From Batu Pahat to Muar

The weekend getaway in Batu Pahat was meant for Anidah-Tol's son's wedding reception but my husband wanted to do a down the memory lane going back to Muar where he spent 2 years as a primary sch boy, living with his uncle while his mom went back to University Malaya to study History. So he showed us where he grew up (rumah tu pun dah runtuh), places he'd go. A bit emo for him. Z and I could not understand. We thought he was lucky to see so many things at such a young age.

The wedding reception was cool. Semua buat sendiri. Tak payah catering, upah orang buat pelamin ke hapa. And we felt so warmly received.Food was good. Paling liat nak balik sebab we were eating this and that. :)

Then Muar. What a discovery! I thought it might be a sleeping town but no! So much life. So much food! Bak kata Engku..kalau dah suka makan tu...

Hubby said geng motor surau might go on a day trip.Boleh la suruh tapau satay muar, mee bandung udang galah, murtabak spore.

Kalah Kajang

Balik KL terbayang2 satay warisan Muar ini

Best spa in Muar

this was real time (pinggan Z)

Pics which need to be here :)

History international conference on forced migration

I think Allah made it easy for me with this conference (imagine writing one immediately after my Asiapac ended). The paper was the same one presented to a small circle of Indonesian scholars at Andalas last June. I translated into English and updated some info. All in 2 days.

This morning not only my paper was on first thing in the morning but I also had to moderate the session. They put all my FRGS research members in one session. Fatin lost her voice but courageously presented it well. I had to rearrange the schedule ikut chronology. Alhamdulillah our audience could follow it like watching a TV drama. Haha. We had many positive remarks and comments. An old Prof  of History was so overwhelmed and appreciative of our session came to sit with us to offer more suggestions how we could move forward cos' he saw the importance of the research going big. I was so inspired by his remarks (from his long scholarship as a Historian).

Then as I walked out of the hall, satu guy pakai kupiah looked at me in the eyes tersenyum2 so I had to say hello and asked if he had presented his paper. He said dah and that he had sat through our session in the morning. Rupa2nya dia pun peminat kami. Haha. He's from Afghanistan so I buka la cerita Kabul I and hopefully I'd get to visit my other homeland soon.It's been a dream too (belah my paternal grandma).

Pastu I jumpa this scholar from Riyadh.Kita pun bincang nak buat group ala2 Asiapac group.
Banyak sangat cita2 I ni. Kata nak pencen awal.

Thank You Notes

One day I will grow old and senile. I must record some of these nice words from nice people who have crossed my path by will of Allah. Some are total strangers turned wonderful friends:

 1.

Thank you so much for sending the link to these lovely photographs. They are a lovely memento of a conference that was wonderful in every way: wonderfully organised, wonderful speakers and papers, a wonderful team of students, and you fill me with awe at how efficiently and seemingly effortlessly you kept everything going. It was indeed a pleasure to meet you and I have so much to learn from you! Very best wishes for a happy holiday season. I hope to see you in Sydney.

Warmest regards, Hsu-Ming, Australia

 2. Thank you, and thank you again for a very memorable symposium and equally memorable birthday. Congratulations and thanks for a memorable symposium. ET, Singapore

 3. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity you gave me. I really learnt a lot from the papers and talks presented at the symposium. Mahmoud, Saudi

 4.The conference was full of small miracles, amazing film and art...not so many people, but fire and talent and brains for 3 days...Carlotta, USA

5.Thank you for everything, sister. It was a dream come true. We are so blessed to have this chance at such a community/kampung/family all because of your efforts.Francis, USA

6. By far, the most organised symposium. Sonia, Australia

7. Well organised. Lily and Isabella, Philippines

8. Excellent. Amzek, India

 Cukup lah kot? The credit is not mine alone. No one can do this kinda event alone.Kudos to my students and colleagues and my kind sponsors.