What A True Malaysian Should Know

1. NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR HAIR LOSS : Ajinomoto

2. NATIONAL INSTANT FOOD : Maggi Mee

3. NATIONAL BREAKFAST : Nasi Lemak

4. NATIONAL LUNCH : Nasi Ayam

5. NATIONAL SUPPER : Roti Canai and Teh Tarik

6. NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR BEING LATE : Traffic Jam

7. NATIONAL CONDOM : None. Most Malaysians still feel embarrassed buying condoms. So they rushed into a 7-11, hurriedly grab the nearest pack, any pack, pay and leave before the cashier can even blink an eye.

8. NATIONAL FAKE ILLNESS FOR GETTING MC (MEN) : Food Poisoning

9. NATIONAL FAKE ILLNESS FOR GETTING MC (WOMEN) : Menstrual Pain

10. NATIONAL EXCUSES GIVEN BY WOMEN WHEN REFUSING SEX : Headache, kids not asleep, maid not asleep,mother-in-law around, early appointment, food not digested yet, aircond not cold enough, aircond too cold, nail polish not dry yet, forgot to take the pill, sleepy, stomach cramps, period, haven't remove make-up, haven't shower, no water supply, going to watch 'Santa Barbara', depress, no mood, etc...

11. NATIONAL EXCUSES GIVEN BY MEN WHEN REFUSING SEX : None. Malaysian men never refuse sex.

12. NATIONAL CURE FOR DIARRHOEA : Cap Kaki Tiga. Down one bottle with warm water and you are all 'dried up'.

13. NATIONAL CURE FOR HEADACHES : Panadol. The 'cure for all'. If it fails we have another secret weapon - Tiger Balm.

14. NATIONAL CURE FOR DIZZINESS: Minyak Angin Cap Kapak.

15. NATIONAL CAUSE OF DIZZINESS (FOR YUPPIES) : Happy Hours.

16. NATIONAL INSTANT CURE FOR DIZZINESS (FOR YUPPIES) : The sight of a police road block.

17. NATIONAL RICE COOKER : NATIONAL Rice Cooker

18. NATIONAL RUBBISH DUMP : Anywhere. As long as it is not your house.

19. NATIONAL MOST MIS-PRONOUNCED NAME : Carrefour. Sometimes even pronounced as Carry 4!

20. NATIONAL ANSWER FOR 'WHERE ARE YOU' ? : on the way.

21. NATIONAL OFFICIAL TIME FOR BEING LATE : 10 minutes

22. NATIONAL REASON FOR PRICE INCREASE : Petrol naik lagi kawan... semua barang pun kena naik ler... inclusive chicken meat?

23. NATIONAL REASON FOR PETROL INCREASE : Still cheaper than other country la....

24. NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR CAUSING TRAFFIC JAM : there was accident on the other side of the road.. of course must slow down and tengok-tengok, kaypoh-kaypoh lah!

25. NATIONAL REASON WHEN REJECTING INVITATION : 'I got some work to do la..u all go first la..'

26. NATIONAL EXCUSE FOR JUMPING QUEUE (TRAFFIC JAM OR WHAT EVER QUEUE) : Everybody doing what lah.......

27. NATIONAL EXCUSE NOT PAYING SAMAN ACCORDING TO DUE DATE : Relax ler... government will give discount one of these days

28. NATIONAL EXCUSE TO BRIBE (ANY CONDITION) : Give them minum kopi lar...

神看到我们看不到的东西

婚姻并不像童话故事那样，当两个相爱的人结婚后就"live happily ever after"。它的整个过程是非常复杂的。

刚结婚时，我觉得他是世界上最完美的丈夫，独一无二，没有缺点，就算有也把他的缺点看为优点。可是渐渐的，不知何时开始，我看不到他的优点了，觉得他变了，变得一点都不可爱了，还觉得有点烦人...

这时我就会埋怨，为什么他会变成这样。每次吵架都觉得都是他的错，他不对，他不好，要他改变。但今天，神让我看到，要改变的不是他，是我! 神看到我看不到的东西, 他知道我哪里需要改进，所以最好的改变他的方法， 就是改变我自己。

God is so amazing... 他无所不知，他察看我们每一个人的心思和忆念。他看到我内心的软弱，他听见我的呼求。神让我通过一位好朋友知道这个网站，一个可以online看属灵书籍的网站。我只是随便click click 就看到这段话...

"当你期望着改变他时，你肯定会看到一些变化。但最先改变的并不是他，而是你。"

一看，就觉得每一个字都那么深入我心，就像是神对我所说的话...

“主啊，帮助我成为一个好的妻子。我知道若没有您的帮助我不可能做得到。请去掉我的自私，急躁，坏脾气，把它们换成仁慈，耐心和心甘情愿去承受一切事情。拿走我的旧习惯，旧心态，本能的反应，鲁莽的假设，自我保护的反应，使我有忍耐，善良，信实，温柔和节制。给我一颗新的心，活出您的仁爱，喜乐，和平，忍耐，恩慈，良善和信实。我无法脱离旧我，只有您才能改变我。

主啊，我承认我曾对丈夫指责，发脾气，不爱他，厌烦，不敬和不肯原谅他。帮我把那些伤心，怒气，失望放在一旁，像您一样地完完全全地宽恕他，不再计较。赐给我们平安，让我们能很好地沟通，让我成为丈夫的贤内助，同伴，朋友和扶持。

主啊，我把那些需要改变的地方放在您的手中，我知道我们任何一个都不是完美的，也永远不会。只有您，我主，才是完美的，所以求您来让我们做的更好，告诉我什么是真正的无私的爱。但愿赐忍耐安慰的神，叫我们彼此同心。让他照您的心意那样成为一家之主，教导我如何支持他，尊敬他。帮助我了解他的梦想，从他的角度看问题。告诉我他想要的是什么，提醒我，改变我。给我一个新的视角，一个正面积极的看法。让我成为我的丈夫一个全新的妻子。奉主名求，阿门!"

Samuel, 18 months old

We went back to Kuching on 14 May... to see Samuel and to attend a friend's wedding.

As usual, we took the Friday night flight back, and reached home about 9 something and Samuel was still awake. Mom told him that we were going back to see him and when we reached home, we could see him standing at the window and waving his hands, like welcoming us back. haha... he is so cute!! As we stepped into the living room, I called him and he came right to me... I smelt his hair, his face, his ears... "Mummy misses you so much, Samuel!"

I was not feeling well when we went back this time, had flu and cough. I worried Samuel might get it too so I didn't get to hold him so frequent and didn't sleep with him at night... *sad* But Samuel had great time playing with Daddy... :)

Mom told me on the phone the other day that recently Samuel likes to see our wedding album. When he saw a picture of me he would point and said," Mama.." Sometimes, Mom would point and asked," Who is this?" And he would answer," Mama..." hahaha... I was so happy when I heard that.

We decided to bring Samuel over to stay with us in Penang in June. We have not get a baby sitter, so My mom will come over baby sit Samuel while David and I are working. Mom cannot be here in Penang for long, so my mother in law will take over after my mom go back to Kuching. Unfortunately, my MIL also cannot stay here in Penang for long. So, Mom and MIL will take turn to come over to Penang to baby sit Samuel for us, till we get a baby sitter for Samuel. Pray that we can find a loving, hygienic and responsible baby sitter for Samuel soon...

David and I are counting the days, can't wait to bring Samuel over! We are looking forwards for the days that we can kiss him every night and day, hold him in our arms all the time, hear him call Papa Mama...

妈咪，母亲节快乐！我爱你...

妈咪，

我记得当我们还在读书的时候，您每天早上五点就起身为我们预备丰富的早餐。不但如此，您还帮我们预备牙膏牙刷，和温温的水给我们洗脸。校服早在前一晚熨好了，那么的清香、笔挺。吃完了早餐，换上校服，拿了书包，您就开车载我们上学。放学还要到学校接我们回家。当我们放学到家时，桌上已摆满我们喜欢吃的食物。我们一起吃午餐，有说有笑，大声的报告给您听那天在学校发生的大小事。吃饱后，您就会催我们去冲凉，之后又载我们去补习。我还记得在我读小三的时候，刚开始读马来文和英文，您每晚都盯着我，要我学生字，spelling，不会的话，还会被打。我记得当我考PMR & SPM 时，好压力，睡不好，您都会炖补品给我，还给我安慰与鼓励。

我记得当我上大学时是您最担心的时候，因为那是我第一次离家，到马六甲去读书。每次打电话回家，听到您的声音，都会特别想家。尤其是考试时，没有您在身旁给我鼓励和打气，真的好难挨，几乎每科都哭着进考场。好想打电话回家，好好的向您哭诉一场，可是又不想让您担心。而您更因为怕打扰到我读书，不敢在考试期间打电话给我。在我毕业的时候，您脸上的笑容告诉我，您为我感到骄傲，我没辜负您的期望。

我记得当我开始工作第二年的农历新年，因为我要值班，所以不能回诗巫老家过年，您就和爸爸，弟弟妹妹全家人到古晋来陪我，让我还能吃到丰富又温馨的团圆饭。您怕我辛苦，买了一辆车给我，好让我能开车去上班。您和爸爸还因为我在古晋工作，寄人篱下不方便，就在古晋买了一间房子，想搬到古晋住。可是在屋子建好前，我要到新加坡去工作。当我告诉您我要去新加坡工作时，您哭了... 那是不因为您不舍得我，您担心我，您不想我去，可是最后您还是祝福我...

我记得当我告诉您我要结婚时，您脸上的笑容告诉我他是对的选择。您为我的婚礼忙碌，奔波，因为您要给我最美好的。当我告诉您，您要做外婆的时候，电话那边您的声音告诉我您是那么的喜悦。每天一通国际电话，只想要提醒我多休息。

妈咪，谢谢您帮我照顾Samuel，谢谢您无微不至的爱，谢谢您对我的宽容和忍耐，谢谢您的教诲和安慰，谢谢您为我所作的一切...

妈咪，母亲节快乐。

Ma,
I want to let you know,
How much that I love you.
As a Mother and a Grandmother,
You’ve shown what love can do,
For you are a true example,
Of how a Mother should be,
Demonstrating a Godly faith,
That you’ve passed down to me.

慈，生日快乐！

记得小时候，我很不喜欢妈妈抱你。因为我们相差一岁，每次妈妈抱着你的时候，我都会吃醋，不高兴你霸占妈妈，然后会趁没人看到的时候抓起你的小脚，一口咬下去。当然你就因为痛而大哭起来，妈妈还不知情。我看到没人发现我的“恶行”，心里觉得很是得益，所以我就每次用“这招”对付你。可是我的“招数”不知何时，被人用相机拍了下来。照片中我的手还握住你的脚，可是我还面带笑容的看着镜头，而你却是一幅想哭得样子。妈妈在看了那张照片后才知道你每次突然大哭的原因。

后来因为爸爸工作的关系，我们全家搬到木山去住。最记得的事是有一次我们趁爸爸在工作，妈妈在午睡的时候自己开榴莲吃。因为还小，不敢用刀子开榴莲，你便建议用切菜板。你将榴莲放在地上，切菜板放在榴莲上面。那时我的身材比你“壮”，你就负责捉住那切菜板，而我就用力地坐上去。重复地起来又坐下几次后，榴莲打开啦！我们开心的将榴莲吃完！我忘了当爸爸妈妈知道这件事后当时是什么反应。

从小学开始一直到中学毕业，我们都同睡一间房，同一张queen size bed。小学时我们中间都会用bolster 做divider，因为我的睡相不好，常在半夜的时候一巴掌的给你呼下去，害得你惊醒起来大哭。好怀念那时常在睡前躺在床上和你谈天的时间，谈我们暗恋的男生，谈我们讨厌的女生，谈我们喜欢的名星歌手。小时候我们无论做什么都是一起的，一起去学钢琴，一起上补习班，一起参加歌唱比赛，好开心！




















当我到马六甲上大学时，你常写信给我，向我报告家中发生的大小事，满满的关怀和鼓励让我好感动，每次收到你的信，我都看得泪流满面，真的好想家。一年后，你也到KL上学院，我们的假期都不一样，不是你到马六甲来看我，就是我到KL找你。回想起，还是读书时最爽！

现在的我们都有了自己的家庭和工作，忙碌的生活和距离使我们很少机会见面，可是对你的思念和关怀并没有减少。在今天这特别的日子，我要大声地对你说：

慈，谢谢你过去无论是开心或低潮都在我身边陪伴我、鼓励我、安慰我。有你和我分享秘密、梦想和眼泪使我觉得有妹妹真好。

祝你生日蒙恩... Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 1:3]

A Mother's Love

There are times when only a mother's love

Can understand our tears,

Can soothe our disappoints

And calm all of our fears.

There are times when only a mother's love

Can share the joy we feel

When something we've dreamed about

Quite suddenly is real.

There are times when only a mother's faith

Can help us on life's way

And inspire in us the confidence

We need from day to day.

For a mother's heart and a mother's faith

And a mother's steadfast love

Were fashioned by the angels

And sent from God above.

Update from Mom

Mom called me in the office this afternoon....

Mom: Poor Samuel he actually knows everything, just that he doesn't know how to speak it out.
Me: What do you mean?
Mom: He saw Papa (my Dad) eating potato chips and he wanted to eat too. But I told Papa not to give him. He's too young for potato chips. Then you know what he did?
Me: aha... what?
Mom: He hold onto Papa's hand and brought him to me. I was sitting at the table and your Papa stand innocently in front of me with the "totally no idea what his grandson wanna do" look on his face. Then Samuel tapped on my leg, like wanted to tell me something. So I bend down and asked him what he want. He put one hand on my shoulder, looked into my eyes, then pointed to Papa, who was holding the chips on his hand. Actually he was pointing at the chips.
Me: hahahahaha.... *I can imagine how Samuel looked like when he did that*
Mom: *laughing out loud and trying her very best to stop laughing as she had not finished her story* Poor Samuel... he was trying to ask me to get the potato chips from Papa and gave him.
Me: Then did you give him?
Mom: Of course not.... I gave him a toy instead. hahaha...

I miss my little Samuel very much. Counting the days till our next trip back to see him again...