memories of 'haluansiswa'

i was driving along jln universiti after mass today morning when i noticed that there was a traffic jam. i wondered why, since sunday morning usually means clear roads. then i remembered that today is the start of 'haluansiswa' or orientation for the first year uni students all over the country.

and boy, did that bring back memories...

i remember leaving ipoh way way early in the morning with my parents, about 4, so we could reach 4th college at about 8. hauling my stuff up to the highest floor, where my room was.
meeting ins, my roommate, who would be my roommate in the coming 4 years.
the endless 'taklimat' or briefings, which incidentally, looking back, should have been taken with a pinch of salt. or maybe a gallon.
i remember sitting in the hall, half asleep after yelling our way thru some cheers and yells and being bored by the briefings which started from 6 in the morning and ended past midnight.
i remember walking with my 'cell' group members who appointed me as leader. we talked a lot of rubbish and laughed a lot. ...

i also remember my first taste of homesickness which hit me hard on the 3rd day of the 1 week orientation programme. suddenly i missed everyone at home, from my grandparents to my parents to the twins. ... even the two little demons, i started to cry when i thought about what they were doing. felt better, much better after that, though.
...

the law fac orientation is another story. :) perhaps one best told another time.

but all in, it was definitely an experience to remember. and i was really fortunate to have my sister around, who took me for mass and out shopping in midvalley along with Ins. and honestly, gave me much comfort. thank you so much!

thinking back, wondering how i was going to cope. looks like i did it, and i think that's the way life is. you take it a step at a time, and before you know it, it's on to another stage.