Coming Clean
Last week I returned to my home in PD from a 2-day course in KL to discover that I had an instant indoor pool. If I were child-like, the thought would be exciting. However, I wasn’t. Seeing my belongings floating around, the water reaching my knees, and destroyed electrical items kept me quiet.
I was told by my neighbors that this is the first incident in 7 years. The whole residential area was hit as the rain last Monday lasted til Tuesday morning. Most families even evacuated to keep safe. Another residential area, the water rose to waist-level. My colleague was hit, too.
The best part: My neighbors found fish in my house.
Yes, that was not a mis-print.
Better fish than snakes right?
The only thing that kept me from freaking out was the amount of support I received from…my neighbors. As soon as I arrived at my compound, they came and started helping me flush out the water. Kids, and adults worked along with me to drain the water. It brought tears to my eyes. The fact that they hardly knew me, and I of them, yet they didn’t think twice about lending a hand.
Truly magnificent kampung spirit man.
It took a total of 3 hours to flush out the water. Since I started after working hours, 5pm, it lasted til night-time.
In addition to that, it took 2 days to clean the house.
Then it was salvaging my belongings-
- 5 bags of laundry
- destroyed electrical items
- wet books (not my pwecious books!), shoes, handbags, CDs,etc
I have since moved out from my house. One flood experience is enough for me. Am staying at a friend’s apartment for the time-being, and may stay there permanently, but may apartment/house-hop as well.
The silver lining for me:
- you know that God only tests you with water and already the impact is so great, the big ones haven’t even come yet!
- i reflect upon my actions and deeds through-out my life
- i take stock of what is truly important in my life
- you know who your true friends are
- you know that this event is a blessing
- you appreciate life, and all the blessings that you have
- i get to spend more time with my friends before i leave PD
- the flood washed away many things, and opened a new chapter
Alritey.
Before I go, a Ramadhan Mubarak to Muslims, and a late Merdeka wish to all.
* Note: To friends who weren’t contacted during the flood: Apologies. My phone was dead and acutely ill. Couldn’t even contact my family.
‘Til the next entry.
Love,
Asma wan
