Memoir: Winter Breeze

A cold and windy air was greeting me and my kids when we arrived at the Narita Airport. I looked around, and found no one I knew. The kids: Amr, Iam, and Yaser looked wonder on how huge the airport. "Wow, it's a great great airport. Is it Japan, Abi?" Abi nodded to Yaser. We all laughed, and Abi asked us to continue our walk. Yaser was sitting at the trolley with Abi was driving it. Meanwhile, I was holding my little girl 'Aca' whom looked so pretty with her pink blush on her cheeks. She must be very cold in the winter breeze.

 

After a long walk and took a small integrated train from one building to another building, we finally came out from the airport. Abi called someone, and a few minutes later a man with Indonesian profile showed up. He welcomed us and hugged Abi. Abi introduced him as one of the Indonesian researcher in our destiny town, Tsukuba Science City. He had been there for 9 years with his family. He told us, it took about 1 hour from Narita to Tsukuba City. He was driving the car while telling us about everything he knew about the city we would live in. He seemed to be our tour guide and it was really helpful for us. He told us that he had 4 kids too and promised me to introduce his wife and kids to me and my kids. My kids were falling a sleep along the journey when finally we arrived at the university dormitory, Ichinoya Residence. 

Actually, Abi had lived here for 6 months. Abi had to join a Japanese language course as one of the scholarship's requirements to study in Japan. After Abi completed his course, he came back to Jakarta to pick us up. So then, there we were, accompanying Abi to succeed his study in Doctoral degree of Computer Science. It would take about three years to accomplish the program, and I and my kids would be there to support Abi as one solid team, one for all and all for one. 

Two weeks after the arrival, and those days were the toughest period in our lives. I and my kids had to adapt and adopt every new habits and rules. Every morning, I and Abi had to prepare breakfast together for the kids, since we only had an altogether kitchen in one floor. At night, Abi had to wash our clothes while I washed the dishes. Meanwhile, Amr the oldest, had to take care of his brothers and little sister. Abi had to go to campus every morning from 8 am to 7 pm or even 11 pm. He really worked hard for his study, like he always did for all his work and his responsibilities. He taught us to be responsible for everything we had, as the gratefulness to the Lord, and to anyone who believed us. 

Two weeks of the survival, my oldest son got sick. He got cold and fever. I had tried to give him a medicine that we brought from Indonesia, but it didn't work. I was getting worried, then I texted Abi to come home soon. At around 7 pm, Abi arrived home. He looked worried, but then he said that Amr would be fine for the fever was decreasing. It was around 9 pm when all the kids fell a sleep. Abi looked really tired so I asked Abi to have rest and let me doing the washing. Abi refused to do that, and as usual,  we did it together. Abi told me that he had something to tell me about his lab and his 'Sensei'. "I asked a permission to my senior sensei this afternoon. I officially looked towards him, then I told him that our oldest son was sick. Do you know what did he say?" 

I kept on listening, and I could see and feel his disappointed on his face. "He said or more like an order, I think. Imam san, you are here to study, not to take care of your children, or your family. Do you think you can succeed your study when you are busy with your family? Who does he think he is? I do really disappointed for what he said. Though, I told him firmly that I will succeed without ignoring my family, then I leave him." I rubbed Abi's back so gently while my tears were falling down on my cheeks. We hugged to each other, then I said, "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to disturb your study. I promise you that we are going to support you unconditionally. We will prove your sensei that you're going to be the best student he had ever known. Let us show him that your family is your biggest support to be a success person, here and after." Abi wiped my tears gently. He told me that I did not have to be worried. He always knew that he could count on me and kids, cause we were one team, for good...

It was November 2006. The sun was shining shyly, while the clouds were hanging around the Tsukuba san and the tip on the trees.  There was no snow in our first winter in Tsukuba; though, the temperature and the humidity were so low that could freeze our body. There was no snowball in our first winter in Tsukuba; though, the wind blew so cold that could freeze our tears. I knew that the journey would not be easy, yet a precious journey to struggle and to win the victory. It was the beginning of our journey to victory. It began in winter breeze.