Sessang Memory...

This is basically just some writing that I do for you people who went with me to remember.

 

The kick start

It is all begin in the first week of the semester. Having a Monday class I know that there will not be many that would arrive back in campus. Therefore I seize the moment the catch you people unguarded. With only seven person in the class, I gave the first assignment and I expect all (including those who are not there) to do it. What is the assignment? To organize a promotional / public information event. I know we haven’t even started yet with our chapters but that is how I create the fear in students. I believe some of you would hate me for that. Anyway, the next week you presented your ideas and I commented. There are many good ideas (though I disagree with all the groups) but you need to polish those ideas. Once we’ve listened to everybody I asked you to select and discuss with me on your projects.

Group D proposed this project while group C proposed another project. When I was approached to discuss on this project I half-heartedly encourage you people to do it. Why? There are a few reasons:

1.       This project is proposed to be done in a faraway place where there are dragons and dungeons (is it?).

2.       When you need to go far for a few days it means that I have to leave my family for a few days as well.

3.       The cost. The longer it takes you to do your project, the bigger the cost will be.

4.       There will always be the campus area for you to do a promotional project.

5.       I have three other projects ready to kickstart.

6.       If I have to go with you alone, I might not survive more than one day.

7.       There’s no aeroplane to Sessang (I didn’t know heli could go there or else I would hire one).

There are many other reasons that I could create (and I’m good at giving reasons or excuses). But anyway you still proposed and I still sign the application form with hope that:

1.       The program will not be approved; or

2.       It will be approved without budget, will discourage you and you will choose other project.

The approval

When I receive the approval for the project, I started to have nightmares. There’ll be a lot of work to do and a lot to plan. It is time to lay down the blueprint for the project. And as the other project was rejected, it is another burden to carry... to combine the people in the two groups and make sure they won’t kill each other. I consulted Madam Sab and she said if I don’t want any hassle I can ask each group to do separate projects. For the second (or maybe third) time I asked all of you for confirmation that no matter what you’ll commit yourself to the devil who wears Bonia (a.k.a me). Remember our first official meeting in 202 class? I basically conquer everything and list down all the work to be done. Most of you volunteered while others were given tasks to complete. Still by then I’m not convinced that this project could be successful.

The Obstacles

The nearer it is to the date of the more butterflies flying in my stomach. I believe some of you feel the same right? The biggest challenge that we faced was to ensure we’ll be shipped to Sessang. Every week the discussion will lingers around whether we’ll get a transport or not. When we discuss about food, the main issue is transport. In discussion about prizes, again transport became the major challenge. Our entire plan has been delayed by those three alphabets (B and U and S). I know that we’ll get the transport and I know the transportation department wants lecturer to deal with them, yet I still let you people to go and see them on your own. I want you to understand sometimes it is difficult to get things our way. Only a week before we leave for Sessang we get the final confirmation and that is when all begin to form.

When we thought everything will go just fine, other things happen. I got a call from my husband in IMD202 class saying that his mother fell and fainted at home. Her condition was unknown at the time. Going back home, my husband forbid me from going. He said just in case anything worse happen he needs to go back to Pahang and I need to be there with my children. That was the time we start to search for a substitute and that was when my heart being challenged the most and I know now that it is not easy to ask others for a favour.

Praise be to Allah who always listen and granting the best to the believer. I am helpless and at one point of time I feel like asking anybody I could find to go with you people. Suddenly in desperate measure I asked my husband again whether I could go with you. He said okay. Alhamdulillah his mother’s condition was better and he understood that you people are my responsibilities.

The journey

The supposedly five hours journey begin that morning... everybody was excited yet for me I’m going because I have to go with you. There’s no expectation on what’s gonna happen. I said what I need to say and deep inside my heart I prayed that no humiliating incidents would happen to us all.

We arrived at Serian for breakfast, nothing happen... Sri Aman... all is well. We reached Layar, I saw a rest area and a Petronas station. I looked at it and thought if somebody wants to go to the toilet that is a good place to stop. Yet nobody asked. After maybe about 10 minutes leaving Layar, somebody (everybody knows who is that somebody... right syud...) approached me and asked about toilet stop. By then we were stopped by a small accident in front of us. The driver suggested the palm orchard but maybe it’s a bit too scary therefore we end up in an iban longhouse where the villagers were hospitable enough to let the small army with bladder problem to go and release themselves. After that the journey is smoother and the more signboards we saw, the more excited we become.

 

The arrival

Our arrival were like a commotion in the village. Kids and adults got out of the houses, people in the masjid and people on the street were all waving to us and it was a great feeling. I feel relieved a bit. It’s gonna be good. They are giving positive gestures to our arrival. We were then escorted to the school field where we first meet our adopted parents. It was a great experience. It’s been a long while since I meet strangers and going to live with them. There also we meet Mr JKKK.

When we had tea in Eija’s house the mothers had a meeting and they wanted to see me. Me being a shy kitten (as you know me) went with my small troop. They wanted to discuss about the Cultural night... and that is where the drama begin. We told Mr JKKK that we did not want to perform at the wedding and he agreed at that point of time. But they requested us to perform for the Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri and they insisted on dikir barat. Luckily our knight in shining keris was there. Acap took charge to prepare and train u people for the performance. Therefore instead of relaxing and getting to know you family, we are all forced to train for the performance. That evening I know some of you were asked to help with the ramah tamah preparation. Take it as part of our contribution for the villagers. While we were discussing about decorating the hall for our cultural night I’ve been approached by the father of the wedding couple who asked me to still do the performance in their place. I went to the house with expectation that they will understand that we have things to do and being in their event is not part of it. And never in my life I feel so helpless and torn between my respect to the villagers and my own principle. I gave up to him with due respect to the villagers.

Lucky for us that evening we were taken to the beach. My ‘adik angkat and anak saudara angkat’ were having fun while I tried to clear my mind.

I didn’t know that my agreement would create a stir among you guys. I feel so uneasy and we’ve been forced to do something that we don’t wanna do. It was so frustrating. It ended up with Dira and Acap went to the place again to refuse on doing a performance in their place. Again they lost in the fight. So we did what we are supposed to do. Making things ready for the event tomorrow.

 

Ramah tamah aidilfitri, Masterchef, Fashion Show

This is supposed to be our big day. We prepare for the exhibition and performance. I think u guys had a great time that day. Your performance went well (including our Siti Nurhaliza) and the exhibition managed to attract the villagers. I know some of u didn’t eat well that morning but I think that is always the thing when you have events like that.

We then moved to the hall for Masterchef and the Fashion Show. The feedback that we received were overwhelming. Instead of two groups, we received three participations from the villagers. The fashion show and the colouring contest were hot as well. Thanks to our artists, we managed to entertain them and I can see in the faces of the villager that they couldn’t wait for the night’s event. Before the afternoon event, I was approached for another time by the villagers to discuss on our performance that night. And lastly I told them that we will still do our activity in the hall and if we finished earlier we’ll go to the wedding.

The afternoon continues with unexpected crowd in the school field. The sukaneka and the afternoon tea has been again the centre of attention. Everybody doesn’t seem tired and all are enjoying themselves. The event continues with futsal. Though I did not join, I believe it was an enjoyable game to those of you who’ve been beaten by the Kampung team.

The night event was a hit. I did not expect that the hall will be full and everybody was so supportive. Anything we do we’ll get great support and participation. Deep down I know this will encourage all of you to do your best. And you did your best. I’ve never been this proud. It’s been years since I look at my students and I know things will always be good.

 

The farewell

There will always the end of everything. This is the end of our program and the end of our journey here in Sessang. Unexpectedly we were accompanied by our family members. It was so strange and exciting . Though there’s a small incident that spoiled my mood, seeing how hard it was for your adopted family to release you to the bus touched my heart. I know now I did good by taking you to the village and from how they treat you I know that you did well and given the best impression to your adopted family. That is when I couldn’t help it but to shed some tears. Those tears had been held back for so many times before and I suppose that is the moment where I just could not hold it anymore.

Being in one big happy family

I told my adopted mum that she didn’t know that she sign for forty people instead of four. Why? Our house is like a station. Everybody would stop by to have a drink or just to chat. Everybody could go up to our room and find us. And your lecturer suddenly becomes one of you (kakak or adik to some of you). This program allows me to be close with students again. It is something that I enjoyed but I was not able to do it when I was the head of program. And to know that by having that kind of bond it is ok for me to show my concern and even if I want to be angry at what you do you would not feel that offended.

I know some of you would have more time to spend with their adopted family as compared to others. Some were more known and pampered than the others. Well that is parts and parcels of life. Sometimes the more responsibility that we hold, to harder it is for us to mingle around and be friendly. But that does not mean that you are less than other people. It means that you are more special in your own way.

What have I got from this experience? Besides some goodies from the village, I get to know all 38 of you well. One person might be more than the others but let me try to recall each and every one of you and how I remember you in one sentence.

1.	Rashidi	Mr. Coordinator, and my liaison.
2.	Asyraf	As I mentioned, the knight in shining keris.
3.	Amirul	Our transport guy with a smile.
4.	Fareez	Our sports team and acoustic ensemble...
5.	Fathiana
6.	Anizan	I remember the songkok.
7.	Shyheeda	Sometimes three stooges sometimes the three angels (as in charlie’s angels)
8.	Amalina
9.	Nurizar
10.	Alia	Our camera lady (we don’t have a cameraman)
11.	Nafis	Mr steward and Mr MC...
12.	Ein	Our artist... our saviour in a way...
13.	Bella	Our nurse is it? One of the commited from the beginning.
14.	Mona	The one that I concern of... luckily the exhibition went well.
15.	Ira	Ms. Floor manager... I suppose Ms Stylista as well...
16.	Sera	You dance like a cartoon character...
17.	Shahida	Nak tambah sepinggan lagi ... hehhehe...
18.	Syud	Our hidden treasure... my ‘kakak’.
19.	Suri	Our quiet importer... i believe many enjoyed the kuihs from Kelantan.
20.	Tracy	Thanks for spending the whole evening in the kitchen... You two are kitchen goddess
21.	Michelle
22.	Mail	Full of antics... even in the kampong...
23.	Dhail	Anak kampong... budak kecik... and maybe our next tukang karut..
24.	Zul	The guy with no photographs... it’s ok zul. Next time you’ll be the photographer...
25.	Atin	Our Ms. Photographer (see.. no man). Kesayangan mak angkat....
26.	Frank	Mr. Funny guy...and a curious cat as well...
27.	Sahudi	Our ustaz who can dikir well....
28.	Sya	My company everytime I go for a walk to eija’s house...
29.	Mai	My new Eworks.... hehehhe... jgn marah...
30.	Meena	Siapa paling cantik dhail?...
31.	Farrah	The person who supply us with abundance of prizes...
32.	Ain syafiqah	One of the quiet ones... but i know you are there...
33.	Nor	Ms. MC... later we play all the games that we’ve planned ok?
34.	Mila	Antara pelanggan tetap ‘rumah’ kami... nnti kita buat che mek molek yer...
35.	Eija	No words can’t describe how thankful I am to you and to your family...
36.	Stiff	Adik angkat saya yang paling comel... hehhehe..
37.	Liyana	Nanti kita kira duit yer...
38.	Dira	I reserve my comment... hahhahaa...

 

Would I do it again...

If you asked me whether I would do this again my answer is yes. If you asked if I would go with the same group again my answer would be definite. This is something that you, I and all the other members of the faculty should do. This is where lecturers leave their high and mighty status and lift the tables and chair (and not to forget the stove and the boxes) with the students. This is where the students learn that in life things won’t go our way at all time. This is for all of us to learn how lucky we are to be where we are now. And most of all this is where we learn to be thankful for the people around us because without them, we won’t be who we are.

I know some of you did not get much from this program, some might think this is a waste of time and money, but believe me... this is how you learn about life, love and sacrifice. Every little thing that you did have changed you for a better... and every single person that you met might have left a little mark on your heart. Whether you want it or not. This is something that you need to know and I’m telling you this not only because you are my students... it’s because I care... (I feel like PM now.. IM4U heheheh...)

I’m sorry if I have offended some of you. I’m sorry if I teased you more than others. That is just me. That’s how I show my care and concern. That’s how I show my compassion... these are things that I couldn’t and wouldn’t do in that square boxes called classroom... but trust me, I do it because I care more about you than the others... and remember, we can always be buddies outside the classroom...