A year today....

I open my eyes and realized that we're just landed at Abu Dhabi International Airport. I took my hand luggage and head towards the exit with my parents. At that time, I was blur, excited and awe. I've never live in a foreign country before . So I just stick with my parents. We hailed a cab and ask him to take us to our "new"(to me it's new) home.

During the road trip, I try to enjoy the scenery of Abu Dhabi for the first time. But I was too tired. After we arrived, the taxi driver tried to trick us that we pay AED100. But we know how much is it really cost and my "dad" scold the driver. Anyway, I don't really pay attention to them. I just realized how hot and dry it is even though it's almost 8 in the evening. It's totally different from Malaysia. Then after the taxi driver was settled, we went to our home.
Our new home was cozy and cold. I have to wear a sweater because I'm not used to cold conditions. I've searched for my room, unpacked my stuff, and sleep. I was too tired. Maybe I'll explore some other things the next morning.
After 1 month, we were getting ready for Eid-Mubarak (Aidil-Fithri). I was looking forward for this day because it's my first time we celebrate Eid here. I thought it's gonna be fun. But, it was BORING !!!
We did the Eid prayer, then we went straight home because my 'dad's friends are coming. Then that's it. They don't even have the fireworks. But, the next day, we went to the Malaysian Embassy. There, I met a few Malaysians. We start to talk Malay of course. Most of them are engineers and pilots. I've met a few teenagers from my school and I befriended a few bachelors.

It's been two and a half month since I came here. I've been to the mall, I've met my 'dad's friends. I've been to Dubai. But I still didn't go to school because my residence visa wasn't finished yet.
So I just sit at home, surf the Internet and chat with my friends in Malaysia.
One day, 'dad' said that my visa has been confirmed. And I can go to school now. Yippee!( blaah!)
I feel excited and scared because I never went to any other school before. But I try not to be negative.

The first impression when I first came to school is, "WOW!". It's like, I've never been to school before. -.-
But, it's kinda new experience to me. I've met a new friend from a country that I've never heard before such as Sudan, UK, Belgium, Lebanon, Egypt, and others. I learn how to speak Arabic. I learn a new culture. Everyday I learn something new. I even learn how to swear in Arabic.
Sometimes, the school make a free movie in the evening. Which I always go and hang out with my friends.
Once, the school made a trip to the desert safari. Which is so cool! We ride the Dune Bashing, we ride a very freakin tall camel (and smelly too), sand-boarding, and at night, there's a belly dancer show. All of us enjoy it. Even the teachers. HAHA
But my friend, says that he didn't enjoy the desert. He always nagged, "I don't want to go to the desert again. There's a sand inside my 200 dirhams shoes!". I just laugh at him when he says that.

As time goes by, the finals exam is drawing near, and it's everything I fear. I study like I've never studied before in Malaysia. And at that time, my parents were fighting. Badly. And I dunno the results of my tests 'till now. They said that if someone fails, the school will call us. But I never received the call so, I'm assuming that I passed! YEA!!!
But 2 days before I went back to Malaysia, one of my friends ask me to help him in his studies. And I help him in biology, because I did well in that subject.
Then after that, I lost contact with him because I went to Malaysia. I think he went to Belgium.

So my life here was good early of the yaer because I'm migrating for the first time. My friends always said the same thing and questions:

• "WOW! You're living in another country?"
• "Let's switch side"
• "You're so lucky"
• "Dude! Take me with you"

But they don't know that when we moved to another place, there's a lot of problems that we have to solve. Another challenges we have to face. And they said that I'm lucky to live in other country. If I could rewind the clock, I would rather stay in Malaysia. But at the same time, I love that I'm here now. I've become a stronger and better person. And my "friend" once ask me in the yahoo messenger, " Since when that you becoming more 'romantic'?". I just put the 'big grinning face'. :D

A year ago......

I was a student of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Section 9. I was a PMR (Lower Secondary Assessment) victim. Early of the year, me and my friends couldn't care less about it. We try to have fun and forget about the exam. Until, my mom tells me that she gonna married a man from other country and migrated to Abu Dhabi. A thousand thoughts came rushing through my mind.
I was happy because my mom has met the a guy to take care of her. But, at the same time, I feel like it's happening too fast. I mean, I've never met this guy and my mom never told me about him, until one night, she asked me to accompany her and fetch her "friend". Then my mom tell me everything. -.-

The next day, I went to school late ( as usual). After I've been punished, I went straight to class and tell my dearest best friend, that my mom's gonna married the next month. And "maybe" that I'm gonna move to Abu Dhabi.
As I said that, he jerked a bit. He thought that I was fooling around. Then he realize that I was dead serious. I saw sadness in his face but he try to hide it and said, "at least you don't have to take the freakin' PMR". We both laugh. I asked him to keep it as a secret.
After 3 weeks, the entire school knows because my mom came to school and talk to my class teacher. One of my classmate said, " You lucky bastard! You don't have to take the PMR!". The whole class laugh.
I continue my study as usual. But all my friends said, "HEY!, you're not going to take PMR. So chill!".Even my teachers said that too. All I can say is, "Who knows that I have to take PMR there? And some of the subjects like BM, we don't learn in Abu Dhabi. I have to take advantage of that." My teacher just gave me a blank face.

July finally came. My friends was planning to make a surprise party for me. We celebrate it at the field behind the Concorde Hotel. I was surprised (of course) and touched. It was one of the best day in my life.
And during that month, my mom got married. Me and all of my family dressed up, wearing our 'Baju Melayu' and 'Baju Kurung'. We all have our role in that wedding. For example, I'm a camera man and my cousin is a waiter. About half-past eight, the bride and groom finally arrived. MY GOSH! They look like a royalty. I can see that the groom is nervous. They stop for a while, take a deep breath, and they enter the hall. All the guests was excited. All of us are excited. My uncle, and my aunt made a speech for them. After the wedding is over, my sis and me, my cousin, aunt, hang out for a while. We had a busy and exciting day.

August, 14. I was having my trial exam. And it is the last day that i'm seeing my friends. When we're saying goodbye, I can't hear anything but my own heartbeat. It was the saddest moment in my life. We hang out for the last time at the Plaza Masalam. Then I have to get home and pack my stuff.
August, 15. Me and all of my family were having our breakfast at the Airport. We spent our last time together as long as we could. But the departure gates has been open. So, we say our goodbyes. All of us was crying at that moment. We hug them as if we never want to let them go. After the goodbyes, we're heading towards the departure gates. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was my friends who was calling me from school. They wish me luck, and tell me do not forget them. How can i forget them? They were there when I need them. They made my life extraordinary. Without them, I would never know the world!