thesis and the pieces of puzzles to fit in the said frame.
My gratitude goes to the people and committee members of Homestay Pelegong Cooperative, especially Puan F B, Pak Wan, and Encik B S for sharing extensive discussions and interesting points to ponder upon. I must also thank the girls at the Tourism Services department of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism; Izamalina, Siti Afeefah and Hamdiah Ismail for friendly help and valuable inputs.
My heartfelt thanks go to all my friends, old and new, near and far. Still, some special ones deserve mentioning here – Che Nah and Sarina for sharing tips on how to simultaneously manage both graduate school and growing family, Kak Marsita Yunus for sharing insights on homestay tourism, Iffah, Jue, Masni, Yam, Nita and Kamarol for distant support and encouragement, and last but not least, Siyi, Mega, Hien, Emi, Yuko, members of Professor Lim’s zemi and the usual lot at GSAPS library whose concern and presence had given me the constant moral and practical support I needed, particularly during the eleventh hour.
My family have been a long lasting source of energy during this exhaustive research. Grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins, in-laws all have given me a loving environment where to develop. Brothers, Azrul and Amirul, sister-in-law Sarah, half-sister Ameera, half-brother Abdul Karim and almost-brother Faizly included. My parents, Baharom Hassan and Ngasobah Seliman have always supported and encouraged me to go further than I had thought possible. Lastly, I owe my loving thanks to my husband Mohd Amin Mohd Tahir, and my sons Muhammad Azmi Huzaifah and Muhammad Akif Humaidi for being a source of inspiration and motivation for me. To them I dedicate this thesis.
Central Kyushu Masjid Project
The Beppu Muslim Association is urgently seeking donations and financial assistance to build a masjid.
The payment deadline is on July 23, 2008; 10% of the payment would be forfeited in case they can't pay in full.
Why build a mosque in Beppu?
Muslims face difficulty to perform congregations for prayer, especially for Friday and Eid prayers; they usually rent halls for such events, but of course they can't rent any place easily.
Then, some Muslims, especially children and new generations, are affected by the Japanese culture and other ideologies, and grow up with no idea of true Islamic teachings.
The project so far?
They have already signed the initial contract for a four storey, centrally air conditioned, concrete building in
Ishigaki. The place overlooks the Beppu seaside and is in proximity to major departmental stores, restaurants and bus stops/railways station, not to mention surrounded by many Muslim residents too. Previously the place was used as an office.
Total cost of building : 27 million Yens
Paid up amount : 5.4 million Yens (20% of total) in April 2008
For more Information, following persons can be contacted :
Japanese, English & Urdu : 090-2082-5541
Malaysian : 090-3417-7084
E-mail : oitamasjidproject@ gmail.com
Funds can be transferred to the following either Bank or Postal accounts of Beppu Muslim
POSTAL ACCOUNT
Account No 17220-17632791
Account Name BEPPU MUSLIM ASSOCIATION
BANK ACCOUNT
THE OITA BANK, LTD
Branch WASADA (わさだ支店)
Account Number 0183-058-5264818
Account Name BEPPU MUSLIM AASOCIATION
Monday, July 07, 2008
Done - for now...
Submitted the thesis this evening - finally! Alhamdulillah...
Was I fully satisfied with the end result?
Err... Hmm... Urghh...
(Anyway, Ganjar kept reassured me - so long as u submit something that resembles an academic paper with the required word counts - chances are you'll pass...
I hope he's right...)
The thesis had been haunting me for quite some times now - felt like i was eating, drinking, sleeping, even dreaming thesis... So, yes, am really glad that I'm done with it. For now. The oral exam is going to be held by the end of this month insya Allah, but... I'll think about that next week, I guess...
For now - I just want to go home, and unwind.
Maybe read a book - just received Nisah's "Tawarikh Cinta" (thank you so much dear, for both the novel and the Dewan Sastera) yesterday and there's a copy of Sue Townsend's "Public Confessions of a Middle-aged woman" I have yet to read...
Hmm, decision, decision...
By the way - anyone knows where can I get some "jeruk" here in Japan without having to resort to asking somebody to post them from Malaysia? Not cili jeruk or bawang jeruk - just any preserved fruit jeruk. Salak, kelubi or kuini, preferably, but mangga or any other is okay too...
Was I fully satisfied with the end result?
Err... Hmm... Urghh...
(Anyway, Ganjar kept reassured me - so long as u submit something that resembles an academic paper with the required word counts - chances are you'll pass...
I hope he's right...)
The thesis had been haunting me for quite some times now - felt like i was eating, drinking, sleeping, even dreaming thesis... So, yes, am really glad that I'm done with it. For now. The oral exam is going to be held by the end of this month insya Allah, but... I'll think about that next week, I guess...
For now - I just want to go home, and unwind.
Maybe read a book - just received Nisah's "Tawarikh Cinta" (thank you so much dear, for both the novel and the Dewan Sastera) yesterday and there's a copy of Sue Townsend's "Public Confessions of a Middle-aged woman" I have yet to read...
Hmm, decision, decision...
By the way - anyone knows where can I get some "jeruk" here in Japan without having to resort to asking somebody to post them from Malaysia? Not cili jeruk or bawang jeruk - just any preserved fruit jeruk. Salak, kelubi or kuini, preferably, but mangga or any other is okay too...
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Anak itu rezeki...
On FB
"... anak kan rezeki
rezeki ko sampai jepun
rezeki duduk kat jepun
and another one Insya Allah
rezeki utk ko balik Malaysia.."
"... anak kan rezeki
rezeki ko sampai jepun
rezeki duduk kat jepun
and another one Insya Allah
rezeki utk ko balik Malaysia.."
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Once upon a time...
I am allergic of exams and datelines.
The nearer they are, the more feverish I become, and I even vomit.
I used to vomit on the mornings of exam days back in my undergraduate days
Now that the dateline for my thesis is impending, the nausea bouts are back...
#####
I used to say "tak nak belajar dah, nak kahwin lah" while I was doing some last minute revision before sitting for an exam during undergraduate days.
Mind you - that only happened during exam fever - other than that I was not so keen on marrying at early age, ha ha...
Donner aka Dr Aida once asked me "Kak A.Z. masih dok rasa nak kahwin lagi ke?" a week after I finished my final exam, and I looked at her quizzingly, which made her retorted "Laa, kan akak yang sibuk dok cakap "nak kahwin, tak nak study" hari tu?"
Rather embarassing really, especially since Donner was my main masseur (the nausea bouts came with headaches and all) during last-minute revision period... and I must had been repeating myself again and again during all those hours
I even planned not to sit for a paper once, felt like my mind had been wiped totally blank, but Donner firmly told me to go to the hall and just answer based on whatever remnants that remained inside my blank mind...
I actually got a 2.1 for that particular paper, alhamdulillah
#####
Now that I am married with kids and struggling to finish writing up my thesis,
I am glad I grabbed the chance to further my studies, here in Japan.
There are so many things yet to be learned, to be discovered, and I believe in taking every chances one gets to learn and improve oneself...
No more uttering nonsense along the line of "tak nak belajarlah..."
The nearer they are, the more feverish I become, and I even vomit.
I used to vomit on the mornings of exam days back in my undergraduate days
Now that the dateline for my thesis is impending, the nausea bouts are back...
#####
I used to say "tak nak belajar dah, nak kahwin lah" while I was doing some last minute revision before sitting for an exam during undergraduate days.
Mind you - that only happened during exam fever - other than that I was not so keen on marrying at early age, ha ha...
Donner aka Dr Aida once asked me "Kak A.Z. masih dok rasa nak kahwin lagi ke?" a week after I finished my final exam, and I looked at her quizzingly, which made her retorted "Laa, kan akak yang sibuk dok cakap "nak kahwin, tak nak study" hari tu?"
Rather embarassing really, especially since Donner was my main masseur (the nausea bouts came with headaches and all) during last-minute revision period... and I must had been repeating myself again and again during all those hours
I even planned not to sit for a paper once, felt like my mind had been wiped totally blank, but Donner firmly told me to go to the hall and just answer based on whatever remnants that remained inside my blank mind...
I actually got a 2.1 for that particular paper, alhamdulillah
#####
Now that I am married with kids and struggling to finish writing up my thesis,
I am glad I grabbed the chance to further my studies, here in Japan.
There are so many things yet to be learned, to be discovered, and I believe in taking every chances one gets to learn and improve oneself...
No more uttering nonsense along the line of "tak nak belajarlah..."
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Trivia...
1.
(During lunch in the student lounge, in Japanese,
with a mature PhD Japanese student whose kids are in their twenties)
Y-san: So you make your own bento everyday?
Me: Yes, I have to cook for my family anyway...
Y-san: Your family is with you? Must be tough then...
Me: I have two kids, boys. It is not easy, but I don't mind the extra chores so long as we get to be together.
Y-san: But it must be hard to handle both studying and caring for the family...
Me: That's why I am here in school - can't get anything (academic) done at home...
Y-san: What about your reading?
Me: Most of it done on the train...
Y-san: Sugoi ne, yokudekimashita...
Me: Oh, there's no such thing - I just do what I have to do...
#####
2.
(With Amy, who's currently pursuing her Masters in Sydney on FB)
Amy: A.Z. I dreamt of you last night
Me: Good dream, I hope
Amy: Oh, it was a good one. You came to my home, in Sydney, with other friends, and we caught up on old times.
Me: I hope your dream will come true
Amy: Me too
Me: I've never been to Sydney yet, hehehe
Amy: Must be I was ralat sangat that we did not get to see each other when I was in Tokyo, sampai termimpi-mimpi jumpa u...
#####
3.
A friend shared her experience as a volunteer Bahasa Malaysia teacher in the UK for expatriate Malay kids under 7 years old;
"... puas kita cakap "A untuk Ayam"
dia org jawab ramai-ramai "Noooooo, A is for Apple"
kita kata ye la that's for English but for Bahasa Malaysia,
A is for Ayam
2-3 orang lagi pula kata
"Teacher, that's not Ayam, that's Chicken!!!
CHICKEN, TEACHER!!!!"
ada mak ayah bagitau
anak dia eja buku, "booku"
ni dah balik Malaysia dah la ni..."
#####
4.
Closer at home, Yam's 9 year old daughter, Khadijah Najwa scored all A's in her mid-year exam except for BM.
Yam told me, one of Khadijah's sentence read as:
" Jovan dimarahi kerana mencuru tuan punya epal"
#####
5.
SMS from Fauzee, a fellow PTD who is currently pursuing his MA in GRIPS (and already has 2 girls before the newborn arrived) read as;
"Salam. Alhamdulillah saya telah dikurniakan seorang lagi anak perempuan pada 16 Jun jam 9.36 pm"
The reply;
"Alhamdulillah. Omedetou gozaimas. Mudah2an jadi anak solehah penyejuk mata ayah ibu. Kirim salam kat Ailin, lepas ni kene tukar senduk aar nampaknya (^-^)v"
I said it, but I still couldn't figure out what on earth is the co-relations between baby's gender and cooking ladles?
(Mothers of all boys are sometimes advised to exchange ladles/spatulas with mothers of all girls and vice versa before trying to get a baby of the other gender...)
(During lunch in the student lounge, in Japanese,
with a mature PhD Japanese student whose kids are in their twenties)
Y-san: So you make your own bento everyday?
Me: Yes, I have to cook for my family anyway...
Y-san: Your family is with you? Must be tough then...
Me: I have two kids, boys. It is not easy, but I don't mind the extra chores so long as we get to be together.
Y-san: But it must be hard to handle both studying and caring for the family...
Me: That's why I am here in school - can't get anything (academic) done at home...
Y-san: What about your reading?
Me: Most of it done on the train...
Y-san: Sugoi ne, yokudekimashita...
Me: Oh, there's no such thing - I just do what I have to do...
#####
2.
(With Amy, who's currently pursuing her Masters in Sydney on FB)
Amy: A.Z. I dreamt of you last night
Me: Good dream, I hope
Amy: Oh, it was a good one. You came to my home, in Sydney, with other friends, and we caught up on old times.
Me: I hope your dream will come true
Amy: Me too
Me: I've never been to Sydney yet, hehehe
Amy: Must be I was ralat sangat that we did not get to see each other when I was in Tokyo, sampai termimpi-mimpi jumpa u...
#####
3.
A friend shared her experience as a volunteer Bahasa Malaysia teacher in the UK for expatriate Malay kids under 7 years old;
"... puas kita cakap "A untuk Ayam"
dia org jawab ramai-ramai "Noooooo, A is for Apple"
kita kata ye la that's for English but for Bahasa Malaysia,
A is for Ayam
2-3 orang lagi pula kata
"Teacher, that's not Ayam, that's Chicken!!!
CHICKEN, TEACHER!!!!"
ada mak ayah bagitau
anak dia eja buku, "booku"
ni dah balik Malaysia dah la ni..."
#####
4.
Closer at home, Yam's 9 year old daughter, Khadijah Najwa scored all A's in her mid-year exam except for BM.
Yam told me, one of Khadijah's sentence read as:
" Jovan dimarahi kerana mencuru tuan punya epal"
#####
5.
SMS from Fauzee, a fellow PTD who is currently pursuing his MA in GRIPS (and already has 2 girls before the newborn arrived) read as;
"Salam. Alhamdulillah saya telah dikurniakan seorang lagi anak perempuan pada 16 Jun jam 9.36 pm"
The reply;
"Alhamdulillah. Omedetou gozaimas. Mudah2an jadi anak solehah penyejuk mata ayah ibu. Kirim salam kat Ailin, lepas ni kene tukar senduk aar nampaknya (^-^)v"
I said it, but I still couldn't figure out what on earth is the co-relations between baby's gender and cooking ladles?
(Mothers of all boys are sometimes advised to exchange ladles/spatulas with mothers of all girls and vice versa before trying to get a baby of the other gender...)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
More notes on this and that
Over YM (on the effects of Malaysian civil servants being paid twice monthly)
dt : makin ramai orang susah hati duit tak cukup
makin ramai mengular dan cari part time
makin turun produktiviti di ofis
makin tambah beban org kerja kewangan
makin tambah kos pengurusan
#####
"Civil servants should change their spending habits..."
If one is getting less than RM1500 a month, with 5 school-age kids, living in a small apartment with no place to grow own veggies and herbs, plus loads of this-and-that loans to be paid, how could one still justify paying the meager salary twice a month (in this days when everything is expensive) as a move to help such persons manage their spending better?
#####
The poor in Malaysia are doing poorer than the poor in Japan or UK.
At least in Japan, the poor here have the options to shop at discount stores and 99/100yen shop. Beggars won't mind eating food brought from discount stores because well, at least they still get to eat whatever the richer ones are eating - rice, noodles, bread, veggies, canned food - although in lesser quality and lower prices
Similary, in UK, the poor can shop in discount supermarket chains like Aldi, or Lidl or Netto - to get food at discount prices.
But we don't offer that kind of option in Malaysia...
#####
Once not too long ago, I used to take 2 hours, riding my bike all over Gyotoku for best bargains.
One shop would be selling cooking oil at reduced price, the other offers good quality eggs and bread at 100 yen, yet another would be selling detergents and toiletries at half the normal price. I went shopping from one shop to another, tried to stretch my yen as far as it could.
It was not easy, though we managed to save a little by the end of the month.
It must be harder for those in Malaysia who rarely gets to buy stuff at discount prices from different shops located near to each other...
dt : makin ramai orang susah hati duit tak cukup
makin ramai mengular dan cari part time
makin turun produktiviti di ofis
makin tambah beban org kerja kewangan
makin tambah kos pengurusan
#####
"Civil servants should change their spending habits..."
If one is getting less than RM1500 a month, with 5 school-age kids, living in a small apartment with no place to grow own veggies and herbs, plus loads of this-and-that loans to be paid, how could one still justify paying the meager salary twice a month (in this days when everything is expensive) as a move to help such persons manage their spending better?
#####
The poor in Malaysia are doing poorer than the poor in Japan or UK.
At least in Japan, the poor here have the options to shop at discount stores and 99/100yen shop. Beggars won't mind eating food brought from discount stores because well, at least they still get to eat whatever the richer ones are eating - rice, noodles, bread, veggies, canned food - although in lesser quality and lower prices
Similary, in UK, the poor can shop in discount supermarket chains like Aldi, or Lidl or Netto - to get food at discount prices.
But we don't offer that kind of option in Malaysia...
#####
Once not too long ago, I used to take 2 hours, riding my bike all over Gyotoku for best bargains.
One shop would be selling cooking oil at reduced price, the other offers good quality eggs and bread at 100 yen, yet another would be selling detergents and toiletries at half the normal price. I went shopping from one shop to another, tried to stretch my yen as far as it could.
It was not easy, though we managed to save a little by the end of the month.
It must be harder for those in Malaysia who rarely gets to buy stuff at discount prices from different shops located near to each other...
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A day in the life of...
Huzaifah and Humaidi (aka Ujai and Akif), as 'told' to their Abang Sabah, can be read here.
It's in BM, a light entry on my children's antics -
including stuff like Humaidi cheering himself on, saying "tateh" as he walks;
or Huzaifah's "unique" pose with Peace sign (using one whole hand or L-shaped sign instead of V);
or Huzaifah's quick reply of "amau" whenever Ibu asked him "nak hanger tak?" after an episode of misconduct...
It's in BM, a light entry on my children's antics -
including stuff like Humaidi cheering himself on, saying "tateh" as he walks;
or Huzaifah's "unique" pose with Peace sign (using one whole hand or L-shaped sign instead of V);
or Huzaifah's quick reply of "amau" whenever Ibu asked him "nak hanger tak?" after an episode of misconduct...
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Of grave digging and knife frenzies...
Our condolence for Ariffin and his wife in Kochi, Shikoku, for the lost of their third child even before she was properly born - may they get to be reunited with their precious little one in heaven one day, insya Allah...
Al-fatihah...
#####
Ariffin came all the way from Kochi with his little one flown in a special container yesterday. Hubby and En Amin, the Consular from Malaysian Embassy picked Ariffin and his little one from Haneda Airport and managed the janazah in Islamic Center in Setagaya before going to the Islamic Graveyard in Enzan, Yamanashi.
It cost 70,000 yen to get a burial plot there, and another 30,000 to get the graveyard dug, so the three of them decided to dig the grave themselves, manually digging using the shovels provided there. The caretaker of the graveyard area is a monk, who later hosted a sushi lunch for the three of them after the burial was over. Hubby had his first experience of giving a talqin, as he had never sent any janazah to the graveyard in Japan before.
#####
Not able to find a babysitter, I had to give my zemi session a miss yesterday. I know my sensei would not be pleased with my absence, now that we, the final year students in our last semester, are in the critical period of writing our thesis. Not that I didn't try to get some help - but Faizly happened to have a replacement class yesterday too, so there...
Well, I guess funeral is a bigger thing than just missing zemi, and besides Mak always told me to make things easier for others, while praying and hoping that Allah will make things easier for us...
#####
The amok in Akihabara is the worst street stabbing case in recent years. This sick psycho guy is tired of his life and thus he decided to take 7 others, injuring 10 as well. He drove a rented truck all the way from Yamanashi area, which is about 3 hours away from Tokyo, bought the dagger he used to stab others in Fukui and even consistently posting timely messages on a mobile phone site, among others to record his stopping at a rest area in Kanazawa, announced his arrival in Akihabara and declared "It's time" 2o minutes before his killing spree.
Some experts claimed that the guy might had posted the messages not as a way to declare the attack to the general public, but more as in updating his own realtime blog. Realtime bloggers often update their sites several times an hour, posting entries regarding their activities and feelings.
#####
There were 67 multiple stabbing rampages in Japan between 1998 and 2007, and at least 5 cases this year alone.
The scary part is that usually the guy running amok just wanted to kill, not caring who the victims are (dare demo yokatta). Random stabber ranged from as young as 16 year old to 40 year old - all within the usually 'baligh' age, when they are able to tell right from wrong. But I guess when they do not believe in God - there is no real sense of right or wrong
#####
In a way it must had been something akin to a slap for the Japanese National Police Agency - now that the G8 Summit is near, they have been busy opening Counter Terrorism counters all over the country, usually suspecting gaijins to be possible threats, and one day - a Nihonjin killed 7 and injured 10 others in Tokyo.
Dush dush.
#####
Many Nihonjin interviewed in the TV said that, "...this is unforgivable. It doesn't make sense."
I hope they will also take time to think about similar "unforgivable incidents" happening daily in other parts of the world.
In Palestine, for example...
#####
One respected Muslim Nihonjin from Nihon Muslim Kyoukai will give a talk in Asakusa Mosque this Saturday, 14 June. For more information, please go here.
Invitation is open to all...
Al-fatihah...
#####
Ariffin came all the way from Kochi with his little one flown in a special container yesterday. Hubby and En Amin, the Consular from Malaysian Embassy picked Ariffin and his little one from Haneda Airport and managed the janazah in Islamic Center in Setagaya before going to the Islamic Graveyard in Enzan, Yamanashi.
It cost 70,000 yen to get a burial plot there, and another 30,000 to get the graveyard dug, so the three of them decided to dig the grave themselves, manually digging using the shovels provided there. The caretaker of the graveyard area is a monk, who later hosted a sushi lunch for the three of them after the burial was over. Hubby had his first experience of giving a talqin, as he had never sent any janazah to the graveyard in Japan before.
#####
Not able to find a babysitter, I had to give my zemi session a miss yesterday. I know my sensei would not be pleased with my absence, now that we, the final year students in our last semester, are in the critical period of writing our thesis. Not that I didn't try to get some help - but Faizly happened to have a replacement class yesterday too, so there...
Well, I guess funeral is a bigger thing than just missing zemi, and besides Mak always told me to make things easier for others, while praying and hoping that Allah will make things easier for us...
#####
The amok in Akihabara is the worst street stabbing case in recent years. This sick psycho guy is tired of his life and thus he decided to take 7 others, injuring 10 as well. He drove a rented truck all the way from Yamanashi area, which is about 3 hours away from Tokyo, bought the dagger he used to stab others in Fukui and even consistently posting timely messages on a mobile phone site, among others to record his stopping at a rest area in Kanazawa, announced his arrival in Akihabara and declared "It's time" 2o minutes before his killing spree.
Some experts claimed that the guy might had posted the messages not as a way to declare the attack to the general public, but more as in updating his own realtime blog. Realtime bloggers often update their sites several times an hour, posting entries regarding their activities and feelings.
#####
There were 67 multiple stabbing rampages in Japan between 1998 and 2007, and at least 5 cases this year alone.
The scary part is that usually the guy running amok just wanted to kill, not caring who the victims are (dare demo yokatta). Random stabber ranged from as young as 16 year old to 40 year old - all within the usually 'baligh' age, when they are able to tell right from wrong. But I guess when they do not believe in God - there is no real sense of right or wrong
#####
In a way it must had been something akin to a slap for the Japanese National Police Agency - now that the G8 Summit is near, they have been busy opening Counter Terrorism counters all over the country, usually suspecting gaijins to be possible threats, and one day - a Nihonjin killed 7 and injured 10 others in Tokyo.
Dush dush.
#####
Many Nihonjin interviewed in the TV said that, "...this is unforgivable. It doesn't make sense."
I hope they will also take time to think about similar "unforgivable incidents" happening daily in other parts of the world.
In Palestine, for example...
#####
One respected Muslim Nihonjin from Nihon Muslim Kyoukai will give a talk in Asakusa Mosque this Saturday, 14 June. For more information, please go here.
Invitation is open to all...
Saturday, June 07, 2008
The obligatory entry on Malaysian fuel price hike
(harga) minyak naik = (rakyat) naik minyak?
#####
"Now that fuel prices have gone up, some bus companies have followed suit and more than doubled their fares." (The Star, Saturday 7 June 2008)
That, despite bus operators still receiving subsidized diesel.
And it has been increased to 100% subsidies too, rather than previous allocation of 70% of fuel consumption...
#####
With the fuel price rise, people would expect a better and more reliable public transport system.
Got really surprised to learn that (the already not so efficient) KTM Komuter have reduced their frequency from every 15 minutes during peak hours to every 20 minutes all day long... Eh, they are not getting 100% subsidized fuel ke?...
#####
No more subsidized fuel for IPPs. It doesn't make sense that they get to pay so little yet make so much profit from electricity tariff. And electricity tariff hike is next in agenda...
#####
If the rakyat is expected to pay the 'real-world' price of fuel without subsidy,
I guess it's only fair for the rakyat to pay 'real-world' price for cars too.
The rakyat has already paid a hefty tax as a price for the 'subsidy' in advance.
So if the subsidy is lessened, then the high tax on cars must be lessened too.
#####
If the government wants more people to "change their lifestyle",
then they must also promote radical cyclist-and-pedestrian-friendly measures
Top of the list would involve introducing a much more efficient, reliable public transport system, reaching to a wider possible commuters.
And introducing safe pedestrian/cyclist pathway along the main roads, as well as
introducing stricter law that will ensure motorists to be more cautious of and courteous to pedestrians/cyclists (rather than honking at people using zebra crossing from a mile away, refusing to slow down even a bit...)
#####
And what about alternative fuel/engine?
Here's an interesting article - "Gaza Cars: From Cooking oil to Batteries"
#####
"Now that fuel prices have gone up, some bus companies have followed suit and more than doubled their fares." (The Star, Saturday 7 June 2008)
That, despite bus operators still receiving subsidized diesel.
And it has been increased to 100% subsidies too, rather than previous allocation of 70% of fuel consumption...
#####
With the fuel price rise, people would expect a better and more reliable public transport system.
Got really surprised to learn that (the already not so efficient) KTM Komuter have reduced their frequency from every 15 minutes during peak hours to every 20 minutes all day long... Eh, they are not getting 100% subsidized fuel ke?...
#####
No more subsidized fuel for IPPs. It doesn't make sense that they get to pay so little yet make so much profit from electricity tariff. And electricity tariff hike is next in agenda...
#####
If the rakyat is expected to pay the 'real-world' price of fuel without subsidy,
I guess it's only fair for the rakyat to pay 'real-world' price for cars too.
The rakyat has already paid a hefty tax as a price for the 'subsidy' in advance.
So if the subsidy is lessened, then the high tax on cars must be lessened too.
#####
If the government wants more people to "change their lifestyle",
then they must also promote radical cyclist-and-pedestrian-friendly measures
Top of the list would involve introducing a much more efficient, reliable public transport system, reaching to a wider possible commuters.
And introducing safe pedestrian/cyclist pathway along the main roads, as well as
introducing stricter law that will ensure motorists to be more cautious of and courteous to pedestrians/cyclists (rather than honking at people using zebra crossing from a mile away, refusing to slow down even a bit...)
#####
And what about alternative fuel/engine?
Here's an interesting article - "Gaza Cars: From Cooking oil to Batteries"
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Shorter notes on this and that
My friend Nisah has written a short story based on this entry of mine.
I was made to understand that it might appear in Dewan Sastera this month
It's a worth-to-be-pondered-upon cerpen, so you might want to go grab a copy of Dewan Sastera and find out for yourself how Nisah had interpreted my entry into a (published) short story
#####
message by a friend over YM
"kadang aku pikir
buat masters susah2 pun
bukan boleh naik gaji
buat PTK baru boleh naik gaji..."
oO (kalau macam tu, baik tak payah ambik cuti belajar buat masters)
oO (ambik je cuti belajar buat PTK)
#####
Not that I am an expert on religious stuff,
But I do agree with Faisal Tehrani regarding this issue raised by Dr Asri
Surely there must many more Muslim scholars that we can refer to than just Ibnu Taimiyyah, Albani or Ben Baz...
On a lighter note -
what's with Dr Asri and people named Faizal?
First, there was his public comment on Faizal Tahir
and now Faizal Musa (Faisal Tehrani's real name)
#####
It's tough being a tudung-clad Muslimah in a country where the police are suspicious of Muslims. The other day three Malaysian girls who came all the way from KL for a one week holiday in Tokyo went to Tokyo Dome, intending to watch Larc-en-Ciel in concert. But they had been interrogated by a police detective, who asked for their passports and asked all sort of rather disturbing questions.
"Will we be all right in Narita when we leave Tokyo?," one of them asked me anxiously over the phone after they cancelled their plan of watching the concert and went straight back to their hotel near Shinjuku.
"Yes dear. They will only be too happy to say bye-bye to any person with the slightest hint of being a terrorist suspect"
Yes, Tokyo - although maybe to a lesser degree compared to Hokkaido - is also becoming a virtual police state now that the G8 Summit is near. All (ridiculous) kind of security measures are taken as the government, the police and the mainstream media harp on and on about possible 'terrorist attacks'...
I wish Arudou Debito was there to help the girls...
I was made to understand that it might appear in Dewan Sastera this month
It's a worth-to-be-pondered-upon cerpen, so you might want to go grab a copy of Dewan Sastera and find out for yourself how Nisah had interpreted my entry into a (published) short story
#####
message by a friend over YM
"kadang aku pikir
buat masters susah2 pun
bukan boleh naik gaji
buat PTK baru boleh naik gaji..."
oO (kalau macam tu, baik tak payah ambik cuti belajar buat masters)
oO (ambik je cuti belajar buat PTK)
#####
Not that I am an expert on religious stuff,
But I do agree with Faisal Tehrani regarding this issue raised by Dr Asri
Surely there must many more Muslim scholars that we can refer to than just Ibnu Taimiyyah, Albani or Ben Baz...
On a lighter note -
what's with Dr Asri and people named Faizal?
First, there was his public comment on Faizal Tahir
and now Faizal Musa (Faisal Tehrani's real name)
#####
It's tough being a tudung-clad Muslimah in a country where the police are suspicious of Muslims. The other day three Malaysian girls who came all the way from KL for a one week holiday in Tokyo went to Tokyo Dome, intending to watch Larc-en-Ciel in concert. But they had been interrogated by a police detective, who asked for their passports and asked all sort of rather disturbing questions.
"Will we be all right in Narita when we leave Tokyo?," one of them asked me anxiously over the phone after they cancelled their plan of watching the concert and went straight back to their hotel near Shinjuku.
"Yes dear. They will only be too happy to say bye-bye to any person with the slightest hint of being a terrorist suspect"
Yes, Tokyo - although maybe to a lesser degree compared to Hokkaido - is also becoming a virtual police state now that the G8 Summit is near. All (ridiculous) kind of security measures are taken as the government, the police and the mainstream media harp on and on about possible 'terrorist attacks'...
I wish Arudou Debito was there to help the girls...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Notes on this and that
1.
I can't blog often now not only because I am in the midst of thesis writing/copy-n-pasting/editing, but also because the internet connection at home has gone haywire. Which is good - in that it prevents me from wasting my precious time playing Scramble on Facebook - but not so good since I can't make use of Waseda Library off-campus resources.
2.
The in-laws returned home last Thursday. I hope the good times here outweigh the not-so-good ones, and they won't be complaining too much about us or Japan to others. They went places - covered most of Tokyo's tourist-must-see areas, as well as Yokohama (Mak Rasah had a great time at Rose Garden in Minato no Mieru Oka Koen, and we visited Aka Renga for the first time after numerous visits to Yokohama), Hakone (the 'normal' Hakone Freepass schedule - Pirate sightseeing ship, ropeway, cable car, mountain train - with better and improved facilities in Hakone, unlike our trip back in 2006) and Disneyland (good: hubby and I managed to take lots of rides; not-so-good: Abah Rasah wanted to return home as early as 6.00 p.m. and Mak Rasah trembled from cold weather even when it was rather warm for Tokyo in May. We finally went home at about 8.45 p.m.)
3.
Unlike most asthmatic kids, Huzaifah is most prone to asthma attack in summer rather than in winter or spring. His first asthma attack happened in summer, and last week, on a warm Wednesday (25 C) when even his Nenek did not have to wear her cardigan, he got an asthma attack. He could eat ice-cream on cold winter nights, or play in a pollen-infested field in spring with no worries at all, but come summer - he would start coughing out of the blue, which lead to wheezing and all.
Faizly was with us in Ueno when it happened. After trying to look for a clinic and failed to find one, we decided to ask for direction at a Koban (police kiosk) in Ueno Koen. The policeman at first showed us direction to a clinic about 800 metres away, and should the clinic be closed (it was already past 5.00 p.m. then, and many clinics are closed at 5.00 p.m.) we were advised to go to a public Hospital which is about a further 1km away from the clinic. I was already tired of looking for a clinic and asked the policeman to call for an ambulance, "My child needs it"
At the mention of the word "kodomo", the policeman almost started panicking, asking me back "kodomo? kodomo?" a few times, as he suddenly realised that I was not asking for direction to get help for my asthma attack but rather my child's.
The ambulance arrived about 5 minutes after I filled up some forms (Japanese and their love for paperworks...)
4.
Huzaifah was not admitted in the hospital, alhamdulillah.
The thing with my son is that even when he is under asthma attack, he still has lots of energy. That's why I believed that much more of the nebulizer the was prescribed for him vaporized in the air rather than inhaled by him. Alhamdulillah there was this one friendly obachan-like nurse-san which kept encouraging Huzaifah to inhale his nebulizer properly (through various means - cheering him on, teasing him, warning him sternly etc)
5.
I finally ate some birthday cake, more than a week after my birthday. Faizly brought a Nutty Chocolate ice-cream cake at Baskin Robbins on the way back from the hospital. (Thank you Sabah - you are the best!)
Of course, we didn't let Huzaifah had the ice-cream, just the cake portion, and he was okay the next day, so no worries.
6.
Mak was admitted to PPUM for a mild heart attack on Sunday. At first she was told that she might be warded for a few days, but yesterday the specialist who looked at her case said that she could be discharged, and so she was in late evening. Mak said it is nothing to worry about really - it's only normal for people with high-blood pressure problem to face this next. She has been very busy lately doing voluntary charity works, in fact, she started feeling "berdebar-debar" since Saturday when she visited an orphanage in Teluk Intan, but it was not until Sunday night when she finally asked Ayah to take her to the hospital. It goes without saying that she was one of the first to get to see a doctor in the Emergency section that night...
And her observation upon leaving the hospital?
"We need more doctors, especially local specialists, we need more hospitals, we need more efficient and daring administrators, and not some lame and lazy ones who keep giving excuses on why we can't make all these things happen..."
7.
While I can't answer the question of "Why aren’t Malay men these days like our fathers?", I for one am glad that my husband and many of the male friends I know are not like our fathers.
Since Malay women these days are not like our mothers, I guess it is inevitable that the same applies to Malay men.
I mean, let's be honest, how many Malay men in our father's generation would have supported our mothers pursuing an MA or PhD course? Or sharing household chores/taking care of the children/etc. My Ayah used to ask for "air, air" even when the glass was already laid in front of him and the pitcher was just next to him. Abah Rasah, according to Mak Rasah, simply refused to help in the home for fear of being labeled "kena queen control".
While he hates cooking, hubby usually helps with the laundry, cleaning the house, and doesn't mind taking turn preparing baby's milk at night. And sometimes he even offers making tea/Milo for me instead of just requesting them all the time (from the wife) like his or my father does. (yes, I know, hubby could be very sweet at times, and I thank Allah for being blessed with him by my side) I also know a few male friends/relatives who are better cook than their wives, and doesn't mind making meals when guests show up unexpectedly. Maybe not all are as efficient or effective with household chores like the wives would have expected, but the point is they help and do not tell the wife back, "eh, ini kerja orang perempuan lah"
And let's not even discuss public display of affection. Mak once received a long lecture from Ayah after she impulsively gave him a peck on the cheek at the airport just before she went overseas. I think most Malay husbands nowadays are more open when it comes to showing PDA - holding hands, a peck on the cheek, cuddles, hugs - all within 'acceptable' range of course, none of those which might incite "Oy, get a room!" response from other onlookers.
I don't want Malay men to be more like our fathers, I just wish that they become better practising Muslim. Practising Muslim men try to follow the examples set by Rasulullah in that he did not feel ashamed to do household chores himself - he sewed and patched his clothing himself, repaired his shoes, kindled the fire, swept the floor, milked the cows etc. Practising Muslim men does not only remind their wives from time to time that the husband is numero uno, but also remember that Rasulullah has said, "The believers who show the most perfect faith are those who have the best character, and the best of you are those who are best to their wives".
I can't blog often now not only because I am in the midst of thesis writing/
2.
The in-laws returned home last Thursday. I hope the good times here outweigh the not-so-good ones, and they won't be complaining too much about us or Japan to others. They went places - covered most of Tokyo's tourist-must-see areas, as well as Yokohama (Mak Rasah had a great time at Rose Garden in Minato no Mieru Oka Koen, and we visited Aka Renga for the first time after numerous visits to Yokohama), Hakone (the 'normal' Hakone Freepass schedule - Pirate sightseeing ship, ropeway, cable car, mountain train - with better and improved facilities in Hakone, unlike our trip back in 2006) and Disneyland (good: hubby and I managed to take lots of rides; not-so-good: Abah Rasah wanted to return home as early as 6.00 p.m. and Mak Rasah trembled from cold weather even when it was rather warm for Tokyo in May. We finally went home at about 8.45 p.m.)
3.
Unlike most asthmatic kids, Huzaifah is most prone to asthma attack in summer rather than in winter or spring. His first asthma attack happened in summer, and last week, on a warm Wednesday (25 C) when even his Nenek did not have to wear her cardigan, he got an asthma attack. He could eat ice-cream on cold winter nights, or play in a pollen-infested field in spring with no worries at all, but come summer - he would start coughing out of the blue, which lead to wheezing and all.
Faizly was with us in Ueno when it happened. After trying to look for a clinic and failed to find one, we decided to ask for direction at a Koban (police kiosk) in Ueno Koen. The policeman at first showed us direction to a clinic about 800 metres away, and should the clinic be closed (it was already past 5.00 p.m. then, and many clinics are closed at 5.00 p.m.) we were advised to go to a public Hospital which is about a further 1km away from the clinic. I was already tired of looking for a clinic and asked the policeman to call for an ambulance, "My child needs it"
At the mention of the word "kodomo", the policeman almost started panicking, asking me back "kodomo? kodomo?" a few times, as he suddenly realised that I was not asking for direction to get help for my asthma attack but rather my child's.
The ambulance arrived about 5 minutes after I filled up some forms (Japanese and their love for paperworks...)
4.
Huzaifah was not admitted in the hospital, alhamdulillah.
The thing with my son is that even when he is under asthma attack, he still has lots of energy. That's why I believed that much more of the nebulizer the was prescribed for him vaporized in the air rather than inhaled by him. Alhamdulillah there was this one friendly obachan-like nurse-san which kept encouraging Huzaifah to inhale his nebulizer properly (through various means - cheering him on, teasing him, warning him sternly etc)
5.
I finally ate some birthday cake, more than a week after my birthday. Faizly brought a Nutty Chocolate ice-cream cake at Baskin Robbins on the way back from the hospital. (Thank you Sabah - you are the best!)
Of course, we didn't let Huzaifah had the ice-cream, just the cake portion, and he was okay the next day, so no worries.
6.
Mak was admitted to PPUM for a mild heart attack on Sunday. At first she was told that she might be warded for a few days, but yesterday the specialist who looked at her case said that she could be discharged, and so she was in late evening. Mak said it is nothing to worry about really - it's only normal for people with high-blood pressure problem to face this next. She has been very busy lately doing voluntary charity works, in fact, she started feeling "berdebar-debar" since Saturday when she visited an orphanage in Teluk Intan, but it was not until Sunday night when she finally asked Ayah to take her to the hospital. It goes without saying that she was one of the first to get to see a doctor in the Emergency section that night...
And her observation upon leaving the hospital?
"We need more doctors, especially local specialists, we need more hospitals, we need more efficient and daring administrators, and not some lame and lazy ones who keep giving excuses on why we can't make all these things happen..."
7.
While I can't answer the question of "Why aren’t Malay men these days like our fathers?", I for one am glad that my husband and many of the male friends I know are not like our fathers.
Since Malay women these days are not like our mothers, I guess it is inevitable that the same applies to Malay men.
I mean, let's be honest, how many Malay men in our father's generation would have supported our mothers pursuing an MA or PhD course? Or sharing household chores/taking care of the children/etc. My Ayah used to ask for "air, air" even when the glass was already laid in front of him and the pitcher was just next to him. Abah Rasah, according to Mak Rasah, simply refused to help in the home for fear of being labeled "kena queen control".
While he hates cooking, hubby usually helps with the laundry, cleaning the house, and doesn't mind taking turn preparing baby's milk at night. And sometimes he even offers making tea/Milo for me instead of just requesting them all the time (from the wife) like his or my father does. (yes, I know, hubby could be very sweet at times, and I thank Allah for being blessed with him by my side) I also know a few male friends/relatives who are better cook than their wives, and doesn't mind making meals when guests show up unexpectedly. Maybe not all are as efficient or effective with household chores like the wives would have expected, but the point is they help and do not tell the wife back, "eh, ini kerja orang perempuan lah"
And let's not even discuss public display of affection. Mak once received a long lecture from Ayah after she impulsively gave him a peck on the cheek at the airport just before she went overseas. I think most Malay husbands nowadays are more open when it comes to showing PDA - holding hands, a peck on the cheek, cuddles, hugs - all within 'acceptable' range of course, none of those which might incite "Oy, get a room!" response from other onlookers.
I don't want Malay men to be more like our fathers, I just wish that they become better practising Muslim. Practising Muslim men try to follow the examples set by Rasulullah in that he did not feel ashamed to do household chores himself - he sewed and patched his clothing himself, repaired his shoes, kindled the fire, swept the floor, milked the cows etc. Practising Muslim men does not only remind their wives from time to time that the husband is numero uno, but also remember that Rasulullah has said, "The believers who show the most perfect faith are those who have the best character, and the best of you are those who are best to their wives".
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Al-fatihah...
... for Ina's beloved little munchkin.
May Allah bless him, and grant the living ones strength and courage in this difficult time.
May Allah bless him, and grant the living ones strength and courage in this difficult time.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Not good, not good
The good news first,
I've been informed that Sonoda sensei - the professor I'd originally wanted as my supervisor - is going to be my 2nd examiner. Yay, alhamdulillah!
The not-so-good news,
At the end of Q&A session of my presentation today, my sensei remarked - "I don't think you can come up with a solid academic paper based on your presentation today. Are you confident that you can come up with a good thesis?"
Ouch!
But my zemi-mates were very supportive - they made suggestions and came up with constructive criticisms on how, where and on which areas I can improve my paper.
Maybe I'm too sensitive - but the other day my zemi-mate presented, he presented less facts, data and figures than I did, and our sensei didn't made any scathing remark like that. What gives?
#####
In the midst of being busy with my dissertation, I found the temptation to check things out on FB too alluring, and seldom resisted it.
Yabai...
#####
I am tired.
Not that I don't want to be a good wife/daughter-in-law/hostess, but there have been moments when I wished hubby could see that I am not a superwoman. Sometimes I slipped - like yesterday when I fell asleep while putting Humaidi to sleep before I served dinner for the family. It was unintentional. I hadn't slept since 4.30 a.m. - and the kids were extra 'active' all day long, with only me to look after them, and I was tired of 'perah otak' trying to edit my presentation and worked on the presentation notes.
Now, if only hubby could understand that, and simply listen and emphatize when I said "I am tired", instead of replying harshly, "You are not the only one who is tired. You don't know how tired I was...". Of course I can imagine that he was tired too - playing tourist guide in Tokyo using public transport is tiring and I have first-hand experience of that - but sometimes all I need is just to be listened to, and my feelings affirmed.
Is that too much to ask for?
I've been informed that Sonoda sensei - the professor I'd originally wanted as my supervisor - is going to be my 2nd examiner. Yay, alhamdulillah!
The not-so-good news,
At the end of Q&A session of my presentation today, my sensei remarked - "I don't think you can come up with a solid academic paper based on your presentation today. Are you confident that you can come up with a good thesis?"
Ouch!
But my zemi-mates were very supportive - they made suggestions and came up with constructive criticisms on how, where and on which areas I can improve my paper.
Maybe I'm too sensitive - but the other day my zemi-mate presented, he presented less facts, data and figures than I did, and our sensei didn't made any scathing remark like that. What gives?
#####
In the midst of being busy with my dissertation, I found the temptation to check things out on FB too alluring, and seldom resisted it.
Yabai...
#####
I am tired.
Not that I don't want to be a good wife/daughter-in-law/hostess, but there have been moments when I wished hubby could see that I am not a superwoman. Sometimes I slipped - like yesterday when I fell asleep while putting Humaidi to sleep before I served dinner for the family. It was unintentional. I hadn't slept since 4.30 a.m. - and the kids were extra 'active' all day long, with only me to look after them, and I was tired of 'perah otak' trying to edit my presentation and worked on the presentation notes.
Now, if only hubby could understand that, and simply listen and emphatize when I said "I am tired", instead of replying harshly, "You are not the only one who is tired. You don't know how tired I was...". Of course I can imagine that he was tired too - playing tourist guide in Tokyo using public transport is tiring and I have first-hand experience of that - but sometimes all I need is just to be listened to, and my feelings affirmed.
Is that too much to ask for?
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Random thoughts on one's (30++) birthday
1.
It rained all day long - not a sunny birthday for me this year
But being able to enjoy listening to the sound of falling rain (when the boys were asleep, while hubby and the parents-in-law went sightseeing) was kind of nice...
2.
Thank you Faizly for that special entry on your blog.
Thank you Husna for that special status display on YM
Thank you everyone else for birthday wishes/cards/virtual gifts - by email, YM, FB...
3.
It's good to meet old friends again on FB, especially on one's birthday.
4.
Happy birthday to Mida in Odaiba
Happy birthday to 'Abang' Syafiq Anas in Sarawak
Happy birthday to Sue - who used to be in the same college with me, but I have no idea where she is now.
Happy belated birthday to T.I, Imah, Farid - all from SMAPL class of '92 - on May 7th, 8th, 9th respectively.
And congratulations to Fendi and Liya on the birth of their second son this morning, alhamdulillah... (obviously it'll be easy for me to remember the kid's birthday)
5.
I want to improve in at least one area of my daily life, but still undecided on how to exactly persecute it...
6.
I want to write a book, insya Allah. Jennifer Chan, a researcher from British Columbia University visited us a while ago and had a really long interview with hubby and I. After listening to our stories (as the Imam of Asakusa Mosque and the Imam's wife), she took a look at our photo collection - of nikah ceremonies, syahadah ceremonies, 'tahnik', iftar jama'ie, maulidur-rasul - turned to me, and exclaimed, "You should write a book on being a Muslim in Japan, you have all these wonderful resources!"
Maybe I should.
Maybe I'll start by taking a writing course when I return.
7.
If I ever get to write and publish a book on being a Muslim in Japan, I intend to use some, if not all, of the proceeds to help funding Islamic activities in Japan...
It rained all day long - not a sunny birthday for me this year
But being able to enjoy listening to the sound of falling rain (when the boys were asleep, while hubby and the parents-in-law went sightseeing) was kind of nice...
2.
Thank you Faizly for that special entry on your blog.
Thank you Husna for that special status display on YM
Thank you everyone else for birthday wishes/cards/virtual gifts - by email, YM, FB...
3.
It's good to meet old friends again on FB, especially on one's birthday.
4.
Happy birthday to Mida in Odaiba
Happy birthday to 'Abang' Syafiq Anas in Sarawak
Happy birthday to Sue - who used to be in the same college with me, but I have no idea where she is now.
Happy belated birthday to T.I, Imah, Farid - all from SMAPL class of '92 - on May 7th, 8th, 9th respectively.
And congratulations to Fendi and Liya on the birth of their second son this morning, alhamdulillah... (obviously it'll be easy for me to remember the kid's birthday)
5.
I want to improve in at least one area of my daily life, but still undecided on how to exactly persecute it...
6.
I want to write a book, insya Allah. Jennifer Chan, a researcher from British Columbia University visited us a while ago and had a really long interview with hubby and I. After listening to our stories (as the Imam of Asakusa Mosque and the Imam's wife), she took a look at our photo collection - of nikah ceremonies, syahadah ceremonies, 'tahnik', iftar jama'ie, maulidur-rasul - turned to me, and exclaimed, "You should write a book on being a Muslim in Japan, you have all these wonderful resources!"
Maybe I should.
Maybe I'll start by taking a writing course when I return.
7.
If I ever get to write and publish a book on being a Muslim in Japan, I intend to use some, if not all, of the proceeds to help funding Islamic activities in Japan...
Friday, May 09, 2008
Mak pesan... 4
"Many of us fall into 'victim syndrome', excusing ourselves for being lesser becauyse we are underprivileged - oh, he is good in English because he studies overseas, oh, she can do lots of cooking experiments because her kids are big enough, oh, he is good in reading Quran because his Mom teaches Islamic studies... What we often forget to do is to look at those underprivileged who yet managed to do the impossibles and challenge ourselves to do the same..."
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Jalan-jalan Golden Week 2008
1. BBQ in Saitama
Place: Gyoda, Saitama
Date: 3 May 2008
Kak Ita: Ini dah ada futomaki, haru maki, kalau tak sedap memang nak kena maki...
Good thing I brought some jelly. Or Agar-agar Pandan to be exact. Not in the usual green colour though, since I only have Artificial Cochineal color in stock, so red it was... Not many people - but it was really sunny in Gyoda as opposed to wet rainy Tokyo.
Pictures could be seen at Kak Ita's fotopages and summary by Faizly could be read here
2. No more Panda... Bye-bye Ling Ling
Place: Ueno Zoo, Tokyo
Date: 4 May 2008
The symbol of Ueno Zoo, Ling Ling the panda passed away on 30th April 2008.
Thousands flocked to the zoo to show their love and appreciation for the giant panda, bringing lots of flower bouquets, candies, chocolates and fruits and arranged them in front of the now empty 'Giant Panda house'. The place was terribly crowded, the weather a bit gloomy - as if to enhance the mourning mood in the zoo. Huzaifah seemed to enjoy the trip, and Humaidi repeatedly kept kicking his shoes - and by the time we left the place, he was wearing only his right shoe. Nice zoo, the many 'forests' which house the animals somehow made the animals seem to be more at home than sparse zoos I'd previously visited. Oh, and there's a monorail connecting the East and West area of the zoo (1 minute ride)
3. Party in Odaiba
Place: 4th Floor Lounge, Block C, Tokyo International Exchange Center, Odaiba
Date: 6 May 2008
Shukrat, an Uzbek who's currently doing his MA in GRIPS invited us over for a 'small party' at his place. Took that opportunity to first visit Syah and his family who have moved there since end of March. Nice apartment, but not so nice view as their balcony faces the Yurikamome rail line. Nor made some meehoon sup, and later we were joined by Acoi's family. We joined Acoi to Shukrat's party since they are living in the same block. The 'small party' turned out not to be so small after all with Shukrat friends and their families of various nationalities attending it - Japanese, Egyptian, Kazakhs, Russians, Turks, and our two families from Malaysia. Lots of food - home-made bread, noodles, pilaf rice, three different kinds of salad, tomatoes salsa on fried eggplant, baklava, some Russian confectionery, cakes, fruits and chocolates for the kids. Huzaifah performed a dangerous act of bergayut from the spiral stairway and Humaidi broke a plate - but at least they were not the only boisterous kids around...
Place: Gyoda, Saitama
Date: 3 May 2008
Kak Ita: Ini dah ada futomaki, haru maki, kalau tak sedap memang nak kena maki...
Good thing I brought some jelly. Or Agar-agar Pandan to be exact. Not in the usual green colour though, since I only have Artificial Cochineal color in stock, so red it was... Not many people - but it was really sunny in Gyoda as opposed to wet rainy Tokyo.
Pictures could be seen at Kak Ita's fotopages and summary by Faizly could be read here
2. No more Panda... Bye-bye Ling Ling
Place: Ueno Zoo, Tokyo
Date: 4 May 2008
The symbol of Ueno Zoo, Ling Ling the panda passed away on 30th April 2008.
Thousands flocked to the zoo to show their love and appreciation for the giant panda, bringing lots of flower bouquets, candies, chocolates and fruits and arranged them in front of the now empty 'Giant Panda house'. The place was terribly crowded, the weather a bit gloomy - as if to enhance the mourning mood in the zoo. Huzaifah seemed to enjoy the trip, and Humaidi repeatedly kept kicking his shoes - and by the time we left the place, he was wearing only his right shoe. Nice zoo, the many 'forests' which house the animals somehow made the animals seem to be more at home than sparse zoos I'd previously visited. Oh, and there's a monorail connecting the East and West area of the zoo (1 minute ride)
3. Party in Odaiba
Place: 4th Floor Lounge, Block C, Tokyo International Exchange Center, Odaiba
Date: 6 May 2008
Shukrat, an Uzbek who's currently doing his MA in GRIPS invited us over for a 'small party' at his place. Took that opportunity to first visit Syah and his family who have moved there since end of March. Nice apartment, but not so nice view as their balcony faces the Yurikamome rail line. Nor made some meehoon sup, and later we were joined by Acoi's family. We joined Acoi to Shukrat's party since they are living in the same block. The 'small party' turned out not to be so small after all with Shukrat friends and their families of various nationalities attending it - Japanese, Egyptian, Kazakhs, Russians, Turks, and our two families from Malaysia. Lots of food - home-made bread, noodles, pilaf rice, three different kinds of salad, tomatoes salsa on fried eggplant, baklava, some Russian confectionery, cakes, fruits and chocolates for the kids. Huzaifah performed a dangerous act of bergayut from the spiral stairway and Humaidi broke a plate - but at least they were not the only boisterous kids around...
Doki doki
I'm feeling quite nervous right now.
In a few hours time my parents-in-law will be arriving in Tokyo.
"But you've been married for more than 3 years!" some of you would exclaimed back.
Yes, while that is true, before we came to Japan, hubby and I did not have a place of ours.
We were staying either at his parent' place in Rasah or my parents' place in PJ.
And to add to that - I've never really cooked for my parents-in-law in my own place.
When I was pregnant with Huzaifah, I could not stand any kitchen smell.
When I was back for short breaks in Malaysia after that, I've never felt comfortable enough to cook in Rasah, so I just helped out with preparing stuff and washing dishes. Yes, I know, I am not exactly a dream daughter-in-law.
It's a cross-culture thing, this classic case of a daughter-in-law hoping to be able to fulfill a mother-in-law's hopes and expectation. Somehow, some way, it always seem like no female is ever acceptable to the sons, although the sons themselves are not perfect creatures. This doesn't seem to occur too often in the son-in-law and father-in-law's relationship . Maybe it's a male bonding thingy. Oh well...
I pray and hope that hubby and I will be able to 'raikan' our Mak and Abah Rasah to their satisfaction during their two weeks stay here...
In a few hours time my parents-in-law will be arriving in Tokyo.
"But you've been married for more than 3 years!" some of you would exclaimed back.
Yes, while that is true, before we came to Japan, hubby and I did not have a place of ours.
We were staying either at his parent' place in Rasah or my parents' place in PJ.
And to add to that - I've never really cooked for my parents-in-law in my own place.
When I was pregnant with Huzaifah, I could not stand any kitchen smell.
When I was back for short breaks in Malaysia after that, I've never felt comfortable enough to cook in Rasah, so I just helped out with preparing stuff and washing dishes. Yes, I know, I am not exactly a dream daughter-in-law.
It's a cross-culture thing, this classic case of a daughter-in-law hoping to be able to fulfill a mother-in-law's hopes and expectation. Somehow, some way, it always seem like no female is ever acceptable to the sons, although the sons themselves are not perfect creatures. This doesn't seem to occur too often in the son-in-law and father-in-law's relationship . Maybe it's a male bonding thingy. Oh well...
I pray and hope that hubby and I will be able to 'raikan' our Mak and Abah Rasah to their satisfaction during their two weeks stay here...
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