I SPEAK,YOU SPEAK- Language Holds No Barrier
Mum speaks Hokkien(a chinese dialect, her mother tongue)very fluent Malay and some English.She learned to speak some Cantonese when she moved to KL to live with me.
I recall whilst vacationing in Manila,mum was speaking Malay to the Filipinos.
"Mum ,we are in Manila ." I reminded her.
"O.k. lah ,I speak to them in English" she retorted
Communication gap? No way Mum was enjoying herself learning to speak some Tagalog.
She was greeting "Paalam" (goodbye in Tagalog) to the guide,coach driver and every
Filipino she met.
Mum asked why the tour guide said"Mahal Kita"( translate in malay its we're Expansive,whilst Tagalog its I Love You)
Mum said," It must be expansive because I tip the Guide."
Everyone including Mum started laughing when we translated the word "Mahal Kita"
Mum being Mum was not embarrassed or annoyed at us for laughing . It was a great joke to her and she was Happy because we were happy and laughing.
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