Thank God for the little things that go un-noticed

We should appreciate life.

In saying so I just wish that many Malaysian will thank God that we are born in Malaysia. The life might not as good as in Japan or USA. Money may not be as much as the two countries have. Our politics probably not as mature as other countries. Safety level in term of crimes is nowhere near Japan. We, Malaysian, may short of many good things in life. Nevertheless, we should thank God.

I have been here not long, just past 3 years and yet I have experiences countless typhoons (the recent one, Typhoon Melor, yesterday) and small earth tremors. Every 3 months, I have to adjust my life according to the weathers, be it autumn, winter, summer and spring. Clothes change every time. Food changes just the same, so the diseases such as flu or allergies.

Malaysia, to say the least, have never experienced earthquake like the one Indonesia or Japan did. Not even the typhoon like Myanmar had. And the weather permits us to wear the same clothing throughout the year. We are very lucky in that sense. Let's work together as Malaysians to make things better from the one that we have now. We can make Malaysia another heaven on earth, beside Suzhou and Hangzhou of China.

Utopia world

It was quite sometimes that I wrote about anything of Utopia land. Lately, I joined a group of players in IRC chat forum. Most of them are Aussies, few from Malaysia, a lady from Singapore and some hailed from New Zealand.

They are a nice bunch of people who tried to make themselves look like a nasty type of people, but the truth is they are nice. Some of them are married with kids and in real life are very responsible people who love their family so much. It is just that in the game they tries hard to lure another kingdom for war by being bad and saying bad things. Back in the IRC chat room with the members, they are helpful and try hard not to step on each other toes.

This is one of the activity that I love doing which get me out of the real world.

Walking in the rain

Off course I used the umbrella. It was just that I thought of the romanticism factor walking under the umbrella in the rain in Japan.

The rain drops on the the umbrella, tick-tack tick-tack. Alone but not lonely. Strolling along next to the busy street but no sound beside the tick tack. People with the umbrellas bustling away like moving mushrooms. People with bicycle stop here and there to give way. The mind wondering. The water made it all look fresh. Even the ground smell fresh. And I feel alive again, like having a first shower.

By the way, it was autumn here. My last autumn in Japan. Indeed I am going to make it the best autumn. Smell the fresh air and love the life. Stop, look around, listen to the bird singing a happy tunes and then start walking again. (^_^)

The way to be....

I must admit that the previous post was written in the midst of unsettled mindset of mine. It was something that come straight from heart that was full with anger. Nevertheless, it did not represent me as a whole. Only a bit of uncontrolled emotion which came out unfashionably.

The last few days three of VIPs from USM came and visit Tokushima University. I had a chance to meet and talk face to face with the Deputy Vice Chancellor of USM, Prof Shukri. Personally, I think he is a good man and a good academician as well as a good administrator. He made everyone who come into contact with him fall under his spell of charm and sweet talk. He showed the ability to be a good diplomat with a broad understanding of humankind. Being an academician, he posses a skill of making people understand his point of view without being out of touch of the reality. At time, I can saw that he was tired of the endless activities prepared for the three of them, but not once he lost the coolness.

Having him here together with the other two VIPs was a great pleasure. It was like to be able to stand high with the Japanese academicians. I am proud to be part of USM because he is one of them.

My teacher once told me that the best way to study is to listen, to see and to then to practice.

Amarah di majlis hari raya

Seharusnya diplomasi menjadi tunggak hidup apabila kita hidup di kalangan masyarakat berbilang kaum atau dari pelbagai negara. Lidah seharusnya menjadi lebih lembut atau sepatutnya ditapis setiap perkataan yang lancar keluar dari mulut yang mulus. Kesilapan sedikit pasti akan dapat mengundang pelbagai rasa. Pepatah melayu yang berbunyi, 'Terlajak perahu boleh di undur, terlajak kata badan binasa' atau 'Kerana nila setitik, rosak susu sebelanga', kedua-duanya memberi amaran akan buruk baik setiap perbuatan atau perkataan perlu ditimbang dengan penuh ketepatan.

Senario1
OrangA: Chena, saya mau undang Chena ke majlis Hari Raya di rumah saya.
Chena: Baiklah, saya akan datang.

Senario2 - Rumah OrangA dipenuhi teman-teman senegaranya. Sementara menanti teman-teman yang lain, mereka membuka bicara. Suami OrangA membuka tajuk bualan.
Suami OrangA: Kenapa tidak dipakai baju batik?
Teman1: Ngak ada mas, di sini.
Suami OrangA: Batik kita kan sudah mendapat pengikhtirafan Unesco.
Teman2: Iya mas.
Suami OrangA: Kita sudah berjaya....hahaha!
Chena yang mendengar sedari tadi hanya terdiam. Dalam diam dia mengundur diri dari rumah OrangA. Hatinya terusik dengan ucapan-ucapan yang kini kedengaran makin jauh. Majlis raya yang seharusnya di sambut meriah dan penuh kesatuan itu kini hanya menjadi majlis yang penuh kemarahan Chena. Dia berazam tidak akan ke rumah OrangA lagi.

Setiap manusia punya hati dan tahap kesabaran. Dikalangan 15 orang tetamu tadi, Chena hanyalah seorang tetamu dari negara tetangga. Dia sudah berteman selama 2 tahun dan saling menghormati. Namun ketelanjuran menghormati tetamu adalah sesuatu yang Chena tidak dapat terima.

Earthquake - Sumatra

Japan and Indonesia are a couple of countries that often had earthquake. Since my stayed in Japan, I had experiencing some small tremors. The last one was during previous Ramadan. It happened in the night almost 11pm while I was alone the laboratory preparing PowerPoint presentation for Niigata's conference. The shake was quite obvious that I did stop the work and look around, worrying that it might become bad. Thank God that it last only after 30 second or less.

However, it was never the same with the quake that took place in Sumatra the last couple days. Yes, I did felt a little belittle with 'Sapu Malaysia' campaign carried out by a few Indonesians. Though it do not involve me directly but then again, I am Malaysian. Being a Malaysian make me proud and having heard people talking bad about Malaysia will definitely leave some impact somewhere on me. Called me whatever you want, but I think that is my way of showing patriotism.

Nevertheless, life is more meaningful then hatred. Life is more powerful then the agendas of a corrupt mind. Looking at the pictures of Padang after the quake touched my heart. The teary eyes of a mother with a child on her back talk louder then a burned flag. The picture had managed to tug my heart and I cried for her. I pray that all of them will be safe. I pray that they will have enough foods, drinks and medicine. Let it be no more death of a family member to anybody. Pain of losing a house is nothing compared to the loss of a soul, let alone a dear one.

Truth behind news- a thought?

It is not my usual stuff to think about economy. For a person who does not even think about her monthly budget and never thought about the next source of income rather then the one that she has, this is obviously not worth a reading. Nevertheless, I really care about Malaysia’s strategy of embracing the ever changing pattern of world economy. In layman term, I am worried if Malaysia is still live in denial. By denial, I am saying that we, Malaysia are not as good as the newspaper make us to believe that we are. And by doing so, the media is only saving face of some politicians but in a long run, it is the people who will suffer.

Media plays a role in educating people. I read newspaper everyday since I was studying in primary school. Reading newspaper developed my mind and thinking in a way that teaches me not to believe everything that was thrown at you. Being suspicious of every information make me curious of the reality behind every news. Don't get me wrong, it was the newspaper man himself who let the cat out of the bag.

It was early 90’s; one of the important mainstream newspaper's men who was then retired (and since had went to met his Maker) gave an account of his early days as a journalist. On one occasion, he said that he was asked to increase numbers of participants coming for a political gathering from 5 000 to 50 000. This information stayed in my memory up until now.

Again, I am not against any politician. I believe that I have come to term that we can agree not to agree. Politics in Malaysia at this moment is not at the virtue of helping people but more towards personal achievement. If not I will not read in the newspaper (again?) that some of our actors with no education background (but with strong political background) talking about entering politics. As if their family connection is a big ticket, then nothing can stop anyone becoming a Perdana Menteri in Malaysia. And we will all should pray hard that God will really help the people and save Malaysia.