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"Oh my goodness". That was the first thought that raced through my mind when I saw the little attap hut that belonged to my aunt. Their hut was in a small kampong in Kuantan, Malaysia. Although my dad had told me about their living conditions, nothing had prepared me for what was in front of me. The attap hut was sparsely furnished. In the bare living room was only a small wooden sofa which creaked when i sat on it. There was no radio or television; no forms of entertainment which I take for granted. Although the house was small, it was comfortable and my aunt and her family went out of their way to make me feel welcome.
The Abdul Samad family was not what I would call "well off". Cik Mina, my aunt, lived with her three children, having been widowed when her husband died a few years back in an accident. She supported the family by sewing clothes for neighbours and friends. She supplemented this by selling homemade curry puffs and goring pisang.
The eldest boy, Mustafa, was about my age. He is her pride and joy, being very diligent and filial. Every morning, Mustafa would lug the packets of curry puffs and goring pisang to sell to a small eatery on the other side of the kampong. He would then make his way to school after dropping off his two younger sisters at their school. In the afternoons, while his mother is busy sewing clothes, Mustafa would take care of his two younger sisters. He makes sure all their homework and chores are completed before he lets them play. Although Mustafa is only my age, I could see that he was aging prematurely. He was forced to become a man at a boy's age as he is the only male in the family.
I was struck by the difference in our lifestyles. While my siblings and I enjoy annual overseas trips, their family's idea of a holiday would be a short two-day trip to Melacca. They have not even been out of the state for the past 5 years! I feel very sorry for them. I was talking to Mustafa and he confided that he would love to travel out of the country. He had been dreaming of it but he thought of it as a "selfish wish". He knew his family could not afford it.
It then struck me. If I had $1,000 I would use the money to give Mustafa a holiday he would never forget. I believe that this trip would be the rare time that allowed him to connect with the boy in him again and let him be free from worry and chores. I would fly him down to Singapore and show him sights like the Singapore Flyer and Sentosa. I would love to let him try some of Singapore's delicacies such as the chilli crab. I would give my cousin a holiday as he truly deserves for having to sacrifice and work so hard to help his family.
This is how I would spend my $1,000.
- Nadia, CHIJ St Theresa's Convent"
This article won a $1,000 cash prize in the "Life is great!" essay competition organised by Great Eastern.
Click here to find out more about the competition
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