Kindness, it was great to see you!

Dear world,

I want to share what I just saw today. Something that made me have a strong believe that nothing is impossible.

Today, I just came back from my hometown. I traveled to and from my hometown, Pasokan, by using boat "Ferry" since it was Eid Ul Fitri last week. It took about  6 to 7 hours to arrive back in Gorontalo.

I had some kind of lessons I learned during my journey which I want to share to anyone who would love to read my post.

My first lesson of Life 

You know, I do not always talk with people like others. When I travel, I mostly spend my time reading books or just stand/sit in one place and watch people around me. But this time, it was different. I traveled with one of a kindhearted people, ka Lulu who is from the same village as me (she is always kind, helping me when I just started my study at the university, and she has wonderful attitude). She invited me to stay with her during our journey, so I did. I was talking to her when another person who is also from our village joined us. I started our conversation by talking about how things are in my village. We talked about how different the village is and how people have changed. We shared about things we face at our workplace, and when Andri, the man who just joined us talked about his experience with his students and the students family, I got really mad to hear his stories. He teaches Senior High School by only getting paid about Rp. 3,000 or equal to 50 cents/hour , can you believe that???

Yes, I was really surprised and mad. Surprised with the amount money they get as their salary. and mad because how the parents treated them as teachers. He shared that most of the times, the students' parents came to the school and get mad so badly and even treated the teachers just because things the teachers said to the students or just because the way how the teachers educate the students. He also shared how the students had drugs party, and he found out about it and tried to open his mind about drugs. But guess what? the student's parents went to the school and bring knife for him and said unacceptable things. He shared that it happens almost everyday, the students will report their teachers to their parents and their parents will come to the school, get mad, threat the teachers and so on.

I asked him what was the teachers' reaction to see that? he said that they would just be silent and cannot do anything. He even shared how some parents hate him because he tried to stand on what is right. When I heard all the stories he shared with us, I felt really bad for him, and I wish I could do something for them . . . Hopefully, if I get enough money later, I want to share it with them.. with the teachers who fight so hard, just to make this world to be a better place by educating students. They need to be appreciated to what they have done for the future generation, they need to be rewarded and not to be hated.  Aaah.. if only those parents realize that Rp. 3000/hour is nothing compare to what the teachers give for their children.

In here, I learned to be thankful to what I have got until now.. Alhamdulillah . .  I still have a complete family, I have a job which gives me more than enough salary, I am more than lucky.. And I am grateful because God has always caught me whenever I fall whether because of problems I face at work, with my friends or just small problems which makes me thinking that I am not lucky enough.

My second lesson of Life

I was reading a novel which I bought a year ago and I had not finished it yet when a man around his 40s walked in front of me. I smiled when I saw him with one intention which is showing friendliness to any people I meet. He smiled back and started conversation with me. Asked me where I was going and what do I do. I answered him and saying that I just came back from my home-town for Idul Fitri and I am travelling back to Gorontalo, the city where I work as hotelier. He smiled again and said "Oh that's why the reason you smiled to me, because you work at hotel" He started to talked about  his view of  "friendliness and smiling" he told me that  only few people smile to strangers and that's because they think smiling is not important. I listened to his perspective about it and also shared about my view about it. We started to talk about what's happening with our beloved Indonesia, and about the government. After talking for almost one hour, I told him that I wanted to go back to the room where I kept my stuffs because I felt so starving.   I went to my room and get some food which my mom prepared for me, my favorite one ; Ayam Bakar Rica (spicy grilled chicken breast). It was just one piece of chicken breast. When was going to eat my lunch, I remembered the man. I took half of the rice which I had not touched yet and tried to divided the chicken into two pieces. I went out of the room and went to the boat's kitchen tried to get a plate and spoon. Once I got it, I went back to my room and put the rice and a piece of ayam bakar on the other plate. When I went back to the place where the man and I talked, he was not there and I tried to find him but I could not, After 10 minutes or so, I saw him from mushola. I knew he just finished praying. I told him that, I have some food which we could share and handed the plate to him. He smiled and thanked me for giving him some food. Later I know that  the man had not got dinner, breakfast and lunch since yesterday. I was very surprised and felt bad to hear what he said. But I also felt happy that I could share what I had. I realize that giving him the meal was not a big thing, but at least I was be able to do something for him, and that what makes me feel happy and smile at the same time whenever I remember that moment. 

My 3rd Lesson of Life

I was going to leave the boat once it arrived at the harbor and while I was ready to leave, I saw a grandpa, walking with a stick. I could not stand to look at him and let him walking without helping. So, I offered him a help and hold his hand so he could walk with me. When I was busy helping him, two men who worked for the boat came and said "let us help  him, we know he has a very big and heavy bag there, you do not need to worry, we will help him and make sure that he gets to his house and family safe and sound". I was speechless when I heard them saying that. I said thank you and was really amazed to see that kind people are actually still exist. The only thing I remember, I had a big smile when I saw those two men walking and helping the grandpa even they are strangers for the grandpa. I want to always be able to help other people, especially old people who need help. I know that one day, my parents and me, will get old, and we might need help once we become old. Allah will pay everything we do if we do the right things and reverse.

I hope, my children will be kind....
I hope, they will do kindness wherever they are . .
I hope that they will be able to do something for other people . .
I hope that they will be mindful ...


Anyway, it took me longer to write this post, I think almost a year, since I got busy studying here in Switzerland and I forgot that I have not posted this experience.


Big hug from Switzerland,

Nur