We (Sensei, my lab mates, and I) had a farewell party, once again at Cotton Club, a restaurant in front of Hirodai (sort name of Hiroshima University), same restaurant to the previous party. The party started at 20:30, but I came to the restaurant 15 minutes earlier. I didn’t want to feel guiltier; a case which would happen if I came late. I had already had that feeling because I didn’t give another choice of time except today, Sunday night, when my lab mates arranged this party. It might make others uncomforted because they had to adjust their schedule to this time. Very sorry, but my free time (the time which I could go out house without my children) at night were only on Saturday and Sunday. And, my family had already scheduled Saturday for “buka bersama” (had dinner after sunset, after fasting during day time), together with Indonesian Moslem community around Saijo, at Minaga.

Two of lab members graduated this month, Kamrul from Bangladesh and Roshan from Srilanka. Without them, our lab still has 9 members left; Sensei, Yano, Wu, I, Kai, Chamidu, Hashita, and 2 others from India, Murali and Kandala, who never attended weekly seminar last semester and also didn’t attend to this party.

What I most remembered from Kamrul is his beautiful wife. I met her and did warm conversation two times, when we (all of lab members except Sensei) were invited by Kamrul to get dinner at his house; first, after his wife delivered his second daughter and second, after he finished public defense for his doctor study. In this two dinners, Kamrul’s family prepared many kinds of delicious Bangladesh food, at least 5 kinds of main course and two kinds of dessert. I could imagine how busy his wife prepared all of this food. But, no tired face showed in her face when we came, only sweet smile. The smile which made me feels her kindness just by looking it. I guessed she said “Welcome to my house. I am glad with your coming. Please enjoy the food” by her smile. She reminded me to the one of hadith (oral tradition relating to the words and deeds of prophet Muhammad),”… the easiest and cheapest gift is a smile …” Yeah, I preferred to get nothing with smiling face, than get 10.000 yen with unfriendly face

Roshan, he always smiles whenever we meet and he is a good badminton player. I had experience to play badminton together with Roshan, Chamidu and Hashita at JICA building. It was nice experience.

We had table and 9 seats in the corner of the basement. Near our table, there was a group of young people who seemed was also having party. Their noisy made us uncomforted, so that Kai san asked other table which was a little bit far from them to the waitress. We had one and half hours for self service eating and normally each person had to pay 1500 yen. There were so many choices of food, a situation which could make me take long time to consider. Fortunately, I had some restrictions regarding what food I could eat, so this time I could decide without long consideration. I chose fried potato, fish, crispy noodle, corn and cabbage salad, strawberry-chocolate ice cream, chocolate and cheese cake, apple, melon, pineapple and orange juice. Many choices …. Yeah. My stomach was full after eating all of them. I guessed Sensei and my lab mates ate more than I did, I was not sure, because I was too busy to eat and talk and didn’t have much time to observe what they ate. Beside that, every one who visits this blog would not interest to read what food each of us ate during the party (I guess …).

We started dinner with drink together. Sensei said,” Cheers”, and then all of us said the same word. Sensei didn’t use “Kampai”, the word which was usually said in parties I attended with HSF people. It might be caused of using English in most of our daily conversation in Lab and also in our weekly seminar. After cheers, we started eating and conversation. Until now, a little bit formal conversation in English was not so easy for me. It was ok if the conversation was about activities, facts or experiences. My brain just needed to find English words for the answers which appeared automatically, if I was asked about those three kind of topics, such as, ”What time do you usually have a dinner?” or “Where is your daughter’s school?” or “Did you come to lab yesterday?” or “Did you ever go to Tokyo?”. Sometimes, English conversation turned into asking easy opinion and explanation. It was difficult for me because I had to do two things in parallel in short time; first, think the answers which not appeared automatically and second, find the English words. Though difficult, it was still solved. Sometimes, the conversation turned into asking difficult opinion and explanation. And …, it happened during today’s party when Sensei asked my opinion about the fellows of three religions; Islam, Christian, Judaism; who had been fighting each other for long time just to claim that each clan is the right one. I never expected to get that kind of serious question here, in the party. Even in formal forum of religion discussion, I never thought about it. My brain was blank. It was still difficult though I have to answer in Indonesian language. But I had to say something, they were waiting … “Ehmm, it is difficult,” finally, that sentence came out from my lips, hoping there would be more narrow scope question coming. And yes, it came. Sensei said,”Is the God (among the 3 religions) same?” I answered, “Yes, same. But ….” Then, my several sentences of answer came out, followed by Kamrul’s explanation. Then, the topic changed, and I became relax again

We gave wireless mouse and mouse pad (with the last photo of our lab members pasted on it) to Kamrul and Roshan. Hasitha designed those creative presents.

The party finished at 22:00. Before going home I paid 1930 yen for food to Kai san and 1220 (discount 10 yen) for the presents to Hasitha. My stomach was full, and also my brain. I was still thinking Sensei’s question long time before I could sleep on that day.