Ho-kay.. it's Wednesday and it's just a week to the Eid. And I don't know why but I'm in such a lazy mood. I spent yesterday afternoon doing my itinerary for London and I spent this morning attending the interns' presentation session.
And then I was settling some stuff.. and then, I was chatting on whatsapp with some friends (heh.. poyo.. tu pun nak cakap).. tapi ntah kenapa hari ni banyak issue.. Chain's posting to Jakarta, my parents' anniversary surprise (I really hope mummy's not reading this now.. not until Saturday, at least), some sesi-luahan hati with an old friend..
And now, baru nak blog sebab I just feel like blogging. Bolehhhhhhhhhhhhh? ;)
Anyway, I nak blog about my new friend yang I met at the Garden City mosque the other day. She's a pretty Syrian lady who just came to Khartoum about 6 months ago.
"My husband and I had to come here (to Khartoum) to look for a job. We had to leave Syria because of the war," she said. And stupid, insensitive me just had to ask... "So are you going back for the Eid holidays?" (Can't blame me though.. Everyone at the Complex sibuk nak balik raya.. so much so that our first question when we see each other is "Bila nak balik Malaysia?")
Well anyway, she looked at me as though it was a stupid question (which, memang pun it's a stupid question) and said: "I'm not going anywhere for Eid. Syria is at war. I can't go back there now.." she said sadly.
And I felt really stupid and insensitive.
Thankfully, we heard the call of azan and we both went silent. But I could sense the sadness in her eyes as she stared into nothingness. I probably made her miss home and her family and friends. And she's probably thinking about their fate too.. if the war would ever end.
It suddenly made me miss Malaysia. I'm so glad I can go back to my homeland anytime I want to. Going to London for the Eid holidays was an option. A choice I made. I could have taken the flight back to Malaysia next week and I know the friendly immigration staff will smile at me and make me feel at home.
I'm thankful that it's still so peaceful in Malaysia.. that all my friends are still friendly and nice, regardless their race and religion. And that my best friend (who's Chinese, by the way) is just a whatsapp away any time I need to talk to her.
So yeah. I wish Malaysians wouldn't take peaceful Malaysia for granted. Frankly, I'm kinda tired of stories of insensitive Malaysians who make fun of other people's religious rituals. Tired of opportunists and politicians who instill hatred amongst the races (like the canteen issue). So yes, there are one or two Alvins around, as much as there are one or two Ibrahim Alis in Malaysia. (And now there's this Chetz person who kinda insinuates the Muslim's rituals using the dogs.) But they are very rare species. I must say that all my friends (regardless the race and religion) are not racists.
No one, and I do mean NO ONE, had made fun of my skin color or questioned why I fast during Ramadan.. or why I wear the telekung when I pray. In fact, I will be spending Eid with a non-Malay girl, and she actually asked where I will be doing my Eid prayers. Such tolerance for my religion and I am humbled by it.
But then again, you are what your friends are, kan? I would never be close to racist bigots. I stay away from people who think that their religion is far superior than others. After all, who are we to judge? At least, that's what I think.
So yes... I love my friends.. I think they are nice, wonderful Malaysians. I'm tired of people who are trying to portray Malaysians as racist bigots because really, I've never had problems with the non-Malays. Neither have I seen my Malay friends insulting the Non-Malays jugak.
Oh well.. Peace and Love, everyone! xoxo
And then I was settling some stuff.. and then, I was chatting on whatsapp with some friends (heh.. poyo.. tu pun nak cakap).. tapi ntah kenapa hari ni banyak issue.. Chain's posting to Jakarta, my parents' anniversary surprise (I really hope mummy's not reading this now.. not until Saturday, at least), some sesi-luahan hati with an old friend..
And now, baru nak blog sebab I just feel like blogging. Bolehhhhhhhhhhhhh? ;)
 |
| The boys, sempat bergambar while waiting for the Isya' prayers.. |
Anyway, I nak blog about my new friend yang I met at the Garden City mosque the other day. She's a pretty Syrian lady who just came to Khartoum about 6 months ago.
"My husband and I had to come here (to Khartoum) to look for a job. We had to leave Syria because of the war," she said. And stupid, insensitive me just had to ask... "So are you going back for the Eid holidays?" (Can't blame me though.. Everyone at the Complex sibuk nak balik raya.. so much so that our first question when we see each other is "Bila nak balik Malaysia?")
Well anyway, she looked at me as though it was a stupid question (which, memang pun it's a stupid question) and said: "I'm not going anywhere for Eid. Syria is at war. I can't go back there now.." she said sadly.
And I felt really stupid and insensitive.
Thankfully, we heard the call of azan and we both went silent. But I could sense the sadness in her eyes as she stared into nothingness. I probably made her miss home and her family and friends. And she's probably thinking about their fate too.. if the war would ever end.
It suddenly made me miss Malaysia. I'm so glad I can go back to my homeland anytime I want to. Going to London for the Eid holidays was an option. A choice I made. I could have taken the flight back to Malaysia next week and I know the friendly immigration staff will smile at me and make me feel at home.
I'm thankful that it's still so peaceful in Malaysia.. that all my friends are still friendly and nice, regardless their race and religion. And that my best friend (who's Chinese, by the way) is just a whatsapp away any time I need to talk to her.
So yeah. I wish Malaysians wouldn't take peaceful Malaysia for granted. Frankly, I'm kinda tired of stories of insensitive Malaysians who make fun of other people's religious rituals. Tired of opportunists and politicians who instill hatred amongst the races (like the canteen issue). So yes, there are one or two Alvins around, as much as there are one or two Ibrahim Alis in Malaysia. (And now there's this Chetz person who kinda insinuates the Muslim's rituals using the dogs.) But they are very rare species. I must say that all my friends (regardless the race and religion) are not racists.
No one, and I do mean NO ONE, had made fun of my skin color or questioned why I fast during Ramadan.. or why I wear the telekung when I pray. In fact, I will be spending Eid with a non-Malay girl, and she actually asked where I will be doing my Eid prayers. Such tolerance for my religion and I am humbled by it.
But then again, you are what your friends are, kan? I would never be close to racist bigots. I stay away from people who think that their religion is far superior than others. After all, who are we to judge? At least, that's what I think.
So yes... I love my friends.. I think they are nice, wonderful Malaysians. I'm tired of people who are trying to portray Malaysians as racist bigots because really, I've never had problems with the non-Malays. Neither have I seen my Malay friends insulting the Non-Malays jugak.
Oh well.. Peace and Love, everyone! xoxo
 |
| It really don't matter if you're black or white, kan? |
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