It was the 2nd of the month of Ramadan this year, where the billions of muslims practicing the third pillar of Islam-Sawm. I was at airports and have my iftar there alone since my flight was delayed. I was in journey to meet my friend in Penang since this year will be our last ramadan together as bachelor due to he very soon, will be married on next month. This might be the only opportunity to revive those old vibes and experience we both shared during university life.
While I was at boarding gate in KLIA2. I met a vibrant American woman which also headed to the same destination. Apparently I was sitting beside her bag left unattended while she went to charge her iPhone. After she came back, she took her bag and went sat on the floor. I greeted her and “where are you from” – the most cliche Asian response toward Ang Moh. She replied “America”. Apparently she’s from Michigan and have been staying here with her Uncle and the family. She recently went to Krabi for Vacations with her uncle’s family but return to Malaysia via flight as she didn’t want to sit 8 hours in cars. But turns out didn’t went like her planned due to delayed flight.
“By the way, I’m al, A-L, al” while put out my hand towards her for a handshake. She took my hand while introduced her name. From sitting on the floor, she now sat next to me for having a conversation. I can see boredom in his eye and body language in the beginning, she was loitering around the boarding gate. In my thoughts “maybe I should start talk her”. Then, I picked out books from my backpack and distract myself from those thoughts. But I am aware it was the ego kicks in.
From our conversation, I learned something new. Since she was talking about her home in America. She mentioned “lent” while we talk about the current season of Michigan. I was totally no knowledge about lent and decided to leave it as no comment as I never heard about it before. She keeps talking about something else while me, most of the time, just listening. After we were called to board and wait in the line together. Still talking but now we talk about fasting and again she mentioned “lent”. Now I started to curious what it is “lent” actually is. To summarize her explanation, basically lent is Christian tradition where they would fasting in the period of time where the duration on daylight is much longer. They will give up a certain thing they like to do such as drinking, gaming, eating meat, and more, depending on each individual sacrifice.
People come and go, “every meeting comes also with separation” which what taoist master would say. I met her because of ALLH and we separated then also by ALLH, despite she is Christian and I am Muslim, I learn something valuable to me from this experience. First, insincere interaction is transaction, while sincerity in interaction demands nothing like a swan meeting itself in reflection of lake.
Second, it does help for my writing on next month to commemorate this holy month of the year. We will discover together, the meaning of this month.
“Thanks Shannon, nice to meet you too” – al
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