A Chinese, I Am?

Assalamualaikum wbt

Reminiscing the past 4 years of my life in Moscow, they're just superb. Maybe at times, they were a few moments that I just feel like deleting them from the movie of my life here. But where the rainbows come from if not poured by the rain at the first place, isn't it?

What I want to share here is about my nationality which has frequently been asked either by my patients, my lecturers, my fellow colleagues from other countries and not to forget the local people that I bumped onto them these years. Sometimes, tourists that I met during my day out in front of the candy house St. Basil and the historical Kremlin and The Red Square did ask me about my origin as well. Anyway, we talked because I helped them to snap photos of theirs at those mentioned places.

In the past 4 years, I can tell you that so many had mistakenly thought that I'm an Arabian lady from what-so-ever Arabic countries somewhere near the Gulf. What a mistake! I once been told that I look like a Syrian. I twice been told that I resemble a modern Egyptian lady who wears slack and long blouse (of course with the hijab). I several times been told look like a Saudian and even weirder there were a few assumptions that told me, I do look like a Qataris! No way. Qataris is just too much fairer, fatter, taller and all the -er that they originally have. I am no way near them.

The conclusion is, people mistakenly thought that I'm from some Arabic country which they hardly can name it. Muslim women from this region all look alike, that's the best conclusion I can give, I suppose.

But I once been told that I look like a Korean. Oh, no no no. Seriously I have no Chinese nor Korean blood in my body. Neither Japanese as well. But maybe the look is there, they said, after I explain from where I actually am.

But last Tuesday, I went to the park in front of the main building of my Academy. I met this one old guy who was trying his best to speak English with me. He told me that he had spent almost 5 years of his life in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam, to follow his son working there. So he can speak a little Vietnamese actually. And he was so glad to meet me at the park. I innocently asked why he's so glad seeing me there? He seemed didn't get why I asked him such question. Then he started to speak Russian with me to smoothen the conversation. Oh, only then I got the idea that he thought I'm from Vietnam! Ya Allah...

The main building of my Academy, Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy (MMA).

And yesterday, I met my friend, a Malaysian Indian. We are quite close but for this semester, it was the first time I met her. We just had time to greet and asking where to go. Just before leaving, she said (with her unique intonation): Sarah, why you look like a Chinese now? And then she talked to her friend next to her (again, with the intonation that uniquely hers): Right Jien? She's so like a Chinese now. Don't you see?

Oh people. A Malaysian, I am. A Muslim, I am. And a pure Malay, I absolutely am!

What count is not the face. But the heart. What count is not the look. But the soul.

View of the MMA building from the Frunzenskaya Lake Park.

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Hari buat dia:

53) Al-Hujurat (49:15) - The believers are only the ones who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful.

Malam ke-11:
Ia meninggal dunia dalam keadaan bersih dari dosa seperti baru dilahirkan.

Malam ke-12:
Ia akan dibangkitkan pada hari kiamat dengan muka yang bercahaya.

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Ia akan datang pada hari kiamat dalam keadaan aman sentosa dari tiap-tiap kejahatan dan keburukan.

Malam ke-14:
Para malaikat akan datang menyaksikan mereka bersolat Tarawikh serta Allah SWT tidak akan menyesatkan mereka.

Malam ke-15:
Semua malaikat yang memikul 'Arasy, Kursi akan bersalawat dan mendoakan supaya Allah SWT mengampuni kita.