A FORTNIGHT in THE US of A

From KL to Abu Dhabi to New York

My husband and I made our way to New York from KLIA on Saturday, 11 May 2013. We stopped over in Abu Dhabi, spending a night at a beautiful desert resort but were not able to see much of anything as we arrived very late at night and had to depart very early the following day.

13 hours in the plane could have been nerve wrecking if not for in-flight movies and trashy novels I brought along with me. I also got the opportunity to snooze quite a bit and I realized later, how fortunate that I managed to get that much needed rest before the ordeal I had to go through once we disembarked at JFK.

Exhausting Three Hours at the Airport

We arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Sunday, 12 May. Queuing up for over three hours in the immigration line was no joke.  By the time I got to the end of the line, I was ready to scream blue murder!

But everyone who is not an American Citizen or who does not possess a Diplomatic Visa has to go through the same process.  When I saw elderly people and couples with babies and toddlers going through the same challenging situation, it was kind of hard to  keep on griping and complaining.

The airport officers were meticulous, but pleasant nevertheless. It was my first trip to the US after donning the Hijab, so I had some concerns earlier.  But after the immigration checkpoint, everything was a breeze and we came across some very hospitable and friendly Americans from then on.

On the way to our hotel the taxi driver, a Haitian migrant gave us an entertaining commentary of New York, in his quaint accent.  The city he says never sleep. There are some stores that are opened for grocery shopping throughout the night, 24-7. We were surprised to hear that.  We thought only Asian Cities had workaholics and insomniacs. Being a shopaholic I wonder if that would come handy in the days to come.

New York  - I love this City

The day after we arrived, we took a bus from the hotel in Jersey to the City and spent the whole day visiting iconic New York tourist sites, like the Empire State Building, Midtown Manhattan and of course, Time Square. We also posed for photos outside the Broadway theatre, along the streets of the famous Seventh Avenue and familiar backdrops we only see on Television or movies.  According to a magazine I read, Time Square is the world’s most visited tourist venue, with 39 million people visiting this major attraction annually.

Middle Eastern and Indian food were easily available. There were street vendors displaying HALAL logos at almost every conceivable corner.

The following day, we joined a city tour. We learned more about the other four boroughs of the City apart from Manhattan. – Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.  We did not manage to visit all the boroughs though, but had a glimpse of the overall city from the bus. We also explored Lower Manhattan, from Battery Park and South Street Seaport  to the Financial District. We also strolled through Central Park – the man-made park, appreciating the magnificent landscape and observing people from all walks of life enjoy the park in their own special way. Contrary to what we sometimes see from TV shows about crimes and murders happening in Central Park, our guide reiterated that nothing of that sort ever occur in this park. It is one of the safest parks with regular and stringent security patrols to ensure a crime-free space.

Stunning Rockefeller Centre – A Must -Visit Venue

The architecture and design of the Rockefeller Centre is simply spectacular . The center, conceived by John Rockefeller Jr in 1929 was built during the Great Depression, with the aim of churning jobs  to revive the economy for New York during that period.

Today, the complex is a thriving commercial center housing global businesses, offices, shops and eateries. We had lunch at one of the cafes and I must say the Salmon Sandwich was awesome – I can still remember biting into the juicy, perfectly-grilled, fish fillet, covered with yummy tomatoes and  lettuce, which had just the right amount of tangy sauce, mustard and some other stuff I cannot really identify. Anyway, it  was one of best sandwiches in the world,  a close second to my daughter’s “Simply Sandwiches”.

We stopped just for a short while at the site of the former  World Trade Centre. The mood was pensive for all of us.  Later we also got a view of the Statue of Liberty and the guide provided a brief history of the location. It was kind of surreal for us – seeing all the places we only used to watch on TV or movies

Enriching Event in New Jersey

I was  also privileged to attend a special three-day seminar conducted by a US-based Learning Consultancy dedicated to help people create a better workplace through products and services in the areas of training and development, employee engagement, communication and culture change.

The seminar was led by HumaNext President and CEO, Francois Basili who has provided consultancy services for small businesses as well as leading organizations like AT & T, Boeing, Chase, Dell, FedEx, IBM, Intel,  Bristol Myers-Squibb, Pfizer, NASA, the US Army, World Bank, the United Nations and several others.

The best part of the event was meeting participants from all over US, a few from Canada, Nicaragua and one from South Africa.  They were a playful and entertaining bunch who were game for everything when it comes to learning through fun. I learned so much from them as much from the facilitators.

Florida – Like Home for my Hubby

The day after completing the seminar, we flew to Florida.  When we drove to Gainesville, it was like coming home for my hubby, Eldy because he spent part of his formative years there when his father was doing his Masters and PHD in the '60s at the University of Florida. He visited his favorite haunts - from the lake they used to go swimming on the dad’s day -offs to the grocery store his mum did her shopping to the small creek, he and his brother used to catch tadpoles. It was fun to watch him so very excited, looking around reminiscing and pointing out and sharing with us places he thought he would have long forgotten.

Our son Shazmeer who joined us in New York earlier had a whale of a time at the Factory Outlets in Orlando. He got his hands on designer labels and trendy outfits according to him at incredible prices, unheard of, in Kuala Lumpur

We enjoyed the Sheraton Village hospitality, sumptuous offerings at selected eateries and of course, Disney World as well. And before we knew it, it was time to fly back home.

It was a long journey to and from US, but I am not complaining. I would pack up and go again if I had the opportunity – it was such a wonderful, unforgettable trip!

IN MEMORY OF MY BELOVED MOTHER

Passing of a Matriarch

My mum took her last breath at 7.28pm, Malaysian Time on Saturday, 2 February 2013 at our family home in Penang.  She had a long and colorful life filled with triumphs and challenges and she will be remembered by all her fourteen children; more than 50 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

I cannot in all honesty say that my mum and I were really close. I was kind of rebellious and hard- headed in my younger days and my mum’s regimented ways were not something I could accept readily. There were many arguments and disagreements and most times, ended up me branded as recalcitrant and opinionated.  

Did Not want to be Like Her

But the funny thing is that although I have always said that I am never ever going to be like my mum, I find that as I get older, some of her ways seemed to be surfacing in me.  She was always complaining that I was too flighty. My driving was reckless, I was not careful enough. When she was in my car, I had to observe the speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour – that is the maximum. Her ideal was about 40. Some of her incessant reminders that used to bug me included “Don’t forget your prayers ….do it now, don’t delay it.”  This used to drive me crazy because she would not listen to reason – that I had every intention of doing it even without her reminders. She would go on and on…“Keep your room tidy, clear the table, clean the bathroom or kitchen – now!”  These phrases of hers used to make me so mad that I ended up shutting her out at times.

Now that I have children of my own with incredible minds and egos of their own, I know how she must have felt. I humbly accept it as “Payback Time”. Now I realize that her intentions were ultimately to nurture me and help me grow into  a good human being. On hindsight, all the values and attributes I possess which have helped me remain strong, resilient, dependable and responsible have been as a result of my parents’ upbringing. I could not have had a better teacher than my mother.

The Bond that Endures

And the love we had for one another was undeniable. I feel blessed that I had the chance to visit her frequently towards her last months when she was still able to, with some effort eat. I fed her, some times had to trick her into opening her mouth and did all sorts of creative coaxing to make her swallow.  I cherished the time when I cleaned her up with the help of my sister Mimi. The moments when we bathed her and washed her beautiful white hair were particularly sweet. When I recall those beautiful moments, making a deliberate effort to be gentle and patient (constantly reminded and guided by my sisters) because of our immense love for her, it would always make me tearful and thankful to Allah for providing me that  opportunity.

If  the small amount of time can give me such touching memories, I can only imagine the extent to what my sister Mimi feels. Her whole life revolved around my mother.  She was with her everyday until the very end. None of my other siblings and I can say that we have taken care  of our mother as selflessly as she had. Even the way she touches and carry out the daily routine responsibilities for our mother is more like the way a parent would care for her child;  not out of  filial duty but more out of absolute love and devotion.

How I Wished I Had Connected More

I would not have predicted that I could miss my mother as much as I do now. Although I realize that her time was just up, and all of us will come to that, I constantly wish that I had taken more trouble to listen to her. My daughter Shaheera, at the wise-old age of thirteen once reminded me that I should take time to talk to my mum when she observed that my sisters and I were more involved with social kitchen chatters leaving our mum on her own in front of the TV set.  I did make some feeble effort to join my mum a few times but her favorite shows were definitely not to my taste, so I just let her be – it was easier.  Her memory deteriorated rather fast and in 2009, after a bout of fever, she became bed-ridden and her Alzheimer condition worsened.

What I was/am Trying to Do Right

I comfort myself that during the times I visited, I made every effort to be as close as possible. I recited verses from the Quran in her ears, kissed her hand, and asked for her forgiveness. I put my arms around her whenever possible and slept beside her at night, listening to her breathing and snoring. Some nights she talked in her sleep – often mentioning my father’s name or her own father. I remember times when she would take the hand I placed into her palm to her chest close to her heart or to her cheek. It was really moving.

Now I constantly pray that Allah will place my parents among the righteous and the blessed. May they find each other and achieve peace and serenity in the hereafter, AMEN !  

Baby Steps Towards Creating My First Book

Yay…I just got myself a new lap top and it is a Mac. This is where my real writing works will takeoff, inshaAllah.

Believe it or not, I feel something for this machine in front of me. Just after my recent birthday, I had this sudden craving for a Mac Book. I have had several desk tops and lap tops before this, but this really takes the cake. I have never felt that emotional connection with an equipment before.

Now I  realize  why they say people who use Macs are not just mere users ; they are almost likened to a cult group.   From my perspective, this amazing instrument almost have a soul…haha. No, I have not  been suddenly transformed into an Apple Geek. I think in my case, it is a bit too late for that.  It is not a coincidence that I identify with the nickname of  “The Technical  Virgin” until recently. I used to grapple with the most basic of PC functions – panicking at the slightest crises.  Now that I have more time to explore with gadgets and such, I am getting the knack of handling these minor challenges; nothing close to  expert or even independent level of course.  Thank God for the pair of devoted and tech- savvy offspring.  I can still yell for help when something don’t click.

Anyway, to me beautiful though it is, this lap top is just a tool. It is going to be part of  a whole support system which would be instrumental in helping me generate great works of creativity. It is my ultimate dream to be a serious writer and I am going to make sure it turns into reality now that I am officially retired.

Being a combination of a structured and chaotic thinker, I am inclined to set some action plans which would help create the roadmap for me to achieve my dreams. Never mind that I might not stick to it anyway.  Here’s my to-do-list:-

1)    Create time for regular reflection and thinking

2)    Dump or download nuggets in a notebook which should be at hand all the time

3)    Get out of the house – visit places, observe my surroundings, open my eyes, heart, use all my senses, absorb and record mentally or manually

4)    Find a good time to write – choose a quiet place where no one is likely to interrupt my thought processes

5)    Look around for a publisher – online or conventional or both.

Now, I am ready to go…wish me luck please!

MOTHERHOOD & ME

The Joy of Being a Mother

I love being a mother. It is like no other role you can take up. No matter how many books you have read, how many people you talk to and get tips from, how many TV shows or videos you have watched, workshops you have attended, nothing would prepare you for what you will experience as a real life mother. I had never dreamt that it could be so fulfilling to watch two extraordinary human beings blossom in front of my eyes; from knowing or being capable of practically nothing; to becoming more aware of his/her self by the day, growing to be more and more independent, confident and self-assured.

The Challenges Which Accompany Motherhood

With the joy came enormous responsibilities. I am not talking just about the night feeds and toilet training and the sleepless nights due to teething or fever or because they cannot sleep due to having butterflies in their stomach because the next day is going to be the first day of something.

It is about being responsible for someone else’s happiness or wellbeing or both. The decisions you make, the words you use, the tone of your voice, how you react, the tenor of your thoughts mirrored in your expression….everything has the power to make the other person feel encouraged or despondent, overjoyed or gloomy, euphoric or completely desolated. Imagine the power you wield…scary isn’t it?

The Angel or Monster You Have Created

Your decision to breastfeed or not to, your choice of baby food, nutrition, kindergarten, baby sitters, playground, your partiality towards electing peace of mind over creating cranky and disagreeable behaviors will eventually produce favorable results in the long run or haunt you for the rest of your life.

To make matters worse, how that person shapes up psychologically – his/her values, beliefs, perception and perspective of life are very dependent on your inclinations and choices. And all these tendencies drive their thoughts and behaviors and create them into the human beings that they are today.

My Favorite Moments

Even though it has not been hassle-free, I would not have wanted it any other way. I loved every minute of being a mum. Both my children had their own way of crafting nightmares for me. These are some of the milestones which were unforgettable - he became a kindergarten dropout after the third day , she consistently refused to attend school when her favorite teacher was away, they habitually rejected the clothes I chose in favor of their own selection which resembled something from the Salvation Army, she was adamant not to participate at her own birthday party, they insisted on having pets and ignored the responsibilities that came with the fun, at six years old, he went into the principal’s office to complain that he was having a hard life at home because he had to attend school and Quran lessons as well. With my son - the arguments, the constant negotiations and bargains that went on just to get out of chores and responsibilities sometimes made me wonder if I had mistakenly taken someone else’s baby home after delivery. It is all true … I guess that’s what makes them so special.

They are great kids really. Both are respectful, attentive and dedicated to their cause. And most importantly, they are affectionate, thoughtful and loving….most of the time.

My Wishlist

My greatest wish for them would be to see them find success, peace and love. I hope they would give the world their best and grow into happy, wholesome individuals, taking their responsibilities seriously and yet find joy and humor at every turn.

I hope and pray they will remain the way they are and will continue to make the people who love them proud. If they have strayed or would happen to stray from the right path, I hope they would find their way back into the fold. I hope that they realize that there are always people around who are just waiting to give a helping hand because they are worth it.

I thank God everyday for this gift – there is nothing greater in my life than having these two wonderful children. For the two of them, this is my vow – I will always love you - Shaheera & Shazmeer even after I am gone. May you always be guided in the right direction and sheltered from harm and may the grace and light of the Almighty always shine upon you

I love this quote from renowned author Margaret Mead

 "One of the oldest human needs is having someone to wonder where you are when you don't come home at night." That’s why we all have mothers…

PRAYER FOR MY SON

O Allah! make me a son who is a true believer...may his devoutness comes from faith and conviction not remorse or aimlessness.

Fill his soul with “ iman” and “ taqwa” (absolute faith and piousness to the Almighty) and may your light shine on him endlessly and lead him to greatness

Fill his heart with devotion for the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), dedication for his loved ones, affection and gratitude for those who have supported and helped him...teachers, mentors, family members, friends and such

Fill his mind with wisdom and knowledge and may he be blessed with a voracious appetite for learning and insurmountable curiosity to grow into a wiser man

O Allah, build him into a man who will not only hunger for success but views his successes as a way to give back to others and to serve his Maker

May he be guided by the traditions of the Prophet (PBUH) where trust, humility and integrity will be the definitive values and norms he holds fast by

May he be steered to remain steadfast and unfaltering in his goal to achieve excellence; and should he fall or falter, please grant him the strength to remain strong and resilient...

O Allah, make my son into a great leader who will serve his people with love and selflessness; instil in him the values of courage truthfulness and fairness

Lead him along the path of faithfulness and honesty and bestow him the ability to influence and inspire; and helps others not for fame or material wealth BUT for the betterment of humankind

O Allah it is in awe of your Greatness and Glory that I pray fervently for my son to excel in every way; and ultimately prove to be an instrument of your love and light...AMEN

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Before the Calling

My sister Ashikin came back from her Haj pilgrimage in early 2000 and said to me: Your name has been mentioned…I made a special request for Allah to invite you to His House”. Oh, Okay I thought…did not mean much to me then, though I was aware of it being one of the obligatory practices for a Muslim. My husband and I had registered a few years ago, putting in some preliminary funds as a start, without any particular plans.
Years rolled by and we were regularly sending off friends and family members to Mecca and hearing great anecdotes of their experiences which aroused our interest and curiosity, but still we did not actively pursue it. Somehow, a couple of years ago, we suddenly had the urge to go. It was exciting to discover that our turn would come in 2011.

The Journey Began
In 2010 we were invited to attend seminars organized by Tabung Haji , the agency which is responsible for the Malaysian Hajj Pilgrimage Funding and Operations. However, both of us had work and family commitments which prevented us from attending these sessions. When we received the same invitation in early 2011, we did not miss the chance. It all began with attending two to three hour lectures on the Hajj practices at the Kelana Jaya Tabung Haji mosque every Sunday for 17 consecutive weeks. This seminar culminated with a two-day forum at the Shah Alam Blue Mosque which included simulation exercises with a mock Kaa’bah and all the other facilities and requirements in Mecca, Mena & Arafah.

Though all the classes were helpful, there were things we were not really prepared for in the actual exercise. We scrambled to find out more in order to be better equipped. Time flew a bit too fast for us. Before we knew it, it was time to fly. We had so many people giving us advice for the logistics – some say don’t bring much; some say be prepared for everything; some say you don’t need to change your clothes too often ; some say you would not have time for shopping; some say go out and buy everything you need there; and the list goes on. Although we can be classified as seasoned travelers, the mixed messages confused us anyway and we ended up taking some not so sensible advice. But, eventually it did not do much harm – we somehow adapted.

Arriving in Madinah Al Munawwarah
Our first stop was at Madinah Al Munawarrah. We were there for eight days. The first time I prayed at the Prophet’s Mosque, Masjid Nabawi was unforgettable. I was not even thinking of anything in particular. In fact I was feeling a mixture of jet lagged, mental fatigued and lethargy, looking around at the whole place with almost detached emotions as I went through the motion of preparing for the Zohor prayers. But somehow when I started praying, I was overwhelmed with such an enormous feeling of peace and tranquility, I began to cry and could not stop. I had to struggle to prevent the tears from interfering with my recital of the verses in my prayers. Until today, I cannot explain what moved me so much, so fast. This beautiful mosque will remain in a special place in my heart and I pray to Allah that He will grant me a chance to pray in the Prophet’s mosque, time and time again.

Places of Interest
When we were in Madinah we also had the opportunity to visit the famous Uhud Mountains, the holy burial sites of the martyrs of Islam during the days of the prophet, the magnificient Quba Mosque which is located at the site of first mosque the Prophet built with the Ansar clan when he first arrived in Madinah and a few other interesting places.
It is such an amazing experience to look at barren rocks ,hills and desert tracks where the prophet and his companions used to take. And the stories they would be able to tell, if only we can get them to talk.

The First Sight of the Holy Kaa’ba
I don’t think I can ever describe accurately how I felt at the first sight of Kaaba. When you think about it, the Kaa’ba is just a cube-shaped structure measuring an area of over 600 square feet. But the significance of this divine infrastructure is beyond human understanding. How can you describe the way billions are drawn to it every year and for most of us, just at the sight of it can invoke tears of awe, joy, gratitude, harmony , peace, bliss, humility and all the incredible feelings only something related to the divine can incite.

The Experience of Praying in the Grand Mosque
I treasured every single opportunity to pray at the Grand Mosque of AlHaram. During prayer times, the mosque was full to the brim especially closer to the Hajj period, but we always found a place to pray. This is where we meet people from all over the world and for me it was eye-opening and enriching because we saw a perspective of people and their beliefs and inclinations which are different although we are all Muslims. Our favourite spot were normally in the hallway of the second floor, between the pillars and walls close to the King Fahd’s Gate. No matter where we pray, my husband and I made it a ritual to move closer to the Kaa’ba after our prayers. We were automatically drawn to it like a magnet. We end up gazing at this monumental structure with immense feeling of gratitude and love and pray to Allah for all the things that were in our hearts – for the wellbeing of our loved ones – parents, children, siblings, friends and even for the organizations we work for and our country and religion.

Times at Arafah and Mena
Spending a period of time in the mountain area of Arafah is a must-do for the Hajj pilgrims. This marks the place where Adam and Eve were reunited after being separated for two hundred years. This is where we can pray and get closer to the Almighty within the stipulated period and pray for meaningful things which matter most to us. The following nights were spent at Muzaliffah where we stopped to gather pebbles for the “Three Jamrah Throwing” in Mena. These pebble- throwing rituals symbolize our fight against the quest of Satan whose main aim is to divert us from the right path.

Completing the Hajj
To accomplish the Hajj, we had to complete seven rounds of the circumambulation of the Kaa’ba or “Tawaf” . Before doing the tawaf I was worried sick of how I could cope with the crowd and the jostling and pushing but when we were inside, things was not as bad as I had perceived it to be.

Next we followed the tracks made by Hajar, wife of Prophet Ibrahim from the hills of Sofa to Marwah in search of water for her baby Ismail. All in all, we get pretty good exercise once they are all done. People who are not physically fit have the option to be ushered in wheel chairs, so these activities are pretty inclusive.

Winding Down
The next few days we could relax a bit, do some shopping and get souvenirs for people back home. Flying back through the city of Jeddah was unforgettable. We had to wait close to eight hours just to board the plane and airport officials did not feel any necessity to be concerned with the wellbeing of people , even ill or disabled passengers. But we did not allow this experience to spoil our beautiful journey. And truly, for me the journey to the Holy Land was unique - it was transformative, to the extent of which I can barely comprehend what is going on but the little I know of it is that it is close to soul-cleansing, Alhamdulillah.

TURKMENISTAN, LAND OF STARK BEAUTY AND HOPE

Before the Trip

I had a working stint in Turkmenistan for almost ten days. When I tell family members and friends about going there, I was shocked that so many never knew the country even exist. These were some of the responses…”Took Me What??? Where in the world is that? How do you spell it, I cannot find it on the Internet? What …stan again? Are you sure there’s such a place?”

I asked them to look it up on Wikipedia and other google sites. Turkmenistan, formerly part of USSR, is now one of the richest country in Eastern Europe in terms of natural resources. The country is bordered by four nations, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekhistan.

Almost like Home

The best part of it is that Turkmenistan and Malaysia enjoy a special relationship. It is primarily through the relentless efforts of the two nations’ former premiers – Mahathir Muhammad and Turkmenistan’s former president. These two charismatic leaders shared similar aspirations and visions for the country and the people of their respective states. When you first see Ashgabat the capital city, you will find it a haunting replica of Putrajaya. Both are modeled on the illustrious Russian City of St Petersburg. The dome-shaped roof tops, austere white buildings, cobbled walking paths and even the street lights are almost exact copies. Well, that made us ( Irhan , Fathi & I) feel at home even though the sight of police personnel ala KGB agents from James Bond movies we encountered with, every 100 meters gave us some jitters.

Picturesque Backdrop

But elsewhere, the stark beauty of Turkmenistan made it memorable for me, like no other place I have visited before. I was particularly mesmerized by the snow- clad mountains viewed from the plane before we landed. The scenery was so beautiful, it took my breath away. I felt so blessed to be alive to see another one of God’s Masterpieces. I could imagine these magnificent mountains weaved with historical paths and tracks made by conquerors the likes of Genghiz Khan, Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun, Ivan the Terrible or was it the Horrible; if only these mass of rocks and terrains could speak, imagine the stories they would tell!

Even though I did not have the opportunity to visit museums and palaces which I would have loved to, I managed to look at pictures and art pieces depicting legends and folklore and speak to people who could spin a tale or two about them. One cannot help feel that this place must be rich with culture and history.

More than a Job

Our work took us to another town, Turkmenbashi which is an hour away by flight. This is Turkmenistan’s “Pot of Gold” . The small town is located close to the Caspian Sea and is bustling with activities which tap into the country’s Oil and Gas resources. This is the location of PETRONAS’ business hub and although the infrastructure is still in its infantile stage, and the whole area requires major development works, the place is brimming with potential. Even in the peak of winter where the frost and the wind blowing from the coldest part of the continent have the tendency to make you want to curl up in bed and cry your heart out for home, PETRONAS staff – local Turkmens or Malaysians are still looking bright. They go about their work with happy, contented faces as if the foul weather is no reason to be gloomy. I applaud them!

The food for me, was another story. I am not into meat and chicken, and the hotel does not provide fish or seafood for meals, so I survived only on bread, salad and eggs. Pretty good deal if the salad each day was varied and protein like nuts and legumes could have been included, but I had no such luck.

What Went Well

It was not that bad really. A PETRONAS staff from Kuala Lumpur with a heart the size of Asia and Europe put together invited us to his home for a sumptious lunch on our first Sunday. God bless him & his wonderful wife! Some friends took us out a couple of nights for some good food; once to a Floating Restaurant where I got to eat fish and the second time to a PETRONAS campsite. Eating at the campsite dining hall created a nostalgic effect. On the way to the hall, the tantalizing aroma of “mamak” curry beckoned us. On a cold winter night, having had no spicy food for more than ten days, that hit us like the voice of Lorelei to seafarers.

Anyway the trip was extremely meaningful for me. The people we encountered made it worthwhile. They were sweet and welcoming and were learners par excellence. They made us feel like we have contributed to their personal enhancement and managed to add value to their lives. That’s all my pals and I were hoping for anyway. That we have made the journey that far, not only to just do a job but to extend our services to people in the hope of making a difference in their lives and in the process learn more about life too.