NIGERIA: Throw back Thursday: I beg your pardon!

I'm frequently at school and I think spending extra time with the children; not just at home is a big plus. I'm lucky to be able to do that and happy to do so. BTW, Madam is just too busy. 

"Time spent with the children are priceless" my friend MJ said earlier today. (He's 2 years my junior and we went to the same boarding school in the 90's, same 'Mat Shah house' and now we meet again in Nigeria. Imagine the odds!) We just came back from volunteer work when we had this conversation. 

Ahhh..the life of an expat's spouse. Hah! Nothing rosy about it. Basically an emigrant, for want a better word. The life of an expat also comes with depression, especially to the not- working-previously-working spouse, moi. Ohh....How I wrestle with my ego...put it under wraps. But once a while, it reared its ugly head out and well....there were exchange of words. OK....why not put a stop here and talk about it at length in another posting, yes? 

Back to the children and school etc... Since I spent quite a bit of time in school, I was asked this awkward question a few months back... and my...it was a very tongue in cheek enquiry.

"Where does your spouse work? Which company is he working for?"

Spot the mistake? hahahahahahahahahaha

I answered "My WIFE works in so and so and SHE works for so and so"

I'm pretty sure had made the capital letters loud and clear. The parent apologise for the mistake, it was a joke btw she said. But I was way ahead. I mentally pictured a bald 41yo man with a waistline to match and I was sure I didn't wear any of those tight t-shirt and still I am of the fairer sex? Stressssssss....

Jump into the Lake Atter (Attersee) in Austria. Traveling with Rarecation.

INDONESIA: Bandung - One last visit....

Some say the bond between human so strong that once the loved one left, the other tend to follow not long after that.

Mak Cik Su and Hazim (eid 2015)

My sister and I traveled to Bandung, Indonesia last April when we got news that our 'aunt Su' or Mak Cik Su, the one  who took care of Hazim and all of us for 27years became ill. I flew in all the way from Lagos, Nigeria and took a low cost carrier, Air Asia to Bandung. The closest city we could get to reach her. We hired a driver there and the journey from Bandung to Pamanukan took almost 4 hours by car. 

The journey through rain took us to a very hilly region till we arrived in Subang where the scenery changed from tea plantation to paddy fields. The harvesting season just came to an end and they lit up the fields to prepare for the next round of planting; the area was choked with smoke. 

Finally we arrived at our destination. Walked a few metres to a small green house which she called home. Her frail body was on the bed and a standing fan was blowing air slowly. The room was smoky from the open burning and no window shutter ... I wept bitterly. She was just skin and bones. 

NIGERIA: Me a Tai tai?

Tai-Tai

A wealthy married woman who does not work or a privileged lady with lots of time to spare and money to spend...

I am not sure if there's any antonym for it but certainly I have the time but need to work harder on the money department.

The first time I heard the term was on my way back to Malaysia during one of the flight on Business class deck on a 380 Airbus at the lounge. With children in tow, of course we were barraged with questions from everyone else. 

"You're travelling with children, from where" one asked

"Lagos, Nigeria" I said

"Wah lao (some sort of exclamation.. frequently heard in Malaysia and Singapore) ... that far eh?" another one adds, an engineer for the airline flying home for much needed break.

"yup, 20hours flight time... not many would do, especially if flying to Africa.. " TRUE.. I've flown multiple airlines that serves Africa continent and mostly are 20+ trip. 

The next question would usually be along the line of ... How did I ended up there? Wife, would be sufficient answer. Nigerian lady? Nope Malaysian... I don't mind another one, I laughed. Then, from the bench...the engineer again said something that would make me laugh.

"You must be "tai-tai"... lucky you!"he said

"hahahahahahah" we both laughed... I wish.