THE 26TH DAY OF EID 1438H - PART TWO

20TH JULY 2017 ~ This should be the earliest batch of SMKTUN's ex-students who came visiting this year, from SPM batch 1999. They used to be regular visitors once but disappeared for many years. However, they were making a comeback this time but were accompanied with their wives and kids. Glad they could make it this time after all these years.

THE 4TH DAY OF SYAWAL 1437H

The visiting tradition for Eid continued today. The first visitors were the family of a friend from UPM TESL group who is married to another friend from UPM, who happened to be staying in the same residential college and is also my neighbour. I guess it is compulsory for them to be here in Johor Bahru, hence the regular visit during Eid. Puan Farah Sabina and Mr. Azlin Shah dropped by for a short chat before leaving for Seremban right after.

The next group arriving comprised of two ex-students of SMKTUN from SPM batch 2001, Mr. Zul Azeze and Mr. Megat Khairun. Mr. Zul Azeze is a regular visitor and as for Mr. Megat, the last time he came visiting was like a long time ago, when he was still in school. They were here with the wives and children.

Coming all the way from Putrajaya, was the lovely a-schoolmate-marrying-another-schoolmate couple, Mr. Hazeran Zuberi and Ms. Rusinah Amirudin, ex-students of SMKTUN of SPM 1999 generation. I remember the last time I saw both of them was two Eids ago.

Reunited after more than 20 years, Mr. Ediwan Ahmad came visiting with his wife and two kids. It was actually a surprise when someone suddenly decided to meet after such a long time. He came from the earliest batch of pioneering students when SMKTUN was opened back in 1994 - or SPM batch 1998.

The family of an old friend from SMKTUN, Mr. Masrizal Sayute, was here for the regular meeting during Eid. For one thing, I can see how the family has been expanding and the kids growing up, with eldest daughter already finishing school and going to college soon.

To conclude the day's visitation was a group of ex-students from SPM batch 2006, Mr. Suhaizie, Mr. Solleh, Mr. Hamzah and Mr. Zahari. They have been here since they were still very young and have never failed to make an appearance for Eid celebration (for most of them, at least).  Anyway, someone will be celebrating his Eid differently next year, I suppose as a wedding invitation card was handed over to me.

It had been a very long and tiring day for me but it was great to get connected to people I know, once in a while.

One more day before school reopens tomorrow... *sigh*

A SURPRISING RENDEZVOUS HIGH UP IN THE SKY

12TH MARCH 2016 ~ I was on MAS MH764 Kuala Lumpur-Siem Reap route for my short getaway school holiday trip. At one moment, I was telling my travel companion sitting beside me that I actually have two ex-students working as air-stewardesses. However, I had never had any chance of meeting them during any of my plane rides. And in about 5 minutes, a stewardess approached me and asked, "Cikgu Zainal?"

Surprise... surprise... I guess God must have heard me clearer when I was up there. There she was, Miss Maria Slamat, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti from SPM batch 1999. I was a very lucky teacher that day to have the opportunity to meet an ex-student after all these years. She said she saw me but had to check the passengers' name list just to be sure she had the right person.

That is one moment I would always cherish and I will have to keep telling myself, being a teacher is not that bad after all.

Thanks Maria for saying "hi" and I was happier that I was handed over a bagful of "door gift" before leaving the plane. Hopefully we will meet each other again some other time. I pray that one day you will be promoted to become the head stewardess of the ship so you could upgrade me to the business class when you see me some other time. Well, you never know, life is always full of surprises.