Finland part 1

I have long planned to write about Finland, in some different ways which will be memorable to us in the future. Of course it's beneficial to observe and replicate what is good for us. Finland is a modern country, and most of the population is the member of Evangelical Lutheran Church. Muslim and other religion comprised a little more than 1%. (The percentage- I took it from Wikipedia).

Finland, or Suomi ( in Finnish language) is the place where Nokia was born. I bet most of you guys didn't know it until now right? :) I knew it when we (my husband and I) decided to come to Finland to further our study. Why Finland? Well that's a different story :)

With its extreme winter (with -20 degree at worst), you can imagine how we at first cope with that. Compared to Malaysia with its warm weather all the year, we were very much 'frozen'. In addition to that cold, icy and crispy winter, the sunlight was rarely seen especially in December and January, which added more to our miserable depression. At that very time, lights were switched on regardless of day and night in our little house.

During those dark and frozen days, I realized that it's not wise to keep on being a depressed person. As a Muslim, the important medicine to all this depression-related things is to be nearer to Allah. I knew it is His plan for us with that kind of weather, to seek for His guidance and be closer to Him, begging for His forgiveness and praying that He will grand us peace of mind and happiness. Every time I complained, I realized it's not the way I should react. But being a human being, I easily forgot that and kept on moaning. Ya Allah, please forgive me...:(

Despite its chilly winter, and the need to wear all that thick, buggy clothes, my kids do love winter. They could play with the snow and skate on the ice. We have been here for 3 years, and my kids had started complaining of the warm weather when it was spring, summer and autumn on our second year here! (I have to keep reminding my kids not to complain too much about the weather or everything else and we have to be thankful to Allah, always). Probably they heard all the sighs from me :( Bad examples!!

Its 4 seasons and the extreme difference (sometime) between the winter and the summer make the life here somehow interesting. When it was very cold, you wish the summer is coming soon, and when you were sweating in a warm summer, you wish the cold wind will pass you by. Hehe..people won't easily get satisfied, but every second we have to remember to be thankful to Allah for all the wonderful things He has granted us, alhamdulillah:)

The winter will slowly (hmm not that slow, it usually lasts about 5 months) go and then the spring comes.  During this 3 years, I could say that spring time in Finland does not mean that we would see flowers blooming here and there. It's the rising in temperature and the melting of the snow. But for me, the soft touch of the wind to your skin and the mild sun shine is just perfect. I love the smell of the air in the spring, but not when it comes to the spreading of the pollen! :) (I will sneeze non-stop till I get my pill). And again, all praise to Allah for the wonderful moment of spring every year :)

I would say summer is the most favourite season for Finnish people. They could enjoy the sun very much and they would take at least one month vacation, likely to their summer cottage. For us, who always miss Malaysia and its weather, summer time is a season which will remind us of the environment there. And it's fairly easy to cope, no snow boot (but sometime you need rain boot because it could be rainy), no jacket etc. We could wear the same attire which we use in Malaysia. And my kids will shout it with joy: " Yeayyy..boleh pakai selipar bila nak keluar!!" Hehehe for you it may sound overreacting, but we could only wear slippers during this short (3 months or less) summer season:) And the kids will ask us to go and buy nice sandals for them. Zahirah would want the princess-girly type, while Sakinah would choose cool-easy-simple style of sandals. :) Alhamdulillah for the joyful summer!

Now, in this month or in the early of next month, the official autumn is coming. All the leaves will turn yellow and slowly they will fall off from the tree. Finnish people called it 'ruska'. To those who like photography, this period of time is perfect for them. The colourful and magnificent scene will make your heart blooming, and sensational feeling of admiration to the creator (Allah SWT) will creep in yourself. It will be beautiful in its own way. I am not a photography-crazy woman, but probably I could take a chance this year to capture the beautiful scene, insyaAllah:)

Being in Finland and experiencing these colourful seasons is among the beautiful things which we have gone through. Of course there's hurdles here and there when we experienced all these seasons previously, but I want to be a more positive person, especially regarding the changing seasons here in Finland. I know it's from Allah, and I should not look it from negative sides :)

Let's enjoy and be thankful to Allah for everything! :)

Life balancing

People always talk about how to balanced between work and family life. But I feel it's always easy said than done. You dream of to be a better student, employee, mother, wife, cook..and the list goes on..

How on earth you could be a better mother when you came back from work (or university), feeling so damn tired, then you have to cook, with your kids busy asking this and that and at the same time your head is aching, your body tells you to lie down and your mind is full of problems from work?

They expect you to smile when you seriously feel stressed out?? They say you have to spend time in the gym to relax your body, hence your stress level would go down. But hey, you don't have free time to go to the gym!

Excuses! (Say them? Say you?)

I think, from a Muslim point of view, the root of the balance issue is a balance between what we do which benefit us in this world and the hereafter.  Yes. There's no other way for us. That's the only way. It's final.

When we understand the important point about life balancing, I bet we won't complain on the small things anymore. Should there be complains, it has to be on (not all, but some which come to my mind):

1) How easy we delayed our prayer
2) We have not read a single page of Quran in one day
3) We don't make a do'a for our parents
4) We forget to donate some of our rezki to others in need
5) ...

And the list also goes on...

Oh Allah, give me strength to fulfill all the duty as a Muslim in a better way.

Hanya kepada Engkau aku sembah, dan hanya kepada Engkau aku meminta pertolongan.

Sakinah

Back from holiday, Sakinah always refuses to go to the daycare. Tons of reasons she gives, and the worst part which I could not resist is the part when she starts crying. She is cuter when she is smiling, like in the picture below..:)

She said she wants to go to the other group (the bigger one). She is bored staying in the group she is in right now. The bigger group is at different building, where there is more space for her to play and run. The group she is in now situated at smaller building, and it's such a small house where she could not make herself invisible from the nurses there.

I went to talk to the head of the daycare, Maisa. She seems so supportive and fully understands what Sakinah is feeling. I even broke down in front of her! She's so positive, and looks like she has an excellent understanding towards children behavior. Well, that's why she's working there :)

Parents want the best for their children, and so do I. It breaks my heart when Sakinah cried this morning, hugging my legs and telling me not to leave her there. I could not go to the university, feeling sad and worried about Sakinah. Previously, going to the daycare is among the best and happiest thing for her. Now, the feeling is gone. Deep down in my heart, I truly understand what she's feeling. She wants a different environment, same age friends to be around her, she wants to be more independent.

My Sakinah is a big girl now, not my little baby anymore!

Apabila kita gembira..

Terfikirkah kita, apabila kita bergembira, bergelak ketawa, merasakan kebahagiaan, masih ramai di luar sana yang sedang bergelut dengan kepayahan, kesedihan, ketakutan? Masih tegakah kita untuk walaupun tersenyum apabila memikirkan kesengsaraan mereka?

Sejak aku belasan tahun, sudah aku dengar akan kekalutan di bumi Palestine..namun pada masa itu, dan sehingga aku berumur 30 tahun, berita yang aku dengar hanya mampu membuatkan aku termenung untuk beberapa jam..kemudian perasaan sayu itu hilang digantikan dengan pelbagai perkara yang dekat denganku..rutin harian yang kadangkala banyak dipenuhi dengan perkara-perkara yang memang didambakan oleh nafsu manusia-berbelanja, makan, bersiar-siar..

Aku menangis apabila melihat satu video di bumi Palestine, di mana seorang bapa dengan sedih memegang mayat 3 orang anak-anaknya yang menjadi mangsa kekejaman Israel..tak terkata! Sakitnya jiwa melihatnya..namun lebih sakit jiwa bapa tersebut..Tersayat hati melihatnya, lebih perit rasanya perasaan orang yang mengalaminya..

Manusia makin gila dan rakus..! Apakah yang boleh kita lakukan untuk mereka? Ya Allah, Kau bantulah mereka!! Kau kuatkanlah mereka!! Ya Allah, hanya kepadaMu kami memohon, Kau berikanlah kejayaan kepada mereka! Sesungguhnya Engkau tuhan yang Maha Pengasih, Maha Penyayang..

Semangat yang hilang..

Dalam masa 2 bulan ini, sebenarnya banyak perkara yang ingin aku nukilkan. Pelbagai perkara yang berlaku, gembira dan sedih bercampur baur, dan ku sedari itulah warna-warna kehidupan! Alangkah indahnya sebenarnya kehidupan ini, sekiranya kita memandang dari sudut positif. Walaupun perkara yang berlaku membuatkan kita teresak-esak mengalirkan air mata, namun sebenarnya itu semua perkara yang positif! Kenapa? Sebab dari situ kita belajar satu lagi erti hidup ini.

Aku tahu dan yakin, ramai kawan-kawan dan juga mak ayah memandang aku sebagai seorang yang cekal semangat, dan berdikari. Hakikatnya, aku seorang yang pesimis dan tidak pernah mengimpikan kejayaan gilang gemilang. Aku hanya manusia yang boleh dikatakan tidak punya cita-cita tertentu dan impian menggunung. Setiap tahun yang berlalu, setiap saat yang terhitung, aku melaluinya mengikut rentak sekeliling. Tidak pernah memandang jauh ke hadapan, tidak pula menoleh jauh ke belakang. Aku melangkah seadanya, dan selalu hanya mengharapkan yang baik-baik saja, tida lebih dari itu. Lantas, apabila ujian melanda seperti sekarang, aku kaget..!

Mampukah aku menghabiskan pengajianku di sini?Tegakah aku mengorbankan tahun2 pertama persekolahan anak2ku untuk belajar di Malaysia? Sebelum ini, sesungguhnya aku sudah mengaku kalah..namun aku dapat merasakan Allah tetap membuka jalan untuk aku meneruskannya..hanya Dia yang Maha Mengetahui apa yang telah berlaku dan akan berlaku..Ya Allah..aku mohon kekuatan, dan tunjukkanlah aku jalan yang Engkau redhai..!

Oh Tuhan...

Memang aku sudah amat jelak membaca kisah-kisah dan perkataan-perkataan berbaur l****. Mahu termuntah rasanya..! Apatah lagi ia berlaku di negara Malaysia, yang mengakui Islam adalah agama rasmi. Yakah begitu?Benarkah? Atau hanya pada nama Islam itu agama rasmi?

Tambah meloyakan apabila ia dicanang di sana-sini. Bukankah Islam tidak membenarkan kita membuka keaiban orang lain? Malah, kita sepatutnya menutup keaiban orang, dan Allah akan menutup keaiban kita di akhirat kelak!

Memang boleh jika aku mengambil sikap tidak ambil peduli..lantaklah!! Sudah kerap aku memang mahu berbuat demikian. Tetapi, bagaiman mungkin jika aku baru sahaja membuka laman berita online Malaysia, terlihat tajuk berita yang memualkan! Mahu memejam mata, namun bait-bait perkataan itu sudah lekat di minda. Mahu lupakan, agaknya aku perlu hilangkan ingatan secara menghantukkan kepala ke dinding!! Ya Allah, sungguh aku jengkel dengan semua ini..:(

Bagaimana mahu membesarkan anak-anak dalam suasana yang sihat, sedangkan anak-anak yang ghairah dapat mula membaca, dihidangkan dengan berita yang begini? Aku kehilangan kata...

Ya Allah, selamatkan kami semua dari segala fitnah dunia.

Makan, anyone?:)

Kadang-kadang bila terlalu lapar, aku akan pergi ke cafe di universiti. Memang aku membawa bekalan dari rumah, tetapi hanya bekalan buah-buahan dan biskut, serta air kosong. Sudah tidak punya motivasi untuk memasak awal pagi seperti mula-mula dahulu. Di cafe, sudah tentu aku hanya boleh makan vegetarian food. Memang kalau dikutkan halwa tekak dan lidah aku, tak tertelan..hehe.. Biasalah di Malaysia, makanan pedas, berkari, dan pelbagai perisa lagi..hmm...

Namun, aku kagum kerana makanannya sangat seimbang dari segi protein, karbohidrat dan vitamin. Cuma, yang menjadi masalah bagiku cuma rasanya yang tak seperti makanan yang sudah terbiasa di lidah:) Tapi, apabila lapar, telan aje:)

Sambil aku merenung makanan sebentar tadi, aku teringat pertanyaan anakku yang kedua, minggu lepas. Sakinah, yang baru menjangkau usia 4 tahun Februari lalu, bertanya semasa sedang menjamah makanan di meja makan:

" Mak, kenapa adik tak boleh bawa makanan dari rumah ke sekolah?"

Memang di daycare, semua makanan disediakan. Bagi anak-anakku, mereka hanya diberikan vegetarian food, seafood, dairy food dan semestinya, karbohidrat dari nasi dan roti. 

"Kenapa adik tanya? Makanan di sekolah tak sedap ke?"

Aku menjawab pertanyaanya dengan pertanyaan juga.

"Sedap..tapi adik makan sikit je.."

Kakak yang sedang menulis di bilik, berkata dengan suara yang agak kuat, dengan nada sedikit menyindir..

"Tak sedapla tu....!"

Aku tertawa geli hati. Sengaja aku bertanya soalan mengada-ngada:

"Mak masak sedapla ya?"

Adik mengangguk-angguk. "Sedap!!".

Hehehe..kembang sedikit rasa hati mendengar pujian Sakinah. Aku mulakan ayat memujuk:

"Takpelah adik, nanti kalau adik bawa makanan dari rumah, kesian kawan-kawan adik dapat tengok je adik makan makanan yang sedap-sedap. Kalau adik nak bagi pada kawan-kawan, nanti tak cukup pulak. Takkan mak nak masak banyak-banyak pulak kan?"

"Lagipun, dekat sekolah tu cikgu dah sediakan makanan yang seimbang, bagus untuk kesihatan."

Amboi, pandainya aku menasihat. Aku sendiri?Hehehe..

Lantas aku kembali ke alam nyata. Melihat salad di atas pinggan kecil di hadapanku, aku mulakan makan. Bismillahirramanirrahim!! 

Alhamdulillah!!:)

Ingatan untuk diri sendiri-bersyukur dengan makanan yang ada. Orang lain entah makan entahkan tidak. Yang paling penting, jangan cakap tak serupa bikin!Hihihi..