The Final Days in Malaysia

And so, our young hero begins her journey in America. 

Finally, after waiting for so long, I've arrived to the States. It's quite an experience, so let's begin.

The Weekend before the move

My parents came back on Friday since my dad wanted to see me before I leave. It was nice, having the entire family there for support.

So, on Friday, I begin repacking my two mondo huge bags. Seriously, I cannot fit my clothes at all.
I took everyone's advice: stuff, roll, compact. Nothing worked. Then, my mother came home, furious that I still haven't even begun packing or throwing out stuff, and she helped me pack my bags.

What happened:
Everything that I needed fit and I could put more things! How does she do that? It's mother's magic.
When I become a mom, I think I'll inherit that magic too. Right now, I'm still (as Malaysians say) blur.

On Saturday, I hung around at home in the afternoon. It was nice, well not really. I had a chance to jailbreak my iPod Touch. Prawn realized how I shouldn't do this by myself. I messed up so badly that he got frustrated. I felt so bad. In the end, it was fixed. Yay! :P

Just watching the day go by ever so slowly. Then, we went to Bibicik for dinner. It was nice, just my mom's side of the family.
Then, there was this singer that comes at 7:30pm every weekend there. He usually sings all these oldies that are meant for people age 40 and up, but I like them too. Simple songs for the simpler times.

My mother, being her, sneakily asked the singer to croon out "Leaving on a Jet Plane." As I ate my cendol and everyone else enjoying their dessert, the singer, Roy, said, "This song is dedicated to Alya, who will be furthering her studies."
As he sang, tears started dripping down my sides. It's terrible. I was overwhelmed with emotions!

"During dinner, the singer from the restaurant played the song "Leaving on a Jetplane," a song dedicated to me. As he croons, my eyes started to swell with tears... tears streaming down my face as the thought that "this is it, in one more day, I'll be gone... away from Malaysia... away from them." The them I am referring to is my Mama, Papa, brother, cousin, uncle, aunts, and, especially, my grandm

other. I could tell my parents tried to not cry so I could stop tearing up, but I can tell, from the look of my dad's face, he was trying very hard to hold it in. "

And thus, the dreaded day had arrived. The last day in Malaysia... Sunday.

What did I do on Sunday?
Well, my father and brother had to leave for Jakarta at 1pm so I just spent my time with them. It was painful to see them go, but they'll be there, always.

I gave my brother one last hug, the longest hug possible, and tears started streaming down my eyes. I think, out of everyone (yes, even Prawn), I'll miss my brother the most. He's been there for me since the start and he understands me the most. A parent can understand you until a limit. A boyfriend can understand you until a limit. A sibling, well, they know both your weaknesses and your strength. H-boy just gives me the reality check that I need every so often. So, those were tears of thanks.

I cut my hair and it's super short. My mom is like, "It's very expensive to cut your hair in the States, so cut it here. Ironically, it's at an expensive parlor (Cut Above) since my mom also wanted to fix her hair, so I tagged along.
When she was cutting my hair, I was like, okay, I can don the short hair. I can, I can, I... (looks in the mirror)... Oh god! I look like a Korean boy band dude.

It was a bit like... whoa. But unlike before, I didn't feel like crying about the short hair. I guess I was just looking for change and this is the first step to change. The lady who cut my hair said I don't have to maintain it and, when it grows, it'll look nice. So I just have to keep in check my bangs.

  I just took this picture this now, so this is not at its best.

Yeah, so I have short hair now! 

When I went home, Prawn arrived. Well, in an hour. He came to see me one last time before I left. When he arrived, he got me a puppy doll, which is so adorable and fluffy :), and a bag, which will be nice to have to carry things around in uni. 

Then, we went to dinner together. When I meant we, I am referring to my family (Family - mom's side sans my brother and dad), myself, and himself.  We ate at Restaurant Thai Sabye-Sabye (pronouced: Sa-bye). It was a quite and nice dinner. Nothing special, but a memory nonetheless.

The reason we went there is because my grandmother wanted to watch the Olympics at 8pm. Our Dato Lee Chong Wei will be competing against Lin Dan of China in the Badminton Men's Finals. It was such a riveting match. I can't believe how into the game everyone was. The whole of KL was quite for an hour and a half as they watch Malaysia vs. China. 

The first set was to us. But the following two sets went to Lin Dan. It was so heartbreaking to see him lose the last set. It was so close. One point after the other. Then, he got a lead, but so many silly mistakes and we lost. But it was a good match. So sad to see him cry. 

Click picture for story.

Prawn was able to see my sports fanatic side, which only occurs whenever I am into the game.

Still, Baskin Robbins gave a free scoop of ice-cream as promised since we still placed in something.

The long queue in Pavillion (credits to Nurel)

As the night ends, I had to send Prawn to the KTM station with my aunt. I spent about 30 minutes with him there, waiting for the train.
Tears and love just filled those 30 minutes.
The last kiss... endearing and just full of the feeling "don't leave me."

I went back home, got to see my baby girl cousin. :)
Said the final goodbye to my aunt and uncle (dad's side - his youngest sister).
Showered and got ready for the flight.

The taxi came at 12am. My mom and I boarded the taxi while my uncle (mom's brother), auntie (mom's sister), and Grandma tagged along in my uncle's car.
In the airport, my grandfather came. My mom and I checked in our bags (not over the limit, WAHOO!) and we went to Secret Recipe to grab a bite.

As I left for the immigration place, I gave everyone a hug.

My auntie (my Mak Ngah) teared up, which made me tear up even more. Since she is not the type to cry so easily, seeing her cry for my departure sent a huge pang in my heart. Sigh... and thus, my mother and I boarded our flight to Doha...