姐姐带弟弟买鞋记 - KAKAK BELI KASUT UNTUK ADIK (PART 1)

READ THIS FOR INTRODUCTION OF THIS SERIES

PART 1 ： 塞翁失马，焉知祸福？Blessing In Disguise vs. Calm Before Storm?
It’s sometimes a chain effect. Usually, after an event happened, it will lead to another event to happen – sometimes a series of incidents. And yet, most of the time, we can’t tell, only time will tell, if the forthcoming events are going to be good or bad for us.

Sometimes when all things seems merry and wonderful, a dreadful disaster is lurking behind; sometimes, when it just seems like nothing will go right, then it pops out to be a blessing in disguise. You got that feeling?

There’s an ancient Chinese story which describe this scenario : 塞翁失马，焉知祸福. Those who had studied Chinese language would understand this proverb. For those never heard of it, it would be my pleasure if I am the first person to tell this story. This is not a Disney-themed story, but I find the story interesting.

ONCE UPON A TIME ( most stories started like this… ) LONG TIME AGO IN ANCIENT CHINA, there was a man called Sai-Weng (塞翁).

There was one day, Sai-Weng got some extra money, most probably the company he worked for declared some year-end bonus. He decided to go shopping to spend it, he though, if he didn’t spend it, then after his death the money would be of no use (反正死了也带不去。).

He decided to go shopping, his favourite pastime. Unfortunately during that time, iPhone4 and Levi’s was not yet available. In fact, during that time, places like tHe Spring or Suria KLCC was not yet available too. So Sai-Weng went to a market.

At the market, his eye caught a sturdy looking horse on mega-sale. At first sight, he already liked the horse. Without hesitate, he purchased the horse. It was like “Killing two bird with a stone” kinda feeling, not only he got himself a new pet; he also got himself a brand new “car”. During those times, horses were a mode of transport, the only difference was they were not given brand names such as Toyota, Honda etc.

1) GOOD NEWS : Sai-Weng bought a horse he liked during shopping.
As a responsible master, Sai-Weng provided good shelter and good food to the horse. The horse was grateful for not having a abusive master, as during that time there were no SPCA or governmental regulation regarding prevention of cruelty to animals. Just when things started to look beautiful, the horse started to do some reflection on his life. The horse began to feel lonely (horses had heart) and also horny (horses had hormones too). To make things worse, horses only have legs, they don’t have hands to DIY. And horses can’t bend their body to lick “that part” just like cats and dogs do.

The horse’s loneliness and horny issue were neglected by Sai-Weng. The horse have plenty of free time to ponder and reflect : “I am so handsome; so much sexual prowess. Am I going to let my youth dwindle away like that? I WILL REGRET!!! I must do something to change my life.”. At the same time, the horse struggled with the dilemma of abandoning his good master. The horse was troubled by guilt.

Anyway, the horse eventually made the hard decision. He leapt, over the bars, and break free from the stable on one quiet night. Without looking back, he fled into darkness on that quiet night. The next morning, Sai-Weng were a bit upset, when he lost his pet and car.




2) BAD NEWS : When everything seems all right, Sai-Weng suddenly lost his horse. His joyful mood of the purchase was marred. He began to feel he had wasted his year-end bonus.One evening, Sai-Weng saw two dots from afar. The two dots grew bigger as they move closer to Sai-Weng. The sounds of giant feet thumping the ground grew stronger. Sai-Weng was not sure what was happening. Until the two objects got closer and became discernible, he leapt out of joy. The horse he though he lost is back, and this time the horse brings back a horse-girlfriend. The horses galloping at high speed, then nudge Sai-Weng (the horse learn this from cat rubbing against human feet). Sai-Weng was so happy, and repeated patted the horses with affection.

The horse said to Sai-Weng : “幸好回来不会迷路，外面找吃真不容易！” . Too bad human cannot understand horse language.

3) GOOD NEWS : Just when he though he lost a horse, now he got two horses, for free.
Sai-Weng decided to give the new horse (the female one) to his son because his son already reach the age of 18. He though, providing his son a horse may potentially help his son to find a girlfriend. However, Sai-Weng’s son was not so mature. Sai-Weng’s son tried to imitate those horseback stunts he watched at circus.

One day, Sai-Weng’s son fell from the horse and broke his leg. It was a painful experience, because during that time there were no Orthopaedic Specialist, not even a Hospital was available. It must be a painful experience! Oh, painkillers during that was not so efficient too.

4) BAD NEWS : Sai-Weng though he got a free horse; it was that free horse that causes his son to endure the torment of broken legs. Soon, war broke out. The armies went to every household and grabbed all able young men, and train them to fight in the battlefield. Sai-Weng’s son was rejected by the armies because he only had one leg.

It was a dreadful war, and most of the young men who joined the war were killed in the line of fire. Sai-Weng’s son was saved by his broken leg! Thanks to the free horse who made him fell from horseback!

5) GOOD NEWS : Who could have though a miserable event such as broken leg can saved a person’s life? Blessing does comes in disguise.

保护各籍贯方言，避免方言在我国灭亡！

This article is not copy-and-paste!
It's sort of painstaking effort by me in a Chinese essay writting competition.
保护各籍贯方言，避免方言在我国灭亡！

“The mother language, in which the first words are uttered and individual thought expressed, is the foundation for the history and culture of each individual. ...
Languages are the best vehicles of mutual understanding and tolerance. Respect for all languages is a key factor for ensuring peaceful coexistence, without exclusion, of societies and all of their members."
Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
Message for International Mother Language Day 2010

每当联合国总部会议通过，决定在每年某一天某一月制定一项节日，其背后必定带有深长的意义，决定非随随便便而提出。琳琅满目当中的节日包括《世界环境日》、《世界爱滋病日》、《世界三八妇女节》等等都带有深重非凡的重要性，目的是要唤醒全球人类对某项课题的关注。(110 words)

联合国教文科组在1999年宣布每年2月21日为《国际母语日》。对目前马来西亚友族来说，或许无关痛痒的意义，因为马来语地位在我国已地位早已稳固；但对华人社会而言，华文教育是经过马来西亚华社共同的艰苦奋斗，才有今天的成果。这是因为华社对华文教育的醒觉与拥护早已根深蒂固。如今，大马华文教育系统是中港台澳以外，保存得最好的国家(www.asiaone.com 2008年研究报告)，就连闻名于高效率，又华裔为多数民族的新加坡都自叹不如。(179WORDS)



正当华社对母语捍卫与发展的成功感到自豪，其实另一种的母语危机已经悄悄地降临 - 那就是华社各种方言所面对的老化与迈向“灭亡”的危机。更令人忧虑的是，也许方言灭亡课题没有政治价值，因此甚少受到大众媒体与人民的关注，与发展华教课题完全对比。这种趋势如同一颗完全没有声音的“计时炸弹”。越来越多的父母不愿意以方言与孩子交谈，反而用华文或英文为与孩子沟通的第一语言。根据调查，目前大多数华小生已无法掌握方言。如果华社不马上探讨这课题及寻找对策的话，很快的，目前小学生的后代很有可能将完全丧失讲方言能力，从此方言从大马这块乐土上“灭绝”，一旦发生，再也无法逆转或补救了。(256 words) (TOTAL 546)



现在，在利字当头的年代，多数人会质疑到底在大马，防止方言灭亡到底重不重要？无可否认，某些弱势方言在政治，经济和科技上没有英语或华语重要，但它决非一无是处。首先，方言是大马华裔祖先十九世纪从中国飘洋过海，来到南洋落地生根的活生生的无形文化遗产。万物之中，凡是有生命的都无法长生不老，所以必须通过繁殖来传宗接代，以延续自己在世间的存在。人类为万物之灵：人类不止传承基因或个人财富，同时也有义务传承与捍卫本身的母语，因为语言文字是民族的纽带与精神支柱。 (216 WORDS) (TOTAL 762 WORDS)

每一种方言和语言都拥有有本身的文化特色与功能，是其他语言方言无法取代的。比如说，中国武术，气功，风水，中医与中华古典文学 - 这些都是英文或其他语言都无法表现其精髓。在娱乐界，台湾福建歌曲与香港广东流行歌曲与港式电视剧也有各自的表达性与独特之处，其他方言无法取代。此外，方言里蕴藏丰富多彩的文化艺术：京剧，越剧等等，也是各有千秋的。亚洲四小龙积极的推广母语的政策值得我们慎重思考这个课题的重要性：韩国人一只以来以他们的语言引以为荣，已多次获得联合国文化遗产奖项；香港经历百年英殖民地与1997年回归中国后依然巩固广东话的地位；新加坡1994年由当时副总理李显隆以受英文教育华人为对象，首次推广华语运动，宣传标题为“华语，多讲流利”，李显隆当时表示母语有很大的使命，通过华语保存和发扬传统的文化价值，有助于加强国人认同感，归属感与自信心；台湾90年代初已发现本土语言危机，把《华语独尊》政策改为保护方言政策。(357 Words) (TOTAL 1119)

话说回来，我们必须探讨为何流传几千年的方言会忽然间在我们这一代出现灭亡危机。回顾历史，早期的华人从中国飘洋过海来南洋时，的确多数只会讲自己籍贯的方言，不谙华语互相沟通。无可争辩，这种情况造成在大马的各籍贯华裔之间巨大鸿沟，因为无法交流。为了让华裔在大马的团结一致，1960年代时华社领袖与社团组织都达成共识，积极推行华语运动，以方便各籍贯人士交谈。方言不被鼓励在公共场合与学校使用，再配合华教迅速发展，华语从此被广泛使用。除此之外，虽然我国华裔与其他种族的通婚率非常底(根据LEETE 1996年研究报告)，但是我国华裔各籍贯通婚率相当高。每当夫妻来自不同籍贯，他们多数选用华语为沟通语言。不知不觉，这些因素培养出一代多数不懂掌握方言，只讲华语的后代。从此讲方言风气严重被抹杀。(296 WORDS) (1415 WORDS)



无可否认，统一语言的确能巩固我国华社团结，创办与发展华小课题成功把华社凝结起来。但当我们回顾历史或观察近年新闻，造成分裂的因素多得不可胜数。就拿延续过半世纪的以巴冲突和泰国南部的恐怖活动，我们可以发现到，造成纷争的因素包括了宗教，种族等等。试问，这些因素统一得了吗？在举个例子，在几年前的缅甸民主暴动事件和近来泰国曼谷红衫军血腥事件和朝韩僵局，就算宗教与语言统一的国家也一样面对战乱。由此可见，政治理念分歧也是一大因素，又再试问，语言统一能解决吗？如果为了统一华人而主张淘汰方言，因而丧失籍贯文化，对我国华社绝对是一大损失，原因是因为我们其实可以让华语与方言同时共存，不必故选其一。(273 WORDS) (1688 WORDS)

除此之外，目前还有许多原因造就了华文与英文成为我国华社的强势语言。许多家长们对教育观念仍然脱离不了“成绩就是一切”的心态，过渡关注儿女考试成绩。在我国，小学用华语；中学用马来语；大学与出来社会工作就用英语。家长们都普遍上认为，反正都没有考试“方言”这一科目，何必多此一举，浪费宝贵时间学习方言这种没有商业价值的东西？再加上英文在经济科技，与“地球村”，网络上占优势，又是受承认的国际语文，有些家庭甚至“三节跳”，直接用英文为第一语言与他们孩子沟通。英国殖民时代也我国华人社会留下了过度崇洋的心态，PETER TRUDGILL 1974年研究报告指出：“受教育高的人或富贵人不愿使用 方言，并认为方言不够优雅。一般人民将英文视为高阶级语文，华文为中阶级语文，方言为抵阶级语文” 这种荒谬价值观。说到底，其实我国华人价值观脆弱，面对全球化这股无形又强大无比的海啸完全没有招架之力，选择牺牲本身的自尊下而捧他人文化。(347 WORDS) (TOTAL 2035 WORDS)

中华文化博大精深，所以各籍贯方言与文化也是其重要组合部分。也就是说，保护方言是等于对完整中华文化保护作出贡献。首先，华社尤其是青年一代必须马上改变价值观，方言绝对不是低级语言，以方言与家属子女、亲戚朋友交谈绝对不是可耻之事，反而是一件光荣的义务与光宗耀祖的事情。年轻人也许可向世界G7先进国看齐，其中德、法、日、英、加等等都从不自我放弃本身语言，不止他们的国语都是母语，他们更以本身文化引以为荣，而且也照样在国际舞台上取得过人成就。在这方面，华人社团组织与领袖们扮演着举足轻重的角色。华人社团可以通过各项管道，或举办各类活动来传达讯息，华文可以继续扮演团结华人的角色，方言对民族的分裂不会构成威胁，两者绝对可以共存。尤其是华社籍贯公会，与其过渡投入于对社会或许微不足道的慈善和颁发奖学金等等活动，公会应该投入多一些空间与精力在于提高保护方言的醒觉与本身文化。(349 WORDS， TOTAL 2384)
在一个华裔婴儿的诞生那一刻开始，父母和祖父母们就可以选用方言为第一语言与小孩沟通。这么做肯定能够加强孩子对于家庭的归属感，同时也拉近兄弟姐妹、祖孙、和其他亲属之间关系，因为小孩长大会发现他们有“独特”的家庭沟通管道，与身边朋友们有所不同而感到自豪与自信。根据统计，全国有大约有一成的华小生是土著学生。经过六年的华文教育，这些土著可口操一口流利的华文。由此可见，部分父母对于在家对儿女讲方言，会导致儿女在小学面对语言问题的忧虑是多余的。况且，方言的语法与华语大致上是相同的。(218 WORDS) 2602 WORDS

有些父母担心婴儿学习太多语言会导致语言混乱，影响智能发展。在现在科学昌明的，很多真相必须经过科学研究证明方可结论。ESPINOSA (2008)，KUHL(2004)，TABORS(2008)科学研究指出，三岁一下儿童所学习的语言将是随伴他一生的母语。KOVELMAN， BAKER & PETITITTO(2006)神经与脑科科学研究也证明，接受多语言的儿童将有助于发展儿童的神经系统与增加人脑(关系到记忆力，学习与语文)组织的稠密度。(136 WORDS， 2738)

可以说，让方言风气从新在我国起死回生的相当重要，而且确有众多好处。华社能为华教赴汤蹈火，财源、政治、宏愿学校、茅草行动等等艰难挑战都应付得了，甚至牢狱之灾都经得起考研。所以不可能我们面对方言灭亡问题束手无策，因为在家里讲方言之举，根本没有面对筹备经费、法律约束等等挑战，根本只是举“口”之劳。传承方言给后代，让母语伴随终生，还给他们一个自我，保护方言势在必行。千万别等方言失传时才后悔，这么以来，抬头不愧祖先，低头面对后代也没有遗憾。(194 WORDS， TOTAL没有2932 WORDS)

A Letter from MAS Air Stewardess??

Offshore fishing in 2 days

一个另我兴奋的消息，我又有机会与 南中国海 重逢了。这个星期五，我等了好久的机会终于来临了，我参与一班人一起租船出海钓鱼。我们大概有八九个人，乘船到海洋的中央，但这次只是浅海，不是深海，所以钓的鱼应该是比较小的。但是我不介意，所谓由浅入深吧。我们即将在海洋中度过两天一夜。

过去几年，我一直道听途说，听我身边一些同事或朋友们议论他们出海钓鱼的美好体验。但是就是没有缘分，因为跟人家不熟悉，再加上我对钓鱼这一门一点经验学问都没有，所以不曾被邀请参与。尽管我主动要求人家带我去，但都被拒绝。所以这次机不可失，我捉紧不放。工欲善其事，必先利其器：我马上约我朋友帮我购买钓鱼工具。那些钓鱼仪器看起来好复杂，因为必须把那些零件绑起来，看来真的是一门学问。嗯，大概花了 马币300。对，最近我也在忙这个 ＾＾。 正如我预料之中，我父亲大人一看到我参这个活动时，他大发雷霆，对我破口大骂。但是我不怪他，因为他只是担心我的安危。这也许是父爱吧。。。

当然，我之前也做了一些调查，访问了那些同事或朋友，我想知道出海钓鱼是什么滋味，为何会这么爽。让我与你分享吧：他们有些说出海钓鱼－快活似神仙，是人生最高境界的享受（我听了半信半疑）；有些人说出海钓鱼有如毒品（好夸张），会＂中毒＂，因为从此以后无法自拔，会严重上隐，有点不可思议。。。 这翻话激发了我的好奇心。。。

那我再问他们：WHY？那一点这么吸引你们出海钓鱼？让我与您分享：有些人说钓鱼时很多 SURPRISE，不知道会有什么收获；有些人说他们曾经满载而归，那些收获很值钱；有些说钓过大鱼，与大鱼＂拔河＂比赛后战胜，很有成就感。。。。。。

有些人说出海钓鱼有如世外桃园，因为有种与世隔绝的快感，在大海中央，一望无际，只有天与海，没有其他东西。脑海难得一片空白，生活种种家庭，工作或人际关系的 烦恼暂时都忘了。。。 两天一夜的唯一活动：陶醉风景，忘我，与看看有没有 鱼愿意上钩。。。这种说法另我想起那几天在热浪岛，完全没有电脑、网络、电视、报纸、手提电话的日子里。不但没有和世界脱节，回想起来反而有点像心灵上的排毒的感觉。。

当然，不是每一个人都喜欢这种活动。有些人COMPLAIN最大的挑战是晕船－头昏脑涨，不停呕吐两天一夜，听起来好恐怖！有时天不作美，或者遇到大风浪，或者收获不理想等等。。。
但愿5月7日风平浪静，天气好。。。其实我也不期望有很多很多收获，如果收获少就当着是少 杀生。主要目的还是为了体验 （BEEN THERE， DONE THAT），亲自了解真相，与满足我的好奇心：出海钓鱼真的有这么享受吗？？？ 但是我知道：期望越高，失望就越大。我应该调整心情，LOWER MY EXPECTATION 吧。。。

真的非常抱歉，我不知不觉写了这么长以后不敢了，I PROMISE。到时候回来，我分享我的体验吧。