Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Jumpa diSawi
Assalamu ‘Alaikum,
Jumpa di Sawi
If I am able to utter that phrase to my beloved as we enter our Giant Supermarket then Alhamdulillah things must be back to normal; we have arrived, and fully regained our previous life in Malaysia after being abroad for so long. For those for whom Malay is not the mother tongue, Sawi is a popular Malaysian vegetable and ‘jumpa disawi’ means “meet you at the vegetable section, in particular where the sawi are displayed for sale”. I am the minister in charge of fresh meat and vegetables whilst the wife handles all the tough decisions like which brand of washing powder and what scent for the clothes softener.
I have always said to my wife that “Jumpa diSawi” would have made a good title for a local Malay drama or even a novel, a simple, easy to read one of course, telling the life of a simple Malay family. Like when we were intrigued to hear that good songs begin with the tune first, followed later by the lyrics, so do some stories I believe where the author begins with the title line, into which is then weaved a suitable story. Perhaps some personal literary secrets are being revealed here.
Yes the eldest girl is coping with standard one Agama school in the morning and standard one Kebangsaan school in the afternoon compared with the one session school in Riyadh before this. Always with a smile of course fearing that Papa would again make the decision to work abroad. Kids somehow love Malaysia too much, something to do with the country of course but also belying the fact that the extended family is here. Of course the waterfall near Tok Aboh’s kampung and rambutan trees near Tok We’s house in Besut does compute into the picture together with the indomitable trio of Langkawi, Cherating and the untold excitements of Papa’s village of Lenggong. Zahir have got his long time wish to go to school whilst Adila is developing into an ardent fan of Solehah and Aqso and Madinah of Indonesian fame on Malaysian TV. I remembered the days when we were overseas wondering whether and when we will regain our previous life in Malaysia. For those of you who are still abroad I hope this story doesn’t pain you too much, just count your blessings and remember how sweet vacation at home is when you are stationed abroad.
Talking about school, Papa also goes to school now but only at nights and on Saturdays. I have enrolled for a Masters degree in Islamic Banking and Finance at the Islamic University in Gombak. Since no one is rushing to offer Papa directorships anywhere, Papa needs a pension plan for old age, and that would be to teach Islamic Finance. Actually that has grown into a personal passion and designing Islamic Finance Courses a happy hobby. However what thrills me with this decision is my long awaited encounter with Syariah subjects. I enjoy it so much. Istihsan and Istishab are no longer male Arabic names for Papa and Ahlul Rai is not a Jeddah football club whilst Sadd Dhara’i is not their lead striker. It is the missing piece in Papa’s life jigsaw puzzle; learning Syariah on the job as an Islamic banker is not the same as formal study in class. In Muamalat there is lot more to Ijab and Qabul than the nervous expresson we all once made in the masjid a long time ago; or twice or more for the naughtier some. Papa’s campus was originally located in a beautiful Spanish-like building near the old Sri Perdana in Damansara Heights. We were informed this used to be the former home of ISTAC, the Islamic Thinkers Group. Designed by a well known Professor the buildings come together with a 400 year old tree that gets more medical attention than the average folk, albeit from a tree doctor of course. However for the current semester a recent decision was made to go to the main campus in Gombak whilst renovations are being done to create larger lecture rooms in Espana. Now Papa is a matric card carrying member of a local U. Doing my first Maghrib at the UIA mosque it felt I was back in Arab land with the international mix of the jemaah, Bosnians, Palestinians, Zambians and all. It is so good to be a student again lugging your haversack here and there as if without a care in the world. Mine is a full time 2 year Course where lectures are 6pm to 9pm for 3 weeknights and Saturdays 9 to 5. On Saturdays we will be joined by the part timers who have to do 4 years of Saturdays. That’s dedication for you. Wife said do it full time as 4 years of missing Saturdays is just too long for the 3 growing kids. On Saturdays we will be joined by the lawyers, newspaper editor and an Assistant Governor of the Central Bank amongst others. Lectures are lively sessions I tell you, where shyness to talk in class is not an issue with these professionals. When to stop and let the lecturer proceed is sometimes the bigger issue. The Algerian lecturer said he enjoys our questions, I looked straight at him and do believe he means it. There is also a business journalist girl from Singapore who said she will do a piece on me to promote a Course I will be delivering in Singapore in late October. Like politicians any publicity is welcomed in my line of work. Teaching actually is not unlike a politician’s job. You have to make politically correct statements to your audience all the time although occasional deliberate lapse in this area is decidedly a teacher’s privilege.
Can’t write too long this time, really have to start on the group assignment that carries 70 marks overall. That’s another thing this long time British trained person needs to adjust to. No more last minute mugging, for the life or death final exams, which skill many of us have developed to a fine art. Nowadays final exams only carry 30 marks. Really have to find out what this thingammy CGPA actually means.
Wassalam,
Zahid
Jumpa di Sawi
If I am able to utter that phrase to my beloved as we enter our Giant Supermarket then Alhamdulillah things must be back to normal; we have arrived, and fully regained our previous life in Malaysia after being abroad for so long. For those for whom Malay is not the mother tongue, Sawi is a popular Malaysian vegetable and ‘jumpa disawi’ means “meet you at the vegetable section, in particular where the sawi are displayed for sale”. I am the minister in charge of fresh meat and vegetables whilst the wife handles all the tough decisions like which brand of washing powder and what scent for the clothes softener.
I have always said to my wife that “Jumpa diSawi” would have made a good title for a local Malay drama or even a novel, a simple, easy to read one of course, telling the life of a simple Malay family. Like when we were intrigued to hear that good songs begin with the tune first, followed later by the lyrics, so do some stories I believe where the author begins with the title line, into which is then weaved a suitable story. Perhaps some personal literary secrets are being revealed here.
Yes the eldest girl is coping with standard one Agama school in the morning and standard one Kebangsaan school in the afternoon compared with the one session school in Riyadh before this. Always with a smile of course fearing that Papa would again make the decision to work abroad. Kids somehow love Malaysia too much, something to do with the country of course but also belying the fact that the extended family is here. Of course the waterfall near Tok Aboh’s kampung and rambutan trees near Tok We’s house in Besut does compute into the picture together with the indomitable trio of Langkawi, Cherating and the untold excitements of Papa’s village of Lenggong. Zahir have got his long time wish to go to school whilst Adila is developing into an ardent fan of Solehah and Aqso and Madinah of Indonesian fame on Malaysian TV. I remembered the days when we were overseas wondering whether and when we will regain our previous life in Malaysia. For those of you who are still abroad I hope this story doesn’t pain you too much, just count your blessings and remember how sweet vacation at home is when you are stationed abroad.
Talking about school, Papa also goes to school now but only at nights and on Saturdays. I have enrolled for a Masters degree in Islamic Banking and Finance at the Islamic University in Gombak. Since no one is rushing to offer Papa directorships anywhere, Papa needs a pension plan for old age, and that would be to teach Islamic Finance. Actually that has grown into a personal passion and designing Islamic Finance Courses a happy hobby. However what thrills me with this decision is my long awaited encounter with Syariah subjects. I enjoy it so much. Istihsan and Istishab are no longer male Arabic names for Papa and Ahlul Rai is not a Jeddah football club whilst Sadd Dhara’i is not their lead striker. It is the missing piece in Papa’s life jigsaw puzzle; learning Syariah on the job as an Islamic banker is not the same as formal study in class. In Muamalat there is lot more to Ijab and Qabul than the nervous expresson we all once made in the masjid a long time ago; or twice or more for the naughtier some. Papa’s campus was originally located in a beautiful Spanish-like building near the old Sri Perdana in Damansara Heights. We were informed this used to be the former home of ISTAC, the Islamic Thinkers Group. Designed by a well known Professor the buildings come together with a 400 year old tree that gets more medical attention than the average folk, albeit from a tree doctor of course. However for the current semester a recent decision was made to go to the main campus in Gombak whilst renovations are being done to create larger lecture rooms in Espana. Now Papa is a matric card carrying member of a local U. Doing my first Maghrib at the UIA mosque it felt I was back in Arab land with the international mix of the jemaah, Bosnians, Palestinians, Zambians and all. It is so good to be a student again lugging your haversack here and there as if without a care in the world. Mine is a full time 2 year Course where lectures are 6pm to 9pm for 3 weeknights and Saturdays 9 to 5. On Saturdays we will be joined by the part timers who have to do 4 years of Saturdays. That’s dedication for you. Wife said do it full time as 4 years of missing Saturdays is just too long for the 3 growing kids. On Saturdays we will be joined by the lawyers, newspaper editor and an Assistant Governor of the Central Bank amongst others. Lectures are lively sessions I tell you, where shyness to talk in class is not an issue with these professionals. When to stop and let the lecturer proceed is sometimes the bigger issue. The Algerian lecturer said he enjoys our questions, I looked straight at him and do believe he means it. There is also a business journalist girl from Singapore who said she will do a piece on me to promote a Course I will be delivering in Singapore in late October. Like politicians any publicity is welcomed in my line of work. Teaching actually is not unlike a politician’s job. You have to make politically correct statements to your audience all the time although occasional deliberate lapse in this area is decidedly a teacher’s privilege.
Can’t write too long this time, really have to start on the group assignment that carries 70 marks overall. That’s another thing this long time British trained person needs to adjust to. No more last minute mugging, for the life or death final exams, which skill many of us have developed to a fine art. Nowadays final exams only carry 30 marks. Really have to find out what this thingammy CGPA actually means.
Wassalam,
Zahid
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