Out of the circle

Another post, another story by the same writer...

Now is autumn, and it is really cold outside

Well, it has been three weeks I’m here. The memory of my first step, landing in the land of kangaroo is still fresh in my mind.

 It was a sunny Sunday morning when I arrived. “Now is summer, so it’s hot, warm and a bit dry here. But, in winter it will be so much different. Despite it isn’t snowing, it will be very cold. When it comes, you can even not taking shower for three days, because it is a dry winter. You won’t be smelly” Dr Risman told me when we reached Adelaide together that morning. He was a postgraduate in Uni of Adelaide, at the same time, the President of MYPSA. I was excited to hear his explanation and agreed with most of them, except for the showering part.  Frankly, I couldn't survive for not taking any shower, even for a day. Nevertheless, I was really thrilled to be here. The environment, scenery and feeling were so much different from Malaysia.

I believe everyone will encounter something new everyday.

I do really admit that I’m a bit shy and speechless when it comes to meeting strangers. Apparently, I hardly introduced myself in a proper manner. Honestly, I have a very peculiar feeling when making new friend. “Do I want to say Hi to him or not, but how...I can’t just suddenly come and randomly saying hello, that would be absurd” that annoying thought keep on rising in my mind. Badly, it always end up that I regretted for not doing the right thing. “I should do that! Why I’m so stupid!”

Perhaps during foundation, I was just automatically be friend with my classmates. But, the situation is so much different. In lecture hall, it is a norm to have a one-seat gap between students.

Sometimes I did have the courage to know them, the Australian I meant. But, the conversation mostly filled with a moment of silent or awkward moment as I sometimes lost track of what they were saying. Either they were taking too fast, mumbling or the slang was not clear to me. “I’m so sorry. Can you please talk a bit slower please? I can’t really catch it.” I should have said that.

The worst is when I have to talk to them via phone. Few weeks ago, I lost my debit card -retained by the ATM machine, actually, as I confused myself between PIN no and security no. So, I had to order a new card by phone call. It was hard and the word “pardon” filled most of the conversation. Similar situation happened when I recklessly forgotten my password for my online banking, and the account was suspended. Another phone call had to be made, requesting a temporary password. The person had to spell the password slowly, 3 times before I could understand that “M for Micheal, Z for Zoo” were the two alphabets in front.

But, that all happened in week one.

It didn't take long for me to realise that I couldn’t stay silent forever. I was alone here, and the one who could make all the different. I believed they were no more and no less than mus. Need  friends to talk to and sometimes I saw, they were the one who would always be sitting alone. Perhaps, they too were having difficulty as me. 

Until now, I’m still trying and learning. Everything is getting better now. I may not have a bulk of friends, chiefly foreigners, but condition is changing. I gained some confident and communication skills despite sometimes I still can’t really catch what they said. Yet, they do really friendly, exactly as the rumours. I regard it as a success. Perhaps it sound easy and make no sense to you. But, it's really mean a lot to me. A giant leap for me. Inshaallah...everything  gonna be just fine. :)

My friend did quote:

"I consider myself to be among the 'achievers' at school. But belief me, there is soooo much more to life than just academics. Belief me, it is all the other aspect of life that makes academic what it;s worth. Otherwise it's nothing more than just 'a wortless paper chase'. It doesn't bring you the happiness that all of us longed for. It doesn't bring out the potential in you, until and unless you discover who you are in this life and the whole purpose of living. You have to live a little longer to appreciate what I'm trying to say here. So hang on to life, don't give up on life. You'll be thankful to HIM when you'll find out further down the road in this lifelong journey there is soooo much more in store for you as long as you are grateful to HIM."

That's for now.

For those who keep on trying but never succeed

Hang on there

Surely you will

Believe me, you already successful

for not giving up

Adelaide city

Adelaide: A Festival State

I do love when it rains in Adelaide

It was a cold windy Monday morning, class started at 9.00am today. The University of Adelaide was a half an hour journey by bus. 253 or 254 were the only bus available to city, via the Hanson Rd. The bus stop was in a walking distance from our house. It was well known to arrive sharply on time as in the schedule, erected beside the bus stop. "They have estimated the traffic, and the distance. Plus they are restricted to 60KM/H here" Dr Risman told me before.  

The common student's  public transport

The bus stopped at the King William Rd, compelling me to walk for 10minutes,encountering the Art Gallery, State Library and Museum of South Australia along the way. Despite it was summer, I was chilled to the bone, nor the $50 jacket could resist the cold breeze. The Australians were very simple, singlets and shorts would be just fine. 

The long walk to the uni

The War Memorial was on the left, portraying names and statutes of soldier die in Australian war I assumed.  The city is quite historic, generally speaking. Yet, some were not for kids to look at.

The War Memorial

The timetable was evenly distributed, a single lecture was in the morning and tutorials were at late evening. Leaving the most annoying gap in between. Randal Mall along the Puteney St was the only place I loved to hang out, alone...sadly. "Hello, how are you doin' today?" the most common greet I received when paying at the counter. "I'm fine, thank you" struggling to copy the hard Austalian's slang. But, I never did well. 

Pedestrian street along the mall

Old unique building in the midst of modernism

Late that evening, I walked slowly to the bus stop. Feeling tired, but satisfied. Despite, sometime I did feel lonely here. Hopefully, I would be happy at the end. Meeting and making new friends, experiencing the greatest opportunity in gratefulness. Prays and dua' always worked complimentary, positive days ahead. :)

The bus stop

That's for now

Those who are feeling lonely

try to be out of your comfort zone

dare to greet others

speak up

remaining silent is taking us nowhere

I'm trying my best on it

A big day

Dear Readers,

I don’t know much about life

But I do know there are big days and there are small days

And most days are small days

And they don’t matter much to anyone

But, today is the big one

It was 10.00pm at KLIA. My friends heading to Auckland, New Zealand left about an hour ago. I was the sole traveller indeed. After saying my last farewell to my beloved family and friends, I went down the escalator, trying to figure out what I was supposed to do next. Asked the counter on how to check in, with guidance from someone there, the puzzle was solve. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice the action was filmed by one of my friends, who were watching upstairs. All the funny, blurred and amateur acts was captured and uploaded into Facebook. I watched it, it was hilarious and foolish, a guy struggling to find an entrance. Yet, first time rite, what did you expect? :D

Ultimately, I entered the train to the other side of the building, passed all the inspections and successfully boarded the flight. I remembered of kept on checking the gate no, C1, terrified if I boarded the wrong flight.

Once inside, I was placed beside the window along side with an elderly Indian man. I was quiet thrilled and excited, patiently waiting for the flight to start moving. Out of the window, the darkness covered everything, only countless red and green light appeared. There were a small screen for movie, safety booklet, a small pillow and blanket provided. At the meantime, I did my last minute texting, replying all the messages.  Sharply at 10.30pm, a couple minutes safety movie was shown followed by few announcements.  Then, we were ready to take off!

Minute later, we were up in the air, the city was getting smaller as we were high up in the sky.  The dark sky blinded all the views, the Kuala Lumpur capital city faded slowly from sight. The joyful life, loving family, cheerful friends were left behind and stepping into the world of uncertainty, occupied with strangers.

Thanks to those who came :)

Those moments :)

Friendship doubles your joy and divides your sorrows

We are, but He will help us, Inshaallah