I recently moved from Dungun to Port Dickson. 

From east coast to west coast. Sunrise beach to sunset beach. 

A couple of months back, a former colleague contacted me to tell that she's transferring to Politeknik Port Dickson but she planned on transferring again to Politeknik Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (PSMZA), Dungun. She asked whether I would like to exchange place with her. We call it tukar suka sama suka. 

Well, before that I already applied for transfer a few times but to no avail so when she presented me with that opportunity, I straight away agreed to it. 

After the processing of our transfer application and all the hassle of moving, here I am now, working at Politeknik Port Dickson, staying in a studio apartment near the very calming Pantai Purnama. 

Why? Why would you want to move out from Dungun if you're originally from Dungun? That's the question almost everyone has been asking me. Some people (especially those who have been trying for so long to transfer back to their own kampungs) just can't hide their scepticism on my decision to move out from my kampung halaman, Dungun, Terengganu. 

There are a number of reasons actually though the one that I often gave is that I'm bored of Terengganu or I want to ubah angin. Many seem having trouble accepting that. I can see it on their faces. "Bored? What the hell is this guy talking about?". Therefore, I then usually add up the fact that my wife is currently pursuing Masters at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and I plan to do the same. When I do that, their faces change from sceptic look to owh-now-it-makes-sense look. 

"Berpisah jauh dengan isteri... sebab tu la dia bosan di Dungun wahkahkahkahkah", they say. Whatever.

I did feel bored, however. Working at Dungun, I felt kinda numb. It's hard to explain that feeling. Have you ever felt like you don't want to go home because there's nothing there? or you don't look forward to anything on most of the weekdays? Numb. Not feeling excited or happy. Maybe it's because of the fact that I was too comfortable there. I live at my parents' house where I don't have to worry about food, bills and rent. Working environment at PSMZA was also quite relaxed. 

There was no challenge. I think that led to me feeling bored. Maybe it's not boredom. Maybe it's dullness. I don't know. 

Besides that, working at Dungun, my own kampung halaman, it felt like reaching the end of my journey. It's like readying to end a book I'm writing. It felt like retiring. I'm still young, 27 years old. I should be going out there exploring places. I'm not ready to write "THE END" yet on a page of my life book. I had to get out. 

There are more opportunities for me to grab here at Port Dickson. It's closer to UPM and UKM, so I can finally pursue my Masters. Hopefully there'll be no financial barrier for me to do that. I also hope I won't be malas. It's been a while since I last sit in a classroom as a student. Besides that, to be able to live with my wife opens a door to finally getting our dream little house. We've made plans and we've dreamed of building a place for us and our children to live and grow and have fun. Currently surveying houses to buy at Port Dickson hehe. 

Surely there were reservations. I did think about why would I want to move out when everything was rather easy for me in terms of working environment. I got to teach local students (from the east coast), my colleagues were rather helpful, the higher ups were quite lenient, and my desk was very isolated (it's like having my own office). Furthermore, what would my parents think? Their second son wants to move far away from them.

But a man gotta do what a man gotta do. If I think too much about it, I'd never get anywhere. I would still be stuck in numbness / dullness. My parents were rather supportive also. They helped me get started at a new place. I really owe them a lot. Terharu. 

I told my former colleagues that I might transfer back to Terengganu and a part of it is true but I didn't give them the exact moment when. Like I said, being at Dungun, Terengganu is like reaching the end of my book, my story. So maybe I would go back there to retire. Focus on the maybe. Port Dickson might not be the last stop for me. I might transfer again or be forced to transfer. I might quit Politeknik and join other educational organization. Again, like I mentioned, a lot of opportunities. So many possibilities. We'll see.

To end this post, I would like to share with you pictures of Ubaid playing at Pantai Purnama. It's literally pantai belakang rumah. The beach is at the back of the area where I'm staying. Jalan kaki je pergi sana.