Au Revoir Dunedin

Goodbyes aren't easy. That's why I don't do goodbyes. I prefer to celebrate and cherish whatever precious time I have left with my loved ones instead. Last Saturday some my friends and I went to Brighton beach where we had a picnic and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I’m going to miss the girls I met in Dunedin so much! They’re part of the equation that sums up who I am today. When I first moved to Dunedin I was so different. I was 16 and all I wanted to be was completely Western because ever since I was a kid I was surrounded by Western ideals. However, when I met these women, learned about their beautiful cultures and observed how they practiced Islam I saw a side of my faith that I hadn’t seen before. I realised that Islam was more than just rules and rituals. Islam became something that I wanted to understand and embrace instead of something I followed to conform with the Malaysian Muslim society. For the first time, Islam was interesting and I saw it as a beautiful and dignified way of life. SubhanAllah, the Muslim community in Dunedin has inspired me in so many ways.


Where we choose to live and whom we choose to surround yourselves with is so important. It really impacts who we become as a person. We are, as they say, a product of our environment. Sometimes I wonder what I would be like if I never moved to New Zealand and didn’t have the same opportunity to meet people from all over the world, be they Muslim or not. I doubt I would be who I am today. Dunedin holds many memories for me. Oh if you only knew! But some things are better left unsaid, they say. In hindsight I am happy that God has chosen this path for me and I feel incredibly blessed and fortunate for all the wonderful people He has sent my way and all the amazing and innumerable opportunities He has given me, alhamdulillah. I really feel that I’ve grown in the time that I’ve lived in Dunedin. I don't mean to sound cheesy but Miley Cyrus was right. It is all about the climb. And the people I've met in Dunedin have truly enriched my life by being a part of my journey.

Now I'm back in Malaysia for a good, long holiday and all I can say is I'm so excited to be back in Kuala Lumpur with my family and friends. It's going to be a very eventful year inshaAllah! See, this is the power of placing your trust in Him and believing that God has planned good things for you. Yes, even when things aren’t necessarily going the way you want them to. As it says in the Qur’an, "... But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not." (2:216). Once you let go of your doubts about Him you will start to see the hikmah (wisdom) behind everything as His plan unravels right before your eyes.

You already know how I feel about goodbyes so instead I will say au revoir mes amies (until we meet again my friends). Au revoir Dunedin. 









p.s. Also think of this as an early Style Sunday post ;) 

Comments

hatim a.r said…
i feel you!exactly how i felt when i left Dublin for good.welcome back! *throws confetti*
Anonymous said…
Assalamu alaikum sha,
when iwas watching those photos on this post,i was thinking of asking you which camera you are using?..
but i scrolled down and found the answer.

thnq sister.
jazakallah khair.
Q.
Iffah Izzati said…
salam Sha!

you are so pretty! really! :)
and you remind me of Oki Setiana Dewi. :)
Anonymous said…
Wow Mashallah! I LOVE your outfit <3
Wan Melissa said…
You're right. We could never really say goodbye. Dunedin will always be a part of our lives and New Zealand will always be our second home. Wow you have come a long way indeed since you first arrived Dunedin! And what an amazing person you've turned out to be, mashaAllah.
Asyik Izas said…
seriously it is very beautiful:)
R S said…
I'd love to visit NZ one day... looks so majestic. wow.
Anonymous said…
Hi, Its been a pleasure to follow you on your journey sister. I am amazed that how mature you are and i wish my daughter would one day turn out to be just like you are :)

Who says hijab can restrict your chances of success , you are a proof that restrictions only exist in our minds.

All the best to you.
a long time reader of your blog.
Huma
Nur Izza said…
I would love to visit Dunedin! It looks so peaceful and serene~

Whenever i'm at the beach here i always worried of getting sunburn lol

ps: Jumuah mubarak ^.^
Imane Guellati said…
Mashallah, such an beautiful city! And mashallah what a beautiful change. I also started to become more Muslim when I was 16 years, and now a year ago, and I am grateful. It's the best gift that you could ever desire to learn more about. Islam is such a beautiful religion.
Zara A said…
Wow! Masha'Allah you look stunning Sister sha! Those are some beautiful photos. It's also lovely to see sister Chloe in the pictures. I miss her blog :)
As for going back to Malaysia, I hope you have a safe trip and have an enjoyable time back with your fam!
xxx
Shahirah Elaiza said…
All my wonders... NZ is definitely a beautiful country to visit =0) Ameen to your dua.

hatim, thank you dudeee!

Iffah, aww thank you sis. I just looked at her pics.. she's so cute!

Thanks Anon!

Thank you Kakak =0)

NikisaIzas, it is, alhamdulillah.

RS, you MUST visit one day. Only an 11 hour flight from KL. Yeah, ONLY... hehe.

Huma, what a thoughtful thing to say, jazakAllah khair =o) Allah swt can make anything possible and I owe everything to Him. May Allah swt bless you and your family and may your daughter turn out to be better than me in every single way, ameen ya Rabbalameen.

Nur Izza, lol, true, but actually it's easier to get sunburned in NZ compared to Malaysia because of the hole in the ozone layer =/

Imane, alhamdulillah, Islam is indeed very beautiful. May Allah swt continue to guide us =)

Zara A, thank you so much. I'll be sure to tell Chloe that you miss her posts =)