Since my arrival on Dec 1st 2004 in Utrecht, I experinced a lot of
surprising and beautifull moments that all related to one magic phrase,
"we are mosleem". Thanks to Allah for letting me know this great
people… Here are some of them that I’d like to share, to show how
beautifull and sincere is the brotherhood in Islam, at least what I
found here in the Netherlands… It’s a bit too long so I made them
into 4 subtitles. Feel the spirit!
First, a girl named Aicha…
Regularly I go to the hospital, UMC Utrecht to do my afternoon prayers.
To my knowledge, The Netherlands goverment is very tolerance in the
sense that in any big hospital you can find special space for mosleem
patients to do their prayers at the hospital, together in one big
meditation room for patients with other believes. That afternoon, when
I came there’s one girl was doing her prayer. From the way she dressed
I can say she’s a Marrocan. At a glance I looked at the small table
where we could put our things and I saw a book under title "Explanation
of Islam for beginner" written in Dutch.
"What a quincidence", I thought. I was looking for one for a gift for
my friend. She just married a Dutch guy who embraced Islam and this
kind of book might be usefull for them.
I assumed the book belonged to the Marrocan girl, so, I waited for her
finishing her prayer. In the next five minutes the girl, gave the book
to me. Actually, Aicha bought it for her sibling who started to learn
more about Islam. But she gave it away because she thought it would be
more usefull for the new couple. "I know it’s for something good, so I
have nothing to loose. I can easily buy another in the book shop on
Kanaalstraat." At the time it was my first months in Utrecht, so indeed
I did not know how to get around and where to find such book shop. I
thanked her for her sincere reaction and had Aicha’s smile in return.
Second, my ex-landlord, the young Turkish couple…
In my second month stay in Utrecht I decided to move from students flat
in the university complex to a subleased room in the city centrum. In
the Netherlands it is generally accepted that, except staying in the
students flat, you have to bring your own furniture when you rent a
room. Though, you can also find furnished room with more expensive
monthly rent price. It’a also the rule that, because there are so many
people are hunting for room, the owner will invite the teenant
candidates to see the room and they have the power to decide to whom
they will rent the room. A quest for a room in Utrecht can be a hazzle
and take you a long time before you finally lucky enough to get all
what you are looking for: nice room, nice teenants, nice surrounding,
nice landlord, and ofcourse affordable price!
I put an ads in the subleasing website and less than 2 weeks, I got the
room! It’s a record! And my new landlord, Mor and Bilgen, happily
filled the room with furniture, without asking me extra money, and
arranged my movement with their own minibus. "We chose you because you
are mosleem from Indonesia, far away from your family… So, from now
on we are family, if you need anything don’t hesitate to contact us…"
Mor and Bilgen are ideal figure for young educated and successful
Turkish couple who grew up in the Netherlands. Mor is working is
business and trading while Bilgen recenlty became an official lawyer. I
enjoyed very much having them as my landlord. However, one year later I
moved out to a place nearer my office to concentrate on my thesis
writing. One thing my Dutch friends could not understand, Mor and his
brother, Osey, again helped me moving out to my new place with their
minibus. "Come on, you’re moving out of his place but still he helped
you???"
Just lately, my officemates were astonished of the impact of this
brotherhood. Ilka, the German student was about moving out to the
centrum and need a van type car to move her stuffs. I told her my
ex-landlord could help her out with their minibus. I sent Mor text
message and he called me back mentioning Ilka could call him for the
exact arrangement for the moving; he would come with the minibus. Ilka
hardly believed it’s for real.
"It’s absolutely not German thing! You can not just call your
ex-landlord and ask him if he could help your friend moving out with
his car!"
"Also not Dutch!" Lot, my Dutch officemate fully agree with her…
Third, Mostafa, an Iranian PhD student…
It was already 3 months that I realize I have problem with my laptop. I
could not ask the helpdesk in my office because it’s not university
property. But on the other hand it’s really expensive to repair it in
the computer shop. You have to pay at least 50Euro just to check the
problem, and they will tell you what to do further… I bought a second
hand laptop for not more than 400Euro, so going to one shop won’t be an
option for me. Better buy a new one I thought.
So, I put an ads at the international students mailing list to ask for
help. Less than half hour I got bunch of replies with different
advices. But there’s one guy, a PhD student at the ICT faculty, offered
me to bring my laptop to his office so he could check the problem. I
thought what else I could expect than having the master helping me out!
So, late in the afternoon I met Mostafa at his office. We both were
glad because we’re mosleem. He comes from Iran with his family and this
year is his first of four years of PhD. His specialization is network
security and he is now working with robotic movement. How impressive! I
remember it cost him 2 working afternoon to check what’s the problem
and later re-installed my laptop. As expected, it runs perfectly as
brand new. But what I enjoyed the most was having interesting a to z
discussion about Islam in Iran with him.
At the end he said, "If you run into problem with computer, just come
to my office, we are family!" And he is a man with his words. I sent my
roommate, Shuwen, who had the same problem with her laptop to his
office the next day. Late in the evening Shuwen was very happy and told
me, "Eva, your friend is very smart and kind, he fixed my laptop! We
should invite him with his family for a dinner!" I told Mostafa, how
gratefull Shuwen was, and he modestly said, "It’s your friend who was
patient enough to wait for me working for hours with her computer…"
Fourth, Karim, my French teacher…
In October this year I might go to Canada to do part of research
project in Montreal. It’s a bilingual city; French and English. So, I
decided to take a French course, just to survive in public places. I
googled where I could join one official course, but all starts in
September, too late for me. Then, I looked for a private intensive
teacher through a French course center.
I asked the course co-ordinator for an english speaking and native
teacher. Later she put me into contact with Karim. In my introduction
email I told him that I am a mosleem from Indonesia and from his name I
assumed that he is a mosleem too. I asked this purposely because
recently I had bad experience with a French expatriat who refused to
become my teacher because I am a mosleem, how narrow mind!
Finally, last week we met for the first time. Karim is an Algerian who was born and grew up in French.
He is now working in the Netherlands with his background in bussiness
and management. So, teaching French is only a side job for him.
In the first meeting I had to sign a contract with the course center. I
knew beforehand that for 10 hours lesson it would cost me almot
400Euro. But to my surprise, Karim said,"Eva, just put some hours for
official arrangement. If you want, we can continue for just between
friends. Because we’re mosleem and I’ll be glad to help you." I realize
words can not express enough my thank to him…
Well, au revoir, tout le monde!
