Speech Comm 101

At college it was a requirement for us to do a couple of speech communications class. My instructor always beamed at us because we know how to use the so-called magic words like may, please and thank you in our conversation. The locals on the other hand, always belasah their way through the class thinking what is so difficult about talking in English anyway? But they ultimately noticed we do get better grades in the subject.

Conversing in English with the kids at home these days is hillarious and an eye-opener. Sometimes I never did think they could speak English that well or that they have learnt to talk like that. Must be the tv.

They came up with an expression like "eewww" for something disgusting - maybe from Kimmy the possible or "whatevvver.." when they have had it with the subject - very much like Dexter the scientist. And Iman was paid to translate some documents into English ~ maann, she must be good!

My English might be good after I am done with school, but it's always proper in a textbookish way..

The world is really getting flat, dont you think?

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I Have a Dream

Does the title remind you of an Abba song? No? Good. But it reminded me of a movie starred by Meryll Streep & Robert Redford about life in Africa or something like that.

Anyhow, my ex-leadership programme facilitator used to ask us do you have a dream? Tell the class about it.

Yeah, I have a dream ~ of having a koi pond at the bottom of my garden. On weekdays, I would have mid-morning coffee by the pond whilst basking in the warmth of the morning sun within the shades of haleconias and tall palm trees. The trickling sound of water from the fountain within the pond and the sight of the koi swimming slowly in the water is therapeutic and soothing and would just lull me away.

My facilitator had said, I am not crazy about koi.

I didnt tell him outloud, but he actually missed the big picture. The dream is about having mid-morning coffee in my garden on a weekday ~ which actually signifies that I am no longer tied to an office table. It doesnt matter what's swimming in the pond, hey ~ they could be keli or talapia. I thought of koi because of the exciting colors that they have.

So yeah, I have a dream..

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Being Happy

Met up with a few friends recently. Some told "horror stories" about work. Others mumbled about financials. Only one shared her contentment. I am glad to hear at least one friend is happy.

I think we owe it to ourselves to be happy. And only we can make our ownself happy. Others may not even care should we be happy or otherwise. So, I am going to work on the things that will make me happy & contented. No sense in complaining about being miserable but isnt lifting a finger to do anything about it, right?

But the friend said, I am not happy ~ I am contented. Many things can make me happy but not necessarily content. Hmmm.. okay, explain please I requested. Having a nice house or buying a pair of nice pumps would make me happy, but only for a little while she continued - not necessarily happy with life as a whole. When I get home or to the office, there could be some glitches and things may not be perfect, but it's ok. I can live with the imperfections ~ I am not too crazy about them; but nevertheless I am content with life in totality.

I concluded that there are the elements of redha, syukur & usaha in what she said. Considering what the friend said, I'd rather be content too instead of just gigly-happy.

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'Cikgu Saya' Part II

He's my bead-sewing instructor/facilitator/teacher. He's :
direct to the point,
honest ~ he does not mime praises if your work does not deserve it,
creative ~ you should have seen the clothes and shoes and evening bags that he showed us at class,
funny,
adorable ~ what can I say? he-he..
and impatient at times. Another fav teacher of mine.

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We Are Having A What Tomorrow?

Weekends are most valuable to me. Thus all my weekends are jealously guarded. Unplanned events at weekends are so untolerable..

I knew he was up to something when I had this conversation with my son last Friday evening. He began with a slow Mama, tomorrow is the 20th right?
Me : Yes.
He : It's my birthday tomorrow.
Me : Mmm-hmm, ma tau. (I had planned Sat night dinner at maybe the pizza place or one of the fast foods)
He : Can I invite some friends over for a birthday party?
Me : No, yang.
He : Why not?
Me : Err..
He : Then what are we going to do on my birthday?
Me : I'll get you a nice cake.
He : Alaah..

That was at 8:00 pm Fri evening. Later at 10:30 pm the conversation goes like this.
He : Ma, why cant I invite friends over tomorrow?
Me : Well, you are all grown. When you were much younger we had had birthday parties, remember? (I was more prepared this time.)
He : (silence.. and then a sigh.)
He got up and picked up the phone.
Me : Who are you calling?
He : My friends.
Me : Why? We're arent having a party tomorrow.
He : Yes, that's why I'm calling my friends now to tell them not to come tomorrow.
Me : You mean you invited friends for a birthday do tomorrow without checking with me first? Blah.. blah..
He : Blah.. blah.. (a sigh here and a long face there and blinking (crocodile?) tears and etc etc..)
Me : Ok yang, make sure you invite Nabilah and Faris and Akil and also .. and.. We have to start preparation early tomorrow - we need to get your cake and party gifts and blah.. blah..

Talk about being wrapped around a tiny finger.. & there goes my Saturday.

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Remembering Mum

Mother's Day came and gone. It's great to remember mums this way but cant help thinking also, if we care about our mothers so much why do we need a special day to remember her?

Isnt it becoming a bit too commercialized in a way - you need to send flowers to mum or maybe give her a small present or if not that then the least is a card for her.

I got a small pretty card from my daughter - she made the card herself. It was signed nonetheless by all the boys also but I know whose work it is behind the sweet gesture.

Moral of the story is, mothers always know us best. She'll know if we are pretending, putting up a show, if we are sincere or otherwise. She knows.

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Make Some Space

Met some new people recently. Some were friendly, others were helpful and a few more seemed superficial although they smiled anyway. That's alright. You can't win everytime. The world's not always kind.

But a couple of people gave me some issues - they stepped on my toes, shoved their faces into business that are not theirs and asked personal questions that even Barbara Walters won't ask on her show.. Hints that I dont like their questions and evasive tactics dont work either with them. Once they are onto a particular subject, they just hold on to it and just wont let go till they had squeezed every last detail. Should I have told them to go fly a kite and preferably elsewhere but near me?

What happens to kita orang Melayu? Or is it the Western culture that dont ask personal questions? I am confused. But whatever it is, can we please remember that everyone need their own personal space? You might lose the juicy stories if you dont pry (if there are any juicy ones, that is) ~ but at the cost of being a busybody? I'd say no, thank you.

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Escargots, Oysters and Pekasam

Fine dining or ..?

Escargots
Escargots in French cuisine is a dish of cooked snails and usually served as an appetizer. The snails are prepared by first putting them through some days of fasting to clean the contents of their digestive system. Do you know that farm-raised snails are typically fed a diet of ground cereals? Sounds decent enough to me. .

Typically, the snails are removed from their shells, gutted, cooked (usually with garlic butter), and then poured back into the shells together with the butter and sauce for serving. Special snail tongs (for holding the shell) and snail forks (for extracting the meat) are also normally provided.

So that is escargots (or snails if you dont care much for them) for you. Me? There's nothing to shout about when it comes to escargots. A friend almost gagged when urged to take the escargot..

Oysters
Oysters can be eaten raw, smoked, boiled, baked, fried, roasted, stewed, canned, pickled, steamed, or broiled (grilled). They should be consumed when fresh as their taste reflects their age. The texture is soft and fleshy, but crisp to the tooth when taken raw. In the States, oysters are most often cooked before consumption, but are nearly always eaten raw in France.

Oysters are sometimes cited as an aphrodisiac. I personally think this is a myth to give allure to it. And I prefer my oysters raw with a dash of lemon. Another friend retched after a serving of raw oysters..

Pekasam
Unfortunately unlike escargots and oysters the wikipedia has no entry on pekasam. What a shame.

Pekasam is actually fresh water fish fermented with beras, salt and asam gelugur. To cook it, fry the fish in oil then add sliced onions and chillies. Serve with hot rice. I prefer my pekasam with nasi ulam, though.

Pekasam is definitely a distinctive northern local cuisine. And you just either love it or hate it.

Escargots and raw oysters and pekasam are definitely tastes that need to be acquired. Yet another acquaintance made a funny face when mentioned pekasam. I doubt that would be the response when escargots or oysters are mentioned. What a great shame..

I dont know about escargots or oysters, but pekasam is definitely not fine dining. It's something that you enjoy with mak when balik kampung over a long and winding lunch sambil melayan sembang mak on her childhood, life during Japanese occupation, your brothers & sisters and other things that she wants to talk about. Sedih pulak. Must get home for lunch over pekasam with mum..

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