School Diary - Day "0" (The Registration Day)

Nothing interesting. It's only a description of what was going on that day. For documentation purpose.....


I can say Zahra was so excited about school. Only few times she refused of school matters. What made her so excited about the school is the plays : the slide, the seesaw, the ladder, and the likes. After considering A,B,C....X, Y, Z and performing an istikharah, we finally decided for a registration agenda.

New academic term has been started since Sunday (19/09) this week. But we just registered yesterday (Wednesday 23/09). Alhamdulillah, seat was still available.

At the first place when entering the school yard, the play things attracted her at most. Secondly, she was wondered about the decorating paintings on the wall. Then recognised some letters painted on that wall.

We explained about the situation, about the class, the pupils, their activities, etc. (Well, actually we have pre-introduced and explained her long days before). Zahra was so excited that made her couldn't wait to join the class. Since we were still completing the registration, -meaning that Zahra was not an official pupil yet,- we didn't let her.

When Zahra's father was out for completing all payments, we played outside, at the playing area. Not many Zahra could play there. There were only seesaw, slide, and a tiny house. Suddenly, the door of one class opened that made us able to see pupils in the class. I let Zahra know and see them, "Zahra, look! Friends!". One of the pupils came out. Zahra went toward her. But the teacher asked the girl to come back inside. Unrealised Zahra following the girl, the teacher closed the door. Zahra looked upset. She came back to the playing zone.

When Zahra was playing, she saw an orange ball somewhere. She picked it up and showed me. She asked whose ball that was. I told Zahra that probably the ball that belongs to the pupils, "Perhaps they didn't know that they left the ball..." Then Zahra said, "Mah, tunggu ya. Tunggu di sini". Then Zahra brought the ball with her and walked toward the class. "Knock! Knock!" Zahra was knocking at the door firmly. "knock! Knock!" Zahra was knocking at the door firmly again. Then the teacher (apparently she was Indian -later I know her name is Ms. Laksmi) opened the door. With a wide surprising eyes she accepted the ball from Zahra. Full of smiles, she thanked to Zahra. Then she asked, "What's your name?". Zahra -who had been trained to answer such question- answered Ms. Laksmi's question. But Ms. Laksmi couldn't hear clearly what Zahra was saying. Then she looked at me -who was observing at a distance- asking the name. Ms. Laksmi thank to Zahra again. To appreciate what Zahra had done and to show an example of a good deed to the pupils, Ms Laksmi welcomed Zahra to showed up in front of the class. I think she introduced Zahra and explained the children what Zahra did about the ball. As Ms Laksmi let Zahra go, she asked for a hug, but Zahra looked reluctance to do it (later I find out that is because Ms Laksmi doesn't wear hijab, according my "interview" with Zahra).

With "jaim" smile, Zahra then back to me afterward...

Since it was quite hot that day, we came inside of the building. Somehow the teachers let Zahra join the class while I stayed waiting outside. Quite a while Zahra was being with the pupils and the teachers. Then Ms. Laksmi appeared. I was thinking that she would bring Zahra. Instead, she asked, "Are you Indonesian, right? Can you help me. There was an Indonesian boy crying and I don't know what he wants."

The crying boy, Adam, did not want anything. He only wanted his mother with him.

When I was inside the class comforting the crying boy, I noticed Zahra sitting on one chair among the pupils and doing a paperwork. It was a colouring activity. She looked enjoy and nothing bothered her. I felt glad coz' that could be the sign that the following days would go easier. "She's just great." that what Ms Laksmi's first impression about Zahra. Alhamdulillah, I felt proud of her. Before we left the class, Ms Laksmi rewarded a smiling-face pin and put it on Zahra's hijab, meaning that Zahra's behaviour was highly appreciated and that encouraged Zahra to show good behaviour again in the future...

Is the following days REALLY easier as I thought....? Don't miss my next diary :) InsyaAllah...


Doha, 14 Syawwal 1431 H / 23 September 2010
-Ummu Zahra-

Photo by Ummu Zahra