Rounding-Up For Year 2007 (Part 2)

22 December 2007: The Family Sogit

Accompanied my sister back to our kampung in Kota Belud. These days, I am very concerned about her driving alone in her condition. She is now about four months pregnant with her first baby. A “Sogit” is sort of a customary penalty award for breaking a native law. In her case was for prolonging her marriage (not by choice but due to financial matter) and she was required to slaughter a cow and invite villagers for a feast.

What was fun for me was she allowed me to drive her car from Salut to Tenghilan…yeayy. And to add to my first try at long distance driving adventure, rain was pouring heavily along the way. She laughed at me for sweating the driver’s car seat after she took over the wheels hehe.

Our family did the Sogit on 23 December 2007.

24 December 2007: Touched By A Ghost
Yep. That’s right. I kid you not. A ghost touched me on my left feet. Luckily I was covered in blankets so I did not feel the cold hands. At first, I was sleeping on my sides but decided to turn my body and faced up. That is when I felt it. I was not able to move a muscle or utter a word. I seem to be able to ‘see’ my sister who was sleeping next to me but I was not able to call out to her. I prayed and the hand left my feet and everything was normal again.

Early in the morning, my mother, father, grandmother, sister and I went to visit my uncle, Kualah. He lives in Tambulion and has ranch rearing cows and horses. My mother wanted to pay him for the cow he had sold to us for the Sogit but unfortunately he was not at home. Anyway, we had a great time coming over there and gotten to know his daughter-in-law, Julia (she’s an Iban) and her children.

Later at about 2.30 pm, we went to my uncle Saran’s house for his “Rumah Terbuka”. Mmm..banyak ikan telapia. He rears the Telapias himself in his big pond at the back of the house. He is expecting a menantu soon, a Kelabit girl from Sarawak. The girl’s family drove to his house all the way from Sarawak. Nice people.

25 December 2007: Christmas Day
Christmas prayer at church then more Open Houses. Looks like this year, many of my relatives are in this “Rumah Terbuka” concept. Hmm..unfortunately, I only have one stomach and was not able to go to all of them and I have to return to KK because I have to work on 26th Dec, bummer..

But seeing my abang means the world to me. He took the time from his super busy schedule of touring Sabah’s tourist attractions to come and visit me and brought me food.. yeayy. Mmmuah! Thanks abang :-)

28 December 2007: I Finally Got My “P” Driving License
I know.. I know.. “P” is for Palui (meaning dumb). I will be a “palui” driver for 2 years but I am so happy because I finally got my driving license and fulfilled my mission of achieving one significant thing this year hehehe. Congratulations to me and Gracy.