Diane Again: I Will Bake You A Pie

Thursday, August 4, 2016

I Will Bake You A Pie

Jurie's profile pic on the day I met him: August 4, 2008.

Today is a red-letter day on my calendar for two important reasons:

1. Exactly eight years ago, I met my first and best Malaysian friend, Jurie.

2. Just before midnight tonight, I am leaving on a trip to Cuba.

Now let me be perfectly clear. These are not independent events.

They are cause and effect.

Jurie's aunt currently lives in Havana, Cuba, and I am going to visit her family there.

I could never have guessed - all those years ago when a random Mob Wars player read my status that said, "I will bake you a pie," popped open a chat window, and took me up on my offer - how my life would be changed:

I discovered a new best friend.

I made friends with literally hundreds of Malaysians.

I came to know the ins and outs of their daily lives.

I learned about their government, their history, their culture, their religion.

I visited them and stayed with them in their homes.

I folded their laundry, played with their babies, swept their kitchen floors.

I explored their beautiful country.

Then, through a lovely coincidence, Jurie's cousin decided to attend university here in Seattle.

I spent time with him and we've become friends too.

I got acquainted with his mother, Nor Abdullah, who invited me to visit her in Havana.

And now I am about to hop on the plane.

Honestly, I can't believe this is happening to me. I never even thought to dream of making friends with Malaysians and traveling to Cuba. It's almost too fantastic to believe.

But this is what comes of offering to bake someone a pie. And I'm certainly glad I did.