Page 20 - MDOS2_Final

MALAYSIAN DIPLOMATS: OUR STORIES

junction, you can always enter the next junction and turn back.

A few days before the year ended, one of Hashim’s friend, Saule, called my
of ce line to introduce herself and to invite me to her company’s year-end
dinner party. I hesitated to go but she insisted and of ered me a ride. It was
at a restaurant where I had my f rst taste of a Soviet-style party. Just like
other parties I had attended later in this part of the world, I found that
people in the former Soviet Republics could sing and dance, and were not
hesitant to do so. T ey could also speak of the cuf and tend to make long-
winded speeches. T eir children also have the conf dence to speak in front of
a crowd, something which children in Malaysia should emulate.

I was at the party for more than an hour. I did not know anyone except for
Saule whom I just met that day. Everybody was speaking in Russian. T e
songs that they danced to were also Russian. Suddenly one of Saule’s of ce
mate approached me and introduced herself. Her name is Anara but she told
me to call her Ann. She was an attractive Kazakh lady in her early 20s. We
chatted for a while and I was impressed by her ability to speak good English
and her courage to strike a conversation with a foreign stranger like me.
Weeks later, I managed to get Ann’s number from Saule, and we met a few
times after that.

Almaty to me was a charming city. Many were puzzled when I told them
that I considered Kazakhstan as my best overseas posting. I loved the view
of the snow-capped mountains from my window panes. I loved going to the
ballets, operas, jazz and classical shows at the many ornate concert halls. I
loved riding the ski lifts and snow sliding at the nearby ski resort. I loved
the nightlife and watching the youngsters dancing away in clubs. I loved
the panoramic mountainous view at the golf course. I loved the breath-
taking steppe landscape on my train ride to Astana. I loved the unforgettable
changing landscape on my drive to Bishkek. I loved the safety when driving
home even after midnight. I loved the tasty Turkish food available everywhere.
I loved shopping for crystal wares, paintings and rugs. And the list goes on.

T irteen years after I left Almaty, I visited the city in 2018 with my family
and went down memory lane. My wife and my son loved the city too. T e
city had not changed much. My “broken” Russian proved to be useful again

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