The other night (or was it morning) I came down the stairs and I thought I got a whiff of bawang goreng. Maybe it was my mum frying it earlier, in the kitchen. You know how some smells just hang around... durian, belachan...
Anyway the smell is one that calls back memories. These days, you get bawang goreng in hawker food (like today's fish porridge), but it's virtually always the commercial type (and then?) The bawang goreng we have at home is different. It's thinly sliced, so painstakingly, then oh-so-slowly stir-fried over a low, low fire, till it turns a light brown. You can't fry it till it's just right because it will still brown after it's removed from the fire, it's so hot. And all the while, a most delicious aroma fills the kitchen (and the house). Simple, yet so fragrant, and unmatched by anything you get outside.
I wonder what other smells are so evocative for me...
30 August 2007
24 August 2007
Ingat tak...
Was just browsing my new Baba Malay dictionary (written by Gwee Thian Hock) this evening. I find memories there, how my grandmother or other family and family friends used to say certain things. One thing my Malaysian BM-educated wife and I have discussions about is the Peranakan pronunciation: toksa instead of tak usah (tak perlu is more commonly used?), pi instead of pergi, semonyet instead of sebunyi, apsair instead of apa pasal... Sad that we don't have the family environment where all this is common, everyday language. Nowadays we only throw in the Baba Malay on occasions when we have (usually older) true-blue Peranakans visiting.
18 August 2007
The end
In Singapore there are the Peranakan Association and the Gunong Sayang Association, both dedicated to Peranakan activities. I've been to some of the Gunong Sayang plays with G T Lye invariably the anchor for those productions. Also the band was invariably some Malay guys which I always thought a bit unusual.
Anyway, thinking about it, my grandparents' generation were the ones to really use all those proverbs, idioms and sayings naturally. My parents' generation are the ones to understand them, but only use normal Baba Malay fluently. My generation, in Singapore at least, don't really understand the idioms and proverbs, probably understand normal Baba Malay, but can't speak it so fluently (depends on family background, skarang semua champor/chelop). My children's generation? The end. Close chapter.
I think, looking at the websites of the above associations, maybe there's hope yet. But I and my family (father & mother's sides) aren't members, so the language and culture will probably die out by the next generation.
Anyway, thinking about it, my grandparents' generation were the ones to really use all those proverbs, idioms and sayings naturally. My parents' generation are the ones to understand them, but only use normal Baba Malay fluently. My generation, in Singapore at least, don't really understand the idioms and proverbs, probably understand normal Baba Malay, but can't speak it so fluently (depends on family background, skarang semua champor/chelop). My children's generation? The end. Close chapter.
I think, looking at the websites of the above associations, maybe there's hope yet. But I and my family (father & mother's sides) aren't members, so the language and culture will probably die out by the next generation.
16 August 2007
Terketok
Firstly gua mo chakap 'Welcome!' sama U.Lee dengan Nyonyapenang, kamsia lu dua datang bacha gua mia rantings. And, minta maaf/ampon kalu gua mia bahasa koyak... Sini tak manyak orang chakap Melayu, let alone Baba Malay. Unlike Malaysia.
U.Lee mentioned the idea of 'terketok', which is a pretty common experience I think we've heard of, if not experienced personally. Well, I think it's always a surprising experience, though I would expect it to be a pleasant one. In U.Lee's imaginary? scenario, maybe it would be less than totally pleasant...
Mention of Happy World and the other 'World' parks rings some dusty, rusty bells. These were the places spoken of by my mama and those of her generation. Less by my parents and their peers. I guess these days one would talk of the latest trendy pubs or clubs for entertainment and nightlife. Not my thing lah. At night all I want to do is sleep...
Yah, siapa tau, mengkali kalu kita chakap-chakap lebeh, somehow terketok. Gua mia mak born in Melaka. Her mother too if I remember right. Kukong gua still there. My father's mother has links to the Khoo Kongsi in Penang. Lagi gua mia bini china gerk, pure Hokkien, tapi dia orang Malaysia, so dia mia BM aisehman tentu first-class.
Oh ya, last gua mo clarify: gua chakap 300%, itu mo ikot the manner of speaking yang gua ingat, bila orang mo emphasize something. Gua mia Baba 'heritage' boleh trace about 7 generations back to Malacca, at least for my paternal grandfather's side. I'm happy to know my many links to Malaysia :)
U.Lee mentioned the idea of 'terketok', which is a pretty common experience I think we've heard of, if not experienced personally. Well, I think it's always a surprising experience, though I would expect it to be a pleasant one. In U.Lee's imaginary? scenario, maybe it would be less than totally pleasant...
Mention of Happy World and the other 'World' parks rings some dusty, rusty bells. These were the places spoken of by my mama and those of her generation. Less by my parents and their peers. I guess these days one would talk of the latest trendy pubs or clubs for entertainment and nightlife. Not my thing lah. At night all I want to do is sleep...
Yah, siapa tau, mengkali kalu kita chakap-chakap lebeh, somehow terketok. Gua mia mak born in Melaka. Her mother too if I remember right. Kukong gua still there. My father's mother has links to the Khoo Kongsi in Penang. Lagi gua mia bini china gerk, pure Hokkien, tapi dia orang Malaysia, so dia mia BM aisehman tentu first-class.
Oh ya, last gua mo clarify: gua chakap 300%, itu mo ikot the manner of speaking yang gua ingat, bila orang mo emphasize something. Gua mia Baba 'heritage' boleh trace about 7 generations back to Malacca, at least for my paternal grandfather's side. I'm happy to know my many links to Malaysia :)
14 August 2007
Peranakan fascination
Tonight there was a documentary on beauty secrets of the Peranakans. How coincidental. But my mum said tak perna nampak any bibiks use some of the methods mentioned. Bedak sejok yes, but not some of the others such as crushed mint leaves under the eyes (eh?)
Mak gua kata, lastime mana ada orang tau apa 'Peranakan'? Tak sampey Wee Kim Wee (a Baba) jadi president, baru ada 'Peranakan revival': interest in things Peranakan (like tonight's docu), people piping up saying their grandmothers were half-Peranakan or something. Suddenly Peranakan was hip.
It's said that the Peranakans used to enjoy the favour of the Brits during colonial times, because they eagerly adopted English interests, schooling etc. In the post-colonial era, however, they'd lost their wealth in the war and their British loyalties were probably viewed as anti-nationalist. Thus the Babas downplayed their ethnicity.
Mak gua kata, lastime mana ada orang tau apa 'Peranakan'? Tak sampey Wee Kim Wee (a Baba) jadi president, baru ada 'Peranakan revival': interest in things Peranakan (like tonight's docu), people piping up saying their grandmothers were half-Peranakan or something. Suddenly Peranakan was hip.
It's said that the Peranakans used to enjoy the favour of the Brits during colonial times, because they eagerly adopted English interests, schooling etc. In the post-colonial era, however, they'd lost their wealth in the war and their British loyalties were probably viewed as anti-nationalist. Thus the Babas downplayed their ethnicity.
Raison d'etre
Having come across Nyonyapenang's blog, I left a comment saying it was nice to read a bibik's blog. She asked to read my blog. Well, I didn't have a blog about Baba identity, or about reminiscence (which is one theme of Nyonyapenang's), so I didn't reply. I was thinking: should I point her to my rarely-updated blog (which is not about anything in particular), create a new one, or just forget it?
Today I decided to give it a try... Tada! Presenting Babasingapura, my new online persona. It sort of has a catchy sound to it, doesn't it? Okay, so in terms of 'product differentiation', how will this blog be unique? What is its raison d'etre? At least it should be clear to me, to avoid schizophrenia : )
I'll dedicate this blog to identity, memory and Peranakan culture. I've a very poor memory of my childhood. Being absent-minded ('absent-minded professor', as the older generation used to say) doesn't help either. So it'll be good to recollect and reminisce and in some sense reclaim my past (or even reconstruct if necessary??)
The headline reads 'pekek-pekau'. Elders used to say, 'Jangan pekek-pekau!' I guess since 'merepek' has been taken by Nyonyapenang, I have to choose another word. So this phrase reflects the possibility that this blog will be 'much ado about nothing'.
So... siapa ni Babasingapura? Gua ni 'baba jati', three hundred percent Baba. My grandparents were all Peranakan. Born and grew up in Singapore, went to ACS like a true Baba. And, like a true Baba, tak boleh chakap China. Actually boleh, gua kena belajar China, tapi bila chakap, pelat skali. Chakap Melayu pun pelat lah. Sem'orang ketawa kan gua. Apa mo buat? English saja gua ada standard.
Basically it reflects the fact that in Singapore, the Peranakan culture is a dying culture. And the Peranakan identity is stuck in the (colonial) past. My everyday existence doesn't draw on my Baba identity. Usually, with peers and younger, it's never enough to say that I'm Peranakan. They can't link that word with anything clear or specific. I need to do a short spiel about what it means and doesn't mean (like it doesn't mean I definitely have Malay blood).
Today I decided to give it a try... Tada! Presenting Babasingapura, my new online persona. It sort of has a catchy sound to it, doesn't it? Okay, so in terms of 'product differentiation', how will this blog be unique? What is its raison d'etre? At least it should be clear to me, to avoid schizophrenia : )
I'll dedicate this blog to identity, memory and Peranakan culture. I've a very poor memory of my childhood. Being absent-minded ('absent-minded professor', as the older generation used to say) doesn't help either. So it'll be good to recollect and reminisce and in some sense reclaim my past (or even reconstruct if necessary??)
The headline reads 'pekek-pekau'. Elders used to say, 'Jangan pekek-pekau!' I guess since 'merepek' has been taken by Nyonyapenang, I have to choose another word. So this phrase reflects the possibility that this blog will be 'much ado about nothing'.
So... siapa ni Babasingapura? Gua ni 'baba jati', three hundred percent Baba. My grandparents were all Peranakan. Born and grew up in Singapore, went to ACS like a true Baba. And, like a true Baba, tak boleh chakap China. Actually boleh, gua kena belajar China, tapi bila chakap, pelat skali. Chakap Melayu pun pelat lah. Sem'orang ketawa kan gua. Apa mo buat? English saja gua ada standard.
Basically it reflects the fact that in Singapore, the Peranakan culture is a dying culture. And the Peranakan identity is stuck in the (colonial) past. My everyday existence doesn't draw on my Baba identity. Usually, with peers and younger, it's never enough to say that I'm Peranakan. They can't link that word with anything clear or specific. I need to do a short spiel about what it means and doesn't mean (like it doesn't mean I definitely have Malay blood).
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