ONE MEET AND GREET SESSION AFTER SCHOOL

11TH OCTOBER 2020 ~ It was a short meet and greet date that should actually be done the evening before but was postponed to the next afternoon. I think it should be something to do with my birthday even though there were no items related to any birthday celebration except the brownies I brought from school. 😀

I still have to thank my ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti [SPM batch 2012] Mr. Azry Anuardy, Mr. Azam Mi'at and Mr. Luqman Fadzil for the short meeting at Selera Johor, and for including me once in your group chat session. 😊

THE 10th DAY OF EIDUL FITR 1441H

The main reason for the house visit was to get some certificates certified, so it would not be considered the regular Eid visit. According to the directive set by the government during MCO [Movement Control Order], Eid visit would only be allowed during the first day of the month and the number should not exceed 20 people if the house could accommodate that many visitors at one time. The intention was to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus and this could be possible when too many movements involving too many people taking place in one day, or throughout the month of Eid.

Thanks Mr. Azry Anuardy, Mr. Firdaus Ma'azin and Mr. Mirza Nordin for coming [ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti, SPM batch 2012]. It is still Eid month - a fact that we cannot deny. Hoping things will get back to normal by next year's Eid celebration.

THE 23rd DAY OF EID 1440H

This should be the last week of Eid celebration hence people are going all out to try to visit as many friends and relatives as possible. I drove to Taman Senai Utama right after school as I was invited by an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti [SPM batch 2005], Puan Khadijah Hishamuddin to her open house. Unfortunately, her husband, Dr. Mohd. Zaki Yunos, who is also an ex-student was not home yet.

Khadijah's dad, Dr. Hishamuddin

After that, later in the evening, Mr. Syazwan Shavarein [ex-SMKTUN batch 2012] came with his parents and siblings. They are one of the few regulars who always come in one big family every year.

Six more days left, and hoping to get to see more people before the Eid celebration ends.

MY HOMETOWN GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - GREEN JADE REPUBLIC IN TAMAN UNIVERSITI

A date was set with two ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti [SPM batch 2012] right after school. Mr. Mohd. Syahir Kamal Affendi is home for a short while, between two papers during exam week while Mr. Mohd. Syafiq Basir who is currently studying in Japan is back for his semester break.

The place chosen was Green Jade Republic, an eating place which I witnessed its development from just a stall on a rented space in a restaurant at its early year to a proper business place on the first floor of a shop house block in the commercial spot of the residential area.

This was the first time for me visiting the new venue after moving there for more than a year. And the owner, whom I addressed as Mr. Ipin, still remembered my name when I went there today.

The place was a hit especially among the university students from the campus nearby because people get to eat food like "mee kari", "mee rebus", "rojak", "cendol" and ABC in the afternoon.

I could find many cats there, inside and outside the place.

I will have to come back again to see the cats and try other food. I must remember to bring a proper camera to take photos of the place which actually has a unique decor. The tab I brought just now would not do justice to the end products. And I will have to find the time when there are not many people eating - if that is even possible.

Thanks Mr. Syahir and Mr. Syafiq for the company and time. Hope to see them again some other time, in Japan (again) perhaps.

THE 12th DAY OF EID 1439H

Two groups of ex-students of SMKTUN SPM batch 2006 were in the house on the 12th day of Eid. The first group arrived at 8:00 p.m. and the girls even brought dinner for everybody. 

The three girls were Eid regular visitors and as for Mr. Voon Yee Yung, this was his first time ever. Guess I had to thank Ms. Khaulah for the effort to get the gentleman to tag along.

Then, by 9:45 p.m., another group of the same batch and just one from SPM batch 2012 arrived. 

The girls had to leave after the photo session but Mr. Voon stayed on to chat longer with his ex-classmates.

By 11:00 p.m. it was time to bid these people "goodbye" and hopefully, I would be able to see them again next year.

THE 9th DAY OF EID 1439H

Today I went visiting for the second time for this year's Eid. I was invited to an Open House by Tuan Haji Abd. Rahman Ngah and Ustazah Raja Ainurraziyah Raja Omar at their home in Taman Nusa Idaman. This was just the right time to go out as there were two wedding receptions to attend right after.

I managed two see two of their kids (out of four)  who are my ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti - Nurul Izyana (SPM 2019) and Izzuddin (SPM 2012) .

Puan Hamidah Mokhtar,
an ex-colleague of SMKTUN

Another ex-student, who happened to be
the neighbour, Mr. Azfar (SPM2010)

I was happy as I got my traditional Malay dishes, finally after 9 days of Eid - "Burasak" and "Laksa Johor". I should have taken the photos of the food, but it was already too late once I realized about it.

THE 8th DAY OF EID 1439H

Today should be the start of the second week of Eid celebration and the visiting routine must go on. A group of ex-students from SMKTUN SPM batch 2012 were here, accompanied by a mother of one of the girls who happened to be an ex-colleague, Puan Yusidah Yusof.

With the loud and continuous chattering and laughter throughout, it was just like yesterday once more.

The last visitors of the day was Mr. Huzaifah Abd. Rahim [SMKTUN alumni SPM batch 2009] with his wife. He used to come with his classmates before this but then time sure has changed, and by next year, there will be one more new member of the group.

NOTE TO SELF: One more day before school reopens. Where is my plastic bag containing the students' exam paper?

THE 7th DAY OF EID 1439H

The visiting routine for Eid continued on the 7th day today. The first group of visitors were Puan Noraliza Mazni and her family members, a friend/an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti. Her husband and kids were no strangers to me but I wonder whether they would still be paying me a house visit after this as her transfer to Selangor had already been approved. In fact, she already knew the school where she would start her duty after the school break.

handing over the parting gift

It was indeed sad to let a good friend go but life is always like that. Just hope we will still be in touch with each other after this.

The second group of people of people who arrived after that were SMKTUN's alumni SPM batch 2012. They used to come in bigger group before but it was not easy to get everyone to be here at the same time. A few had already gone back to college after the Eid break.

The last group of visitors who arrived later in the evening were the alumni of SMKTUN SPM batch 2006. These ex-students were here with their spouses and kids and were regular visitors to my house - since they were still in school.

Two more days before school reopens. 

NOTE TO SELF: I need to finish marking the exam paper *YAWN*.