“Assalamualaikum!”

Suddenly a manly throating voice give a salaam to me who is having lunch all alone. Well alone doesn’t I’m lonely. My friend left first for the lecture..huhu.

That man came closer to my table ask to join me. He’s not an ordinary man. A foreign lecturer from US that came here to become a temporary lecturer in Epidemiology. He said he just arrived here for about a month… but why I feel like I’ve came cross by him several times before.  Mysterious.

LEARN TO TALK STRAIGHT.

Suddenly he asked about how am I doing in my second year. Well, as a woman, we always being quite exaggerating in describing right? So do I. But this time, it is a mistake. I told him that I am quite struggling in going through this second with some other commitment.

He actually opposing my dream of to achieve a lot of experience during my study years because for him, I should study. That’s it. Just study. Focus on study. But then, I realised that my life isn’t that bad actually. I’m not that struggle too much until I can’t focus on my study. Well, I’ve gave a wrong idea to this man in front of me. Oh no.

I understand him as someone who came from a country who support the freedom of speech. I really understand. Eventhough he reallyyyy opposing my idea and we had some heat up conversation but still, he and I keep it low and try to accept each others’ opinion. I learn my mistake so does he learn my standing. Cool.

DARE TO MAKE A CHANGE

Then, he learn that I’m one of the representative in College Student Council (Majlis Tertinggi Mahasiswa in Malay). So he thought me to have interest in politics. Wow.

I’m being honest. I do getting know of all politics issue in our country but I have my own stand that I want to be ‘someone’ while get myself prepare in making a change.

Then he asked me again,

"so which party are you in?”

Well, I answer him ‘Neither’ . Well, I try to avoid this kind conversation. Really.  

“So why you don’t make a change from now? Why have to wait? Why?”

But then I asked him back,

“At my age, what actually I can do in your opinion?”

Start with a little effort of creating unity among my multiracial friends and colleague. Becoming friends, joining activities, making a project, these can get rid the feeling of fear and bad assumption from other race toward each other race.  

“Yes, that is what I’m doing now sir. “

At first after he heard my answer ,he start questioning my this-little-seems-to-be-useless effort and I was quite offended and I try to defend myself. Again, our conversation heated up. But at last, he accept my point too.

But his word,

“Then stop making excuses with your age or something. Make a change.”

Leave a footprint on me. Thank you sir.

Then, we get ourself calm and just chit chat happily.

Having a discussion with someone older and wiser plus from different culture is actually quite challenging. We may not have the time to explain everything and at the same time must answer their question. However, the most important is to stay low and accept each other opinion and standing. Plus, he is my future lecturer from US though. Phew. Jangan buat masalah fadhh. Huhu.

For the young Malaysian, we are gifted with multi racial people ponder it as a merit not as a threat. We are the one who going to further our nation aspiration. There is no use of being selfish and racist because in the end, we still standing on the same piece of land and share the same sky. Let’s keep on getting rid of the bad thought toward each other. Stop making excuses of our age and start make a change in the polite way. I repeat, in the polite way. *sengih lebar-lebar. Hulur tangan* 

Kerana Saya Sayang Malaysia.