"A heart's a heavy burden"

I was forced to use the limited Chinese I knew

I needed to bring food to the potluck at work, even though I didn’t sign up. I don’t like being empty handed when an event happens. I’m picky when it comes to introducing food, so I’m always keen on making sure my food isn’t plain Jane, and I always opt for some cultural food. Thank goodness Chinatown is just 5 minutes away. Since I was in a hurry, I wanted to make sure that the food is a winner, and fast. What could be more delicious and easy than Dim-Sum? Pork bun is a favorite amongst foreigners, it’s simple it’s sweet, and it’s Cantonese food which makes it a winner.

I stepped inside the crowded little shop nestled on the outskirts of Chinatown. I am the one who looks like one of them, but isn’t Chinese, just a mutt of some Cambodian blood with a lost heritage of some Taiwanese family. It was my turn, I knew what I wanted. But of course the little Chinese lady didn’t.

Me: “Um… a dozen pork buns.”

Chinese Worker: “I’mm sorrrie, I dun’t undahstaand.”

Me: “Uhhh. Cha Sheew Baoo.”

Chinese Worker: “Oh! Cha Sheww baoo? Uh, one?”

Me: “No. I want 12.”

Chinese Worker: “Uhh. I dun’t understh—”

Me: “Umm uh, um

I counted frantically  out loud “yut, yee, sam say mm lok chut bat gao sup. Uh *THERE IS TO MUCH PRESSURE* “ONE-TWO!”

I counted in Chinese as fast as I could, it didn’t help since I felt pressure. I remember that when you count to ten, you add one of the single digits to make the next number, just like Cambodian. So in this case; ten one is eleven. But of course I wouldn’t remember that moment.

Me: “Oh okeeeiii ONEE TWO”

I don’t know how these people make it, but the business is booming. It’s fun practicing my limited knowledge of Cantonese. She seemed rather proud of herself making through that interaction with each other. When you have a common goal you’ll make it work.

If you must know, it is very —very easy to please me. Take me out on a date, and in no time; I will be impressed. Don’t worry; I know how to make a persons confidence fly through the roof as well.

I am going to try this

Let’s read a book once per month. Though I’m unsure where exactly I’m going with this other than that a book will give me some more worldly knowledge. I should aim for all kinds of books, but I’ll start off with this Sci Fi book called “Starters”. It’s about this girl who has agreed to a company that someone can rent her body, and be her for a limited amount of time and in return she will be paid well. It’s taken place in the future, where the rich ruled, and the poor is constantly on the run.

After this book, I am hoping to read a mystery novel. I wonder what books are good for mystery, I remember reading The Da Vinci Code, which was an enthralling book that enraptured me from the moment I wake up, into the wee hours where my bed beckons me for rest. I’m hoping to experience that again. After that, maybe I might even enjoy a biography (pft, yeah right). Perhaps I should go for more popular books like The Wind Up Bird Chronicles.

I’m hoping this will be a good productive way to building knowledge of vocabulary, and maybe some insight of the message the author wants to give me. There will be morals, values, and completely new way of seeing things, and all the while I am entertained. I just know so many people who read, who seem like idiots, and I feel like that it doesn’t necessary make a person smarter. I will have to take that up with it though. 

Cheers.

Creepy bugs

You know how people usually talks about butterflies as a beautiful thing. People like to compare a good life with rainbows, butterflies, and unicorns. But honestly, an insect? Far away it may seem like a thing of lustrous colors that float among the air, but up close —it has many legs and an antenna just like all other insects, and that —is creepy. You don’t trust me? My little 7 years old brother even backs away from a butterfly when it’s near by, and he tells me “I know they’re supposed to be pretty, but it’s still weird and creepy”

Of course he’s right, I feel the same way, I just won’t tell him.

I mean it was a worm, and now it’s a flying worm.