Malaysian Guest

Salam. Hi folks. How are you doing?

Have I told you that we are the only malays in South Carolina all this while? So, we were so exited after found out that another malaysian came to South Carolina last August. Her name is J, still single, taking PhD of Health Physic at Clemson's University.

We are living at different town and studying at different university. The distance between our house is about 120 mi. It takes about 2 hours by car, depending on traffic conditions. Pretty far.. She always wanted to come over to our house since fall break but the public transportation is not really convenient here. They have bad bus schedule. She might be traveling late at night and waiting alone for a bus at the station.

Miss J and Alya at USC

Finally, she managed to visit our house during Thanksgiving holiday. Alhamdulillah.. Her american friend sent her to Columbia by a car. Cool! Just like me, she is the only malay at Clemson. But, one thing I noticed, she was very friendly and warm, no wonder she can make friends easily with everyone. Even in my house, I feel very comfortable with her.

She told me her family knew me and I used to come to their house at Skudai. How come? Apparently, I'm the one who gave her little brother mathematic's tuition when I was studying at UTM. Haha.. Well.. The earth is round. She is jawa too. kekeke :)

Beside pay us a visit, she came here because she want to buy a car. It's much easier because my husband  worked at "bengkel kete" before. After did test-driving of honda civic and toyota camry, she liked toyota camry more. My husband helped her with the car insurance since she has no South Carolina driving license yet. For the time being she'll be using International Permit.

Spacious Toyota Camry

Oh, I forgot to tell you that cars in the USA are cheaper. She bought this Camry for USD $2500 only (second-hand). If it's not because of left-hand-drive, surely I'll buy a good car here and bring it back to Malaysia. Hehe..

Till then.

Mental note: Exam in one month away. I'd rather hit the books!

Fall into autumn

 BISMILLAHI RAHMANI RAHIM. In the name of Allah Most Beneficent Most Merciful.

Autumn at my university

We are now in the middle of autumn season, left out hot summer and deliver to  brisk winter. But americans call autum as fall. It's kind of weird. hehe.. I remember last year when my husband asked me. "Bila down season nak mula?". I confused. "Hah? what? down season?" We laughed. He's actually want to ask about fall season but he said "down" instead of fall. haha.. so funny.

view outside my faculty

Fall is my favorite season. I love the trees changing color, leaves swirling and falling and the cool weather in the air. It's so refreshing! Glad its cooling off, yeah.. summer is very hot and dry here. The temperatures can reach up to 40 degree celcius!

beautiful tree trunk

Everything becomes naturally beautiful with the appearance of the autumn season.We start to wear warm jacket and boots. Waa.. I like boots!

Me walking to the library

I've noticed as the seasons change from summer to fall, and the temperature drop to 0 degree celcius, my body needs to undergo an adjustment. I had a headache, cold, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and itchy skin all over my body for more than one week. huhu..

Whatever it is, Alhamdulillah..

Fall on the Horseshoe

The best time of the year

Till then.

Where it all went wrong

Salam.

Hi peeps. Hope this entry finds you in the best of health and and imaan inshaAllah.

You know, there's a moment that you wish you'd forget.

This was happened last month. Each student in my class had to do a presentation. At first glance, I have no problem with that at all since I had 5 years of teaching experience. 5 years... sound convincing right? Then, came my turn, calmly I walked to the front. I was so enthusiastic. Two weeks preparation helped me to increase my positive attitude and confidence. I started with a smile.

Not even two minutes later, Prof H asked me, "what's the importance of this case to be linearly independence?". "Every mathematician should know this". He added. Silence. Everyone looked at me, waiting for an answer. I seriously don't know. That's in Linear Algebra course. I learned it during my undergraduate seven years ago. Yeah, basically I know the definition of linearly independence but I never asked WHY we need this property.

I felt a little bit upset but I kept moving with the presentation. I tried to cheer myself up. "It's okay, just one unanswered question. It's normal." I said to myself. Then several minutes later, Prof H cut my talk and said "you should tell us about bla bla bla first". "Yes, sure, but that things will be discussed later". I replied. I had something else organized in my mind. Then I talked again. bla bla bla..  and he kept asking me questions couple of times. The presentation underwent so many pauses. Again. Silence. No answers.

Practically, I just presented what was in the text book. But his questions were about something else. Allahu Robbi, *sigh.. Some student flashed a smile at me. It didn't bring any good though.  I don't feel like to present anymore. The presentation went horribly wrong. Prof H looked at me with an unpleasant face. I knew it. I just knew it.

Then there's the phenomenon of me "talking to the blackboard". No more eye contact with audience. My confidence had gone. Oh please.. oh please somebody kidnap me, kidnap me. I wish I could run away. At last, Prof H said " Ok, let me continue your part.. and you can sit down". My face felt so hot. It's so embarrassing. I just want to cry.

Then, at home, I burst into tears. I was so exhausted. I did my work. I gave the best shots. But, it turned out to be disastrous. My husband tried his best to soothe me. My two years old daughter also cried. We hugged each other. Three of us.

SubhanAllah, walHamdulilah, wa La illaha ilAllahu, waAllahu Akbar (Glory be to Allah, All Praise is for Allah, There is No God but Allah, Allah is the Greatest).

The cool part is that even it's bad, the next two days, Prof H cornered me after class and asked "So now, do you have a better understanding about the topic?". "Yes, I do". I replied.


Till then.


p/s: Check out my eyebags. huhu..

keep walking girl..

Eid-ul-Adha 2011

Eid-ul-Adha came again. This is the second year. The atmosphere here is really different in Malaysia. With an autumn chill in the air, we performed the Eid prayer and listened to the sermon at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

First off, let me say I actually don't like the foods there. Call me ungrateful but it's not really my cup of tea. So before we left the house, we had our own breakfast or else we'll starve. I also brought 2 trays of bread pudding to be given to jamaah. Seriously I miss ketupat palas, rendang, lontong, sambal goreng etc. Muahaha.. Anyway, it's not that bad celebrating raya here.

This is Alya, wore her pinkish inner clothes during Eid's morning to keep her warm and cozy.

And this is him in black Levis jacket out of his jubah. He looked so darned smart. :)

I thank the Almighty Allah for His continuous uncountable rahmah given to me in whatever condition. Alhamdulilah.. May this hijrah make us a better muslim inshaAllah and may Allah make it easy for me to finish my study.

Mental note: Exam in less than 2 weeks.

p/s: Dear readers, please pray for us :)