24 months, 2 years.
The journey we started consciously back in early 2010. Opportunity rolled on to our lap, an offer to work and live in Netherlands was first made in late 2009. I made the trip to see if indeed this is the place I want to work and live. Eindhoven strike me as a small and quiet city, in comparison to Amsterdam, like comparing Perth with Sydney, or comparing Ipoh with Kuala Lumpur.
We believed we can survive here.. socially and personally. So, we decided to accept the offer.
Moving house, moving country.
My son just turned 6 years old. Nothing matter too much back then since what matters to him were friends to play with.
It took us nearly a month to find the perfect house for our family. Fairly spacious considering how small the houses here in Netherlands.
The office was within walking distance from our house. So to blend like local, I started to cycle to work. It was an awesome experience. Then in Jul 2010, my office was relocated further away, not that I can't cycle there, but a little troublesome as I need to send Saalem to school first hence it will take me easily 45 mins cycling to reach office, approximate 10km distance. The idea to cycle to office was officially abandon.
Transportation - in 2 years, I drove 3 cars. All brand spanking new! Our first car was Renault Megane 2.0 station wagon. Was fully automatic car, no keys to start the engine. The windscreen started by itself if it is raining. I enjoyed driving the car, but I am no fan of buying new car simply due to my refusal to lose 20% of the value the moment I drive off from the show-room. After enjoying driving the car for almost 10 months, I was asked to change the car. I went to the lease car, and to my surprise I was given Puegot 508, also a station wagon. Fantastic! It was a brand new car again. Hah! Life could never been better. I also experienced the process of changing the car tyres based on season. Winter Tyre, and Summer Tyre. New place, new knowledge. Then, again, 10 months later, I received another magical call to change my car again. This last car was even better then the last 2! I was asked to change my Peugot with BMW 320D!! Yes sir! No problem Sir! Happy to swap again.. aahhh.. I am blessed!
I have been treated very well here indeed.
My boss is awesome. Won't name him here. By having such a boss who is a great leader and at the same time full of compassion and humanity, my settlement in this new country become so much easier and better.
My colleagues also never stop trying to make me feel at home. Their constant queries on the progress of my family well being, never stop to help translating the official documents for me, help to speak to the other line of the phone who cannot understand one word of English, and showing me the way to really make our expatriation journey smoother.
I can't say thanks enough to all of you. You know who you are. My heart is always with you and as I said before, whenever you are in Malaysia, my home is yours too. I would love to return the hospitality you guys have given to me and my family.
Sam also made great friendship from here. A very nice Dutch family, despite the language barrier, the warmth and the kindness made us forever grateful. Christmas 2011 was also a lovely memory. Thank you guys, we will always be in debt, and we hope to see you in Malaysia real soon. We would love to return your generosity and hospitality.
I made new friends too. Saalem's school friends and their family become our friends as well. Great friends indeed. In times of need, they always offer the most needed help - Saalem had many play dates specially when both Sam & I were not able to pick him up from school on time. We were invited to their houses, our friendship horizon was widen. Thanks my new friends. The memories will always be treasured. My offer remain the same, whenever you are in Malaysia, you have a home to stay.
Not to forget the friends we made through social network. Through friend of friends, I was introduced to 3 great Malaysian families in Eindhoven areas. They made my Hari Raya in 2011 more meaningful and ease a bit the homesickness. We visited each other houses, and the great Asian atmosphere which was still the strong elements in their families made me feel instantly at home with all of them, despite the short time we knew each other. Thank you guys, and whenever you return to Malaysia, I hope we can catch-up for old time sake over teh-tarik and roti-canai.
To sum-up, being here in Netherlands, it is a great experience. Nice country, great friends and seriously, I don't have any issue with the weather either.
Our chapter in Netherlands is finishing in 5 days from today. Chapter 2 in Malaysia will start thereafter. The cycle begins. House hunting, car searching, unpacking and unpacking. Saalem has to go through the experience of being a new student, the new comer again. He isn't pleased at all. I guess the next relocation will be triple harder as he grows older. I understood the need to create his own niche. But I know he will adopt to the new atmosphere.
Goodbye Netherlands, this is a journey we never regret. Full of sweet memories. Thank you once again to all of you who have made our stay here a memorable one!
From Said family - Samir, Azlinda and Saalem Said.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
A Letter from a Daughter to her Mother
Assalamualaikum Mum,
How are you there Mum? I hope that you are living in a big beautiful house, surrounded by beautiful nice garden, and you are happy there. Deep down in my heart, I know you are.
I am doing well here. I miss you so much mum. I've been dreaming about you many many times for the past weeks. Some say if the dream came with full of conversation and animations, then it is only the brain doing the tricks. I don't know mum, whatever it meant, I was happy to see you, regardless.
The first time I dreamt of you, I came and visited you, in your new house. You were full of smiles, invited me in. I was angry at you because you didn't come home. I thought you were dead, but instead you were living happily in that house that I've never known of. You were so happy that my anger against you dissolved as quick as it came. I had this strange feelings in my heart, maybe indeed it was a nightmare and everything will go back to norm once I woke up. Of course it was my wishful thinking.
In my second dream mum, I saw you sitting in our house's dining table. You were smiling at me, eating and keep saying that the food was so delicious. You looked so radiant. I was upset when you decided to leave, and found myself crying, begging you not to go. I woke up with tears in my eyes.
Yesterday Sam & I completed our packing. I told you before I am coming back to Malaysia at end of Jan 2012 right? We've done it, the house is almost empty. Still messy inside, but the main bulk of the works were done.
I am going home mum, in less than 3 weeks I will be home.
Soon I am able to come over and visit you. It has been 4 weeks now since you were gone. I miss you terribly. I hope you miss me too mum.
Dad is not doing very well without you mum. He is a broken man, he misses you so much, your presence were sorely missed. Remember mum how every morning when Dad's woke you up for solat? How both of you always teased each other. Dad with his awful song, and you shouted at him to shut-up because it was so out of tune? Since you left, dad is very emotional. He no longer sings mum. Anis said she hardly hear Dad's voice. He even refuses to sleep in the same bed, in the your room. Your strong and loving husband is left with no will to live mum. We are so worried about him. People say that is the natural stage of grieving. I hope they are right. Anis is looking after Dad properly. I know you are worried mum, but rest assured that we tried our level best to take care of him. We promised you that we will look after Dad. We also make sure that he takes his daily medication properly and accordingly. He is still the stubborn and a proud man you know. He hates it when we turn our attention on him now. He literally told us to leave him alone. Well of course we don't listen to him, as you know naturally.
Every weekend now Aa, Nullah, Emi & Adik also return home to check on him. Don't you worry about that. You have raised 6 great kids and you should be proud of your work. You and dad.
You know how Dad turns to be the caretaker of the house since he retired 11 years ago. He picks up dirty linens from all the rooms, washes and hang them on the lines. The other day Anis said he broke down when he saw your clothes. Not sure how that came about, but I guess maybe one of the clothes you forgot to put in the basket for washing.
I told Anis not to wash the dress, as I want to smell you when I return home. I miss you mum, I miss you a lot. I want to inhale into your body smell from the last clothes you wore. I want to bury my face into it. Imagining you wrapped your arms around me.
If Dad's emotion is not getting better, I plan to bring him to live with me. I know it will be a hard battle to convince him. Maybe then I will ask for your intervention. Give him some sort of sign that you support me perhaps?
Last night I was so emotional mum. I wanted to pick the phone and tell you the progress of my preparation returning home. Did I tell you that Sam bought you nice reclining chairs? One for you and one for dad. He said you can put your legs up when you come and visit us. Well, the chairs will be there, I will put them at that special spot.
16 days to go. You won't be waiting for me at the airport, I know that mum. But I will visit you soonest possible. You take care, won't you? I love you. I miss you.
Your loving daughter,
Linda
How are you there Mum? I hope that you are living in a big beautiful house, surrounded by beautiful nice garden, and you are happy there. Deep down in my heart, I know you are.
I am doing well here. I miss you so much mum. I've been dreaming about you many many times for the past weeks. Some say if the dream came with full of conversation and animations, then it is only the brain doing the tricks. I don't know mum, whatever it meant, I was happy to see you, regardless.
The first time I dreamt of you, I came and visited you, in your new house. You were full of smiles, invited me in. I was angry at you because you didn't come home. I thought you were dead, but instead you were living happily in that house that I've never known of. You were so happy that my anger against you dissolved as quick as it came. I had this strange feelings in my heart, maybe indeed it was a nightmare and everything will go back to norm once I woke up. Of course it was my wishful thinking.
In my second dream mum, I saw you sitting in our house's dining table. You were smiling at me, eating and keep saying that the food was so delicious. You looked so radiant. I was upset when you decided to leave, and found myself crying, begging you not to go. I woke up with tears in my eyes.
Yesterday Sam & I completed our packing. I told you before I am coming back to Malaysia at end of Jan 2012 right? We've done it, the house is almost empty. Still messy inside, but the main bulk of the works were done.
I am going home mum, in less than 3 weeks I will be home.
Soon I am able to come over and visit you. It has been 4 weeks now since you were gone. I miss you terribly. I hope you miss me too mum.
Dad is not doing very well without you mum. He is a broken man, he misses you so much, your presence were sorely missed. Remember mum how every morning when Dad's woke you up for solat? How both of you always teased each other. Dad with his awful song, and you shouted at him to shut-up because it was so out of tune? Since you left, dad is very emotional. He no longer sings mum. Anis said she hardly hear Dad's voice. He even refuses to sleep in the same bed, in the your room. Your strong and loving husband is left with no will to live mum. We are so worried about him. People say that is the natural stage of grieving. I hope they are right. Anis is looking after Dad properly. I know you are worried mum, but rest assured that we tried our level best to take care of him. We promised you that we will look after Dad. We also make sure that he takes his daily medication properly and accordingly. He is still the stubborn and a proud man you know. He hates it when we turn our attention on him now. He literally told us to leave him alone. Well of course we don't listen to him, as you know naturally.
Every weekend now Aa, Nullah, Emi & Adik also return home to check on him. Don't you worry about that. You have raised 6 great kids and you should be proud of your work. You and dad.
You know how Dad turns to be the caretaker of the house since he retired 11 years ago. He picks up dirty linens from all the rooms, washes and hang them on the lines. The other day Anis said he broke down when he saw your clothes. Not sure how that came about, but I guess maybe one of the clothes you forgot to put in the basket for washing.
I told Anis not to wash the dress, as I want to smell you when I return home. I miss you mum, I miss you a lot. I want to inhale into your body smell from the last clothes you wore. I want to bury my face into it. Imagining you wrapped your arms around me.
If Dad's emotion is not getting better, I plan to bring him to live with me. I know it will be a hard battle to convince him. Maybe then I will ask for your intervention. Give him some sort of sign that you support me perhaps?
Last night I was so emotional mum. I wanted to pick the phone and tell you the progress of my preparation returning home. Did I tell you that Sam bought you nice reclining chairs? One for you and one for dad. He said you can put your legs up when you come and visit us. Well, the chairs will be there, I will put them at that special spot.
16 days to go. You won't be waiting for me at the airport, I know that mum. But I will visit you soonest possible. You take care, won't you? I love you. I miss you.
Your loving daughter,
Linda
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