12 Going On 13

I almost forgot....it's the 7th of May.....I have completed 12 years with Sony. Time does fly.....It seems like it's just yesterday that I was a young executive just out of college....looking for a career. I have never dreamed that I will spend almost 1/3 of my life working for the same company. Most of my friends have jumping all over. I only know a few like Ean and Hairry who have stayed with same company eversince graduation.

I think the most important factors that have kept me with Sony are not the working environment and the paycheck. I could get better working elsewhere. But the friendship and the camaraderie that have been built through the years. There are a few people that I have known even before I came to Sony.....some I knew because I had to work with them....some other because I went to courses or just as canteen table-mates..... At SOEM, I could be considered as an "Otai".....with years of experience with the Production.....but here in SoGul, I have to start from scratch....I have to know new people, remember new names and faces....It's gonna take some getting used to....But there's nothing a Minang guy like me can't do. I'll survive...I know that....I'll take everything one step at a time....Most importantly, I want my family to do the same as well.....

So, here's for the 13th year with Sony....hope it'll be a lucky one......InsyaAllah

The First Weekend

This is my first weekend in Dubai......on Friday morning, we had some breakfast at Al-Ismaily Cafe...run by an Indian Muslim named Abdul Hameed.....this will be our new gerai nasi lemak....he serves puratta, sandwiches, burgers etc to mostly the working class people....it's located just beside the Eppco service station near our building.....just about a 5 minute walk.

We went Jumaat solat at the nearby Masjid.....the Khatib gave the sermon in Arabic.....didn't understand a word he said.....but he did repeatedly talked about Az-zaujat (=spouse).....I think he's lecturing about family values. I was a waterboy for a few minutes as I was standing by the table where the complimentary water cups were located.....I was quite proud to serve my fellow Muslim brothers...hehehe....

Amin and I performed the solat outside under the scorching Dubai sun.....no problem.....but I finished the solat drenched in sweat.....then we go to get some refreshment at the Al-madina minimarket....in the same building as the masjid.....

Late afternoon...we went window shopping at the Spinney's and Al-Ain.....about 30min walk from the Al-Attar Escala.....We had beriyani in the Al-Khaleej Center...a small but modern shopping center.....

On the way back...Amin had his first Dubai haircut....it costs him Dhs40.....yes......40 Dirhams....I said to him...."You won't need a haircut for the next 4 months....."

We arrived home tired.....after some rounds of the Fifa08 on my PS2....I went to sleep.

Today...we went to Al-Khaleej again.....we had McD....a Quarter Pounder meal (regular) costs me Dhs15.....hehehe.....

And here I am at the CC in Al-Khaleej....writing this entry......have a lot of emails to check....

So long for now...

Touch Down!!!

Alhamdulillah....the Emirates EK347 landed safely at the Dubai International Airport.....My immigration processes was made smooth by the aids of the Marhaba people.....Amin was waiting for me....We went straight to his apartment...Ravi the East-Coast Transport guy brought us to the Al-Attar Escala Apartment complex......We spent the morning resting......10am, another East-Coast driver came drove us to the Sony Gulf office where I had my induction training & briefing.....first by Ms Aurora (HR) and then by Mr Krishna and Mr Ramesh from IT.

There was some confusion about my next schedule.....I was supposed to go to Iran next week....but Mr Mark from HR said that I have to have my Rsidence Visa stamped before going out of the Emirates.....I said, please settle it when Mr Tanikawa came back from his biz trip next week.....

Received my transfer allowance.....hehhehe...."PakcikKayo" for a while.....got my SoGul sanctioned handphone and an Etisalat number.....my first official handphone (an SE T250i).......

That evening...Amin brought me around Bur Dubai....what a tiring walk....but at least now I know the important shop and shopping complexes around the apartment......

Took some pics....but I think I'll post it in here later......Wait ah???!!!!!

To my family who sent me off at the airport....thanks so much for not shedding tears....at least for not letting me see anyone crying......I wanted to leave with the feeling that everyone is happy for me......Can't wait to bring my family here......Be patient ye Sayang........

The Countdown

I'll be departing for Dubai in a few days.....I got an email saying that they have already had my apartment ready over there.....but I opt to stay with Amin for a couple of weeks because I'll be going to Tehran a few days upon arriving.

I haven't packed my things yet.....not much actually....just my clothes, shoes and a few necessary things.

I'm busy completing the documents needed for my kids school admission. So far, there's just one school that gives a really positive response. So, I think I'll settle for that school. I'll elaborate about it in my later entries.

I don't have much to do in the office now (my adopted office in the Kit Design area).....just surfing the net and straighten out a few things.

I plan to have a "doa selamat hi-tea" this Saturday....just for my neighbors and the Surau folks.

The Nippon Express guys will come on Monday to pack things that we want to ship to Dubai. I spent the whole evening a few days ago to get some tea-sets and a few other things out from my storeroom under the staircase. Most of them are our wedding presents that have been sitting in there since we moved almost 7 years ago.

Now, we are waiting for my pay day to buy some luggage bags and other things that we need to bring.

It will be a busy couple of days for me. Can't wait to get this over with and start afresh in Dubai.

My wife still has some things to sort out such as her loan with the govt and the local banks.

Amy from HR said I can get my flight ticket today....I'll go and get it this morning.

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We had a farewell lunch yesterday for my colleagues here in Kit....Arkma will be following his husband to Miri and Tee will be concentrating on his insurance business.....next month, Ka Fai will also leave to pursue another career in Singapore......Ito san will have a big headache soon....hehehee.....BTW, the photos from yesterday's lunch can be viewed in the photo section.

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The Legacy.....

I have less than 20 days to go before I depart for Dubai.....provided the production in Iran is delayed.....Nothing much to do actually....just an assignment that my caretaker boss here in TVOPA Kit Design gave me about the QC System Standards for our Kit factories. I'll take that in my stride....

Last weekend I went back to Rembau....most probably my last home visit for the next couple of years....(but I'll come back once a year for the Home Leave)......Got a wedding invitation on saturday....one of our distant relative....and another on Sunday....my wife's cousin.

Got a taste of Ayah's rose apple (jambu "tetek"...hehehe)....One wonderful thing about my father is that he has a really green finger.....Incidentally, my late Atuk (mak's father, his father-in-law) also had the same attribute....That's why our family is blessed with a durian orchard on the foothill overlooking Pekan Rembau and another in Kg Senama Hulu....Mak said that the durian trees are mostly planted by Atuk.....he also planted some other fruits (petai, cempedak etc). I counted, maybe around 40+ durian trees.....imagine if one tree bares 100 fruits.....hehehe....Saudagar durian beb.....But I don't honestly think that Atuk planted them all to get rich.....I know he wanted his kids, grand-kids, great-grand-kids etc. to enjoy the fruits of his labor..... I still remember when I was small....leaving with Atuk and Uwan...when he came home from his "job" at the Kerala Restaurant in Pekan Rembau, he would change into his "baju kebun" and mounted his Honda Cup 70 and went on to his next "job".....taking care of his orchard...usually alone.....(that's the real Minang spirit...can't stop working).....

In some sense, Ayah is just like that.....he just can't stop working....sitting around makes him restless....So, it's a good thing that Atuk left us with the orchards....Ayah has a lot of things to do...things that he love.....Mak didn't inherit them.....she's just the caretaker because she's the only child who lives in Rembau....my other uncles and auntie live in other states. Atuk told her that the orchards are for everyone.....that's why when it's "musim buah" Mak will call everyone to come and take their share.....Atuk wanted everyone in our hugely extended family to enjoy what he has left us with.

Deep in me....I feel that the orchards might be entrusted to me.....hey...I'm the oldest son and am one of the grand-kids that are close to Atuk.....But, I will be ready when the time comes....to continue Atuk's legacy. He's not wealthy....but what he left us with is worth more than any money in the world.

But this year, I will miss the "musim buah".....what a pity....I'll be in Dubai when the the first Durian buds blossom....

Anyway.....I know it will always be there....for years to come.....Many thanks to Atuk. May Allah bless his soul. Al-Fatihah.

Dedicated to the loving memories of:

Hj Hussain Talib, Hjh Ramah Hassan, Hj Abd Aziz Napi & Hjh Puteh Husin