Will be missing them very much...

I will always treasure this little face. Cheeky smile, radiant eyes, beautiful dimples…

His name is ARS. His father – a Ph.D student whom I co-supervise. His father S, has just passed his viva with flying colours, Alhamdulillah…

What is so special about ARS, his father, his mother and 2 other siblings?

As a start, they are from Gaza, Palestine. Let me share the story. The beautiful moments, the opportunity that Allah gave my husband and I, to be able to get to know them, to interact with them, to share meals with…and many more…

And then, it is their hospitality, humbleness, steadfastness and piousness. I have been to their abode a couple of times. Each time, Samy’s sweet wife R, would prepare sumptuous food. So delicious that I have asked recipes from her. Delicious spreads on the table and healthy food too! No oil, no frying. Just baked, boiled or prepared fresh…

We were there for iftar during Ramadhan last year. I felt very humbled, the fact that S and R are able to maintain their wudhu’ (ablution for prayers) for hours on end. While my husband and I had to wash and take our wudhu’ for prayers, S and R were ready with the prayer mats all laid down. Deep down, I felt a little ashamed… While ARS and his elder brother M would follow behind S and my husband who led the prayers, R would be holding little baby N on her waist while we did our prayers together. N sort of understood that her mum was doing the solat, while ruku’ and sujud, clasping awkwardly on to her mum, quietly…no complaints…unlike other babies we normally see…crying their hearts out while mum is praying.

I did ask S how he would be able to cope when he gets back home. Here, all the facilities are well provided for. S just shrugs his shoulders and would say, “We will get by. We are used to it. The children will be trained in time. There, water supply is only a few hours per day. Electricity too, only 1 hour a day. But, never mind, no worries, we will be able to cope, Insha Allah.” I just cannot imagine. I realize that we are really spoilt and taking things for granted here in Malaysia.

S’s presence here at the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, USM Engineering Campus, has brought me much joy. After all, it is very seldom that you get to receive from students whom we supervise, right after any consultation sessions, messages such as “May Allah bless you, my kind Dr.,” or “Thank you very much for your doa. May Allah bless you and your family.” What more coming from God fearing and very highly motivated Palestinians. Whenever, I do receive such messages from S, I would respond with frantic “Amin, Amin”…May Allah grant all the good wishes he has sent…

S has finally wrapped up his thesis correction a few days ago. It was refreshing to note that the internal and external examiner’s comments were very good – “Reading the thesis was a pleasure, well written, no grammar mistakes, clearly explained.” Most Middle Eastern students’ theses are a headache. Mainly because of their poor background in English and another fact – most are quite stubborn to accept advice and criticisms. Especially when the supervisor is a woman lecturer. But not S, who was a fast learner and very receptive to comments.

When S was asked by the Viva Chairman right after his viva, “What will you be doing after this? Getting a job here in Malaysia?”

S answered with a beaming smile, “I will be going back. My country needs me.”

Straight answer and very succinct. He knows and is aware. His sense of purpose of coming here. And never forgetting his roots.

And so, it is with great pleasure and I share the happiness of his success. However, having to come to terms with the fact that I have to let S and his family go, a little sadness creeps in my heart. Will our family get to see each other again?

One thing is for sure….I will miss the company of this family, S’s humble inquiries, questions and his thirst for knowledge, R’s wonderful cooking and…ARS’s beautiful, sparkling eyes and glowing smile…

May Allah bless the whole family and protect them when they get back home to Palestine and its people too. Grant them their long awaited freedom..Amin Ya Rabbul Alamin…

A Breath of Fresh Air...

It has been such a long time that I have not updated this blog of mine. So much paper work. The never-ending number of theses to be read as an external and internal examiner. As soon as I completed, then another arrived... Postgrads to supervise and to stand in during their vivas…

Pressures of living up to be an academic in a university chosen to spearhead the APEX programme is really taking its toll…And most recently, we thought that ever since USM has been upgraded to APEX status (for information on this, it is here and here) then the number of undergraduates would be reduced. That was what we thought..until last week. The new enrolment in September 2011/2012 session for our school (School Electrical & Electronic Engineering – NOT other schools) would be at least 200! Horror! That would be just like the small creeks Down Under bursting at their brims and river banks – hence the devastations and floodings…How could and should people like us in the department keep up? We would be stretched to the limits. God forbid, please…

Just recently, I had 1 more Ph.D student registering under my wings – I could not remember agreeing to this in the first place. While in a state of blurriness, another one showed up at my office doorstep, showing me his registration letter as yet another of my student….But of course, it is not always grey skies. Once in a while, it is so heartening when you supervise students from Palestine especially – with their good manners and sincere prayers (doa) for Allah's blessings bestowed upon their supervisors whenever we try to help as best we can…(will share some of these stories later…)

And so, when a group of young girls (from various colleges around Tg. Malim, Banting, Shah Alam and KL) decided to come over up north for a little bit of sharing and to spend the night filled with spiritual and motivational activities – one of the initiatives under IKRAM (formerly known as JIM), I was thrilled. They were more than welcomed to my humble abode in Ipoh. All 30 of them will be flying off to Germany, Ireland and Australia (doing Engineering, Medicine and Biotech) as early as July, as late as January 2012.

I was glad too that an ole' friend of mine, Yati could also spare some time with us over the weekend. We had such wonderful moments, sharing our past, more than 30 years’ of experiences in the UK (I was in Sheffield while Yati was in Cardiff). The good and not so good ones..The good ones – for them to emulate, the not so good ones – hopefully these new breed would be wary of…

The whole bunch of girls had some morning activities..some tazkirah (reminders presented in a chicken soup for the soul kind of way..using the multi media - these young folks of today are ever so creative, I learnt something new then and there...) and I shared my motivational talk which I usually do share with my own first year students once in a while. About focusing on their target and never to lose sight of their goals, about the true meaning of success and the roadmap towards it, about discovering their full potential and then harnessing their talents….Most important thing of all is that both Yati and I stressed the importance of remembering the sacrifices of our elderly parents and kins, about preserving our own identity as Muslims and our faith – to safeguard them as precious pearls – especially out there where ‘prying hands’ are always everywhere trying to take it away from our hearts…

I have uploaded these pictures here so that these young girls will always remember the good moments that we shared together…I pray that they will accomplish all their dreams..and may Allah bestow upon them success and make things easy for them in their pursuit for knowledge…Amin.

PS. I thank my other half for making all the necessary arrangements for the instant meals (tea break, dinner and breakfast) that he purchased from the eateries around our place. In so doing, our weekend programme went smoothly without a hitch…My gratefulness to Mumtaz of UTP and Ain Nasim for making this possible. Thank you for giving us this opportunity to sow some seeds of goodness…May Allah accept our good deeds..Amin…