Maherpret was one of my roommates and classmates in the uni. The time tracked back to 16 years ago, she was one of my favourite persons, and I have no doubt that she still is. Thinking of the time that we had, she is always a beautiful Uyghur girl who has such a gentle and kind soul. That mental picture about her had been implanted in my mind from the first moment I saw and never changed even a bit over these years.

Sometimes I felt I was amazed by her and all sorts of things around her. From the amazing eyebrow powder out off that little mysterious cooper bottle, to the delicious dried apricots and beautiful calligraphy written by her brother, the exploration about Xinjiang and Islamic culture had never stopped at a boring finding. They always surprised me and took my breath away.

I think I have a connection with Maherpret. We went to shopping near Beijing Zoo; Every time I saw pretty earrings, I thought of her as I can’t think of anyone else would be more suitable to have those earrings; I listened to her telling me all the stories she had, the way how Xinjiang minority people look at Han people and the way they dance, sing and live. I got to know the difficulties to have a Han-Islam marriage in Xinjiang, and I couldn’t imagine how she managed to spend 3 days on train and 4 days on bus to get back to Kashi from Beijing, and it’s just one way in 1992-1996. I tasted her cooking in the Summer school holiday time when she stayed in uni and DIYed her own Nan (a kind of flour made bread), and I secretly throw out the cookie made with goat milk that she gave to me (That’s the only thing that I actually hate to eat:-). I love Xinjiang food, the roasted lamb leg, Nans, big platter of chicken stirfry, beef noodle soup , lamb skewers and rice to eat with hands. The last time I saw Maherpret was in Xiyu Shi Fu (Western Territory Food Palace) where we met her future husband.

It took me almost 6 years to find her. I knew she was somewhere in Xinjiang, and highly possible in Urumqi, but I just couldn’t have any contact means working properly to talk or write to her. Now I got her email, saw her photo with her husband and her 5 years old girl, and know she is doing PhD in BNU again.

On that night, I was too excited to fall asleep. When will I see her again?