Past

Isn't it amazing how small insignificant things around you takes you back to reliving your own memory? It's 1am, raining very heavily outside this bedroom window of mine. I'm doing work with my stock photos, going through my travel photos one trip at a time and feeding my ears with melodies of my pick while at it. 

This downpour; it brought me to that day in Budapest where it rained all day and we bought umbrellas from that little subway shop. We walked around the city and looked for that grandeur book cafe in the evening. Alas succumbing to paracetamol from the wet and cold i had to endure. I remember all the details of that tiny hostel backpacker. That lovely Ferris wheel, the crossroads, the quiet parks and the huge wooden door and scary flight of stairs to our place. It was simply beautiful. 

These tunes; it took me to winter 2012 where we were really young. I had no worries, all the problems in the world seemed minute. I thought i could spent those money i had and never go broke. These songs remind me of my childish, carefree self with my companions. That night when we had the whole train coach to ourselves. We sang, we ate, we talked and suddenly snow was falling. We watched in awe as the mountains got blanketed with magic soft white powder. That night we slumbered ourselves with warmth though it was literally freezing. We had the time of our life. 

Life is a time machine, I was once told. Memories are there for us to go back in time. And hope, is what future looks like. 

Nostalgic person I am, I appreciate every little things. I used to find meanings in small surprises and tiny wonders. But it stopped working that way.

I guess we're all a lil bit (if not more) harder to please these days. Well..

Open

It's been a long time since i had a very busy weekend. Last 2 days were one of it. I hated the whole idea of having back to back events and jobs but i did it anyway (although with the usual "why did i sign up for this" prior to every single events). 

It was filled with a little bit of hesitant at first when I had to replace a Math tuition class early in the Saturday morning. It was then a little inspiring at the poetry event at ss15, worked a little sweat and pulled some muscles at the netball tournament and the productive weekend was wrapped up with the soup kitchen i volunteered in. 

1. Malaysian Poets Society 7th recital

I was supposed to be there as Sarah's plus one. But i was an hour late because i had to send my sister to Putrajaya lol. Nonetheless i made it in time for her recital and a few other speakers despite missing some really good ones earlier on. I got to meet Sarah's brother, Atiff and their cousin Nabilla and her boyf joined us in this fancy "secret" cafe Jibril afterwards. 

The crowd was what i expected, the upper class novice English speakers. Just like old times during my English debate and public speaking tournaments. I mingled with a few but most of them were too cool for our league so we didn't really mix around lels. 

Anyhow listening to them recite (and even bawling their eyes out) made me realize how emotional writers really are. I used to write poems and short stories way back when, I had really good connections with my own emotions and vomit them out on the papers. But I guess that talent of mine went to vain and buried along with those emotions. 

Sarah wanted to collab for the next recital. I probably should pick up the pen and try to start writing again. 

2. Karnival Sukan BSP 

The nerves before the game was too overwhelming. I've always known i'm not a good athlete and i don't really have that competitive nature to always fight to win. I never have a niche in any sports (except equestrian during ancient times), but i love playing sports. It's like you battle with your mental as well as your physical ability. And i envy people who has rly good sports ability. I've always wished i played sports from school but i didn't. Alas, we didn't even make it to the semis. Which was fine, i was already tired lol. 

Oh and i played with my sister for the first time ever in the same team. She is obviously a much better player than me despite being much older haha. 

3. PERTIWI Soup Kitchen

The highlight of my weekend indeed. This, is what i've been dreaming of doing ever since i set foot in the humanitarian scene. And it was so so much better than i expected. They were super systematic, they wasted no time, they had very good crowd control, they didn't drag the whole program and i legit love these people already.

The beneficiaries lined up rly well and we were assigned our tasks very efficiently (there are even runners for the blind/handicapped/elderly). I was given the task to give out packet drinks and biscuits. With a very clear instruction, only 1 per person, no more no less. 

In that sea of people, one of the beneficiaries asked for an extra pack of biscuit. It was just a simple pack of chocolate biscuit, nothing fancy at all. But i told her off nicely that we can only give out one pack per person otherwise it would be unfair to the others. She went on with the line. Little did i know that she went to one of the regulars and demanded for an extra pack of biscuit and another cup of coffee. And that was went the commotion began. This is a normal scene, the kids from Sekolah Jalanan ChowKit do this all the time. But this is the first time ever i heard adults screaming, but thankfully it was nothing more than just verbal hysterics. It's sad, to be mad over just a packet of biscuit that is probably no worth in my household. But rules had to be enforced strictly to maintain safe environment for the volunteers. 

We then moved to another stop at Kota Raya. I met up with a couple who brought their daughter to volunteer together. It was a nice sight, this is what I picture my future family would be like.

And this is Amy, Aishah's roomate back in Melbourne. She's a regular at PERTIWI and even met her husband here. They continued volunteering together until now. 

This is Aunty Munirah, her heart is gold. I really aspire to be like her one day inshaAllah. I can't wait to be back and volunteer at PERTIWI again.