orang kata.

Orang kata, antara cinta dan cita-cita, pilih cinta.

Orang kata.

Aku kata, PhD ada je mana-mana, mak ayah Allah bagi sekali je.

A couple of weeks before I leave for a conference in Boston, my supervisor came to me and said that there's an offer for me to further my study at Bristol Univ. Macam mana entah. Takudai and Bristol have this 'brotherhood' link, so if I'm interested doing my PhD at Bristol, I just have to cari supervisor who willing to work with me je. Then, I'm ready to go.
No tests. No interviews. 

Aduh mak.

Pening untuk beberapa hari.

Day 1 at the conference. My friend is supposed to present for a poster session. Yes, memang it is my paper. And he is the second author. Dia dapat ikut because sensei nak nampak submit banyak papers. But, what makes me angry, kau dah la dapat pegi senang-senang. Things like registration, flight, hotel, every things, sikit pun tak ambik tahu. Poster buat a week before pegi. No preparation at all. Everything he puts on me. And guess what. Yes, I have to present on behalf of him on that day. Because he can't speak english and tak jyunbi langsung. Then, what used you go there?

Well, it is true what they say. 

Tiada kebetulan yang membuta tuli.

Ditakdirkan, during the presentation, the General Chair of the conference, Prof Jun Suzuki, a professor of University of Massachusetts came and tengok my presentation.

The next day. Session aku sendiri. Tengah jyunbi dekat luar hall, Prof Jun Suzuki datang. Asked few questions on what I've presented last day and we have a little chit chat on what we are working on now. Then, he asked about my future plan. So, cerita laa about PhD, scholarship that I've got now and bla bla bla. To my surprise, yes, he popped that question.

"I planned to work on bla bla bla bla next year.... Would you like to join my lab and work with me for your PhD study? You can complete you PhD in less than 4 years."

Allah... Makhluk mana yang tak happy bila dapat two offers in one month?!!

But, at one point, it makes me wonder.

Is it a test or rezeki from Allah?

Pernah dulu, ku simpan niat jaga mak ayah.

At the same moment.... yeah, these offers.

Yang paling takut istikarah, ambik sejadah buat istikarah.

Yang selalu alpa, tiap solat dititip doa pohon petunjuk.

If this is the better for me, then make it destined for me, berilah keyakinan.

The choice has been made

There is no looking back

I stopped waiting, and started acting

Allah...

Now, I leave the rest on You

Only You know what will be the best for me
You know everything and I do not know
and You have knowledge of the unseen

Sekarang, jika kau tanya antara cinta dan cita-cita,

Aku mampu senyum dan....... 

ku pilih MAK ABAH..