Signs of winter coming

Growing up in a country with 2 seasons, it's not really automatic for me to adapt to the changing of season in this 4 seasons country.

Just imitating people is not easy, since what's warm for them is cold for me.
So people usually will already be wearing their summer clothes while I'd still be bundled in my layers of clothes.

Then, when they finally wear some layers of clothes, I'd already need even my outer jacket to stay with me even though I'm working indoor.

It's not so bad though, when the change is from winter/spring to summer.
I'd just need to try taking off my jacket, and if I survive,
or if I'm sweating wearing it instead, then it's summer.

Yet, for winter, it's not so obvious, since people would still be happily looking like they are wearing light clothes unless it's snowing already.

So, mental notes for me :
- When you notice the grasses are frozen in the morning
- When 5 minutes waiting the bus feels like forever since your toes are just frozen inside your canvas shoes
- When your hands and lips cracked up from the dry, dry, cold wind
- When dzuhur, ashar, and maghrib and even isha prayers are all done within the range of less than 6 hours.

It's definitely time to buckle up and unpack all the layers of winter clothes.
Snow shoes, thick socks, gloves, head warmer, hand/body lotion, lip balms, are must-haves!

Friend

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart & can sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words

But, what if the words were meant to be forgotten?

With everything changes, desperate times sometime call for desperate measures..
Flashbacks and nostalgia are all well and nice, but they don't serve the purpose to toughen you up.
They provide comfort and are heart warming.
But reminiscing on them, all the while trying to stay strong and keep on fighting the day,...
realizing how much you've changed...
could be bitter.






or maybe... I was just being bitter.

Name

What's in the name? that which we call a rose. By any other name would smell as sweet;
-shakespeare, romeo and juliet

Or so I thought.

My name doesn't have any particular meaning.
At least that's the information I got from my dad.

I have always been very proud about it though. While this excluded me during my childhood from my friends' brag-fest on whose name has the greatest meaning, I always take comfort in thinking that this unique name of mine gives me the freedom to be whatever I want to be. It lets me define the meaning of the name itself, rather than having it defines who I am supposed to be.

My last name isn't inherited from my family name either, and each of us in our family, has different last names.

I'm very proud of it too. I think it's the best thing you can give to the next generation. No family name, no burdening name. Just let them be whatever they want

Last Eid'ul Adha this belief is a bit shaken though.

As I made new acquaintances to other muslimah around me, I noticed how proud they were when they introduced their name: Fatima, Khadijah, ...

And for the first time I felt a bit inferior...
for not having such pretty names that defines my Islam identity...

Then few days ago I had a brief encounter with a fellow Muslim student that I just met.

After a bit of chitchat he asked for my name. I immediately told him my name while asking for his name too.

He seemed confused though, and asked again for my name.
I just repeated my answer since maybe he couldn't get it.

Still seemed confused, finally he asked: what's your full name?
Although I found it odd, I finally told him both my first name and last name.

A look of relief then shown in his face after hearing my last name.
And he explained he kept on asking it since he knows I must be a muslim, and that he, too, is a muslim, from Bangladesh, before then mentioning his name proudly.

His name means the praiseworthy God's witness in Arabic.

So, ...apparently in some community people do expect you to have a muslim name if you're a Muslim.


ps. I feel touched though. I'm reminded: I do have muslim identity in my last name.
The holy month in Islam on which I was born. And I'm super proud of it :)

K-pop/rock!

Under the piles of all the bubbles and glitters of kpop songs/artists, I found a gem today!

What would you get when you cross GnR/Metallica with DDR and Kpop?

It's NORAZO!




It's such a pity that for us the non-korean we have to rely on the translation to fully appreciate their songs. Because aside from the upbeat rock songs, the hilarious lyrics behind them are their highlight. Not to mention the funny dance! I know I'd be using the superman dance for my morning sport xP

And I'd like to say more about Lee Hyuk, one member of this duo Jo Bin and Lee Hyuk that made up Norano. With his awesome voice that hits high notes effortlessly, the manly facial hair, rock style hair and apparel, now that's a male singer I can deem as eye candy!
Finally now we're talking, Kpop!

I know now whose name I'd say if my Kpop lover cousins ask me who's my fav male kpop idol. Lee Hyuk! Kyaaaaaa! xD