ക Chinese Idiom ~ AN OLD HORSE KNOWS THE WAY ~ 老馬識途 {Lǎomǎ shìtú}

"An Old Horse Knows the Way" ~ 老馬識途 

This story is about Duke Huan from the State of Qi, a battle over the State of Shanrong and Gu Zhu in spring and autumn period (770-476BC) which was a distance away from Qi. By the time the State of Shanrong and Gu Zhu was defeated winter sets in a little early. Duke Huan and his army lost their way back to Qi. His minister, Guan Zhong suggested to him, "Why not let the old horses to lead the way, they have excellent animal intuition". Sure enough the army followed the old horses and arrived home safely. Thus the Chinese idiom "An Old Horse Knows The Way" is to praise an experienced person who knows his job and role functions or his way very well. (Special thanks to Jeannie, my newfound Chinese teacher 老師 { lǎoshī } for her kind assistance, please click HERE to visit her blog and learn this idiom in Chinese/English with pīnyīn).

However on the other side of the coin if the idiom is misused it could be disastrous. This is a true sharing  by my optician, Mr AP Chong, about his observation if you were to add in certain Chinese words it could be fatal. Besides the two most popular words  of "Yam Seng" (bottoms up) at dinner functions, another four words that is notoriously hazardous to drinkers who frequently uttered 不醉不歸 {bùzui bùguī} (literally means 'no drunk no home'). Some mindset have not been changed as the idiom "An old horse knows the way" cannot be applicable in this instance anymore, it is obsolete. Those ancient days you can depend on your faithful old horse who knows the way home even when you are dead drunk but not in this new millennium. You either kill or be killed when you are driving under influence of alcohol, in short DUI. Drink all you can provided if you have someone to send you home.

Thanks to Irene Hoi for the email which many may have seen before but needed to be reminded regularly. It is very timely and related to the highlights of the danger of DUI as you can see below how devastating it could be to a lovely teenager where her future is totally wrecked by a freak DUI accident. (CAUTION : Graphic images maybe gruesome to some).

Jacqueline Saburido was hit by another car that was driven by a 17-year old male student on his way home after drinking a couple of hard packs with his friends. This was in December 1999. Jacqueline was caught in the burning car and her body was heavily burnt during around 45 seconds. After the accident Jacqueline has needed over 40 operations. Not everyone who gets hit by a car dies.

(Click on the picture for full details)

This picture was taken 4 years after the accident and the doctors are still working on Jacqueline, whose body was covered with 60% severe burns. Let's make as many people as we can to be aware of the consequences of drinking & driving.

Her traumatic condition moved me to tears as I was doing up this post. Let's pray for her speedy recovery. May she be well and happy, may she be free from mental and physical suffering and also to all the victims of DUI as well. Please have a heart, "DON'T DRINK & DRIVE".

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ക Blogthings: what color should your blog be?..

Your Blog Should Be Yellow

You're a cheerful, upbeat blogger who tends to make everyone laugh.

You are a great storyteller, and the first to post the latest funny link.

You're also friendly and welcoming to everyone who comments on your blog.

What color should your blog be?

Took a quiz on my blog's color,  voila... its yellow, have a go. Thanks to Levian

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ക WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

Before the rising sun we fly

So many roads to choose

We start our walking

And learn to run

And yes! We've just begun

Yes this is part of the lyric from the song "We've Only Just Begun" by the Carpenters. The "Bridging" has just begun and hope to pick up Chinese/Mandarin with more practice. Bear with my thoughts as they are merely my personal opinion and kindly spare the whip. During my younger days, life can be so complex and confusing as a minority "RARE" Bananaz growing up in a majority 'Chinaman' environment which I often wonder whether I am trapped in the wrong peel or the wrong shell?

Let's begin with me the green fresh Bananaz struggling to reconcile as a minority where  Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Jit Poh occupied the coffee table, neighbors speak Hokkien and Teow Chew, Mama's friends conversed in Cantonese and Mandarin, Papa spoke broken Hokkien30/Hakka70 however English was silent at home and spoken in school only.

Now the Bananaz Blues where the confusion just begun: 

Blunder #1 ~ Cannot understand why all Chinese medical shops have the same last name - Chong Choon Tong, Pak Ho Tong or Ho Chin Tong? The 'Tong' kept  bugging and tong-ing me each time I passed by the sign prompting to ask myself, "Is this a must to name their children with 'Tong' when they operate a medical shop?" [The Truth: The "Tong" 堂 is actually a Chinese word in Hakka (not related to the Haka of All Blacks) referring to Medical Hall (most of the bosses are Hakka then) and not a name of the person, aiya wrong thoughts for many long years, how wrong could I be].

Blunder #2 ~ Mama used to say Hoklo this Hoklo that, when referring to neighbors which I thought was a nasty word dare not asked for the meaning. [The Truth: Only lately I stumbled over the internet found the real meaning of Hoklo ~ it's the 'Chaozhou' {Mandarin} people 潮州人 aka Teow Chew people.]

Blunder #3 ~ When you think you are Bananaz and can get away with English on old folks right? Nope, we were walking home after primary school with a classmate and approaching right in front of us was a huge lady. My friend spelled out the three letter word in English ~ F.A.T. to me. Seconds later we heard machine guns rattling, got shelling from her left and right.."You 'AngMohSai' think very clever used English thought I cannot understand huh..ta..ta..ta..#%&**)+*!~@&". Oops 'Padan muka betul'! (serve us right).

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ക Name Calling

Before peeling of Bananaz thoughts begins, probably need to quantify & qualify the Bananaz People into various condition to evaluate the severity of 'white thoughts'. Need to go back three generations, how about classifying them into three categories by way of sizzling steak ~ "RARE, MEDIUM and WELL DONE" BANANAZ. For easy reference "Chinaman" refers to those educated in the Chinese medium and "Bananaz" refers to the English educated.

The RARE - First (Grandparents) and Second generation(Parents) are 'Chinaman' and the Third generation are Bananaz. [Gen1.Chinaman, Gen2.Chinaman, Gen3.Bananaz]. This is where I belong, I'm the Rare Bananaz.

The MEDIUM- First generation (Grandparents) are 'Chinaman' with the Second generation (Parents) and Third generation are Bananaz. [Gen1.Chinaman, Gen2.Bananaz, Gen3.Bananaz]

The WELL DONE - All Three generations (Grandparents/Parents/Children) are Bananaz. [Gen1.Bananaz, Gen2.Bananaz, Gen3.Bananaz]

So where are you? TRAPPED in the wrong peels or the wrong shells meaning an Egg, white on the outside, yellow on the inside - referring to mixed marriages with Westerners. This is very common in Hong Kong and click HERE for more related details on Eggs, which I have borrowed some of her thoughts. This does not take into account of those mixed marriages between the other races, religion or nationality as not to complicate matters.

Have to make my point very clear that this blog is not meant to ridicule any "Chinaman" to be worst off or the "Bananaz" as better people will keep my level best to remain nuetral with no malicious thoughts intended. Back to the real purpose of this blog is towards the sharing of the thoughts of Bananaz without fear or favor. I have mentioned earlier to post on names calling between the two sides, here you go..

The battle of the Titans : Name Calling

Bananaz: are referred to as "Xiangjiaoren" 香蕉人 [Mandarin] {BananaPeople} or sometimes "Wàng běn" 忘本 [Mandarin] {Forget your roots} and the "AngMohSai" [Hokkien] {Caucasian sh*t}. How this "AngMohSai" came about is people presume and take for granted Bananaz will do everything the Caucasian way eat,sleep,talk,think and whatsoever inclusive of the sh*t. Sticks and stones may break my bones but not name calling. Come to think of it I've got used to whatever names being thrown at over the years.

Chinaman: Bananaz hit back at them calling name like "Shì bù shì" 是不是 [Mandarin]{YesNoYes} or simply Chinaman.

Just out of curiosity (no offence intended) any idea what will people call an Indian who is educated in English and knows nothing about read and write Tamil?

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ക T.G.I.FRI-ed Bananaz

Chinese Names - Annie Wan (Anyone)

Caller: Hello, can I speak to Annie Wan?

Operator: Yes, you can speak to me.

Caller: No, I want to speak to Annie Wan!

Operator: You are talking to someone! Who is this?

Caller: I'm Sam Wan. And I need to talk to Annie Wan! It's urgent.

Operator: I know you are someone and you want to talk to anyone! But what's this urgent matter about?

Caller: Well... just tell my sister Annie Wan that our brother Noe Wan was involved in an accident. Noe Wan got injured and now Noe Wan is being sent to the hospital. Right now, Avery Wan is on his way to the hospital.

Operator: Look if no one was injured and no one was sent to the hospital, then the accident isn't an urgent matter! You may find this hilarious but I don't have time for this!

Caller: You are so rude! Who are you?

Operator: I'm Saw Ree.

Caller : Yes! You should be sorry. Now give me your name!

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ക MONKEY & BANANA STORY ON COMPANY POLICY

Monkey & Banana Story On Company Policy

Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the monkeys with cold

water.

After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it. Now, turn off the cold water.

Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm.

Again, replace a third original monkey with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four monkeys that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

After replacing the fourth and fifth original monkeys, all the monkeys that have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs.

WHY NOT?

Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been around here.

And that's how Company policy begins ...

Source: www.businessballs.com

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ക T.G.I.FRI-ed Bananaz

Its TGIF lets have fun let our hair down complete your work wan' go home and enjoy a peeling weekend.

"Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" is a traditional Jamaican folk song, made popular by Harry Belafonte. It is a song about the dock workers on a night shift hurrying to complete the job and wanna go home the next morning.

Day-o, day-ay-ay-o

Daylight come and he wan' go home

Work all night on a drink of rum

(Daylight come and he wan' go home)

Stack banana till the morning come

(Daylight come and he wan' go home)

Come, Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana

(Daylight come and he wan' go home)

Come, Mr. Tally Man, tally me banana

(Daylight come and he wan' go home)

It's six foot, seven foot, eight foot, BUNCH!

(Daylight come and he wan' go home)

Six foot, seven foot, eight foot, BUNCH!

(Daylight come and he wan' go home)

Day, he say day-ay-ay-o

(Daylight come and he wan' go home)

Day, he say day-ay-ay-o ,

(Daylight come and he wan' go home)

Day, he say day, he say day, he say day

(Daylight come and he wan' go home)

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ക White Thoughts..Yellow Skin

November 03 2009 a great Bananic day for this maiden post. Don't get me wrong when I refer 'white thoughts..yellow skin' that does not connect me to be a racist just emphasising on the colors of nature. Some brief introduction on "Banana People" or in Mandarin "香蕉人" {xiāngjiāorén} according to the MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary - "banana person (yellow outside, white inside) / mildly pejorative term used by Chinese for assimilated Asian Americans / Westernized person of Asian appearance". Our parents may have their own specific reasons to send us to English schools. Sometimes Bananaz are ridiculed by the acronym of 'OCBC' Bank - 'Orang China Bukan China' meaning "Chinese but not Chinese". There are many criteria to be considered bona fide Chinese, but the most important of all is not to "wàng běn"{忘本} forget your roots. The wise men said, "if you don't speak or write the Chinese language "méiwèntí" {没问题} no problem, can learn and pick up later but most crucial must know how to write your own Chinese name in full." That's easy Bananaz..yoo hoo..!!!For those Bananaz or non Chinese who have all the passion and burning desire to learn how to read, write and speak Mandarin language this is a must weblog for you, click HERE for your online lessons with MeiChun lǎoshī who is committed to share her invaluable experiences.

MeiChun Jones (Jeannie)

This Is It..have to end here and will try to gather what the "names calling" from English educated vs Mandarin educated in my next post. Would like to share this brilliant poem that I found in one of the dormant blog "Short Horse Tales" in which author, LeeMeiEe expressed her Bananaz feelings superbly. Learning is for learning sake and its for one self and nobody can ever take that knowledge away from you. I have to agree to her point we cannot take care of too many things in life moreover I am also SAM - 'Saya Anak Malaysia', even though my beloved mama said I came from a stone most likely I suspected from Jupiter; would be even better if from Krypton then I'll be SuperBananaz.

BANANA PEOPLE

We are named after this beloved fruit

Whose skin outside is yellow to suit,

Whose fruit inside is white as off-white could be,

How? You might wonder, did this stereotype come to be?

Well, we too, sport a yellow skin,

But our tongues wag white, which is not in kin

“If you don’t speak Chinese….,” so they say,

“You are not Chinese enough!” and that’s the way.

Our own kind deem to treat us like weed,

And that hurts very much indeed,

We dream of a nation united, is always the case,

But how could that be, when united we are not as a race?

Call us whatever name you like,

Banana People are strong as a dyke

Within us, there is NO colour divide

Within us, UNITY will reach far and wide

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