(i)

Pengumuman untuk semua. I'm coming home this Saturday. Ya, kamu tak silap baca: 3 Mei.

In August last year, when I first knew I got the prestigious Chevening (Royal Society) Fellowship – I was so excited. Tidak sabar-sabar mau datang Norwich. Saban waktu menunggu hujung tahun sampai. Now, (that I'm here) I can't wait to escape the brutal weather. Berkobar-kobar pula semangat mau pulang Sabah. Hari-hari menghitung hari. Hingga Sabtu ini.

By the way, did I say 'prestigious' (ehem, ehem)? J This international fellowship is awarded to (only) one Malaysian scientist/researcher. Each year. Ada lebih 20 IPT di Malaysia dan berbelas-belas institut penyelidikan. So, it's very competitive.

I was one of the five short-listed candidates last year – and during the final selection (interview at the British Embassy, KL) – I was lucky to come top (atchung, riaknya!), overcoming some strong challenges from UKM, UPM, USM and... (?). Ok, I can't remember which organisation the other candidate attached to.

(ii)

Moral of the story? (No, it's not about me!) My real point is: don't underestimate UMS. Ya memang betul, ia universiti baru. Masih merangkak bertatih. Tapi ia juga menawarkan citra baru dalam pendidikan negara.

Saya sudah jemu mendengar andaian-andaian liar tentang universiti baru. Tiada kualiti. Tiada daya-saing. Tiada prestij. Macam-macam. Tenaga pendidik yang masuk sana majoritinya 'orang-orang pinggiran'. Second-rated academics. Those who fail to secure their places at the more established IPTs (read: older universities). Kononnya begitu.

OK, (may be) there is some truth in those claims. Secara logik pun, tidak mungkin budak awal remaja boleh setanding dengan orang dewasa matang, kan? But more often than not, "those stereotypes" are exaggerated. The gap is not that big. And, it is actually getting closer. Year by year. We (read: newly established IPTs) are not really 'uh-this' and 'eh-that'.

So you people, the sceptics, are most welcomed 'to try' us. How ever you may interpret it. My 'invitation'. J

(iii)

Dua Sabtu lepas, saya turun bandar untuk 'membeli-belah' (ha ha ha, ayat skima?). It took me 6 hours (11am-4pm) to explore Norwich – hopping from one shop to another, hunting for bargains. Ya, buat masa ini saya sedang miskin. Terpaksa mencari barang murah (baca: ada diskaun!) untuk memenuhi permintaan yang ramai.

Enam jam menapak dari kedai ke kedai (non-stop, ok!) – and yes, fighting the 4°C temperature (plus the super chilling air from the cold North Sea!). It was certainly not a pleasant experience, especially when the weather wasn't that accommodating. Not to mention doing something you're naturally not good at. Yes, I hate shopping. Seriously.

Tapi saya terpaksa. Kenapa? That is the price you have to pay for friendship. J Hmm, if only people get sensible and stop asking demanding for souvenirs every time you travel. No, it's not about money. I don't really mind spending some (reasonable amount, of course!) – but I can't stand all the hassles. Mencari sana-sini, huh!

(iv)

Selepas 6 jam merayap serata kedai, inilah hasilnya. Macam-macam. Daripada t'shirt, cd, key-chains, coklat, handbag, etc. All those have made me poorer by RM1400 ++ (£235). L



Ramai orang ingat barangan di UK murah. No, they are not, my dear. Dengan duit sebanyak itu, kalau kita shopping di KL, boleh dapat barang dua kali ganda. Dari segi kuantiti, dan kualiti!

20% daripada kos £235 itu, went to a single item. This one! An MU's jersey (size: XXXL).

Harganya RM320. No discount. Yes, you better believe it! Saya keliling serata Norwich cuba cari kedai yang ada potongan. Huh, tiada. Bad luck, the timing wasn't right. Sebab itu saya memang cuak sangat kalau orang minta belikan jersi dari team priemiership.

Economically and morally, I'm against of such manipulation. Sangat kapitalis! Satu perdagangan nama dan sensasi. Bukan perniagaan produk tulen. Why would anyone spend so much money on a plain boring t'shirt called Red Devil? That doesn't even carry any significant meaning to any soul in Malaysia? Kalau beli jersi pasukan Badak (huh? J), mungkin saya bolehlah faham juga nilai sentimennya. Patriotik, ok.

Sebab itu kalau orang minta jersi liga perdana Inggeris, I don't normally oblige. But this time, I have a very good reason to obey. I bought it for one of my nephews. He had been asking for it so persistently. Ya, setiap kali saya datang UK. The last three trips (twice in 2006, once in 2007) – I didn't get him one. Ini masuk kali ke-4 dia minta. Do you really want to be remembered as the inconsiderate uncle? Dilema, oh dilema.
 

Instead of the common 'third', it seems that – 'fourth' time lucky – works for my nephew better. This time, I decided to compromise. Lagipun, saya ponteng majlis reception kahwin dia tahun lepas. Guess this would make up for it. And, hopefully he won't boycot my wedding. Hik!J

(v)
Wahai kawan-kawan dan saudara-mara semua, you guys should feel guilty for being so demanding. L  

Now I am broke. Papa kedana di rantau orang. So, what did I get for myself? I was reduced to car-boot shopping.

These for me.
 

Botol klasik size 2Liter. Plastik saja. Buatan tahun 1940s dengan fungsi kedap udara. I bought them for £0.65 each. Ya, (setelah bergolak bergadai untuk orang lain!) saya hanya mampu belikan diri sendiri dua biji botol kosong yang usang dengan harga RM8.

But that is the car-boot price. If you flog them in the open market, these rare vintage bottles can be auctioned up to £25 (RM 160) each. How do I know? Don't argue with me. Saya taulah.

Masa belajar selama 4 tahun di UK dulu, saya actually buat double major. Bidang klimatologi, dan bidang 'barangan car-boot' (i.e. banyak sangat tengok rancangan 'flog it', 'bargain hunters', 'cash in the attic', etc). Percaya? Ha ha ha ha!

Yes, I have good eyes on collectible items. Natural talent, ok. Envy me for this, if you must.

(vi)

Saya juga beli 40 biji butang pakaian tentera lama. Ranging from the Victorian era (i.e. masa tentera Inggeris giat menjajah di Asia dan Afrika) to the World War I and II.

A collection I have been dreaming (of having) since I stepped my two feet in England, for the very first time in September 2001. Tapi sebab koleksi begini sangat mahal, niat tinggal niat. Terpendam bertahun, begitu saja. Nasib saya baik sebab tiba-tiba terjumpa item collectible ini dijual longgok di car-boot sales. Lelong macam jual terung lambak di pasar malam.

I paid £20 (RM 130) for the entire set. That is considered super cheap. The actual retail price (kalau pergi auction atau kedai barang antik) may cost you up to £2.50 (RM16) for each individual button. Itu pun, tiada gerenti kamu boleh dapat set butang lengkap untuk satu pakaian.

(vii)

Apa yang ada dengan barang-barang lama dan terpakai ini? Apa yang magisnya? Hmm, apa ya?

Collectible items ini sama seperti seni. They inspire and touch your heart, in a mysterious way that you can't explain. Ia, secara spiritual, mendorong kita menanggap dunia dengan mata jiwa. Bukan hanya melihat aspek material semata-mata. Falsampah-kah? J

Barang-barang usang yang nampak macam tidak berharga ini, kadang-kadang boleh mengingatkan kita pada perkara-perkara yang sangat bermakna.

Tentang dua pasangan muda yang berkahwin di zaman perang. Tentang seorang ibu yang kehilangan anak pertama. Tentang seorang bapa yang pakar bermain senapang. Tentang kegembiraan masa lalu yang tidak pernah menuntut sebarang bayaran (bukan macam sekarang!).**

** Just in case you don't get it, I'm talking about my late mum and dad here.

Alah, tentang apa-apa saja. Sendiri mau ingatlah, kan?