'Balik Kampung!'

This weekend I had the chance to come back to my grandparents house in Batu Pahat, Johore. Alhamdulillah. Got the chance to meet them before going back to Kelantan next week for Eid holiday since this year I will not be celebrating my Eid in Johore. At least I got the chance to experience some of the fasting month with my family in Johore.

Thinking back about this fasting month, it really flew by very quick. Today is already the 18th day of Ramadhan. And then Eid came. It feels like I didn't do much during this fasting month. But then as they say, you have to work hard to get what you want. There is no easy route to anything in this world. Thus, I need to work hard to Istiqamah in my ibadah, not only for this month. Hope to continue this till the end of my life. In Sha Allah.

Sincerely
Fatin Nizam

The Time Comes Again!!!

It's already Ramadhan!! 2nd Ramadhan to be exact. And I am seriously excited. Well who wouldn't be?

First and foremost I should say Alhamdulillah, Praise to Allah the Almighty that he gave me yet another chance to experience Ramadhan this year in my college with all my friends and teachers. Praise to Him that I am still alive and breathing till this day with my family and friends by my side. Praise to Him that I still get to keep my health to yet experience another Ramadhan and to devote myself to Him.

Now there is always a trend forming during Ramadhan and not during the other 11 months of the year. More people are reciting the Quran and are dedicated to finish all the 30 juz. But just how dedicated are we to finish the 30 jux in the other months of the year? More people are performing the sunnah prayers and are willing to wake up to perform tahajjud in search of the lailatul qadar. But just how devoted are we to do the same if it is nor during Ramadhan? During Ramadhan the saf in the mosque will be filled with people espacially during the tarawih prayer. But do we do that the whole year round?

I am not looking at other people's doing here. I'm looking at myself and reflecting it as I go. Istiqamah is very important when you claim that you are devoted to Him. But if we are just doing all of this thing during the month of Ramadhan, where is the istiqamah in that?

Thus here I am reflecting myself. Don't just stop the good deeds in Ramadhan. Continue it the whole year round. In Sha Allah your iman can increase and the level of taqwa to Allah will too increase.

Thus, may you increase your good deeds in Ramadhan and continue it even when Ramadhan is already over.

Sincerely,
Fatin Nizam

Home Sweet Home!

Am now at home!!!!! Second day already. Why the late update? Because I was too tired to update just as I arrived home. Over 12 hours on the bus really drained my energy out. I didn't do anything yesterday but watched the TV. It was a very unproductive day yesterday.

But first and foremost, Alhamdulillah, Praise to Allah that I arrived home safely eventhough it took over 12 hours to arrive here. It was very tiring. I slept the whole way through on the bus - woken up a few times because it was too cold, or due to my aching neck.

Now I am at home, I need to make it a productive week before the session starts.

GANBATE Fatin-chan!

Sincerely,
Fatin Nizam

Konniciwa!

Today is such an exciting day. I got to try my hands in making sushi!!!! Sensei had promised us sushi for the past 2 weeks but he got the chance to show us today. And to think that i didn't even like sushi before. I know that my perspective has changed. Now I really am loving it! It is great that Sensei taught us not only the Nihongo (Japanese language) but also the cultures. He said that to learn the language, we must love the culture - thus it is easier for us to actually speak the language. I really appreciate his method of teaching.

My Sushi

Sensei's Sushi

See the difference between our sushi??

And since it is hard for me to cut the sushi into perfect circular shape just like the ones sold in the shops, I just eat them like that - plus it is easier to consume.

Half eaten sushi - saved for supper - and now is in my tummy... Yum Yum..

Alhamdulillah, Praise to Allah that I got the chance to have this kind of experience in my life. Never did I know that I will be learning Japanese language and cultures - plus making sushi! There is one quote from Sensei that stuck in my head to this day - eventhough he said it in his first class.

"You are lucky to be learning another language that is foreign to you. When you are an expert in this language, you can easily conduct your da'wah - just like what I did during my time at Japan"

When I think back, what he said was true. Not only that we can equip ourselves with new knowledge of language for easy conversation, we can also expand the da'wah - especially in countries where they speak little English. Thus, I am thankful.

Sincerely
Fatin Nizam

Historical!

Today is a historical day (apart from being the day where the SPM result is announced), to my surprise, Midnight (which was aptly named by me and Nurul because of the jet-black fur) - the fellow/warden's cat - gave birth this morning to a cute litter of kittens which all looked alike. I didn't have the chance to really count how many kittens were there as I was busy myself this morning. Plus the kittens were covered with blood. I don't have the guts to touch them.

But all in all the kittens looked healthy and fine. I just hope that Midnight can be a good mother cat because this is her first time giving birth. :) Not like my cat which all her kitten died because she didn't have the experience of having a litter of kittens.

Sincerely
Fatin Nizam

2 in 1

Since I haven't been updating my sweet blog recently, I will put two stories in here. Well, 2 in 1..

1:-

Last night at my college an event was held - Malam Suara Al-Aqsa (Voice of Al-Aqsa Night). Invited Aqsa Syarif who had helped a lot for the upbringing of Palestine. Also invited a few members of GKLN and apparently, Fara Fauzana came. I didn't have the time to take her pictures though - being the AJK I was a very busy person last night. Tired as the event ended at 1 a.m. But happy as the event went smoothly.

 These are the pictures that I managed to take. Not much....... :(

2:-

Need to wake up early this morning as the A-level students for my batch had a trip to FRIM! (Forest Research Institute of Malaysia). The fatigue from last night's event still hadn't gone yet, thus I slept the whole way to FRIM.

Upon reaching there, I praise to Allah a lot. That place is beautiful - no words can describe the beauty of nature that's preserved there. The lush greenery really made me calm.

And then we started with the activity. First activity was trekking on a trail in the forest - led by a guide. He stopped by at a few places to explain about the unique trees there and its unique characteristics. Then we went on to the treasure hunt. Going on the same trail again - but without a guide and we need to identify back the name of the trees that was related to the questions given to us. 

But the most excruciating thing that we did was going on the trail leading to the canopy walkway. We needed to climb a hill in order to reach the canopy walkway, walking through the trail in the forest for 1 km equivalent to 30 minutes. My legs almost failed me. But I kept on going and Subhanallah - the view was amazing! It really worth the 30 minutes excruciating pain in my leg muscles to witness that view.

Thus right now, I am extremely tired from the trip. hiking the trail to the canopy walkway really drained the strength in me. But all in all, I was glad to be presented by the beauty of nature from Allah. :)

Sincerely,

Fatin Nizam

Tarantula Tree..

Yesterday at approximately 3.00 p.m. the Dynamic Youth Club of my college had hosted a 'Tree Invention' event in conjunction with Green Campaign and Caring Month. Thus, the almighty 13.7 had gathered far and wide in Dewan Tun Hussein Onn (seriously 'far and wide'. we used up most of the center space in the hall) to construct this magnificent tree - eventhough it fell quite far from my expectations. Nonetheless it looked like a tree.. =)

Le Tarantula Tree s.p

Thus we have invented a new species of tree - Tarantula Tree. =)

Okay. It may look disastrous - which might be just it - but what I appreciate the most is the teamwork played by each of my classmates in this activity. Everyone lend a helping hand and everyone came down to make the tree. This shows that we have a strong bond of unity. TESL are Awesome! ( I am never denying that) Eventhough the tree didn't work out well, but we had fun. We shared yet another wonderful moment together in our short two years in Kolej MARA Seremban - and more wonderful moment are soon to follow. I do appreciate all the hardwork from all the members of 13.7. Only Allah can bless you guys.

Me LOVE 13.7!!

Sincerely
Nurfatin A. Nizam