It was on the 29th of April 2016.
My friends and I were at the subway station, charging our phones at the toilet (yes!) and also waiting for another to finish her Zuhur prayer somewhere at the deserted area there.
She finished her Zuhur prayer and the three of us went out when she suddenly said
"Aku dapat Pahang! Yaay yaay yaaay!"
Blood quickly rushed through my veins. I was stunned. What, the FRP posting result is out already? Why now? It was so unexpected! KKM, how could you do this to me? Why won't you leave me to enjoy my second last day in Korea IN PEACE and HAPPINESS? Why couldn't you wait until I return home to Malaysia and all its realities that I had been dreading to face? I had been living in dreams and fantasies when I was in Korea. I was that happy throughout my stay there, yes!
I checked for the result through my phone. Now why the internet suddenly went so slow? I checked using my tab. Also, very slow! Gahhh! So, Syau lent me her phone. With a cheeky grin, she said she wanted to check for me. No! I exclaimed! I need to find out by myself.
So I typed my IC number and...
Tempat Melapor Diri: Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Kelantan.
KELANTAN? I got FREAKING KELANTAN?
I was sad, I almost cried. I didn't cry. I almost cried. The tears don't even flood my eyes yet.
It was a mixture of unexpectedness and me expecting it all along.
I mean, I know that I wouldn't get Kedah as rumour has it that there is no more vacancy/post for Pegawai Farmasi there. I had at least hoped that I would get Perak, my second choice of state. But no.
KKM had decided to send me to Kelantan.
We went out from the subway and reached a place I couldn't recall what it is as I was too flooded with emotions. I almost cried. But I didn't cry. I repeat: I didn't cry. YET. Oh wait, until now, I haven't even cried properly yet. Perhaps I'd cry myself to sleep tonight. Hahaha.
So, that's it. The moment of truth. I finally got called to serve as a Fully Registered Pharmacist in a state far away from my hometown. I am no longer a floater or a PRP. I am scared of the responsibilities I'm about to shoulder.
I'm not really blaming or complaining. Some had it worse. They got posted to Sabah and Sarawak. But somehow, deep inside me, I thought that I'd like to get Sabah or Sarawak instead. But never mind, Allah knows best.
It's just that you know, I'm sad. The feeling of sadness is inevitable. The thought that I'm going to stay far away from my family and the comfort of my own home, to rent a house and lead a totally independent life, the loneliness, to make new friends and adapt myself to the new working environment, it is too exhausting to even think of all that.
But there is one thing that kept me from crying. I have many friends in Kelantan. Kelantan is...not so bad. My father had once worked in Kelantan for several years. My friends said that I could save a lot of money when I'm in Kelantan as the cost of living there is cheaper as compared to living in Penang or Selangor.
Also, I know that Allah is the Best Planner. I know that He will protect me. I had prayed that wherever it is I got posted to, please let my life there be much much better than my life now in this particular hospital I had served as a PRP. Perhaps Allah had answered my prayer. Whatever it is, have faith in Him. Put your trust in Him.
Sure, it will be hard at first. But then, everything is hard in the beginning. I used to have a very difficult and depressing life when I first became a PRP but look at me now, I survived my PRP! I am now an FRP!
So, it's only a year. I have to survive for another one year, then I'd apply to change to Kedah again. Or Perak. Again, whatever it is, Allah is always with me.
In case you're wondering why didn't I just appeal to KKM for me to get transferred to Kedah or Perak?
Well, let's see.
1. My KPF and Pengarah Hospital wouldn't sign the appeal letter (it happened to my friend last time. So looking at her situation back then, I had made a mental preparation to just accept whatever that had been given to me as there is zero chance of me to actually think of appealing).
2. I wouldn't get Kedah or Perak as I have no strong and valid reason to convince KKM to let me transfer. My friend has a father who is ill, she even attached the medical letters/references from the doctors to support her reason and yet, KKM refused to entertain her request. In the end, to Kelantan she went!
3. It's Kelantan. In Peninsular Malaysia. Even though it's about 6 hours away from home if you drive through the dangerous route of Lebuh Raya Timur Barat.
So, yes. To Kelantan I shall go! It's okay, like I said, I have many friends living in the East Coast Area (Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang). And many of my friends from Kedah and Selangor got 'campak-ed' there too.
My parents hoped that I'd get Kota Bharu or Pasir Puteh, as both are located near to the airport. I hope I'd get Kota Bharu too.
But somehow, I have had enough of night shifts and weekend shifts. So if I get posted to a Klinik Kesihatan, then it would be okay too. Never mind. Allah knows best.
On another note, it's hard to believe that my time in that hospital has finally come to its end! I'd be spending 3 more days there and I'm intending to get rebellious. Hahahaha. Nope. Not a chance.
I had been watching a very inspirational Thai movie titled 'Teacher's Diary'. It's the story of how a teacher got posted to a rural area and how she was coping with all the difficulties faced and at the same time, managed to inspire her students.
Perhaps, instead of writing a personal diary, I could just post about my adventures there on this blog! Let's hope there's internet la. Hahaha.
For those who wanted to read about my Korea trip, stay tuned. I'll try to post everything before I report my duty in Kelantan next week.It made me smile, thinking about my Korea trip. I had such a great time there. I think I had been bitten by the travel bug which leads to me lusting to travel and wander to many places. I need to go there again. I had fallen in love with Seoul. But I'm thinking of going to Jeju and Busan next year, or Tokyo, Japan. So I gotta start saving from now! Perhaps Kelantan is the answer! Hahaha.
EDIT: apparently, sewa rumah kat Kelantan is also mahal. Pffttt...
Okay cheerios!
