When I first came here in Malaysia, it was kinda disorienting. It looked like a mass of dots, all jumbled and disconnected. The moment I step my foot in the ground I know my life wouldn’t be the same, it wouldn’t be that easy. I was pretty much sure that I will be facing a rough road…
I live in a place where I know no one, not even my housemates. I just met them when I arrived on our place. All my friends are living and working from other state so I don’t know someone nearby.
Honestly, I emotionally struggled during my first few weeks. It was so hard to deal with homesick and boredom. All night I was just staring at my wall. Just kept myself busy chatting with my friends online. I was always alone and lonely most of the time. It even came to the point that I almost gave up and wanted to return back home. I felt lost and can’t find myself back. I felt like I was in an empty dark room and can barely breathe. No place to go except my room. I was like a prison on my own place. But little by little everything turned out to be OK when I found my new buddy.
One night, while waiting for the elevator in the lobby, an Arab guy approached me and asked the very usual and communal question that people throw me. “Are you a basketball player?” I just answered, “I used to, but not anymore”, Then I asked him if he was. He replied, he’s not, instead he’s a swimmer. It was just a short and brief conversation.
I go to gym regularly after office hours. It’s my outlet of my boredom and homesick. I’ve met new acquaintances in the gym mostly Chinese and Indians but we never talk much. One afternoon, after I finished my gym, I saw a familiar face waiting in the elevator. Honestly, I am not sure if he was that guy because I just met him once. We’re just the two of us at that time but both of us we’re not talking until I broke the silence by asking if he was the swimmer guy whom I talked in the elevator a few weeks back. He replied yes. It was another short and brief conversation but everything, our friendship, started there.
His name is Shan, 18 yrs old, born and raised in Oman. All of them (family and 15 of his relatives) are here in Malaysia to spend their holiday. Every holiday season, they travel to different places. But this is already his 3rd time to visit Malaysia. He’s the eldest among 4, two guys and two girls. I’ve already met his parents and talked to his father once. I’ve already met his younger sisters and played with them in the pool. But I haven’t met his younger brother yet because he is not with them. He’s currently competing for a swimming tournament in Australia.
Swimming is one of their passions, other than traveling of course. He and his brother are both swimmers on their own rights. His brother is representing the Arab Gulf and already won several competitions internationally. His brother is not only being supported by their country but also by the whole Arab nation. On the other hand, he is also a professional swimmer. He represented his country internationally and also won several competitions. Jack of all trades as I describe him because he won gold medals on almost all strokes. But unfortunately, unlike his younger brother, he was not chosen to represent the Arab Gulf yet (maybe in due time). Who knows, maybe he will compete in Olympics in the future.
It was on the gym where we had our first long (2 hours) conversation. Pool is also where we love to go and just bathe in the warm water in the Jacuzzi. From then on we used to see and talk more often than before. We talked about anything under the sun: movies, religion, cultures, traditions, experiences, and a lot more. Name it and surely, we’d already talked about that. We never ran out of topics to share. There’s really no dull moment with him. Sometimes we argue, but just a friendly debate on some moral and religious issues. But none the less, we always smile and laugh.
Yesterday, August 31, 2006, they all went back home. Actually, 2 weeks prior to that he already told me that they will be leaving soon. He needs to go back home to prepare for a lot of things like school, swimming team, etc. For his last 2 weeks here, we spent more time bonding together, swimming and talking ‘til 12am Ha-ha. Then a night before their flight, while we were on the pool side, he told me that they will finally leave the next day. I was not surprised that much as I know that time will come soon. I have already prepared myself for that. He took a paper in his pocket and gave it to me. The piece of paper has his real name, home address, cellphone #, and email address in it. Since it was our last night together, I took the opportunity to thank him for everything especially the kindness that he has given me. I went up to my room and too the little present I bought, just a token of appreciation for our friendship, together with the letter that I wrote for him. In return, he gave me a present as well. We promised to each other that we will still continue our friendship even far distant. He gave me all his contact info and I gave mine too.
Honestly, it’s really painful to see my friend go but that’s life, full of surprises. I still remember my H.S. friend told me, “In life, there are series of meeting and partings. In a particular event we meet a friend, and for some demanding reasons we part ways. But I’ll always look back at the event that has somehow helped me grow. “
Last night, I went down to the gym, pool, and jacuzzi. And I can’t stop myself reminiscing all the good memories we’ve shared together.
Dude, thanks for the time that you’ve given me; the memories are all and will always be here in my mind… ‘Til next time…
EXCERPT from my LETTER:
Bro, I won’t be dismayed at goodbyes because I know you and I will meet again when we’re least expecting it.
Go knowing that you have touched a life and have been important here. Go knowing that you choose your own trail and that what ever trail you follow, no matter which way you try to go, you will come to the place where you are supposed to be in the final moments.
Thank you for the moments we have shared dude.
“No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth. Trips do not end when you return home--usually this is the time when in a sense they really begin.”
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Bro,
I was really happy for you that you meet someone like Shan, And you have the chance of having a time to bond with him. Yeah you are true on what you say on your post that Parting is really hard but we all need to go to our trail and follow it if that would lead us to success. We all know that in due time we all see each other again.. I hope i have the courage and the strength like you cover up myself but im trying to lead me on and stand up...
Sorry for the late replies..
Im really still here around..
Bro,
Neil