The Journey to the Halls of Residence

Buchanan Hostel

The journey from the airport to the halls in Newington was a short one. My first impression of the buildings was one of awe and the architecture gave me a sense of living in the past. Upon reaching, we unloaded and hauled them to our rooms. Again, I helped to carry them up to the first floor of the Playfair Halls where the ladies were to stay. Luckily my room was on the ground floor of Darroch Hall.
The sun was shining brightly and many of the African students were sitting on the field enjoying the warmth.
The walls of the halls were built with bricks that one can see in most buildings in Scotland. I could constantly imagine myself as being in the stories I had read in books by Enid Blyton. I would expect mist and fog in the evening as described in those stories.

At Edinburgh Airport

The plane touched down smoothly at Edinburgh at 3.30 pm. The usual process of getting the baggage and luggage from the airport to the bus that was waiting for us was carried out. Mike Wallace who was there to welcome as praised us for our collective effort in loading the luggage. It was late summer so I did not feel cold; furthermore I was already sweating after helping in the tedious task.

The airport at Edinburgh was like the Ipoh Airport. It is smaller. The one in Ipoh look spacious and well planned and decorated. Even the car park is bigger.

From London to Edinburgh

Heathrow Airport was indeed crowded and busy with people from all over the world. I had a burger and a cup of soft drink for lunch. After that we wandered around the airport observing the people. There were many Asians and I bet all of them were students going to colleges or universities as they open at around the same time of the year. We a also spent some time browsing at the magazines at the book store.

There was an announcement for passengers boarding the flight to Edinburgh. We rushed and managed to locate Gate 5 just ten minutes before the plane was supposed to take off. We boarded and I got seat 16A. We were relieved as the flight; BA4782, was delayed by another passenger who was lost but he was not from our group.

On board we were served tea and a light lunch (sandwich and cookie). The food was cold and tasteless. Anyway I ate it as I was hungry and did not want to waste it. I also took a set of cutlery (spoon, fork and knife) as souvenirs.

London At Last

The Flight MH 002 briefly stopped at Charles De Gaulle Airport to refuel and a change of flight attendants. Then it resumed the journey and landed at Heathrow Airport at 7.30 am (London Time). I did not feel the cold until I left the airport to assemble with the others at the entrance where a coach was supposed to pick us up. It was a freezing autumn morning.

While waiting at the entrance, I wondered why in the first place I had to come to face the fierce cold whereas I could be cozy and warm back home. I was dazed, confused and sad as to leave my happy family and friends. At the same time I felt a sense of achievement at being able to come here to join the course.

After waiting for more than an hour with no place to sit and to bear the cold, the coach or bus finally arrived. It was a relief. As a man, I helped the ladies and the others to load the heavy luggage onto the bus. The driver was really helpful. In fact as I later found out, it was part of their culture to do so.

We were driven to a B & B (Bed and Breakfast) called Morgan House which is about a 15-minute walk to the MSD (Malaysian Students’ Department in London). The same tedious task of unloading the luggage was carried out again. This time we had to help them to haul them up to the first and second floor of the B & B, winding up a narrow staircase.

I was really exhausted and I was sweating after those two rounds. Breakfast was not in my mind then as I did not have the time at all. Immediately, we were asked to walk to the MSD to attend a briefing. We managed to find the place after asking around. We met the others who were bound for Manchester and Birmingham. Together we sat and listened to speeches and advice given by several officials. The briefing was supposed to proceed until 2 pm but we protested due to our hunger. They allowed a half hour break for lunch which we had at a restaurant at the MSD serving Malaysian food. The meal or brunch (breakfast cum lunch) was badly needed as I was really hungry. I tried converting the cost of that meal to Malaysian currency. It cost nearly 5 ringgit; oh goodness. The second part of the briefing lasted another hour with various forms given out and with we were constantly bombarded with reminders and advice.

After that I left with the others for the B & B and had a badly needed shower to wake up after the boring session at the MSD. After that we wandered around the places nearby and we managed to visit Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and various shopping centres. From Hyde Park, we joined a guided tour at £8 per person. It was a terrific tour around London and I shall never forget the cold wind that blew at us making all of us shiver are regretted sitting on the upper deck of the bus. The tour lasted one and a half hours and ended at Hyde Park again. It was already 6.30 pm and it was already dark. We made our way around and managed to get a quick dinner at the MSD again. After that we went back to the B&B and rested. That night we all had a good rest.

The next morning after the breakfast provided we packed and left the luggage there. Then we wandered around the neighbourhood but most of the shops were closed as it was a Sunday. At 10.00 am we loaded the entire luggage onto the bus which took us to Heathrow Airport again because we had to take a connecting flight to Edinburgh at 2.00 pm.

Leaving Malaysia (September 1993)

On 3rd September 1993, the twenty of us who were bound for Moray House gathered at Subang Airport. We checked in at 9.00 pm and had our luggage and baggage checked.

There was the usual scene at airports; either in films or movies. People were everywhere and I had to bump and avoid others every step I took. I was busy helping to collect passports from the others to be checked.

As for me, I left my family in Ipoh. I said my goodbyes to my family; wife and three kids and parents and also my siblings. I knew very well that my wife would not be able to accept my departure at the airport. It would be too emotional. Furthermore I had to attend a briefing in the morning. So I had to be in K.L. the night before.

Back to the scene at the Subang Airport. My colleagues to Moray House had many family members and relatives to send them off. They were busy chatting, hugging, holding hands, whispering and laughing. Photographs were taken at every possible opportunity. I could see sad faces especially on couples so attached. Children were rather unsure of what was happening as they would just think that their parents were just going on a short holiday.

I could distinctly hear constant reminders to take care, eat good food, and writing back to Malaysia. Although I could see all these, I could not feel the same way because I had already switched off all these emotional scenes. I had already accepted this departure as something that cannot be avoided. There was no point in making such a scene since it was of no use.

I am one of those people with a strong will and very determine when it come to doing something. You may say that it is being stubborn but it has its advantages. Anyway I made a call to my wife prior to boarding to say that everything was fine and to advise her to take care and to take thing easy. It was not as emotional as what I saw at the airport,

I boarded the MAS plane at 11.30 pm with the others. It would be a 12 hour non-stop flight to London Heathrow Airport. It was also my second time on a plane. The first was from Ipoh to K..L. the previous day.

I was put into business class like most of the others. Service was superb. The take off was smooth and powerful. The air stewardess and stewards were very polite and efficient. Everything was carried out with the best politeness and manners. They were kept on their feet all the time serving food, drinks and various other demands. At the touch of a button, they would be at our side to answer our needs.

On top of that, movies were screened and we had individual TV and I played games. There were individual headphones and game controls too for the purpose.

Life at IYC, Kuala Lumpur

Life at IYC was eventful and I had plenty of memories. There were 160 teachers staying there and I was placed in Room 328 with a bunch of crazy people. They were really crazy but it was fun with the laughter and jokes. There was never a moment of sadness. Some were smokers, jokers, noisy ones, and some slept at odd hours for example at 2 am, or even at 4 am.

The two months were indeed hectic for me as I was a replacement. I had to settle one matter every weekend; the passport, the medical examination, the letter of release from the school, and matters at the State Education Department.

On weekdays, I had to attend mass lectures, talks, briefings and classes. Some were quite boring though but some were of interest especially those about life in the U.K., on social etiquettes, and allowances.

In the afternoon, there were occasional classes but on days when there was nothing on, I would pop in at the swimming complex next to IYC and spend about an hour swimming in the pool. I managed to encourage two others; Zulkarnain and Tengku to join me. They had no experience and were first timers at swimming but they were eager to learn swimming. They bought goggles and swimming trunks and joined me each time I went to the pool. After a few lessons the two guys managed to swim quite well on their own.

Later many others joined me when I went swimming. Before that they had no one to follow. After seeing me going there so often, they followed me there. I guess I could proudly say that I had some influence as a leader. I would use this ability in later years to convince others in doing task.

Room 328 at IYC was indeed special. There were two Chinese guys (Leong and I), two Indians (Govinda and Ganesh), and the others were Malays. All of us had very different characteristics.

There were two ‘bears’ because they would sleep a lot especially in the afternoon or mornings. They would make a lot of noise and go out every night. They were Fauzi and Mohd Izham. Then there is another baby ‘bear’. He was small but he had the same characteristics and the other two ‘bears’.

Govinda was from Batu Gajah which is my own hometown. He was also my senior at the same secondary school; Sultan Yussof Secondary School. Here we were able to meet again.

The twelve of us in the room had a special understanding and relationship. Each tolerated and respected the other about religion, habits and customs.

There were others too; of whom I met at the interview in Penang. They were Lee Kean Wah and Kyla from Ipoh

The others who got to know my jovial character later towards the end of the course regretted because they did not have the chance to get together and joke and share the happy times at IYC.