III: First Coming

Yeah, i think this is the new chapter of my life. I don’t expect before that I will walk on this track of journey. Now, i am working in on of multinational company in Jakarta, one of Great Shipbuilding Company in Korea. Hear that, we can predict that some of people who work there are Koreans.

Actually, i was not really sure that I would be accepted as an employee here, because when i came to the interview, i didn’t want to shake hand with the interviewer in the end of interview at that time. But, time by time, i have been informed that i have been accepted here. Oh my Allah, what should i do? Should i take this chance?? What is Your Plan to me?? In the middle of my effort to get master scholarship... i was so confused at that time..
But, after i asked ALLAH, asked my parents for their consideration, and some view from my friends, i decided to take this chance, take all challenges. Just follow what Allah has shown to me...

And i came to the office...
So many men here. Of course, this is engineering company. Just a few women here. But, i think this will be okay. It must be used to me to work with so many men around me.

And when i came, you know, i felt very nervous (?), a little not confident, just worry about their perception to me, yeah, you know, maybe i was the one who looks different from another (~finding yourself), worried about my principal here, worried about ‘could I be able to work here?’ and so many worries about this.
Okay, i tried to endure it with all my best. My parents, my family gave so big support to me. During the orientation, there was one day, that was gathering with all of Koreans, such games and dinner together. And i did something embarrassing. Huuf... but let it be. And you know, at that time, i had shake hand with man. My friend, and one of koreans. At that time, you know, that was so very guilty, stupid thing, and ‘hey Ame, what did you do?” what a stupid me..

Then, when we had a dinner together, i also had talks with the koreans, just telling and sharing about each culture. At one time, one of koreans asked me, “I can’t touch you right?”
I was very surprised with that question, “do you know about that, sir?”
Koreans: “ yeah, before come to here, i worked in Malaysia. Someday, i tried to appreciate one of women engineer there above her work, I slapped her shoulder and said,”thank you for your work hard”, but suddenly, she was startled and shout out to me, ‘don’t touch me..’ “I also shocked with that, so, i think that people like you can’t be touched by man. Is it right?
Me: “yeah sir, but actually, we may touch man which some exception... for example, he who get married with us”
Koreans:”what? That is not fair... why just someone who marry with you? You know all the girl in Korea are not virgin, you know”
Me:.. (just smile, and said inside heart,this is the way of our religion protect and respect women)
Okay, One captured .

Orientation session was over, and i entered the training session. The first two weeks, we learned about the software that will be used in our work. We were taught with one of korean’s engineer.
The lesson was so fast,, huhu, sometimes, i can’t follow the instruction. And you know, i sit in the back. Sometimes, i couldn’t see some words at the front. Okay, i always thought positively with all of placement to me. And i tried all my best.
Someday, one of Muslim woman in the class, using hijab as like me, asked the instructor about the lesson, he came to her desk, and asked some instructions to her, but she didn’t do what the instructor meant, until the instruction said,”hold, hold, hold the mouse, hold!!” a little shout out to her,"May I touch your hand??!”

Maybe half people in the class were getting shocked with that. I also be startled. Not about his shout, but what he had said ~may i touch your hand?~... could he also know about this?? Ah, i don’t know. But, really, this made me thing when i went home.
Few days after that, in one day, i asked to my instructor about some strange in my exercise. He came to my desk, and saw the problems, he didn’t say anything, just took over the keyboard and mouse. Klik klik, solved. Then he said,”i don't know what the problem is, but now, it’s okay, right?. (smiling)”
Me: “oh, okay sir, i am also wondering what happen with this, sometimes it works, sometimes can’t. thank you sir.. (smiling)”
I thought he would go directly after it, but, suddenly he asked: ”what is this? (pointed my wrist)”
Me: ”oh, we called it decker, it is such additional clothes to cover my wrist.”
He: “why?”
Me:”because, my blouse is too short, cannot cover all my hand.”
He:”why?”
Me:”because, actually, in my religion, the women should cover all their body except hand and face.”
He: (looking at my legs) “oh.. yes, so that, i can’t see your skin... (smiling)”
Me: “sorry sir.. (worried smile)”
He:”oh no. It’s okay, that’s good” . then he left.

And you know, after class, he had talks with all the women in front. Suddenly, my name was mentioned by all the women there “Ameeee....”. At that time, i was still doing my exercise. Not long after that, some of the them were going home. One of my friend that include in the talks before come to my desks. I asked her, “hey, what did you all talks about? Why most of you mentioned my name?”
She: “yeah, it is because of you, Mr S asked us. You are Muslim right? Why you don’t cover your hair, and you, why you don’t wear an additional clothes on your hand, and why you don’t wear socks, and so on. And it is because of you. We just said that your level is higher than us. “

At that time, He came to my desk, came to me, maybe wanted me to explain more, but really I felt awkward, to my friend and also my instructor. And he didn’t say anything.

I went home, and at the exit door of the building, I met two of my friend that included in the talks with our instructor, suddenly they called me, “Hey Ame, what did you say to Mr.S? when did you have talks before with him? He also knew about banned to touch women”
Me: “Really, i’d never had a chat with him before. Just today, I ask him, and after that, he asked several questions about my clothes, and I answers as long as i can.. sorry..”
They: “haa.. that's why... yeah, actually you are right but, you know, because of that, we felt so awkward you know... “
Me:”sorry...(smile)“

In my another thought, i gave thankful to Allah, i thought this is my chance to let them know about Islam, a religion that still minority in Korea.
Okay, capture 2.

And these are just a particular of my first experiences in my new office. Then, let’s have the next view of my journey.

Jaga Sholat Kita, Perbaiki Sholat Kita

Sepohon kayu daunnya rimbun, lebat bunganya serta buahnya..
Walaupun hidup seribu tahun, kalau tak sembahyang apa gunanya...
Walaupun hidup seribu tahun, kalau tak sembahyang apa gunanya...

Familiar dengan nyanyian ini? Mungkin sebagian besar kita mengenalinya. Ini lagu yang sering kita dengar dan barangkali diajarkan ketika kita belajar TPA sewaktu kecil.

Ya, Ramadhan ke2, pagi itu di tengah bersiap hendak berangkat ke kantor, aku mendengar dendangan lagu ini, dinyanyikan oleh anak2 kecil di depan rumah. Mereka begitu bersemangat menyanyikannya, bersama-sama. Hampir2 seperti grup nasyid. Sekali mereka selesai, merasa belum puas, maka mereka mengulangi lagi nyanyian tersebut dari awal, sekali lagi.

Aku tertegun, tersenyum sendiri, lantas membatin. Apakah mereka benar2 memahami makna di balik lagu ini? Akankah kelak, saat mereka besar nanti, dengan segala jalan hidup mereka jalani masing2, dengan ujian dan godaan duniawi yg akan mereka hadapi, akan masih mengingat lagu yg mungkin pernah mereka dendangkan semasa kecil, bahkan jauh memaknai makna di baliknya? Semoga... doaku dalam hati. Begitu pula dengan diri ini yg mendengarnya.

Ya, pagi ini aku kembali diingatkan, oleh lisan seorang anak kecil. Aku akui sekaligus memprediksi, di usia mereka saat ini, mereka belumlah memahami makna di dalamnya secara mendalam. Namun apapun itu atau siapapun dia, setiap nasihat kebaikan yg terlontar dari setiap lisan, dan kita mendengarnya, pastilah itu nasihat yang sengaja Allah tunjukkan kepada kita. Hmm, motivasi pagi penguat langkah untuk menjalani hari dengan sebaik2nya, dengan tekad perbaikan. Bismillah...

Jaga solat kita, karena ia adalah tiang agama.
Jaga solat kita, karena itu bukti iman kita padaNya.
Jaga solat kita, karena ia yg akan pertama kali di hisab.
Jaga solat kita, sungguh ialah penguat di kala sulit maupun lapang.
Mari perbaiki kualitas solat kita, karena ia yg kan menjadi furqon, pembeda, sebagai pencegah diri dari yg mungkar.