Cerita-cerita Zainur

As Salam.

I read this poem of Imam Syafie when I watched the video of Allahyarham Ahmad Ammar Ahmad Azam (read his story here). Allahyarham was deeply touched by this poem and indeed, it has given me some impact too, deep inside my heart...

I couldn't agree more with this meaningful words as I reflected this poem to myself now compared to who I was 3 years before (?).

Just look at ourselves now. We're surrounded by family and friends. All familiar faces and places. We are actually in our very own comfort zone. Suddenly, everything changed. We were assigned to a different place. We need to find a new house. with new neighbours. New faces. New roads. Everything is new. And thus we need extra time to adjust and adapt ourselves. 

But new things is always good, no? Though, at first it would be difficult. But, somehow at the end we'll manage ourselves rite? If not, you won't be here today reading my entry ey? It's just the matter of time, I guess. Some people can easily adapt and some will take longer time. But, finally we did it. That's what matters most!

So, what actually changed?

In my case, I have to move from Malaysia to Australia. Indeed, it's a BIG change to me. Totally different country. Different people with different background, culture, language, religion and bla bla bla.... At first it was difficult for me to understand them. Yes, they speak English and frankly, my English is not really good what more to understand their Aussie slang! Gosh! Furthermore, They don't have street stall that sell Malaysian foods like nasi lemak, roti canai, teh tarik, goreng pisang and so on. What more halal foods.  And then, they don't have many mosque or prayer room in every city/ state which make it difficult for me to pray when I need to travel around. And the worst is, (at least for me) they don't have bidet in toilet! It is like nightmare to me! Hahaha.... As I've never been to any Europe/ English country before not even anywhere! Memang katak bawah kaca sungguh!

But, now I'm still survive yeah! Alhamdulillah! My English has improved, I know where to find halal meats and how/where to find a prayer place. My husband and I learn how to cook like Masterchef (our favourite TV's program). In fact I have learned so many new things. For example, I thank the bus driver every time I get off the bus which I never did before. I greet and smile to old people and sometimes strangers whenever I pass by them on the pathways. I recycle things a lot. Learn to say the word 'please' often. Be a good driver on the road -no honking, more patient and considerate to others. Learn to express my thoughts and feelings openly. In fact, I think if Australian people were Muslims, they will be a good ones! There are so many things that make this country much more better than ours. Seriously and no offense guys! In term of concept 'negara berkebajikan' dan 'rakyat didahulukan', Australia mempraktikkan nya and Malaysia hanya sekadar sebuah slogan dan angan-angan(?). Enough said!

Back to the topic, so being a musafir or traveler would definitely make us a better person. We will see, think and act differently. Being more open minded and even wiser.Not to forget making more friends and learn about different cultures. And make us appreciate things even more! And of course menjadi hamba yang lebih bersyukur dan lebih dekat dengan penciptaNya.... InsyaaAllah!

Warghh....seems like the longest entry I ever wrote ey? I was actually wanted to share my latest event with you all but I don't know how I end up writing all this. He he he... So, here goes the pictures of me and my friends receiving an acknowledgement certificate for being a volunteer in many Uni events/programs...

See, if I were in Malaysia I won't involve in such thing. Concentrate belajar je memanjang! But, here in Aussie I've changed (a bit).... and hopefully when I'm back again in Malaysia, I'll keep the momentum and spread the good things to my sisters and brothers of Islam and whole nation... InsyaaAllah!

p/s: Sorry for my bad English, I'm still learning yaww~ 

Hola! (Spanish)

Salut! (french)

Hi! (English)

Hai! (Malay)

Wahh...macam dah kelas bahasa pula jadinya ^_^-V Tapi, seronok tau mempelajari pelbagai bahasa dan budaya. You get to know people. Macam yang Allah sebut dalam Surah Al-Hujurat, ayat ke 13 yang bermaksud:

Wahai umat manusia! Sesungguhnya Kami telah menciptakan kamu dari lelaki dan perempuan, dan Kami telah menjadikan kamu berbagai bangsa dan bersuku puak, supaya kamu berkenal-kenalan (dan beramah mesra antara satu dengan yang lain). Sesungguhnya semulia-mulia kamu di sisi Allah ialah orang yang lebih taqwanya di antara kamu, (bukan yang lebih keturunan atau bangsanya). Sesungguhnya Allah Maha Mengetahui, lagi Maha Mendalam PengetahuanNya (akan keadaan dan amalan kamu).

I'm so lucky to have a few friends from different countries and culture background. Walaupun datang dari budaya dan agama yang berbeza tapi kita boleh respect each other. Kebetulan I'm the only muslim girl, so banyak la juga pertanyaan dan persoalan tentang muslim and Islam itself from them. Walaupun aku ni bukanlah kategori alim ulama ka atau yang tebal ilmu agamanya tapi aku cuba juga untuk menyampaikan semampu yang mungkin. Kerana kita semua ni adalah daei, dan tak perlu nak tunggu diri sempurna untuk menyampaikan kebaikan dan agama because we will never be perfect!

Anyway, saja nak berkongsi gambar dengan teman-teman gue di sini. I'm so gonna miss them one day. Lepas ni boleh la I travel around the world. Hehehe...insyaaAllah aamiin!

Hi ladies, meet Phuong! She's from Vietnam. Very friendly, confidence, supportive, hard working, kind and etc etc etc. She makes people feel welcome. Even though, at the beginning it's hard to pick up what she's saying because she has a strong Vietnamese accent, but after sometime I get used to it. She's doing phd in chemistry and her research is about dengue.

This lady is Hui. She's from China. She just got married here in Aussie. She's doing phd in  IT. Such a simple lady. Can you imagine she's just wearing a t-shirt and jeans on her wedding day! Oh Mak Aii... But, it was a nice celebration and I was asked to propose a toast on her wedding day. It is such an honor. May you guys live happily ever after.





Next is Aynaz. She's Iranian and she's here accompanying her husband doing phd in engineering. She's fun, attractive and also an active person. I think she loves hiking, cycling and exploring thing. She's definitely an adventurous girl! The four of us (Phuong, Hui, me and Aynaz) always do volunteering job for ICIS and we're one of the committee member. That's how we met and make friends.



Next, next are these lovely ladies. Clem and Thanh. Clem is France girl. Get to know her from Hui since they're in the same faculty and are office mate. Her French accent is strong too. Somehow boleh pulak teringat kat Maria Elena yang suka buat French accent! Listening to her accent makes me wanna learn French. Now I have reason to go to Paris! Thanh is another Vietnamese girl. In fact, she's my new colleague but of course we're studying in different area. She's in aerobic digestor whist I'm a membrane making expert (if I could say so!).


I should also mention about Miyoko (Japan), Kaushi (Sri Lanka), Jasmine (China), Wanting (China), Sasi (Thailand), Deborah (Italy), Iciar (Spain) and Zahra (Iran). Sorry girls, I don't have your picture yet. But they're all lovely, friendly and kind. But not to forget my dearest Marcella (Brazil), Cristina (Spain) and Miho (japan) who already back to their home country. Miss you girls so much! Wow, didn't realize that I do make a lot of friends here in ICIS committee. And I just hope we'll stay as friend forever and ever lah! And one day when we're back to our hometown we'll still keep in touch with with each other. Who knows, I might come over and visit you girls!

Have a great weekend!

Last 2 weeks my hubby and I attended ICIS annual dinner. By the way, ICIS stands for Illawara Committee for International Students. Since I'm studying abroad in Australia, so I take this opportunity to socialize as much as possible with other international students including the locals. It's good to know and learn about other people cultures and countries. Plus, you get a bunch of new friends too! And ICIS is one of the platform where you can get involved with all sort of activities among international student around the world and it's free! 

Sis Amy was the person who introduce me to this group when I first came to Ausie. Being a new student especially in overseas is a new challenge for me. I admit that my English is not that good! Even though I scored quite high in IELTS test which is so unbelievable but I could hardly understand or catch up what are these local people mumbling about. Damn! They speak like bullet train with some weird accent. I have to ask them to repeat again and again, word by word which might be kind of annoying for them. But seriously you should know that I'm a foreigner (from the look) and English is not my mother tongue so you have to be considerate la kan? Haha-

But as I join this group and meet these lovely volunteers, I improved a lot. Not only in term of speaking and listening but I also gain more confident. I realized that I'm not the only person who has trouble with the language but there also other people facing the same problem and some of them are much more worse. So I should feel more confident, I guess?.... Heh!

After a few times joining this group and become their 'loyal student', they invited me to be one of their committee member. What a nice opportunity, I thought! So, I agreed and since then I become one of their volunteers and help them organizing a few activities which is fun. I got a lot more friends and I'm so glad. This annual dinner is one of the event that we organized.

These are some of my lovely friends....

And this is unexpected surprise that I got with the rest of ICIS volunteers.... Thank you for the appreciation. I'm touched! Haha- gediks!

To Kel and Pat, thanks for giving me this great opportunity and experience that I will never forget. I will definitely miss you guys when I'm back to Malaysia. (Macam la nak balik esok!) And of course for the rest of my international friends... Hope that we will still keep in touch with each other.