English Needs More Words -- E.

So you're learning to speak a new language.  You can get by learning plenty of basic vocabulary simply by translating a word from English.  In Malay, for example:  How do you say "cat" in Malay?  Kucing.  Great, thanks.  What about "sky"?  Langit.  And "durian"?  Durian.  Got it.

If a Malaysian wanted to learn English words, the reverse process could work.  Hai, apa nama 'kucing' dalam Bahasa Inggeris? Cat.  Bagaimana dengan 'langit'?  Sky.  'Durian'?  Obviously.

Picture of Durian Gray

But Malay and English words don't match up one-to-one every time, of course.  And sometimes -- this the part I really love -- you run into Malay words that have really have no English equivalent.

Okay.  Pretend you're married, right?  And your spouse has a sister.  And your spouse's sister is married.  That man -- the husband of the sister of your spouse -- what do you call him?  Besides his name, I mean.  I used to enjoy debating this.  I'd always say, that's my brother-in-law.  Others would argue, no, it's your sister-in-law's husband.  (And without fail somebody would always be thoughtful enough to point out, "who even cares?")

Here's where we could borrow a word from the Malay lexicon: biras.  It means -- well, it means the relation that I described just now.  How have English speakers managed so long without something like it?

Here's another.  My Malay teacher recently asked me what the English word for ngilu is.  Ngilu, I'm told, is the sensation you get when you bite into a lime, or hear a sharp knife scraping bamboo.  Neither of those are common experiences for me, but I'm guessing it's similar to biting into a Popsicle, or more famously, listening to this:

Can you feel the ngilu right now?

But what's it called?  That nails-on-a-chalkboard feeling, right?  I don't know of a single English word that describes this awful experience.  But the Malay-speaking world has come prepared.

There are others.  In particular, I have noticed an abundance of Malay words related to body posture and gesturing.  Perhaps I will list some another time.  For now, you can practice using these two useful Malay words at home.

Or better yet, just keep a healthy distance from Popsicles and chalkboards.

One Year -- E.

It was a year ago Saturday that we first arrived in Malaysia.  A year ago this week we dragged our jet-lagged selves up to a Bidayuh village for Gawai, a local harvest festival tradition.

Somehow Bidayuh people can wear this kind of stuff without looking silly.
I wasn't pulling it off so well.

Now that we're back in Gawai season again (leaving tomorrow for several days out with our Iban friends this time!), it seems we have officially run the full circle of annual celebrations.  After Gawai, it was Ramadan and the subsequent Aidilfitri feasts; Christmas season didn't seem so far after that; then came Chinese New Year; and back to Gawai.  With countless minor holidays in between, of course.

This next year I want to try to keep track of time with seasonal fruits.  Some fruits are strictly seasonal, while others just seem to be extra-abundant at certain times.  Maybe it changes from year to year, but based on the past year I expect to see a progression something like this:

Longan

Rambutan

Mangosteen

Durian

Langsat

Watermelon

We're deep in watermelons right now, in fact.  Can't complain.

This was originally going to be a reflective post in which I summarized my family's experiences over the last year, and expressed how grateful I am to be living in Malaysia.  Instead, as usual, I ended up talking about food instead.  Maybe next time we'll get it.  Stay tuned.

"Just A Little Off The Top . . . Leave The Sideburns" -- E.

My handphone sounded.  Someone had sent me a text message, but I couldn't get to my phone just then.  It would have to wait a minute or two.  Unfortunately, within 'a minute or two' I usually forget things completely.  What to do?  I decided to count down in my head -- slowly -- from 20.  When I got to zero, I would remember to check my phone.  A flawless plan!

Or so I thought.  Everything went well up until I reached the number 7, at which point a near total stranger suddenly stuck her fingers deep into my ears.  And I forgot everything.

Can you guess where I was?

Yes, there's nothing quite like getting your hair cut.  It's an unbelievably personal ordeal.  The amount of trust it takes to let someone whose name I don't know stand right up against the chair I'm sitting in and touch my head is often too much for me.  This is why I don't get my hair cut very often.

Queena used to do it for me, but she's never much liked to, and here in Malaysia the cuts are pretty cheap.  So I'm expanding my horizons.

I'd like to tell you about some of the differences between the Malaysian hair salon, as I experience it, and its American counterpart.  These differences are neither good nor bad, inherently.  But I do have my preferences.  Here in Malaysia:

• I have more time to think.  It seems people often read magazines at the barber's.  At my most recent haircut there were magazines provided.  But they were filled only with pictures of people in short shorts and Chinese writing, neither of which I can understand.  Thus I was left to myself, trying not to replay Monty Python's murderous barber scene in my head.
• The trends are different.  At least I think they are.  I've been out of the USA for almost a year.  Is this happening over there?
  

  

  I'm just not ready for this.

  That's a slightly extreme case in the photo there.  But still, Malaysians like hair a little shorter there, a little longer here, and in the end it does take some adjustment for me in what to expect my hair to look like when it's all done.
• The infamous scalp massage.  When the haircut is all done, they shampoo your hair (even if you are a man) and they really rub it into your scalp.  I repeat, they do this to you even if you're a man.  This is the part where someone's fingers can end up in your ear.  I understand you can pay extra for an extended scalp massage session; needless to say I have never given it a try.

That's the end of my story.  Queena says I should tack on a picture of the kids, even though it has nothing to do with the rest of this post.  So here it is.

To all my Malaysian friends:  Janganlah marah dengan saya!  Saya bermaksud baik.  Don't worry, I like your hair, I like your shops.  But to a foreigner everything can feel unusual at first.

To Hot to Think Straight...

A few minutes ago I felt almost claustrophobic with the heat...such a hot day today in Kuching! Ethan had gone to his language learning session, the kids just went to their naps, and I had so many things pulling for my attention--language study, meal preparations, some proofreading, computer work and so on. All I wanted to do was lay in my bed (the bedrooms are the only rooms with air conditioning units). I felt drained. I got up and opened my Bible to this:

Random Picture from http://www.startribune.com/blogs/158244395.html

(Found in Daniel 10) I am very weak. ¹⁷ How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”

¹⁸ Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. ¹⁹ “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”
As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

I know Daniel was dealing with a whole lot more than Malaysia's heat, that this vision came to a heart seeking understanding and humility, not relief from a climate complaint, but still, I'm once again amazed at the ability of God's word to speak directly into my life. Now, with my new found strength, time to tackle those chores. After a glass of water.

It was a very good year...-QM

 

 I recently celebrated a birthday, my 30th, in fact. The day before, March 8th, I got a package in the mail, a really heavy package with one corner rather beaten up. I could see some birthday wrapping paper poking through, but I waited a day. Inside was a lovely assortment of 3 shirts, orange tic-tacs, jelly bellys :), and a pile of cards. I took my time reading them, just like I'm taking my time with those jelly bellys (May I recommend the fruit salad recipe!). Everytime I sat down to read them, I got up with tears in my eyes; what a perfect gift to hear from my dear friends across the ocean! Thank you. You are loved.

Just what I wanted! I'm now a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen--you can pray I dont chop a finger, because I go pretty fast with that knife! Of course I curl the tips of my fingers in, like the kitchen staff taught me in China.

A week ago we explored another corner of Kuching, a small jogging park only 10 minutes or so from our house. A family of about 15 monkeys roams free there, right in the middle of the city, and we never knew about it before!

Looking for monkeys---and yes, my heart just aches with happiness when I look at this picture! I'm so blessed.