26th July - Sky Blanket

Two years ago after sending my dad off at his check-in counter at Heathrow Terminal 4, I trotted along with my bag in tow for my flight to Egypt (mine was Terminal 3, I think?) and was alone to amuse myself.

So indeed it was soothing that the check-in British Airway officer was young and very friendly with pretty smile some more ;) I get that Britons are polite people, but they are not exactly as amiable compared to the Germans. Anyway, he didn't make me feel awkward and he even asked if I have a preferred seat.

"If you could give me an isle seat, please."

"You sure you don't want the window seat?" His smile reached up his eyes.

"Very sure." I smiled back reassuringly.

"Isle it is."

Isle, because when I took Emirates from KUL to CAI on 2009, I had the agoniest of time waiting for the sleeping person next to me to wake up so I can run for the WC. I don't wake people up for my sake, I believe it is a violation of human right.

I swear I jotted down his name for keeps; forgive me Mr. Awesome.

Dad always pick me a window seat, though. For a short hour journey between KUL and KBR I think it's perfect, especially when it's clear and so blankety outside.





p/s: Speaking of flight attendants, there's this guy named Banter on my Saudi Airway from RUH to KUL who reminded me of Orlando Bloom the very moment I sat glance on him. Good thing he wasn't in charge of my section or I would have been deeply in trouble (hehe).

The crew who tended to us, her name was Fatimah and I couldn't thank her enough for she was prompt and friendly while tending to us. The flight was the first that I was beyond sleepy (if you count out easyJet between Munich and London) and I was holding the cup in my hands while shutting my eyes. But then I felt the cup being gently tugged and I opened my eyes to see her smilingly clearing cups away.

Syaimaa later told me that they had a good chuckle when Fatimah stood awkwardly beside my sleeping form, doubting whether or not to take the cup from me.

Today is My Last 20

1) Sleep well

When you slept for two hours that night, of course you will sleep in and rather in-deliberately missed the 10am appointment. Nevertheless, a 12 o'clock one works out either way.


I blame jet-lag.


2) A Limitless brain is fun

You know how they said, an expert is someone who can simplify the most complex of things? Well as I faced the doctor and had her explain the precautions of taking ICS to me, my inside gleed with the feeling of an oral pseudoexaminer.


3) Sensitivity

"Pa, who's that?" referring to the amiable man greeting my dad, mentioning something about being at the hospital for some diabetic drug. I remembered scrutinizing his physical and decided no, he was not diabetic.

They had a rather long talk while mom filled my prescription.

"He's a sales rep. I didn't know him, but he remembers me."

I think mom chortled.


4) Medical students have among the worst patient compliance

Singulair is easy enough; just pop once at night. But when it comes to two puffs daily of inhalation, it takes another level of diligence.

Thus the turbuhaler lays still in my backpack. Sorry mom self, I'll take it tonight, promise.


5) Maples and Transformers on iTunes!


Do you know, Maple Thief edition is on iTunes? It's less exhilarating than the real MMORPG thus less addicting, making it the better choice for me. And Transformers 3 whipped up a game as well with equally amazing graphic and I am smitten!

I am now not using my iPod as a writing aid, I am now playing games instead. Just until I am bored, really. (Favourite things to do nowadays last for a short one day the max. I study myself, the stats are rather accurate.)


6) Study before you take a leap

I have a book on stocks that dad told me to read before I take another step forward. Problem is I haven't even finish the ones I'm reading and there's three lining up and I haven't started yet on the PDF files we have..

Somewhat troublesome, but here's where prioritizing comes in handy.


7) Twitter kills Blogging

Ideas run low and most of them made up of 140 characters, not much for a dignified blog post. Maybe it is for the best; after all if you have nothing matured, age-appropriate nor thought-provoking (in my opinion) things to share, might as well keep it shut till next time.

Meanwhile, use the time to hone an admirable brain and enviable thinking process. And get ready for Ramadhan :D


p/s: Cool HP PC yeeha!

The Coolest Nine

The conductor said the microbus was heading for Ramsis, exactly where me and Masyitah were heading. It had seat for us two but we needed to sit knee-to-knee with me sitting behind the passenger seat, quite uncomfortable for a distanced journey from Hayyu Asyir.


The microbus was actually packed with two other sisters on their way back to Alex and nine other ustazs. Seeing our discomfort, two of the ustazs gave up their seats and sat next to the driver. So I ended up having the whole row to myself, the window next to me opened with the rush of cool air when the microbus whizzed pass.

Imagine my luck :)

So the ustazs weren't exactly taciturn. The seven behind my seat were discussing their return to Shoubra and whether or not they're returning to Malaysia for the summer. I heard Kelantan accent and wondered if there is a place where Kelantanese weren't around. The two in front engaged the driver in a healthy heated conversation where the driver talked in typical Egyptian style; full-blast in both his speech and hand gestures.

However, the microbus did not stop at Ramsis as earlier advertised. Apparently that was what the conversation was about, and one of the seven ustazs argued with the conductor ("I don't know, the driver decides!") and lastly asked me, "Ustazah, where are you going to?"

Of course they will politely refer to me as ustazah. I knew it was a bad idea to wear baju kurung to Asyir today, it gave people a false idea of my humbleness. "Ramsis, then back to Sayyeda Zainab."

They nodded. The microbus stopped for real at Ahmad Hilmi and we all exited despite the noisy ustazs called out to stay put and not budge in a form of boycotting the driver.

I surmised that Ahmad Hilmi is one of the last station with many microbuses and buses alike stationed and empty. High building rose above us and flyover can be seen from a distance. Unfortunately, I've never been here before thus have no idea of its layout and how to get to the nearest Metro station.

Now what?

The ustazs all went into mushrif mode. Asked each of us specifically where we were heading, and when we admitted we weren't familiar with this place, they told us that "Metro station is behind, over there. Come with us then."

Automatically seven walked in front of us and two walked behind us thus ensuring our overall safety amidst the bustling afternoon crowd. We dropped the two sisters in front of Ramsis train station for their train back to Alex, but not before I had to assure the ustaz that they both know and are used to getting on the train back.

And then we walked.

I've told you I've never been to this place before, right? So I can't help feeling a bit skeptical with where we were heading and sort of hesitated every time we made a turn. But the ustaz behind me assured us that "We're heading to Metro, don't worry."

I also can't help turning around every three seconds to look for Masyi because I always walked at the front when going out with the girls and had to make sure none were left behind (some of the mushrifs we were used to usually left us behind with their long pace and not a glance backwards). But one of the seven; the dark, tallest ustaz with cool aviator shades, Bersih button-badge on his backpack, Bersih tee underneath his shirt and no kopiah (this is the coolest aspect) walked half a meter in front and periodically turned around to make sure me and Masyi were close by.

Amidst the maze of track, they professionally guided us to As-Shuhadaa Station (formerly Mubarak) and helped bought the tickets we needed. The cool Bersih guy then faced us and said, "Till here is okay, ustazah?"

"Yup." I nodded gratefully. "Thanks a lot."

And they went their way towards Shoubra while we entered the Helwan platform.

---

Rokiah the Mushrif Department of JAKSI pestered me all the time because I always forgo mushrif when I go out. Well you can't blame me because who use mushrif for running around under the sun? (Ehem.) And usually I have to go out on the whim and you can't really get mushrif on the spot, unless you call for Safwan or Dinmat from a place one block away; provided they're not busy.

This time, it was under the sun and we didn't even call for anyone but subhanallah, He gave us NINE mushrifs right that moment to ease us out.

I've never thought ustazs can be so cool.

Note Passing in Exams

Here in our medical faculty’s examination hall, your seat is not yours. The name and ID number on the table is not of yours alone, but of at most 5 others you may or may not ever meet. It is the Grand Exam Hall after all.

For ease of reference, let me call my seat mine. It is located on the first floor, middle of the hall and backed to the wall with an outside view of the top of Biochemistry/Physiology Department, green trees and blue skies. It is just a little off from being under the fan but I’m not complaining; I rather enjoy the view that came with it ;)

Last time I checked, which was a few hours ago during our Pharmacology 1 written exam, it has two names on it (before this there were three); one mine and another one is this something guy from fifth grade.

The table was dusty, as expected. What I didn’t expect was someone scrawling on the corner of my name tag in blue pen. Written in a typical Arab handwriting (they have this distinguished swirly penmanship different from scrawny Malaysians’) was a circled number ‘7’ and the sentence ‘F*** u’.

No, it wasn't originally censored.

I swear I did nothing to warrant a free f*** from anyone, least of them someone I didn’t even know existed. I am neat, decent enough to not scribble on the table (the others weren’t!) and not strong enough to dent the metal frame of the table despite my boisterous nature. It was improbable to piss someone by rotationally sharing a seat, right? So the logical reasoning I could come up with was that this guy was pissed with the 7th question on his paper.

He still shouldn’t vandalize my name tag though.

So while waiting for answers to come and a little bored midway through the allocated time, I scratched out his cursing with my blue pen and noted lazily beside it:

Allah will help u
Can u please not curse?!

Note-passing, how cool. It’s primary school all over.

Day 6 – A photo of an animal you’d love to keep as a pet.

This is a stray lurking around my current neighbourhood. A female at that, three months ago it gave birth to three healthy black kittens. I haven’t seen her much nowadays thanks to not staying at my place for the past two months.

From her coat, I like to assume that she’s of the Russian Blue breed. They have short-haired blue-gray coat which with care, will reflect a silvery gray. And they are among the intelligent breed, loyal to their human and can relate to their emotions; if my readings have been correct.

That time when I saw her with her litter, I had a good mind to snuck one of them for my own keep, but their black coat cemented the fact that they were not pure Russian Blue. I’d like a pure one, just for sentimental value.

Pets are as great of a commitment as commiting yourself to another human. You can’t just love it and get rid of it when the pet threw a tantrum or you got bored. As Marilyn Monroe said, “If you can’t handle me at my worst, you don’t deserve me at my best.” I believe that applies to pets as well.

Patience and compassion are a must no matter what kind of commitment you are dealing with. May Allah grant us sincerity to ease us in our life journey.