I miss you dear sister...

I think she looks just like the Japanese kiddies

This is truly a cliched shot but beautiful nonetheless.

It's been a little over 5 months since my younger sister Yuni stepped unto the plane and headed for the country of the setting sun, Japan. For the next 3 years she'll be a resident of Tokyo, pursuing a Master's degree in Japanese-English Translation.

Nothing can describe how proud I am of my little sister and how much I, surprisingly, miss her. I say suprisingly coz whenever we got together there was always some sort of argument or another. We were like water and oil... as much as you try to mix us up we can never mesh. Safe to say that to avoid arguments we tend to keep out of each other's way.

Seems like distance has brought us closer. We now talk regularly through YM and exchange news and pictures at regular intervals. Once in a while we'll get cool packages with the Japanese postmarks. And once in awhile we'll pack a box of goodies and send them her way. A far cry from the relationship that we used to have when we were living in the same house. But I believe that the change that distance has brought to our relationship will be permanent and I look forward to having my sister back here, together with me in the same country.

Ramadhan is here and for the second time in my life another member of the family is missing. But thank god this time the absence is only temporary. Looking at my mum happily planning our 'buka puasa' menu I suddenly realise that she is missing having her kids all together. Somehow I see the significance of us eating together at the same table for all our meals. It makes my heart ache to have to move out to start my own life but I know that I can't postpone the inevitable any longer. I need to move on to the next phase of my life.

But back to my dear sister Yuni, we're glad that she is safe and sound and having fun living in a strange land. Ramadhan without her is strange but it must be much harder for her to fast when no one around you is not. To prepare your 'buka puasa' dish on your own and eating alone is truly a sad thing indeed but I'm hoping that she is coping with what her oversea student identity entails. For sure it's gonna be hard for all of us come Syawal but thank goodness for digital technology. For now, we'll have to make do with pictures and videos as a substitute of what we are missing.

So here's a shout out to my dear sister Yuni, who's all the way in Tokyo. We all miss you... and we're always thinking about you!! Selamat Berpuasa!!

Glad to know my lil sis is having fun :)