The most memorable event in my mind today was the strange behavior of a lecturer named Dr. Zawiah Ahmad. I only found out her name after I checked the university's website and looked at the details under the Department of Literature and Social Sciences. It was a bit hard to recognize her face at first. The photo displayed was from her younger days, with her "big hair" look, which was quite different from her current appearance. That photo should have been replaced a long time ago. Plus, she now wears a hijab.
I honestly felt a bit odd writing about someone I don’t know, but that’s exactly how I felt today. As odd as her behavior.
“When are you going to buy a car, Man?”
That was the first question that came out of a lecturer I had never spoken to before. Not once. I was busy signing some forms at the time. I was stunned. Out of all the questions in the world, why did she choose to start our conversation with that one? It was the first time we interacted!
Maybe Dr. Zawiah is just a friendly person. I mean, if she wants to talk, she’ll just jump right in. Me? I’m not the kind of person to start a conversation with someone I don’t know.
This incident happened in the exam control room, on the third floor of the Exam Building. The building sitting on a small hill in the middle of the university. It’s also where the Convocation Hall is located.
At that time, we were on duty as exam invigilators. I was filling out a form to switch tasks because I was covering for a colleague who had to go home due to a family matter. I wasn’t told the full details, but that didn’t matter. What was important was I was helping out where I could.
I was the first to arrive that morning. The one who opened the door to the control room. I arranged all the exam materials on the table to be sent to the exam halls, checked how many halls were used, identified the head invigilators, and checked the number of subjects. All of it. But I didn’t really know most of the people there.
After I arrived, Puan Zaimah and Cik Suria showed up. Then Haji Yahya came with a man I didn’t recognize. As a new employee, it was hard for me to remember everyone’s names. Plus, I’m slow at remembering names unless they really "stick" in my heart.
Before asking the question, Dr. Zawiah was typing something on a computer in the control room. She came in, sat at the computer, typed. And while typing, she casually looked up and asked. It was so laid-back.
The control room had three large tables and four small ones for managing the exams. The large tables were used to set up the exam materials before they were sent to the halls. Tall shelves were also lined up along the walls.
I’m pretty sure, even though I’ve been working here for over a year, I’ve never spoken to her before. This is a small university, a branch campus. There aren’t many lecturers, and the courses are nowhere near as many as in the main campus in Kuala Lumpur.
I can’t remember names unless they have some emotional significance. That’s just how I am.
“Insya-Allah, if I’m lucky, I’ll buy one, sis.”
I used “sis” because I thought it was the most polite way to address her. Calling her "miss" didn’t seem right since she was obviously older. Calling her "madam" didn’t feel accurate either since I wasn’t sure if she was married.
At that time, I didn’t know she was a professor.
I felt a little embarrassed looking back on my response. I should have used the title “Dr.” Even if she wasn’t a PhD holder, it wouldn’t have been a big deal — at least I’d have been respectful. But that’s the academic world — it’s all about titles and addresses.
I answered her question with the most standard answer possible, even adding a bit of religious context. But, as an educator myself, I knew my answer didn’t really answer her question. If this was an exam paper, I would probably only get sympathy marks — or maybe none at all. Heh.
I gave that answer because other lecturers were in the room too. We have Dr. Wong, Dr. Chee, and Mr. Tan. I knew them because there aren’t many non-Malay lecturers at this university, so it’s easy to remember them. The others I didn’t know. Everyone else was busy with exam-related tasks.
When I was asked that question, it was like time stopped. Everyone who had been busy with their work suddenly turned to look at me, waiting for my response. It felt like that question was really important. But my answer came out just like that, spontaneous. In reality, I had no intention of buying a car anytime soon.
“Is it really that strange for a lecturer not to own a car?” I wondered.
Maybe in my new workplace, I’m already famous. Famous for being the only lecturer without a car. Maybe even in the entire history of education. Heh.
Even stranger, I’m not young, I’m getting on in age. Not many men my age don’t have a car. But that’s just the way it is. Even so, I’ve never felt awkward about my life. Maybe others feel awkward about it. How do they think I manage to live without a car?
That afternoon, when I got back to the office, I immediately did some digging. Who is this mysterious woman?
It turns out she’s Dr. Zawiah Ahmad. She’s from Pasir Mas, Kelantan, born in 1958. She studied and completed her PhD abroad. She’s written tons of academic papers and books. She’s quite impressive. I have to give her credit!
She’s also still single. And she drives a BMW.
14 Januari 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment