Unique Journey

Unique Journey 2

Title: Unique Journey 2

Reaching the end of my kindergarten journey in Genting Highland really made my heart heavy. The excitement of moving on to a new chapter in my education was overshadowed by the realization that my parents were not communicating with each other frequently. Their lack of communication eventually led to their separation. I didn’t know where my dad planned to go, but soon enough, he was no longer at home.

My mom informed me that we would be moving to Kuala Lumpur. The thought of living in such a massive city was daunting, especially since I was so comfortable in Pahang. But there was no choice; my mom had already made up her mind. We embarked on a long, tiring, and nerve-wracking journey to our new home. Mixed feelings overwhelmed me during this journey.

In Kuala Lumpur, my mom rented a small room for the two of us. We couldn’t afford anything more because the cost of living in the city was exorbitant. Our family was far from rich or even middle class; we were poor, really poor. Before leaving Pahang, my mom took me to a laundromat to wash our clothes. It was just the two of us, and for the first time, I saw my mom cry. I didn’t know how to console her; I was just a kid. So, I decided to stay quiet, not wanting to add to her burden. It was a tragic moment for me.

Once we settled in Kuala Lumpur, my mom found a job as a salesperson in a shop called 88 Speed Mart. It was similar to a 7-Eleven job. Meanwhile, about a month later, she registered me in a Malay primary school that also taught English. Luckily, I was proficient in both languages, so it didn’t pose a problem for me. However, during the registration process, I struggled to write my Chinese name. I was terrible at Chinese, and it was so bad that I couldn’t even write my own name. My mom scolded me for my incompetence in the language, but I explained that I had only learned Malay, English, and Mathematics in kindergarten. My parents hadn’t taught me Chinese. My mom fell silent, and I hoped she understood.

During this time, I asked my mom about my father and what he was doing. To my surprise, my mom didn’t allow me to call him “father.” She told me to refer to him as “him.” I was confused and saddened by this. Perhaps my dad had hurt my mom deeply, but it was still disheartening to witness my mom’s reaction.

Before school started, I needed to buy a uniform, stationery, activity books, shoes, and more. As a poor family, my mom had to carefully consider the prices and work within our limited budget. I understood the financial constraints we faced and never complained. I knew my mom had to endure hardships and sacrifices to provide me with the best she could. It was a bittersweet realization that while other kids had fathers, new toys, new clothes, and watches, I had none of those luxuries. Everything depended on my mom’s tight budget. If I wanted to eat ice cream, my mom would say we couldn’t afford it and maybe next time. I could only watch others enjoy nice meals while I yearned for the same. It was painful and disappointing.

Even getting my textbooks was a challenge. My mom would wrap them at night after work. I was amazed by her stamina and determination. I knew we couldn’t afford tuition classes, so I understood the path I had to walk in my primary school, even before it officially began. I didn’t have a phone because it was too expensive for my mom. She had one for herself, but I could only watch television during my free time or on public holidays. I had to wait for the right time to watch cartoons, enduring the news for 30 minutes before my show started. It was adorable yet frustrating to think about.

This lifestyle continued for two more weeks until I finally started my primary school, SK Seri Anggerik, in Taman Len Sen, Kuala Lumpur. My honeymoon period was coming to an end, but for my mom, time seemed to crawl. Despite everything that had happened, I was ready to embrace my new life in primary school.

As I embarked on this new chapter, I realized that my journey would be different from others. I didn’t have the privileges that some of my classmates had, but I was determined to make the most of what I had. My mom’s strength and resilience inspired me to work hard and overcome any obstacles that came my way. This was just the beginning of my story, and I was determined to make it a tale of triumph against all odds.