[Ramadhan Series] Day 3 : Nap Dreams Became Real

Dreams... everyone has dreams when they're sleeping, aren't they? I also have dreams... good dreams or even nightmares. But, this day I got a very unrealistic but real dreams...

If you read my previous article about my first day of ramadhan, I mentioned that I have a final project that everybody in our groups have trouble in interpreting the results. How come it's not a problem when we have pictures of networks and confuse what's this networks all about. Even we already met at that day and discussed, and something came up to lighter our thinking...but we still need more.

Then, I am the one who has responsibility in making the power point presentation for next Monday, which in Sunday night we have to send it through email to our teacher. It became a huge problem for me because I have to make sure everybody in our group understand the results and can present it well.

This day I have to think how to make a good presentation. But it came at that point where I was stuck. I couldn't think about anything that can resolved our problem. I asked several people, including my husband, but no answer. So, after Dhuhr prayer, I decided to take a nap.

It's not only because I was tired to do my assignments since morning, but I also felt hungry. hahaha Yes of course because I have to do fasting. And I wanted to forget about those hunger feeling, so.. that's why I took a nap for a while.

What makes me felt unreal is that when I awake... I remember I had dreams... about doing my power point presentation in the part where I felt difficulty the most. But, I couldn't remember what's that all about. I just remember I did that and put some circles in slides and make some notes.

So, I decided to try it out. After Ashr prayer, I sat down in front of my laptop and started to work.

And... it's done!!

I didn't know how to do it but I felt like more energize and more focus than ever!

I even forget my hunger... because I started being into my work.

Miraculously... I can finish the most difficult part in the presentation. Subhanallah...

It's the miracle of take a nap in Ramadhan. Alhamdulillah...

I knew it's kinda bizarre experience from some people... but it's real and it's happened to me. Maybe there are some scientific reason behind it, like for example...

I took a nap in the right time and moment, where I was sleepy, tired, and loose my focus. But at the same time I knew there's something need to be done but I didn't know how to do it. So, those feeling came across my deep mind without I realized, and straight to my brain when I was sleeping. It turns out to be a dream. But it can be a good dream or nightmares, right? Maybe I even can have nightmare about my assignments. Alhamdulillah that's not what happened... I believe Allah took a part in here where He gave me an insight about what I supposed to do after awake. Allah helped me with that... Alhamdulillah...

You know... I remember when I was learning about Sleep in Ramadhan through Productive Muslim Community. I kept thinking about how can I prove the theory where sleeping actualy can help people to be productive, especially in Ramadhan.

And now... I can prove it. ^__^

[Ramadhan Series] Day 2 : Shocking Hijab Trying from Non-Muslim Friends

My lab is the place where everyone happy, just like our Prof always said to us when we have meeting. It's common when someone mocking others, and no emotions involved.

Without I realized, because I'm not at campus at that day, one of my friend (the craziest one) has an idea to try using hijab by herself with her shawl. She tried to make it as similar as possible with my daily hijab model.  And... it shocked me a lot when I knew it. It's not a bad shock. But, a very good shock. 

I'm very impressed on how she managed to wear it like I used to wear using her shawl. Even her intention at first is to mock me and joke about me that I have no hair and I want to cover it up with my hijab. hahaha

I knew about this from other friends who shown me her photos. And I just kept laugh because she's so cute and beautiful with shawl on her head.

But, the most shocking me was ... when some of my friends who shown me the photo (3 of them), they asked me to have Hijab Day in the lab. They want to try wearing it.

It's... UNBELIEVABLE.

On every year, in campus, Muslim students have an annual activity called International Muslim Culture Exhibition where everyone including non-muslim can try to use Hijab. But as far as I remember, when we had that activity last year, my lab mates didn't come because have classes.

And it's unbelievable for me because that idea is not coming for me. The idea of wearing hijab, is come from them!

Subhanallah... another magic of Ramadhan.

I asked them... why they want to try to use hijab? (still with shocking face)

They said to me that... They want to feel it. Is it hot to wear hijab? will they look more beautiful? is it weird? and the most important thing... they want to know others' perspective when see them using hijab.

And definitely...I said YES OF COURSE.

So, we set a date, on next week... so that everybody (girls) will come to lab and try hijab, I'm the one who will help them wear it. I'm soooo happpyyy... ^__^

When I told my Muslim friends about this... they agree to help me video taping the event. ^^

I hope it can turn out well and another way to do da'wah in Taiwan, even it's only in my lab.

Please pray for us in this activity for next week. I will post the video in this blog as soon as possible, to let the worlds know... 

[Ramadhan Series] Day 1 : Hard Day for Working... but Worthed

Usually, The first day of Ramadhan, I already at home in Indonesia and lazy around. I usually have thought that "Oh this is Ramadhan, it's fasting day and I need to be lazy around first to make sure I can do fasting without complaining until the end of the month"

But, this Ramadhan, change my perspective, especially it came out in my First Day of Ramadhan this year (18/6/2015)

After sahoor and shubuh prayer, I usually fallen asleep until near Dhuhr prayer. I know it's not a good thing to do, but usually I have excuse to fall asleep because I'm awake in the middle of the night to eat. But, this time, I had to awake at 6 AM and get ready to work.

Yes, this year I'm starting to have my part-time job in Taipei (not in Hsinchu where I live), because I want to give another day for my lab time in campus (which is in Taipei). Usually I just go to school when I have class, but I realized it's not enough, because my life in campus is not only classes but also research and group meeting. So, when this part-time job opportunity arrived, I definitely said yes, so that I can have more reason to go to school after my job. But unfortunately, my job is starting at 9 AM and I have to go to Taipei from Hsinchu at around 6.30 AM.

I know it will be a rough day, because it's the first day of Ramadhan, and it's summer. Night before, I slept late, and awake at 2.30 AM, and slept again after shubuh around 4 AM until 6 AM. Get ready until 6.30 AM, and go to bus station around 6.45 AM. Sometimes, the bus will go around 7 AM and arrived in Taipei around 8 AM.

Because in Taipei I have to commute using public transportation like MRT, Bus, and YouBike, of course I have to walk and need some time to go to one place to another. At 8.30 AM I already arrived at work where the office is near a mosque and before I start my day I went there to pray dhuha.

Alhamdulillah...this day was not as hot as before. Maybe because of the first day of Ramadhan and every creation of Allah in this earth is praying and help Muslims to fasting easily.

I felt terribly exhausted in the office. I felt sleepy all the time, and rarely speaking to my co-worker. I was tired after walk and riding YouBike to office. I also can't focus with everything.

Then, I realized that I have work to do. I have to focus because it's a work that need good communication skill with people who has trouble. I have to not show my tiredness in front of them. At the same time, I have test and need study between my work time.

So, I just tried to focus on everything in front of my eyes and started to work. In my heart, I believe Allah will help me go through this day and something good will happen to me, because it's the month of Barakah, the month of Blessings on everything we ask for.

With Bismillahirrahmanirrahim... I started to work... and I can focus on everything! Alhamdulillah...

After Dhuhr prayer, I finished my work and go to school by bus, followed by YouBike again. Need almost 30 minutes to arrive at school from office. And it's 2 PM. Very hot at that time. The thought of drinking ice is making me crazy... -__-"

I had an appointment with a group study of one of my classes in the afternoon. There are several problems ahead and I couldn't solve it before. I asked my friends about problems in our term project, but they seemed didn't understand at all about how to do it. But, I believe Allah will help me. This is Ramadhan and barakah will always come to people who try hard and patient (Sabr), right?

It's unbelievable when we met at that afternoon, I could focus on my task. I could think clearly about what supposed to do and not. Even at that time, I almost fainted due to lack of sleep and tiredness. But I kept my head straight and do the job. I also couldn't believe in myself when I started to give explanations about what the projects really are to my friends, because the day before I couldn't think that way.

Subhanallah... Allah is beside me all the time...and this Ramadhan is truly Barakah for me.

Fasting is not an excuse for someone to be lazy around and not doing their work. It's a misunderstanding if related Ramadhan fasting with unproductive, but instead during Ramadhan people will be more productive than ever.

I already proven that theory, because in a day I finished my job, I studied for exams, I made presentations for projects, and I could think clearly and focus. 

Those experience in a day, make me realize that whatever happens... if Allah always be in our heart and we always seek His help, Allah will help us and give us His Blessings throughout the day.

My suggestion to you guys... don't be worry to loose your focus on your work or school activities, because Ramadhan is the month of Productivity and the month of Blessings from Allah... Trust Allah, The One who can make your life easier and help you on everything...

Jazakallahu Khairan Katsiran...

Wish we can get the most out of Ramadhan and always get Barakah from Allah...  

[Ramadhan Series] D-1 First Tarawih with Husband

Ramadhan is coming!! The Holly Month is in front of us now... ^^

The beautiful thing I will always remember is.. this is the first Ramadhan that I spend with him, my husband. The feeling is amazing. I don't know how to describe it, truthfully. Because many things going on in the day before Ramadhan that can make us even closer than ever.

The day before Ramadhan is Today (17/6/2015) and tonight we did Tarawih Prayer together. At first, we want to do prayer in NCTU musholla with our brothers and sisters there, but because of his work (his boss doesn't know anything about ramadhan) he had to stay late. --" He just got back home around 8.30 PM, too late to go to musholla even the prayer was started in 8 PM. 

So, after we went out for dinner (find a special dinner before ramsdhan start and made our stomach full haha), we bought our Sahoor menu outside, which is KFC. Some people might say "Hey, this is your first Sahoor together... why don't you cook??" and I can say that "We forgot to shop for groceries and nothing can be cooked from our refrigerator." haha that's the truth.

Tarawih prayer that we did is ... kinda can't be described with words. He is the imam and I am the makmum. What I felt at that time is peacefulness. Being beside and a little bit at his back make me wonder "Oh this is the feeling" Butterfly in my stomach. :')

Some people asked me whether we will going back to Indonesia for Eid or not, but unfortunately, we can't. It's not only because we already went to Indonesia twice in the beginning of this year, but also my husband didn't any holiday in Eid Day. =.=" Any big days of any religions in Taiwan didn't get any holiday. So, maybe after Eid Prayer, my husband will go to work like usual. 

At the same time, I wanna go home so badly. My grandma is sick now and I just can listen to her voice via phone call and it's not really comforting, because her voice was trembling. :'(

I wish that this Ramadhan can be the best Ramadhan ever for my husband and me, my family and friends in Indoensia and Taiwan, and for all of us.

Align the intention with the intention to get Barakah from Allah SWT and try to do the best of Ramadhan ever.

I want to apologize to everyone about all of my mistakes to you guys. My mistakes and my family's mistakes.

Happy Ramadhan, everyone! Happy Fasting! ^^

Finally he said 'Yes, you can. Good luck!'

Already months since I'm waiting that sentence come from him. Yes, I need his permission to submit my research paper to a journal. But, I have to wait for a long time to hear that. Basically mine is not really "special" rather than my friends'. It is special but "special" term in here is related with how I make it and since when I make it.

I wrote my research since (as far as i remember) 2 years ago when I was in master degree. I used this topic for my master degree thesis and my prof ever told me that I can use the research for my qualification exam if I study PhD in this school also. Quite interesting for me because I know that if I start  a new research, only Allah knows when it will finish. hehe That's why when I decided to have my PhD in here, I felt a little bit on ease.

Suddenly in my first semester of PhD, he said to me that I have to change my research model because it's not god enough. Hmm... and I had a bad months. I have to start again from half of my research. Doing analysis again and write again. But, when I finished, I had to give the draft to several people to be checked and at last, to him. Because he is too busy to check on my email (he is a busy person and have a loooottt of email, my friend even said that he needs 2 hours everyday to read his inbox), I had to wait for several weeks until he reply. And that's...after I chat him through Line. haha My prof is so adorable, he even sent me cute sticker. LOL.