Japan Edukaizen Trip 2017: Pre-departure

It was a usual mundane day in November. I was scrolling down Facebook aimlessly like a zombie on drugs – that’s what social media has done to us all including you, admit it – when I suddenly saw this poster:

I paused my scrolling, my eyes transfixed on the top part of the poster. My favourite mufti, Dr MAZA combined with imagery of my favourite country, Japan and the word Kembara (travel)! And Edutrip! It was like a gift from the heavens tailored just for me! I was so excited, but like a newly blossomed flower suddenly struck by lightning and bursting into flames, my happiness too vanished when I saw the red blob with the number 7555. How on earth am I supposed to afford that? So I just stared at the poster for a few more seconds and then continued scrolling, as if I nothing happened.

Fast forward two weeks, I am at a wedding when suddenly, Kak Shomi, the principal of Khalifah Model School suddenly mentions the trip. She said, it was organized by Young Khalifah, one of whose members is a parent of a student at her school.

“I heard Dr MAZA will be with the group for the whole 6 days,” she said.

“Really??”

“Yes, come lah. When else can you get this opportunity? It’ll be good for KMSS also if you go. Maybe you can ask your mum to sponsor you.” she said cheekily.

“Hmm, but it’s really expensive lah. My brother’s wedding is next week, so I feel bad asking my mum to lend me some money for the trip. Anyway, let me think about it and I’ll get back to you.”

“Okay, let me know and I’ll let Mimi know so she can contact you directly with the details.”

“Okay, insya Allah.”

When I got home, I told my mother about the trip.

“Dr Asri is going??”

“Yup.”

“Just go lah. It’ll be a good opportunity to be with him.”

“Yes!” I agreed excitedly. “Can I take out the money from Tabung Haji account?” I asked. I had to ask because it was actually her money which she earned from working hard over the years and deposited into all our accounts, mine and my siblings’.

“Yes, but make sure you put the money back in.”

“Yes, of course.”

I immediately texted Kak Shomi to inform her about the wondrous outcome of this conversation and she too replied promptly that she will inform Mimi about it.

A few days later, I received a Whatsapp message from Puan Mimi with the details of the trip. I submitted the necessary documents and paid the whole sum. I was then added into the Whatsapp group related to the trip where participants could ask questions or seek clarification about the trip like what types of plug points are used in Japan, what will the accommodation be like, etc.

And so, the 30^th of November arrived, the day of our flight. I was one of the earliest to arrive and went straight to the ANA (All Nippon Airlines) check-in counter where we were supposed to meet someone named Shazlinda. I saw kak Shomi and her husband in line and walked towards her.

“Assalamualaikum kak Shomi.”

“Waalaikumussalam.”

“Do you know where Puan Shazlinda is?”

“I’m the one,” said the petite lady standing next to Kak Shomi.

“Oh okay, I’m Aqtar.”

“This is Encik Fakhri and his wife, Puan Jamilah, the famous writer of a few parenting books,” Kak Shomi introduced me to them.

I shook hands with En Fakhri and nodded my head at Pn Jamilah who smiled back warmly.

Since we were one of the earliest, the line moved quickly and before I knew it I was called to the counter for check in. After I checked in and received my ticket, I checked the Whatsapp group to see if there were any updates about the other participants. There was supposed to be 17 of us, but only 4 of us had arrived. I saw a certain Dr MM’s post in the group, asking Puan Shazlinda to help his mother out at the entrance to the airport where he had dropped her. He took a photo of the old lady pushing her trolley and posted it in the group. Because Puan Shazlinda was busy checking in, I decided to just go out and help the old lady with her stuff. It was easy to identify her because of the photo.

“Mak cik ni pi Jepun ka?”

“Ha ye ye saya.”

“Ok mai saya tolong,” I offered to push her trolley. “Mak cik nama siapa?” I asked. “Oh nama mak cik Hawa.”

“Ok jom kita pi kaunter check in. Passport ada kan?”

“Ha ye ye, ada.”

She was walking with a slight limp. “Takpe mak cik jalan perlahan-perlahan. Boleh jalan kan”?

“Ye boleh, tapi perlahan sikit.”

We walked slowly to the check in counter when Puan Shazlinda exclaimed, “Eh, dah sampai dah?? Baru mintak wheelchair.”

We helped mak cik (who from now on will be called mak tok as she was known) to check in and waited for the other participants to arrive. Mak tok sat at one of the empty tables at a nearby restaurant near the check in counter, as she could not stand too long. 

While waiting, we just chit chatted and I asked Puan Shazlinda, “Are you fluent in Japanese, Puan Shazlinda? Am I correct to call you Puan, or should it be Cik.”

“Puan is correct but you can just call me kak Shaz. And yes I can speak Japanese,” she said smiling.

Suddenly, someone with a familiar face appeared. It was Dr Maszlee Malik! He was here to say farewell to mak tok. I was puzzled but suddenly had and ‘aha!’ moment. Dr MM in the Whatsapp group is actually Dr Maszlee and mak tok is his mum! It all makes sense now. The main reason mak tok wanted to join the trip was because of Dr MAZA, who is a close acquaintance of Dr Maszlee. So we chatted a bit whilst waiting for the other participants. After some time, I met Muhaimin, a shy but polite boy who happened to be the youngest participant in the trip, and who would be my room mate and buddy for most of the trip. He was anxious, and so his mother came to me, “Adik, nak mintak tolong jaga Muhaimin boleh ka? Dia first time jalan sorang-sorang.”

“Boleh insya Allah,” I assured her I would take good care of him.

Dr MAZA then arrived. He shook our hands but there was not much chit chat apart from the usual niceties, before we made our way down to the boarding gate. Muhaimin helped to push mak tok in her wheelchair as it was quite a long walk to the departure gate. We stopped to pray Zuhr and Asr at the surau before proceeding to the gate. Dr MAZA was of course greeted by many people along the way who requested to take selfies or photos with him and which he did not refuse.

After prayer, we walked to the gate and waited to be called for boarding. Muhaimin and mak tok boarded earlier as per the policy of most airlines to allow those requiring assistance to board before other passengers. While waiting for my turn, I met another one of the participants, Kak Huda, a long time friend of Kak Shaz whom I would later find out is a doctor training to be an anaesthetist working in Kuantan.

The other passengers were asked to board, and so we all boarded the aircraft for the 7 hour journey to Haneda International Airport, Tokyo.