I came to Malaysia on 22nd February 2007 by MAS (Malaysian Air lines). It was a long flight, 4 hours from Maldives to KL (Kuala Lumpur), and another 45 minute flight from KL to Kotabharu (KB).
As I landed in KLIA (KL international airport), the huge area confused me. There was a train connecting gates to immigration. I was totally confused and forgot to change dollars. (This is very important )
It was a packed flight (Air Asia) that took me to here. Most people were returning from Hajj (or is it Umra? - can not remember). In the air port they asked me where I am heading, so they were quite happy to hear USM.
I took an air port taxi to come to USM. Every one knows where USM is. I had about RM 40. My father in law gave it to me. I spent RM 29 for taxi. So only RM 11 is left. the taxi driver brought to me to HUSM. he entered through hospital gate. I told him I want to go to Guest house of USM.
So it took him some time to figure out where it is. Finally he left me just at the door of Guest House. He can speak fairly good English. At Guest house I told the lady clerk there that I am a new student came for attachment and my booking is already there. Though she does not know English she figured out what I was talking about. My name was there in the list. She tried to help me bringing another 2 staff. Unfortunately none of them speaks English.
Any way she showed me where to eat. It is the cafe just in front of her desk. I asked here where is the masjid and money changer. She said she "No Dollars, No No No" pointing her finger to her office desk. She meant they do not change dollars.
Unfortunately it was the start of long week end before Chinese holiday. So i have to wait 4 days before I can do any thing officially.
I was hungry in the evening. With RM 11 left I took some food from the cafe down stairs. Now I have only RM 6 left. I bought some water and a biscuit with another RM 3 left. I do not know what to do. I had a VISA card but I do not know where ATM is. I called my wife from the room and almost cried. She is good in surfing and giving instructions.
In the Maghrib I found a masjid. The Main Masjid inside USM. few students came to pray there. (Almost all left for the long week end). Some of them talked to me. I asked them few stuff. They told me there is no place here to change dollars and they have no idea where to take money from a VISA card. Some of them I later became friends as well. Halimi and Muhaimin were 2 of them.
Next day morning I woke up, upset. It was a Friday. My wife gave me all the directions to go this way and that way to take money. Of course she does not realize it is not practical here. I found people jumping over the gate to go for Friday prayer. they do not open the gate for students. but it was Ok, all of us jump over the gate. later on i found new Friends over there. we call it practice for Jihad.
Jamal was one of them. he is from palastine. he showed me where Surau is. this surau is inside hostel. very near. so later on i pray there. some times i became Imam also.
later after noon on Friday i found an ATM. In the name of Allah, I insert my VISA card there and took money. Alhamdhlillah.
After 4 days the office opened up. I want to register for my attachment. I left guest house with a small chart they drew for me to go to HUSM. I found Main building of HUSM. But I have to find out where is post graduate office. I keep on asking one by one. Every one gave me an answer with new directions. For 1 hour I was lost. A man well dressed came and asked me "What are you looking for? ". WOW, he spoke a language that I knew. he showed me where is Registration office. I went stright there. I got lost again since all the name boards and directions are in malay i can not read. After another half an hour I was able to start my registration.
Things went on getting better day by day.
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