Life is often described as a journey, akin to a train ride where fellow passengers board and disembark early, or stay with you for the entire trip. It can also be seen as a voyage over calm or rough waters, or an ordinary car ride with rocky roads and slippery slopes, where we might even take wrong turns. We need to cautiously navigate around cracks and bumps, and be prepared for changeable or extreme weather.
Looking back, I think of all the people who have made an impact on me throughout my life’s journey. My earliest guides were my parents, who instilled in me values of honesty, diligence, frugality, and caring beyond the family. My schoolmates from different cultures enriched my childhood with their friendship and the hospitality of home-cooked meals, including nasi lemak and chapati. I am still in touch with several schoolmates from my hometown of Kuala Kangsar.
