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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