I think I've seen something but I don't know what is it

Yesterday I woke up in a rather dull mood. I missed fajr prayer, again. Dangit! I should train myself to control my sleeping habit better, next time. Sleeping on the floor does not help a bit. I think. Banyak sangat ikut cakap syaitan ni... Haiyoo.. Anyways, the started off with a bit of breakfast, it was last night's leftover. Checked my phone, received 2 messages. The first one wasn't anything much, but the second one, Belem and Andrea asked me if I would like to follow them to Sakura Matsuri (さくらまつり), Japanese celebration of the sakura. Skipping the journey part, we managed to make our way there just right before event. In short, we took a cab, and while having a short conversation with my homies, I spied a prayer mat right in the middle of the cab. The driver was a black man, probably an immigrant from Africa, i presumed. He seemed to throw his glance over the watch for some reason, over and over again, probably waiting for something? I don't know...

By the time we made it there, he took the payment and I THINK I SAW him threw a quick view on the prayer mat. Now, that view really touched me, as a fellow muslim, because I would never bother to look at the time and spend some time to wait, least to say to prepare for prayer. Being in college, I simply settle up most of the things like homework, labs, etc etc and then find time to pray in between, if you know what I mean. Unspeakably, it seems so sweet to me. This guy works as a cab driver, living solely on uncertainties in life, for example, being called only when he's needed, make only a couple of dollars a day if that can't be helped (considering there are a lot of cabs around Nashville and the competition is tough bro!), having to pay tickets if he got pulled over, fuel, etc etc. Doing a quick calculation in my head, I started thinking, what kind of place he lives in? What kind of family he can afford? What kind of job that he possesses other than driving people around? What makes him able to live with that with this kind of recession these days?

I have no clue what’s up with this guy really…. But really, I am curious to know. It reminded me of the importance of being grateful with that you have. I have a computer, a tv, a nice room to live in, a cozy bed to sleep on, enough food to live with, an air conditioner if it’s too hot and a heater of it’s too cold and yet complained so much about not having enough things. I stroked me good. Like an arrow piecing through my heart. No no, I can’t cry now, it’ll be too embarrassing then. Haha. I uttered salam to him before we got out of the cab, and deep in my heart, thanking him so much, for teaching me to be much more grateful and appreciate things around me, without having to say a single word, in a simple 4-5 minutes cab ride.

And off to Sakura Matsuri festival, we met Cole-san, and Alicia-san. We’re just in time to watch Cole-san singing Kimi ga yo (きみがよ). It was such a lovely day at a nice park. That was my second time seeing the General Consulate of Japan, Nashville; I heard he’s a cool guy, though I had never been in any 1-1 conversation with him. We kinda chill over there for a bit, till it was time for the Taiko drum performance.


Sensei, Alicia-san, Cole-san


Unknown kid
The performance was energetic, to the point that it rains (not really heavy), but people didn’t even bother to seek shelter or anything. In a nut shell, it was blasting everybody’s mind. What’s funny is the 3rd song was supposed to be a rain-calling-song. And the guy kept apologizing for calling the rain down. Haha. Owh, I can’t keep my eyes off this performer, the lady with red lips and Chinese-doll hair style. It was amazing. Here’s why I said it’s amazing.



Spot the lady in black right in the middle ^^

In my view, it’s just a Taiko drum show, if you hit the drum differently, it produces different beat, hardly I can recognize any note or anything but that’s all to me. Nothing more. Well, to this lady however, she looked as if she’s so into it. I’m pretty sure it’s such a tiring act (hitting such big drums over and over again for almost an hour, well that makes sense because if you don’t hit them as vigorously, the show won’t be as energetic). What’s catching my eyes is that she smiled as if she enjoys it so much. Not that kind of smile, but the smile so pure that I think it comes from her heart. Not a fake smile if you know what I mean. I think that’s absolutely fabulous to see her, not from the act, but from what comes from her. It’s like tasting an apple pie, but it’s not the sugar in the pie that makes it sweet, but the pure sweetness in apple that makes it a good apple pie. Haha, what am I saying, it sounds so corny now….. ^^ I guess this the sweetness in life? I wonder……

Soon after the show was over, we had a small chat with Nakajima sensei. It’s funny how the Japanese class topic arised, I wonder if I could still be able to take Japanese class again next semester. Theorically, I have fulfilled my humanities requirement. I’m supposed to fulfill only 6 credits of humanities, and now that I had taken 10 credits of Japanese class, I have more than enough than required. Truthfully, I still yearn to continue on with Japanese class (I love that class), but being in mechanical engineering class, next semester is kind of a pain in the ass. Why? I will end up having 19 credit hours. Japanese is such a light class for me though, I could probably manage, but what would the end result be? I don’t know. Should I stay or should I let it go? Hurmmmm…… I wonder… Please god, help me to make a decision….


I guess this is the reason why I'm still taking japanese? Because I love you all! ^^


And of course, Nakajima sensei



And not forgetting, Sogabe sensei