A letter from my son, 'from Belgaum with love"

Igat flew to India on 13 July to start his 5-year degree programme in dentistry at the KLE Dental School, reputed to be one of the top dental schools in India. Dad and I sent him off to KL and I couldnt stop my tears from flowing when we bade our goodbyes. Some parents were no better: one father, a Chinese, was crying as he hugged his daughter goodbye. Sama ta bekesingut bala kami ke indai, apai urang malam nya...

Igat was the last to enter the departure hall as he was briefed by the JPA officers (Igat was chosen as the group leader) on the travel itinerary, contact persons and things to do on arrival at Bangalore. After he bade goodbye to someone significant who also saw him off, (pangan uhang meh nya), dadi and I blessed him and off he stepped on the escalator. Nasit mata tubah buntau udah bekau ngerami Maie ke nikah, nya alai tua dadi lalu tinduk udah tua datai ba rumah sa Maie di USJ, nadai endur emo. Ma enda, chukup enda nyamai, udah begulai bebala mayuh, nyu kediri tua melaki bini, ia ga rumah sa Maie puang, laban Maie enggau Dum udah nurun bebulan madu.

Two weeks had passed and thanks to ICT we can skype with Igat regularly. Our earlier anxieties were dispelled on hearing that he is adapting well to the new environment. When I read the email he sent us last weekend, I thanked God for His providence, for answering our prayers for Igat's wellbeing. Here's the email Igat sent us last week..

"HELLO PEOPLE...!

Sorry this e-mail took so long. I was busy settling in. On weekdays there were classes and by the time I got back to my hostel at the end of the day, I was exhausted. On weekends like this, I go shop for stuffs. Hehe.. Exploring Belgaum. Trying new eatery each time. Since we are just here for a few weeks, we were advised by seniors to take Hotel food only. Hotel tu kira Indian standard la. Baka hotel bala sida Riverfront ba kitai din. 2-3 stars. Maioh utai ulih dicerita aku. Hehe..

For our 1st year we have 5 subjects. 3 Medical subjects which are Biochemistry, Anatomy and Physiology. For Dental Subject, we have Dental Materials and Dental Anatomy and Histology. But for our exams, we sit for 4 subjects only excluding Dental Materials. Dental Materials tu dibelajar aja, but will sit for exam in 2nd year. Our class starts at 9am each day. One whole stretch until 1 Pm. Then we have lunch break for 1 hour. After that continue from 2pm until 5pm. For 1st half of the week (Mon, Tue, Wed) we mostly spend our time learning medical subjects at the medical faculty taught by medical professors/ Postgraduate students from the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC). For the 2nd part of the week (Thurs, Fri and Sat) we spend most of our time at the Dental Faculty. Which is called Vishawanath Katti Institute of Dental Science. As for Saturday, our class starts at 9am and ends at 1pm. Lectures are fun, and some are so so. The common thing is the knowledge is there for every lecturers.... Ulih ga aku ninga English sida ya. Bisi ke pekat endar Indianised English enda ku entu nemu. Haha... agi belajar ninga.

Makan everyday, kami ulih ngorder meals delivery to doorstep ari Momos and China Wall. China Wall bisi nyedia ka Msian food bala sida nasi goreng, char kway tiew etc. The closest to Msian food that we can have. About 60-150 Rps rega enti ngorder sekali. Enti ka mudah gik, makai ba MESS. MESS tu baka cafeteria. Everyday menu vegetarian everyday. Enti ka makai manok, telu ulih ngasuh sida ngoreng dibelakang. Sekali makai ba MESS tu bisi 80 Rps. Aku laban ke enda beleman, ulih aja makai. Just that, everyday almost the same food. Lelak ga makai utai sama kadang2. Aku nadai masalah ngirup ari ai filter machine urang ditu. Nadai stomachache apa indah. Ah Wei, udah kena stomachache. Balat ga ya kena ari nya. Dibai ke sepital tapi nda admitted. Thank God, kuman aku kebal gik. Haha....

Diatu udah single room aku. Umbas ya ga mal bebayar ke hostel fees ari nya. Room rate is rm330 per month. Taun tu 91K Rps kami perlu berbayar tambah ngau caution money. My room is comfy. Nadai ngiga lebih. Just that wardrobe betegal, kurap2 mimit. haha... But i'll live. Ka mandi shower suka ati, bisi heater maya pagi2 ti chelap amat. Electric and water bills all accounted for in fees. Bisi gym ga a room away from my room. Convenient ka workout taja equipment enda cukup. Senior ku workout ba gym luar. Enti ku udah cukup duit ila ka ngau sida. Pengawa kami, just meh belajar aja n adapt.

Ba class, kami bisi kira 60 iko org. laki 13 iko aja. kebukai semua local (tempe jako slang Msian ngagau local). Tempe manah ga ngau begulai. Tapi bedau nemu endar ga kati ati sida ya, lama2 ila temu meh, manah ke enda. Tapi, generally they are ok ga. Mai aku n Ah Wei meda wayang Hindi ba cinema sida saritu tadi. Ka meda wayang ba Nucleus Mall. Very small. Tapi bisi cinema showing Eng movies n Hindi movies. ;). Ba ditu, laki begulai ngau laki. Indu begulai ngau indu. Haha...

Weather is pleasant. Belgaum is 2500 above sea level. Highland. Nya alai maioh greenery ditu especially ba campus ground. Maioh old2 trees ka besai. Sejuk mata memandang. Hehe... Nya aja meh, tusah ka meda mata panas maya musim tu. Ujan aja2 tiap ari. But today, I can see the Sun!. ;)) Ulih la baju ke dibasu ku kering legi. Kami ba laundry ulih ngagau orang do laundry for us. Kira baka ama. Tapi aku ka nuci kediri. Bisi orang nyapu bilik n nuci jamban. Nya meh munyi ko aku tadi, nadai ngiga lebih ba hostel.

Learning environment kami mixed of old and new.Buildings peda aja ari luar baka ke tuai tapi utai di dalam canggih2 magang. Also applies to the lecture hall, class room n labs.

Actually living cost ba Belgaum is quite high kenu ko kawan tempe aku diri empu. They said in bigger places like Mumbai, Calcutta, makai sekali semina 20 Rps aja. Laban kami tu tanah tinggi, tusah ka beranjung supplies, engka nya mal kini. Aku makai seari bisi about 150 Rps. kira about rm10. Utai ditu bisi ke ridiculously murah, bisi ke ridiculously mal. Baka ari nya aku ka ngiga ironing board, RM 100 rega siti ! Pahai kitai. Urang tambi enda berterika baju kini. Haha... Laban Belgaum small "town", tusah ka ngiga utai ditu.... Tambah pan, urang ditu mostly maioh kurang mampu, nda maioh macam baka kitai, utai dikena. Haha... But I'll live. Have to improvise here and there a little bit..

In all, I think im settling well. .... I miss home. Yes, I miss u guys a bunch. Homesick. Nadai utai ulih ngelaban the comforts of home. But I'm strong and I will stay positive And I WILL study hard too.. For me being here, is an answered prayer. Not everyone has this kind of opportunity. Bendar sembiang ngambi ulih belajar ba overseas suba. Ba UK, Australia, angan2 suba, tapi tu utai diberi Tuhan, but I'll still be forever grateful n contented with what God has given me. For He will provide, and I shall never lack of anything. So I will keep going on and make the most of this opportunity. Keep me in your prayers k. ;))

Gambar, bedau aku upload. Buruk. Haha.... Gambar kawin pun bedau.. Meda gaya legi meh...
Maioh utai ulih dicerita aku. Tanya aja nama2. Hehe.. That's all for now folks..."

When I read the part about him praying for a scholarship, I remembered his disappointment when he found out that he will be sent to India. I consoled him, I told him not to look down at Indian universities, I told him to be humble. Kitai bendar besampi ngambika nuan bulih scholarship, tu Tuhan udah nyaut peminta kitai enda patut kitai enda beterima kasih, ku aku. To reject it would be disobedient. Kitai enda patut mikir we are too good for and dont deserve India but some better places, pia ku aku madahka Igat. I know that Mi, but it hurts nonetheless pia ku Igat. Puji Tuhan, Iya udah nyumanka Igat, diatu Igat udah nerima pemeri enggau ati ti tunduk. Thank you Lord.