Ramadhan (Raw-Ma-Dhawn), Raya and Relief from Exams!

Dear Reader,

Ah...

It feels SO good to be back! After weeks of silence, I'm finally unwrapping the package of words in my mind.

Just getting the styrofoam out of the way...

Hmm... Let's see what we got here...

Oh yeah, it's about the fasting month.


This year's Ramadhan passed by pretty quick. Which is actually a bad thing. I mean, it was so fast compared to the Ramadhans of the past. Here's what we did daily:
Sahur (Eating before fasting),
Fast (Prohibition of eating, drinking and committing maksiat),
Iftar (The breaking of fast),
Tarawih [A recommended (not mandatory) prayer that Muslims only practice at night during the Holy Month],
And then sleep. (something we all do)

And then repeat. This process went on and on so fast that before I knew it, there was only one week left. Next thing you know, it's Raya already.
I'll miss Ramadhan. The high reward-rates for doing good deeds, reading the Qur'an on a regular basis, and essentially, becoming a better Muslim. Not to mention the Pasar Ramadhan (Ramadhan Bazaar) that sells all types of delicious food!
Every time this Holy Month comes, we are reminded to make the most of it, and every time it passes, we are reminded that we might not be able to live long enough to see the next one. I just hope I may be lucky enough to reach next year's.


But Ramadhan ending is not all bad...


" Selamat Hari Raya! "
" 'Eid Mubarak! "
" Salam Lebaran! "

Yep. Hari Raya. It's when those types of messages above flood our inboxes and we just can't reply to all of them without having our phone bill shoot through the roof.

Hari Raya is such a fun annual event. Meeting up with all your relatives, catching up on what's new, eating delicious traditional kuih-muih (desserts) and getting duit raya! It's just the atmosphere of happiness you can feel in the air, it makes you happy too. Everyone's smiling, joking and laughing. You know that feeling right?
Whether it's on Hari Raya, Christmas, Chinese New Year or Deepavali, if you join a large group of relatives gathered up to celebrate an event like this, you'll know what I'm talking about.

But this year's Raya wasn't all fun and games.

Oh yeah. Hasif, Shahnaz and me had to think about the coming PMR exam. While Hasif and me took that day off, Shahnaz actually brought her Agama Book!

In the last few days before the exam, it was quite calming to hear my father, who usually pressures me, say that it did not matter what I got. The important thing is, I tried my best. Hearing that from him was quite weird, but relieving nonetheless.
And getting through PMR itself was alright. But I'm sure we'll all agree that Science Paper 2 was the hardest paper ever! So much on Pollination!

But now...

Wooh!!!

Finally, end of PMR! I can soar! I can fly! I can...

Wait.

PMR is over? Wow. That was fast. Feels as if not too long ago I had my UPSR. And that was three years ago.

Hmph. Time sure flies by fast doesn't it? One moment you're having fun on the swings with your friends as a child in pre-school, next thing you know, you're stuck in a dead-end job with three kids and married to a spouse who only yells at you.

Ok, too much.

But seriously though, PMR is over? Dang.
Practically flashed before my eyes.

Now, as I have said on my FaceBook status on the 13th of October 2009 at 10:23 AM, :
"PMR is finally over, and I'm finally back online after weeks! I know it's not the end of the line, but I sure could use some R&R! Wooh!".

So as you can tell, I already know that I've gotta get ready for Form Four, and choose an SPM stream. But maybe not yet. I wanna rest first.

Oh well, 'til the next time!



Peace. Love. Joy.