Oh, my kids’ English! – my nose is running!

Oh, my kids’ English! – my nose is running!

I grew up in a family where all my siblings were Chinese-educated. But my children grew up speaking English, Malay and Chinese dialect (Hokkien). I started reading the “Peter and Jane” series to them when they were about the age of two. Oh, my kids’ English is about some of the amusing words they used as kids!

woman lying on bed while blowing her nose
Running nose (Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com)

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I came back from work. As I entered the house, my second son greeted me.

“Mum, mum! My nose is running!” he ran on the spot to demonstrate his point! Then he removed the tissue papers, flashing a cute grin and displaying the missing two front teeth!

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Learning English is like duck takes to water for them. They usually scored distinction, even my youngest and special child!

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Does a woman need her spouse’s permission…

Does a woman need her spouse’s permission…

Mastectomy

I remember interviewing about 40 couples during a social gathering for breast cancer women about two decades ago. ( I wonder if the answers would still be the same)

One of the questions was: Does a woman need her spouse’s permission or consent to undergo mastectomy to remove her cancerous breast(s).

All Muslim ladies (n=4) said: Yes, we need.

All Chinese women (n=34)said: No, we don’t need.

2 Indian women were unsure: Yes / no

ALL husbands said that they would support their wife to undergo mastectomy.  They don’t mind a wife minus a breast or two, but they all want their wife to live longer.

WHAT SAY YOU?

“Leisure” by William Henry Davies

“Leisure” by William Henry Davies (3 July 1871– 26 September 1940 – a Welsh poet and writer.)

Sunset, ( courtesy of Toh H L)

Toh H L: In my twenties, thirties, forties and fifties, I was busy rushing from one activity to the next. Retirement and especially MCO ( lock down) have slowed my life. Watching the sunset regularly is now a hobby and I am finally appreciating the ever changing beauty of nature and the remaining bit of my life. I want to live life like what the poem Davies wrote:

"What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can,
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare."

男女乳腺癌：一个简单的方程式。

(Google translated from English to Chinese)

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“爷爷，你怎么不戴胸罩？”

“因为我是男人。 男人不戴胸罩“

“为什么男人不戴胸罩？”

“因为社会如此定义。”

”这就是为什么女人得乳腺癌而男人不戴胸罩的原因。“

” ………..男人也是如此， 但是很少。”

“如果是这样，女人就不应该戴胸罩！”

“… !!!”

 

据估计，2018年，全球有627,000名妇女死于乳腺癌，约占妇女所有癌症死亡人数的15％…而且这个数字还在继续增加。 它在男性中很少见，仅约1％。

Ref.
Breast Cancer Worldwide.
https://www.abcglobalalliance.org/articles/breast-cancer-worldwide accessed on the 26, Sep, 2020

WHO Breast cancer.
https://www.who.int/cancer/prevention/diagnosis-screening/breast-cancer/en/
accessed on the 26, Sep, 2020

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When a non- Japanese got lost in Yokohama

When a non- Japanese got lost in Yokohama

smiling couple navigating with map on city street
Photo by Samson Katt on Pexels.com
Ravethy and I couldn't find 
the way back to our hotel.
The road signs then
were all in Japanese. 
Even the road map brochure
was of no help.
And, it was getting darker.

We were delighted 
when we saw a man in uniform.
He was very happy to help;
rattling away to me 
(in Japanese) 
both palms together 
pointing forwards,
then his right hand
 directing to the right... 
brushing aside my attempts 
with crossed hands 
and shaking head
to say I did not understand!

Sigh! We stood by
 the road side again! 
The baseball game was over 
at a nearby stadium. 
We were lucky to find
a fellow Singaporean 
to explain the route to us. 
It was only 
a ten minutes walk away!

That was in the 1990s.

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Four years ago, I went back again to Japan. I found that more Japanese people could speak English. The signs and maps seem easier to read. I learned to speak some simple Japanese, too!

The uniformed man had mistaken me for a Japanese. Last week a fellow blogger addressed me as a Korean! Not long ago another thought I was a Taiwanese!

A face and a name can be misleading!

I am from Malaysia! My ancestors were from Hainan island, China.

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Oh, my kids’ English! – I borrow him my toy…

Oh, my kids’ English! – I borrow him my toy…

I grew up in a family where all my siblings were Chinese-educated. But my children grew up speaking English, Malay and Chinese dialect (Hokkien). I started reading the “Peter and Jane” series to them when they were about the age of two. Oh, my kids’ English is about some of the amusing words they used as kids!

boy in red long sleeves holding toy car
Toy (Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com)

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Both boys were screaming and having a tug-of-war over a toy car!

“I borrow him my toy car. Now he doesn’t want to give back!“

“If you lend your toy to your younger brother, I am sure you would want him to return it to you, right?”

I have heard this ‘borrowing and lending mixed-ups’ even with adults at work place!

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Learning English is like duck takes to water for them. They usually scored distinction, even my youngest and special child!

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A clear pond – painting by Master Jinbodhi

A clear pond – painting by Master Jinbodhi

I chanced upon this magazine while in a waiting room.

A clear pond – painting by Master Jinbodhi
Master Jinbodhi
Meditation & Health

Topics in this Vol.6. No. 3  Issue NO.16

Gratitude is an essential of life – message from Master JinBodhi

Diabetes: A Global Concern – Causes and Prevention

Meditation Impacts Genes -Relaxation Changes Gene Expression

The Warmth of the Dining Room- Feng Shui Wisdom

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When I saw the painting ‘a clear pond’ here, there was no description of the painting. There are no colours surrounding the stalks as I would normally paint the murky water when I learned Chinese painting. 

I like and agree with the first message, too.  Gratitude is an essential of life. 

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A cancer patient said: Life is a short journey

A cancer patient said: Life is a short journey

“在这里看到这条电源线。它固定在墙上的电源上。生命是一个短暂的旅程（他沿着电线指向）。患癌症只是我旅途的一部分。很快我将回到原来的地方（指着墙上的源头）-回到上帝，回到天堂。”

“See this power cord here. It’s attached to the power source on the wall. Life is a short journey (he points along the cord). Having cancer is just part of my journey. Soon I’ll be back to where I came from (pointing to the source on the wall) – back to God, back to Heaven.”

Tomb visiting: Embracing life impermanence

Tomb visiting: Embracing life impermanence

A reminder of life impermanence (Photo by Arina Krasnikova on Pexels.com)

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Once I was cradled in your arm,

so warm, so comforting.

Once I was fed on your bosom,

so nourishing, so fulfilling.

Once I rode on your shoulder,

so happy, such fun!

Once I was created inside you,

such a wonder is life!

Now you both lie in here,

back to dust, back to earth,

embracing the truths of life,

such is, life impermanence!

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Things worth pursuing in life.

Things worth pursuing in life.

1.Making many friends.It will make you realize why you shouldn’t make many friends. 2.Gift something to your parents with your first salary.Trust me, the sheer joy you’ll see on their faces will be something you will cherish for the rest of your life. 3.Dance like nobody’s watching, that too in a stranger’s wedding.Your most enjoyable […]

Things worth pursuing in life.