From: Gyit Tu
EMail: rit_club_dj@yahoo.com
I met her during one Thingyan festival. Upon introduction, she was polite but quiet & serene. We didn’t say much, except to say “HI”. I would never have imagined that she would become like a sister I’ve longed for. Somehow, I thought she was not much of a social person. So I didn’t make any approach to become closer to her.
It must have been fate. Few months passed by and I ended up dropping by at her house often as I was homesick. Staying with her family helped me overcome my loneliness (I am still grateful to them for their warmth & love). Because of her, I had my first attempts at Burmese singing & dancing. We sang all the songs from HayMarNayWin’s album till our throats were sore (& till her family raised their “concerns” over the way we sounded). I remember the way I tried to imitate her singing style for “yin tho` toe way` sel par (khine)” song. She sang well (esp for HayMar’s songs). I was just the opposite, always off-key. She tried to coach me to catch the tune. When I first went onto the stage, I had to keep glancing at her for “approval” while singing the song (just to make sure I didn’t go off-tune).
We taught each other many things; she showed me how to pursue our own principles no matter what the others say, I would like to think I showed her how to be more outgoing & daring. Even when her siblings teased her for trying to be “tha bar pa ti” (chairwoman) at youth functions, I actually admired her spirit for being so active & determined (determination was probably one of her strongest characters). She never showed off or demanded things, rather she quietly kept pursuing her beliefs. I think we made a good team. We had a lot of similar ideas. We agreed on many things. Probably, that’s why she always looked to me for advice (not that I was greater than she but 2 heads is always better than 1).
I remember those times when we shared drinks at pubs and took care of each other when going out at nights. I was dating her elder brother then. But I think I spent more time with her than with him. She is a good cook & enjoys cooking; something I probably can never be. All those times I was at her place, I usually ended up eating her or her mum’s delicious meals. During Burmese annual events, her “shaut thee thote” would be one of the best sellers. She showed me the poems she wrote. We both shared the passion for writing. We both had a dream of creating a monthly journal, full of poems & stories. However, right now, we are too far from each other to make our dream come true.
In many ways, she was like a big sister to me (being older than I by 1 year). She never uttered a word about having to cook meals for me all the time. She even helped me put on nail-polish since I was too lazy to bother about it. Yet in other ways, I think I sort of took her as a younger sister. Whenever in public or with others, I always remembered to protect her, look out for her. We did things sisters would do; shopping together, talking about guys (more of her suitors).
It’s almost Thingyan again. It will be one year since I lost in touch with her, 2 years since I left her (resident) country. I know I will never be able to find someone like her again. Then why don’t I keep in touch with her, you might wonder? I broke up with her brother & somehow, I am afraid that it might affect her feelings towards me. Yes, I am a coward, not courageous enough to just approach her & prepare for her cold reaction, if there was to be.
But the truth is, if I had to lose her, I would rather lose with the thought that she thinks of me as a sister.