You know you're in Malaysia when...

A disclaimer-- I'm not sure how well this entry is going to translate onto paper, but if the point doesn't come across you can just ask me about it later!

You know you're in Malaysia when...

In choir rehearsal, the director mimics the wide, unchoral-like singing that is occurring and tells us to "not sing like a chile paddy." A chile paddy, of course. Why didn't I think of that.


From my advanced class tonight: Background information for the story-- in Malay "c" is pronounced "ch."

One student asks me, "why do you pronounce 'can' like 'caan' (insert overemphasized wide Wisconsin accent here)?" I try to explain that it is my accent, and not the correct pronunciation. Furthermore, I go on to explain that it is not just my American accent, but from the area of the US that I am from. I ask them if people from Sarawak speak Malay differently from Sabahans-- the answer is as I expect; "of course." Issue settled.
Except not. "So Miss Ellen, should I say 'caan' or 'cahhn' (insert overemphasized British accent here)?"
As I'm pondering how to teach the correct neutral pronunciation of 'can,' another student makes it very clear.
"It's easy. If you are in America, you say "caan." If you are in England, you say "cahhn". If you are in Malaysia, you say "chaan."


That's pretty much the best joke of my life. I hope you thought so too!

On a completely different note, Kelsey and I have mandarin oranges up to our ears (Chinese New Year). We've already made two pitchers of freshly squeezed orange juice. I guess we'll have an extra lucky year?

Off to Indonesia tomorrow for a week-- we'll be in Jakarta, Cirebon, and Lembang (Bandung) if you feel like checking out the atlas. :)

Also, I added my monthly reading list on the side of my blog. The books aren't necessarily strategic, just what I have available. So if you'd like to read along with me or discuss books, you know what I'm reading!