Our Pear turns One!

We celebrated Erica's 1st birthday last weekend on the 29th of March - for me and Ckn it was our very first kid's birthday party, that I can proudly say we planned and executed! by ourselves (well, Erica helped by turning 1, and Ehsan helped blow out Erica's candles...). We never had the chance to celebrate as a family as Ehsan was away in Malaysia on both his birthdays. InsyaAllah, we'll have one for Ehsan when he turns 3 in June!

Anyway, I created this video and put it into a VCD and gave it to the parents. We also had goody bags for the kids; I know Ckn is working on some updates on her blog so keep an eye out for her next posting on Erica's birthday bash!

Erica is 10!

...10 months old that is! It's fitting that she has learned how to stand up and wiggle her booty to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle Lil' Star, but still can't walk. So far we have 2 tiny teeth peeking out of her lower jaw, and she can kick... I know coz she takes turns every night climbing over me or her mama. On several occasions she even managed to crawl away from us! Her fingers are strong as well; they like to dig into my lips and pull them hard till tears appear in my eyes. Don't even start on the scratching!

I can see that Erica is so much alike and at the same time, so much different than her brother. We love the fact that she can eat - and eat a lot! She doesn't complain - but we expect that to change once she understands what Ehsan has been trying to teach her all this while! Thank God for Erica - I'm really looking forward to celebrate her birthday in March, insyaAllah. Hopefully it'll be the first birthday that we celebrate together in a long time (I've missed Ehsan's birthday these past 2 years...)

A decade with PETRONAS

Well it's a month old, but last December 16th, I celebrated the end of 10 years working with Petronas. I couldn't believe it's been that long; why, I still look like I'm barely 20! But yes, a full decade has passed since my first day in the workforce. I haven't really thought of what I have accomplished so far - have I've been successful? has my contribution touched anyone along the way? how would the past decade influence the next one? What has time told me then?

I think I can start on what has NOT changed : I still love computer games (playing them, however, is another thing. Just can't find the time!). I still like to bedazzle everyone who cares to listen with irrelevant but interesting general knowledge (example : Black pudding is the same as Haggis!). I can still survive on bread and chili sauce (this is true since 1981, so no contest there...)

Being that this is a recap of a decade with my employer, I'd like to recall some of the memorable events that have happened, and how it has changed me:

1997 - It's reporting day, and we have a bunch of forms to fill in. One form that intrigued me was a 'next-of-kin' form; who would get whatever that is owed to me from Petronas, in the case of my untimely demise... I remember putting my dad's name (hehe made sense at the time).. until Mama found out and gave me hell!! so I divided my 'value' between the two ;-)

1997 - Ah yes the 'internal rotation policy'. When first touring Petronas, I agreed to join my first department on the strength of what they showed me; selling jet-fuel to airlines... but when i reported to duty, the head said 'Ezal, in here we believe in rotation... hence, you'll be doing the butt-worst shittiest job first... (my words!)'. So what was the job then? collecting hutang from government accounts...**groan

1998 - Part of History. I was involved in this project to produce fleet cards, and one of the pilot customers was the Ministry of Finance. I'm proud to have created the first 100 accounts, including one of a certain Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim... I remembered regaling this fact to my peers! However, 2 short months later, I got a letter asking for that particular account to be terminated... I've always wondered if it had anything to do with that person's 'sacking' from the government (Sept 1998 - go figure!). I still have that termination letter in my personal files somewhere.

1999 - Blank. You know, I honestly can't remember what happened throughout 1999. Must have been an interesting year then!

2002-3-4 - Being Pissed. Petronas decides to revise the employee grading system, and somehow I fell in a crack. Honestly speaking, this wasn't a good time in my career. I saw my juniors being promoted before me. I was fuming because colleagues who did not move or try anything new get promoted just because they were in a 'stable' job, while I was in projects (oooh If I would only name names!). You can say that from this point onwards, my faith in the system was shaken. Before this I considered myself a soldier who would take a bullet for Petronas. Well, I'm 'glad' to say that this is no longer the case. I try to rebuild my optimism (which I am usually), but I'm more cynical nowadays. I went to a lot of people sharing my pains, but I learnt that one can only depend on ones' self. This was the period that I noticed some changes; I became picky in choosing friends. I 'patted myself on the back' in public more often, I was more critical of my colleagues and bosses, I became arrogant (when needed). It was painful, and against my principles, but I just couldn't let this hurt me anymore.

2004-5 - Remembering Bosses. Since we spend so much time at work, it's only natural that some of our values gets influenced by our colleagues. I guess things started to improve when I had some tremendous support from 2 sets of bosses; the first set (both men) helped me rebuild my confidence and help me shine in my department, and the second set (both ladies, who replaced the earlier set of bosses) helped me shape my perspective...and ultimately, helped me to move from my 'comfort zone'. I don't think I would have done anything drastic, were it not for these 4 people. I remembered a conversation I had at the end of 2005; I told my boss that I'd like to move to Sudan, and that when I have gathered enough experience, I would someday return to my old department...and she said 'No Ezal, once you've seen the world you won't come back ever again'.. somehow those words are still with me; was it a warning? or was it something deeper?

2006-7 - Making the Leap. Sudan. The country of opportunity and challenges. At this stage of my career, I am happy, really. I put my money on the challenges I'm facing; to my totally new set of friends and colleagues, and to the environment. The biggest impact on my career now is the opportunities that I've had to meet Petronas' top management all the way up to the President; to get to hear from them of their aspirations (and BS!) and better yet, for me to tell them (respectfully) of what I felt of the organisation.

So here's a cup of hot chocolate for the next 10 years! I hope that I have 'umur panjang' to see it through; as a great employee, and personally, as a great husband and father.

I believe, time will tell all...

Independence Day in KRT

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Those hallowed words were shouted proudly by all those attending last 31st August. And I was one of them!

This was our second Merdeka celebration with the Malaysian community in Khartoum and it was as meriah as last year, more so this year as it is the 50th anniversary of our independence. It was also an extra honor for us, as our Block J was 'selected' to help out in organising the event with the Country Office and the trainers from Giatmara. Ckn was already involved as she was on F&B detail with Petronita; I got the easy job of ushering at the main gate (not so easy as I was the only one there!) which was a great way for me to get reintroduced to the bulk our our fellow countrymen.

Our event started with Negaraku, followed by raising the Jalur Gemilang, and speeches from Petronas' rep, Hj Jabbar, and the Malaysian Ambassador to Sudan, Hj Zainal. While everyone else was seated, I took on my regular role of 'roving photog' - there were several of us, and we even had a pro from KL cover the event. The one benefit of this was that I could just stand infront of everyone and looking important taking snaps ...secondly, I didn't need to get all sweaty joining in the senamrobik we always do on Merdeka Day!



Then the fun started! Since it was Oil week in Sudan, we brought in our Performing Arts troupe for some shows in Khartoum. Naturally, they also joined in the festivities and handled the senamrobik event and even surprised us with an impromptu zapin performance. The MC later got them to perform one more time; the twist being that their partners would now be from the audience! Somehow one of the dances coerced Ckn to join in - she was game for it, and I was just happy snapping pics!

Well from the pic above you can see that my wife can really hold her own when it comes to dancing! later she told me that it was so tiring - it didn't look like it was, but she was panting and begging to sit down and rest!



The whole day had a festival feel to it, especially in the next few events where we all had a chance to make a fool of ourselves in the fun games. I entered the 'Mens-Single-Eating a Granny Smith on a Lidi' game (Open category). How well do you think I fared?

Incidentally, I was the only grown-up (and kid for that matter!) who had shorts on...and worse; a T-shirt with 'AUSTRALIA' written on the front...malu! luckily I had my wife's gadget bag slung over my chest...



Ckn then entered the 'Ladies-Fishing the Bottle' contest. The game looked totally hilarious - and it was, as she had to get the nail at the end of the string into the bottle and somehow pick up said bottle and transport it to the finish line...no she didn't fare any better than I did. But it was fun all the same!



I'm sure you're wondering if Ehsan enjoyed the event as much as we did...well we decided not to bring the kids this year; they would have had to wake up very early and we didn't want them to be left unattended while we were busy with our tasks. It was a fun day, and since it was a Friday, the event ended earlier than normal, at 11.45am.

A week later, on the 9th, we were invited to the Malaysian Embassy Merdeka reception at the GHV. It was nice to have the night out and it was also our first official diplomatic do! so only the best batik had to come out for this! haha!



There were quite a few of our colleagues in attendance. My friend, Izwan, was the roving photog for this event as he had just gotten a new Canon 400d camera and was itching to try it out! We also made some new friends - among others : Ms Machiko, the medical attache to the Japanese Embassy, Mr Hua You, a diplomat from the Chinese Embassy who served in Turkey for 5 years (hmmm... coincidence to our future holiday perhaps??) and we even met Wendy, a Malaysian working for UNCHR, whom we first met in Cairo during our holiday there last December!

Funny thing was Dr Machiko just loved Ismail's songket and couldn't stop touching it!! Sadly, he recently left Sudan to return to Malaysia - he'll be missed!



So, by the end of the week, we had celebrated 50 years of our nation's independence in Sudan and in the process made a lot of new friends and got reacquainted with old ones. I honestly believe I wouldn't have celebrated Merdeka this way back home. Oh, and as a bonus, I also turned 32 on the 8th! heh

Ramadan is Back!

Ramadan Kareem! Allahu Akram!

Time sure flies and so much has changed - Last Ramadan, there were only 3 of us; Erica was still some ways away! Now Ehsan has hair(!), we have a helper in the house, and finally Erica - who was made in Sudan, gets to see Sudan with her own 2 eyes. We are truly blessed, Alhamdullillah!

August was a hectic month, as I went home in early August to take charge of my wards that I have left under my parents' supervision since January. This was a truly hectic trip as I only had 6 days to repatriate my family. The most challenging I feel, was the packing - between the 4 of us and our helper, we had approximately 170kg baggage allowance, to bring back our clothing, foodstuff and RM400 worth of fresh fish! We managed to meet the allowance (thanks to group check-in!) and the fish (which was frozen solid) arrived safely in Khartoum still frozen solid.

Well it's the 2nd day of fasting, and while I don't consider myself a good fast-er, I guess I'm coping well (ask me again in 2 weeks time!). We do miss going out to the bazaars to look for juadah berbuka, but it's more laid back here. We do have our own Malaysian-organised bazaar that happens every Friday, but that only starts next week. So for the next few days we're going to iftar ala-carte, Ckn style!

Celebrating 4 Memorable Years...

Happy Birthday, Young Man!

Happy Birthday, my lovely son
I can't believe you're already One
Your smile, your laughs, your little touch
God, I miss you oh so much

Once, you were so very small
Now, you're proudly standing tall
My, how you've grown to be so strong
We pray to God you'll do no wrong

To baba and mama, you're our brightest star
We'll love and cherish you, wherever we are
We'll show you how big the world can be
And how you can change it, son, you'll see

For now, do help to look after mama
As we can all be so near, yet so far
and do enjoy yourself in being One
A Happy Birthday to you, my lovely son