17.50
adi rahman
I have been in Birmingham, England, for two and a half years. This is a city that I frequently heard of during my childhood and teens. A far way city unknown to me and my childhood to university friends. If I looked back to those years, it was almost unbelievable and near magic that I was going to pursue my PhD in this lovely city. At that time, in Purwokerto, a small city in Central Java, Indonesia, I was struggling to finish my undergraduate thesis, not to mention thinking about doing doctoral research abroad. Yet, I'm here. Cruising through the ups and downs. Responding and trying to solve challenges and issues. Now, I live with my wife and our cute but intelligent daughter.
November in Birmingham is cold. It's technically in the winter. Snow is supposed to be expected but none has been spotted. The temperature is already under 5 degrees Celcius in the last 7 days. Looking at how people dresses, they have put on thicker and thicker outfit. I have put on Long John when I go out and at home. This morning, we - the Indonesian community, welcomed a delegation from West Java Province that joined an important event (English for Ulama) in London a few days ago. Today they had a chance to visit the Multi-faith Chaiplance at the University of Birmingham and had a warm discussion with the Muslim Chaiplance and us. In this meeting, I can see how the cold weather was unbearable to those who are not used to it. One of them had to cover his ears with a winter hoodie.
That's the weather. November is a month when people start to make a plan for Christmas and the New Year celebration. It's similar to Ramadhan in Indonesia. We started to prepare for a short return to our kampung (usually a place where we were born or raised). November is also a month of discounted sales. Ladies usually storm factory outlets to purchase branded products for a cheaper price. We - husbands, must devout few hours to accompany our wives visiting these outlet counters. In Birmingham, this famous shopping spot in November and December is located in Cannock. It is a small town in the sub-urban.
November in Birmingham is not special if you expect a celebration or party.
