Create a culture of positivity

Are you a follower of trends, or do you create them? Do trends affect culture? If yes, how so? If no, why not?

Trends and culture have everything to do with one's mindset. Am I open to change, or do I just want to maintain the status quo? Am I adverse to change? Why is it we don't like people who "rock the boat"? If the change is for the better, why don't we want to change?

Unfortunately, the world around is changing rapidly. A company CEO in Singapore said this: "计划跟不上变化." (Planning cannot keep up with change.) Rapid changes are making us confused and insecure. What I learn today is irrelevant next month. I just can't keep up!

Am I creating a change in trend and culture? I can't control factors around me, but I can try to create an atmosphere of peace and calm. I can create a culture of clean living and positive talk. I can choose to be happy every day. I can choose to encourage others around me, regardless of how I feel myself. I will soon "infect" others to be like me. It's all about choice.

Is culture man made? I can't answer that question. But I can make my own culture for everyone to follow. Look at Psy. The world got "infected" by his horse-riding dance. So, I can create a positive culture too!

As we enter 2013, let's create a new trend: happy, positive, encouraging!

Fun Language Tools wishes you a blessed, happy and positive 2013!

2012 Word of the Year: Gangnam

2012 must be the year of the Korean.

Korean dramas have captivated the world for a few years now. I was in Honolulu, Hawaii, last October. My friends said everyone at his workplace talks about Korean dramas all the time. His wife's friend (who is of Korean descent) watches Korean dramas on her iPad to keep up her Korean. A young lady I met went online to teach herself the Korean language, just to watch dramas.

Then came Psy and Gangnam Style. The video got so many hits that "Gangnam" has now made it as one of the words of the year!

K Pop appeals to young people all over Asia, more than some of the American boy bands.

History has just been made in South Korea after the people elected their first female President. Times have changed. The world has changed.

I just wonder if traditional Korean culture will be eroded because modern Korean culture has overtaken the world. At any rate, the Korean language remains a strong tie between North and South Korea, plus a tie between the past and the present.

As the year comes to an end, what are your plans for the new year? Is one of them learning a new language? Make that a goal and get started today!

Learn a language, open a door to an adventure!

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Language of courtesy

"Mind your P's and Q's!"

Mother's words to every child in whatever language and culture you come from. Be polite. Say "please". Say "thank you". We all want to deal with polite people wherever we are in the world, even if we can't communicate in the same spoken language.

The writer of this forum letter was right to complain about rude service towards his elderly mother. There were no customers in the hair salon at the time. There were no seats other than barber chairs in the shop. Why can't she sit in the barber chair while waiting for her son? It's only a short while. Why does the haircutter tell her to sit in the stairwell outside?

Rightly so, the writer has taken his business elsewhere. He can't communicate in Mandarin with the staff in the new salon, but they treat him and his elderly mother with courtesy and concern. Granted, the two of them can't understand each other, but the message comes across loud and clear: the old lady is waiting for her son. She can sit comfortably in a nice chair in the shop while waiting. No matter if there are other customers. I would say this message speaks loud and clear to the other customers as well: the staff of this salon provide good customer service regardless of whether the person is a customer or not. This automatically translates into more business in the long run.

It is most helpful to speak the same language, but if you can't, just be polite and friendly. The language of courtesy knows no cultural or language barriers. Let's resolve to be courteous every day of our lives!

Here's to cross-cultural communication through the language of courtesy!

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Culture of giving

Singapore has been conducting the Singapore Cooperation Programme to train government officials from different countries for varying lengths of time. Giving back to society has become de rigeur corporate culture for many companies for years. Singapore is just being a good global citizen.

Somehow, the culture of giving back to society rings loud and clear in Singapore. People are more likely to support a company with a social cause/enterprise. Helping others in need always makes one feel good. Makes me feel good too.

What is your area of expertise? What can you contribute to others? It could be a neighbour's child who needs some extra help in schoolwork. Or helping a single mom with childcare so she can go to work and earn some money. Perhaps the new immigrant family a few doors away needs your help to get settled in. Build bridges across cultures today. Bringing over a hot meal of your favourite food is a good door opener.

In the spirit of Christmas, go bless somebody today!

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What's "polite clothing"?

New Year's Eve church service next week. Dress code for leaders:
Men: Smart casual, shirt with jacket, no tie needed
Women: Neat and polite clothing

Huh? What's "polite clothing"? I thought I knew all about the different dress codes, but this one was completely new and puzzling. I had to stop for a moment and think from the point of the writer. Problem? Translation.

Indonesian language: sopan (respectful, well-mannered, decorous, usually translated as polite in English)
Chinese language: 斯文 (refined, educated, cultured, intellectual, polite, gentle)
Khmer language:សុភាព (polite, ladylike)
Thai language: สุภาพ (polite, refined, cultured, ladylike)

I am sure that other languages probably have similar ways of describing appropriate clothing for an occasion. But, these are the only languages I know, so I can only comment thus far.

What tickled me most was seeing an ad in the local newspaper for Etiquette Clothiers. Ha! This is the meaning of "polite clothing"! The funny thing is that Etiquette Clothiers sells underwear and socks - inner wear, not outer wear! How is anyone going to see your "polite clothing"?

The long and short of it all is wear something appropriate for church and to usher in the New Year. Now, that's polite and respectful. If you want to avoid such puzzling (and sometimes hilarious!) instructions, learn a language well, whichever one you choose. Then you'll always be polite and respectful!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

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End of the World = Try Wasabi Day

Today is 21 December 2012. The end of the world? The end of an era? Winter solstice? The one day in history when Jewish, Mayan and Chinese Lunar calendars meet?

As I write this, the sun is shining outside my window. The sky is clear blue, with some clouds stretched across. A very beautiful day indeed. No end of the world in sight.

Some Christian friends of mine made a joke of "doomsday". In Chinese, "the end of the world" is translated as 世界末日. Using the same tones and pronunciation but entirely different Chinese characters, they called today 试芥末日, which is translated into English as "Try Wasabi Day"!

I have to admit this is most creative! As someone who knows a few languages, I appreciate their humour. While many are wondering if the world is ending today, the rest of us should just go eat some sashimi or sushi with wasabi - in honour of "Try Wasabi Day"!

So, let's have some fun today. Play around with words in different languages. Learn a new language. Make the most of the sunshine while it is still day. The end of the world will come soon enough.

Happy learning a new language!

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Speak the language, open the door

Ms Jasmine Lee is ethnically Filipina. She married a Korean (who has since passed away) and is the 1st naturalised Korean citizen, and the 1st non-Korean to win a seat in Parliament. She is a history-maker.

Ms Lee has challenged the Koreans to think about who really is Korean. She is a Korean citizen. Her children are half Korean racially, Koreans in citizenship. With more and more non-Korean brides marrying into the country, what makes a Korean? Even K Pop stars are not necessarily Korean. Two of the members of the latest female K Pop group are Singaporean teens. They had to undergo the rigourous training to make the cut. They may fit the "look", but they're not Korean.

Does speaking Korean make you "Korean"? Probably not. But, you'll be more acceptable to the Koreans if you do. It's true in any culture. Silence rules when you have to speak in another language. When you can speak something of the foreign language, it gets noisy. People get friendly. Everyone wants to chat with you and tell you their life story. I love it!

Want to cross the cultural and language divide? Start by learning the language. Make the most of your time by working at it a little a day. You will get there! Start today! Click here!

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Do you have manners?

Korean pop culture is taking the world by storm. Gangnam Style and Psy are now international. Girls as young as 12 and 14 years old are auditioning to be K Pop stars. Every girl's dream is to be the next big hit.

So when I read this article, I was curious to know what the audition panelists look for during the K Pop audition. Singing and dancing are a definite must. Does she have the "X factor"? To my surprise, this is what one of the top judges said:

Yes, indeed! What IS the point of being a star if you don't have manners? Fans don't remain fans forever if you can't be nice to them. A 12-year-old Singaporean boy who made the cut as one of Psy's backup dancers for his local concert was thrilled to bits when Psy casually put his arm on the boy's shoulder during the group photo. Yes, Psy does have manners. No airs about him at all.

Same goes with any culture in the world. Manners speak louder than anything else. Business, tourism, friendship? Manners. Nobody wants to deal with rude or uncooperative people. Hong Kong used to known for extremely poor customer service. That changed as they prepared to return to China. Today, Hong Kong is one of the friendliest places in the world to visit. Thousands of tourists and business people flock to Hong Kong annually, bringing in much-needed cash to fuel the economy.

Going cross cultural is not easy. Learning the customs and behaviour of another culture is often a mystery that takes a long time to solve. Begin by being a student. Find out as much as you can before you get there. Most importantly, bring along your best manners. They will open doors for you.

Happy learning!

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Translation = changing a language?

"Lost in translation" is a phrase used frequently. I use it too. Since I have to translate orally and written text often, I face this issue too. It is very real.

When I read what Howard Goldblatt wrote, I was fascinated. We're not merely making the text understood in a different language, but we've sort of added our own perspective into the text. Writing is very personal. Writing expresses what we want to say in the way we want to say it. Translating a text adds the translator's personality into the expression. This is why Google translate is not the best translator in the world. In fact, most text gets mangled simply because it is not human!

Yet, translators are indispensable. We can't live without them. So many languages in the world. So many excellent pieces of writing in each language. How can I appreciate it? I need a translator.

The only way to circumvent "lost in translation" is to learn the language yourself. I speak from experience. I love it when I catch the nuance that just isn't there in English! Communication becomes a real joy! So, make a plan to start learning a new language today! Log on to Fun Language Tools to find a package suited to you!

Happy learning!

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Language learning - can it be supernatural?

Speaking in a Different Language is a blog post written by a Filipino friend who moved to Costa Rica for work. He and his wife had to learn Spanish before beginning actual work there.

I thought that Filipinos would have little difficulty learn Spanish because many words in Filipino (the national language of The Philippines) come from Spanish. They use Spanish to count money, tell time, ... The Philippines was colonised by the Spaniards way before the Americans came. Even the country is named after Spanish royalty. So, why did he find it so difficult to learn?

Every person is different. We all face limitations in learning different skills. But, Lloyd brings out an important point in his blog. God can work miracles in teaching us a new language (tongue). In the Bible in Acts chapter 2, God supernaturally gave the 120 praying people languages of the places where Jews had settled, without any lessons! Perhaps the only "work" they had to do was wait in God's holy presence for 10 days non-stop. But note one thing, these 120 people received a new language supernaturally but did not understand what they were saying. Their received language was to tell the people who did understand the wonders of our Almighty God.

Can this happen to you? Most definitely. The key is to seek the Giver of all languages first. Remember the Tower of Babel? But He is God and holds the prerogative to give or withold the language from you.

So, this holiday season, dream about speaking a new language. Make a plan to start learning. In the new year, begin the lessons. By the end of 2013, you will be communicating in a new language without having to think too hard!

Happy dreaming and learning!

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Forced to learn a language?

Many friends have asked me how I ended up being able to speak Indonesian. This is considered unusual for a Singaporean because the average Singaporean is monolingual, either only English, or only Mandarin, or a smattering of one or other other. My standard answer is, "I was forced to."

On Sunday, an Indonesian Chinese pastor friend spoke at my church. He introduced himself saying that he did not complete school in the Indonesian language and could only speak Teochew (a Chinese dialect from southern China) and no Mandarin. However, because he was asked to start a Chinese service in his church, he was forced to speak Mandarin. He still gets the tones mixed up sometimes, reads the Bible with Pinyin (Romanised phonetics for Mandarin) and sometimes can't recognise the characters. Yet, he can communicate quite well in his "forced-to-learn" language and is getting better by the day.

This got me thinking. Can someone really be forced to learn a language, against his will? We all do have choices. As a college student, to fulfill my college credit, I had to learn Chinese or Japanese. I took a summer basic Mandarin course and decided I should not take the easy way out, but learn something new instead. So, I took Japanese from beginners till graduate level. I really enjoyed Japanese as the semesters wore on. But since I never used it from the day I graduated from college, I have since returned 90% to the teachers!

When I joined the Indonesian church I'm in now, I could only manage simple sentences in the Indonesian language. But, I set my mind to learn, no matter what it took. I tried my level best to find myself a teacher, but no success. How did I learn? Sitting in church every week listening to the sermon. Later, I bought a grammar book and tried to learn on my own. Immersion in the language and atmosphere helped me greatly. More of my language was caught than taught. I had no choice. Either I "fit in" or remain an outsider forever.

On top of that, I was sent out to small islands in Indonesia to speak. No English there! Do I have to rely on a translator all my life?! My Indonesian language learning may have been forced, but I was determined to learn. I don't like being an outsider, or be treated like one. Life is so much more fun when I can communicate across another culture. It's a win-win situation for both sides.

So, can someone be forced to learn a language? Yes and No. Yes, by force of necessity. No, because we choose to learn the language to benefit ourselves in the end. I know many, many foreigners living in Cambodia who never bothered to learn the Khmer language, much to their detriment. They survive, but not live life fully.

Will I continue to learn other languages? Yes. Some by being forced, but the enjoyment comes after the tears and the pain. Being able to communicate is sheer joy for me and my new-found friends. Begin the new year with a language-learning plan! Develop that hidden talent in you!

Happy learning! Find a book or software here at Fun Language Tools.

Handsome = Obedient?

My teenage friend from Hong Kong took this photo. I think it so aptly summarises the way Hong Kong people "translate" Cantonese into English. Signs in Hong Kong are all bilingual, thanks to their British colonial past.

The Chinese words 恒顺园 literally mean "constant obedience court". In Mandarin, it is pronounced as "heng shun yuan". In Cantonese (the Chinese dialect spoken in Hong Kong and Guangzhou), it is pronounced "hung soun yuen". "Hung soun" sounds like "Handsome" in English. So, there: 恒顺园 gets translated as "Handsome Court", which is so much more catchy than "Constant Obedience Court"!

Though it may sound funny, I think Hong Kong people are so creative when it comes to translations between Cantonese and English and vice versa.

So, why not exercise a bit of creativity when translating names? Add some fun to life!

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Good friends, good diplomatic relations

Student exchange programmes have been around for a long time. As an 18-year old going to America for university, I did not know about exchange programmes or even care to find out about such things. I went with one goal: complete my Bachelor's degree in as short a time as possible because my father was paying a lot of money for me to study there.

Today, I have become friend and host family to many 19- and 20-year olds from different countries in South-East Asia. They come to Singapore on a scholarship for 3-4 years, depending on their course of study. While many of them have never been out of their home country before, some others really don't need us host families to settle into a foreign land. Regardless, I still do my best to stay in touch with them and fulfill my obligations as a host family.

The best part about getting to know all these students is the cultural exchange. As the newspaper article implies, student exchange between Singapore and Indonesia has greatly helped in diplomatic ties between the two nations. These young people from so many different countries interacting with each other in Singapore helps build ties between their nations.

Unfortunately, disputes between their nations also affects them. During the height of the tensions between Thailand and Cambodia over the ownership of an ancient temple, overnight Thai students snubbed their Cambodian friends, when they were buddies just the day before. Students from China protested over the tensions arising from the ownership of the Spratly Islands, by throwing their belongings around. It seems to be that patriotism overrules friendships and personal relationships that transcend ethnic ties and nationality.

Yet, it is actually the friendships built up as students that will pave the way for good diplomatic relations in later years. Singapore's first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, was a student in the UK when many British colonies were talking about independence. His classmates often had discussions over what was happening in their own countries. When Mr Lee became Prime Minister, many of the heads of states of other Commonwealth countries were already his friends from school days. Diplomatic ties were simply a matter of course, since the basic friendships had already been built so long ago.

To build friendships across cultures, one must maintain the attitude of a student. Read, learn, interact. Those are the keys to a more harmonious world today.

Here's to multi-cultural friendships!

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Shared culture - basis for friendships?

This article is not about business friendships, but the common theme is still friendships - for life.

The writer talked about a junior college classmate's 40th birthday party, where their close knit bunch of classmates were invited, along with the birthday girl's other friends. The classmates had been together through two years of junior college and into university in UK. After that, how different their paths have taken them. Yet, the friendship remains, after about 20 years in between.

Thanks for Facebook, one of my primary school through to secondary school classmates found many of us. We've had several reunions in the last 2 years. We've all gone our separate ways. Some of us have embraced different languages, different accents when speaking English, different cultures, ... but at the heart of it all, we're still good friends.

Perhaps what lies behind the solid friendship is the common school culture that we share: education in a convent school. My friend said to me that "convent girls in India are the same as convent girls in Singapore. They're articulate and outspoken." At that moment, I put it down to our shared heritage of British colonialism. Maybe so. Maybe not. Regardless, a common culture (not always tied to ethnicity) can bind us together in friendship for the long haul.

Sometimes in business, we may not always speak the same brand of English or share the same ethnic culture, but if we went to the same family of schools (e.g. Catholic school), we could well hit it off and build not only a business relationship, but also a friendship, for life.

Culture is an interesting concept. Let's not limit it to language and ethnicity alone.

Happy adventures in exploring other cultures!

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Keep making friends for life

To follow up on my post about building friends, not just business relationships, I wanted to share this article about how Singapore has managed to survive all these years - just by making friends for life. And long may she continue to do so.

Singapore is a small island city state with no natural resources. But, our forefathers have built up a strong nation of 47 years, simply by focusing on the most important resource in the world: people.

It takes people to build relationships.
It takes people to build friendships.
It takes people to maintain relationships for the long haul, beyond the momentary business deal.
And it takes people to cross the language and cultural barrier to build friendships for a lifetime.

My whole purpose of learning languages is to communicate in the heart language of the people I want to learn about, befriend and appreciate. In the process of learning their language, I learn about their culture. I get accepted as "one of them". I have effectively crossed the cultural barrier. I am no longer considered an "outsider".

Would you like to be accepted into another culture as "one of the boys"? Begin by learning a language. Begin here.

Have fun!

Share your skills to benefit others

Two Singaporean doctors have been recently honoured for their contributions to the healthcare system in China. One older and a prominent eye surgeon, the other a younger doctor. They have chosen to give their lives to make the Chinese people's lives better.

Congratulations to these two distinguished gentlemen! You have chosen to cross the cultural and language barrier to see the real needs and meet them! May Singapore send out more of such fine men (and women)!

Would you like to serve another culture with the expertise that you have? Start by learning a new language. You will find yourself falling in love with the people in no time at all!

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Build friendships, not just business relations

The world today is getting more and more global. We are born in one place, maybe move somewhere else to grow up and go to school, work in yet another city, sometimes marry someone from another city or country, and possibly work in yet another country. In our lifetime, it would be very rare to say that we were born, grew up and still live in the same city.

Moving to a new culture is not unusual anymore. With constant people movement, we may never have moved from our hometown, yet we are surrounded by different ethnic groups, nationalities and cultures. How do both cultures strike a balance to meet somewhere in the middle? How do we create a win-win situation?

Many years ago, Singapore's former Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, had the foresight to forge good relations with China. Today, we celebrate Singapore's relationship with China in so many different sectors of society: political, economic, social, etc. A large majority of Singaporeans are ethnically Chinese. We still speak the language of our ancestors, and Mandarin, the working Chinese language of today. But, we are so different from China. Unless we learn, we cannot work well together.

In the above article, Mr Lee says that we Singaporean Chinese must live in China to be truly bicultural. I agree. The best way to learn about a people and its culture is to be fully immersed in the atmosphere. We will never really "be one of them", but we will be able to understand what makes them tick. That's where the real relationship or 关系 is formed.

Business relationships are temporal. Friendships are for life. Singapore and China have built a friendship. Let us, the people of Singapore and China, build personal friendships. It begins by learning the language.

我们都要学普通话！We must all learn Mandarin!

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Equipments or equipment?

Poor spelling, bad grammar, wrong use of plural form, typos, ... the list can go on and on. I worked in Corporate Communications for too long. I had a perfectionist boss for way too long. I tend to pick out mistakes faster than I can appreciate the content of a written piece. Sigh. Will this occupational hazard ever go away?

Now I'm going to be a corporate trainer, facilitating seminars on customer service. Granted most customer service is oral, rather than written, but really, what's the difference? A frontline staff who can't express himself properly to be understood is just as bad as a poorly written letter. Bottom line: your company's brand and image has been tarnished for a long time, if not for life.

Once in a blue moon, typos make for a more interesting meaning, but it still mars your professional image. What's in a brand name anyway? A lot. First impressions can either make or break your professional image.

Many years ago, my friend complained about her boss. He drafted letters that she had to type, get him to sign, then mail out. Problem was the boss didn't quite know proper English. "Equipments" showed up quite often in his drafts because the company sold musical instruments and related equipment. Since "equipment" is both singular and plural, she typed up the draft without the "s" after "equipment" and promptly got a scolding from the boss himself.

"Hah? You think you so clever ah? You don't change my English ok? "Equipments" not "equipment". You just type what I write. Don't try to be smarter than me!" So, she got told off way too many times, not to correct his perfect English!

What do you do with a boss like that? Of course, she eventually found another job!

No matter what your level of English may be (or any other language, for that matter), let's do our best to learn it well, so as not to embarrass ourselves. It's perfectly alright to make mistakes, but let's learn from them and move on.

Have fun learning English!

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ARAISE or ARISE?

My friend is visiting Sri Lanka and took this photo. So apt because the hotel where the conference is being held was destroyed by the December 2004 tsunami. Now, it's back up and fully operational.

Sometime ago, I wrote about typo errors that actually add to the meaning of the text, rather than stand out as a glaring mistake. This is another of those typo errors that make the English language so rich and meaningful.

Of course, if you're a purist, you will be most upset because the conference organisers have seemingly mangled the English language. I'm almost a purist, having taught business English in non-English speaking countries, and spent many years in Corporate Communications. Bad grammar and poor spelling irk me. They do! It reflects badly on you and the company you represent. Poor spelling and bad grammar must be corrected before the document goes out. I'm all for that.

But, once in a while, I do like the little typo here and there because it adds so much colour to life.

So, let's push for good English, but let's also appreciate the typos that mean so much to the context. Let's ARAISE - raise up a destroyed dream, and rise to the occasion!

Happy learning English! Fun Language Tools

Do you love books?

Do you love books? I do! Ever since I was a child, my mother introduced me to books. We took a trip to the library every week and spent hours and hours browsing, then borrowing as many books as were allowed at one time.

I learned to read English as soon as I could make out the letters. My dad taught me how to hold a pencil correctly and write my "abc". Till this day, I love reading, but I must say I still prefer holding an actual book, rather than reading off a screen. Somehow, my brain takes in more from a printed page, rather than an electronic screen.

This article talks about buying books for children. I love it! Children are sponges. Introduce them to anything and they absorb it quickly. I had many gifts of books while growing up. I loved buying story books every year at the school book sale. Books about different cultures and peoples of the world fascinated me the most. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why I'm so into multi-cultural and cross-cultural books and ideas.

Learning languages came much later. I grew up in a monolingual home. My first language is English, even though I'm ethnically Chinese. Today, I can speak Mandarin and several other languages in varying levels of fluency. It is sheer hard work, but a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I haven't stopped learning yet.

So, this Christmas, if you're going to buy a gift(s), why not choose a book? Give the gift of learning today!

Happy shopping!

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What's your favourite food?

I always thought that our favourite food would be the food of our nation or culture i.e. what I've grown up eating would be what I enjoy most. Many of my American friends will eat nothing other than steak and potatoes. Fish comes in the form of fish fingers or filets, not whole fish with eyes staring at you from the plate. (Sound funny? I do have a big Puerto Rican friend who couldn't sit at the table while we were enjoying the delicious whole steamed fish! He kept shielding his eyes from the fish. We had to hurry up and finish the fish, and get the waiter to remove the plate immediately!)

So, I decided to take a poll on Facebook. I posted on my wall asking what your favourite kind of food is (e.g. Chinese, Italian, Thai, etc) without having to give a reason. Do I really need to justify my choice of a favourite food???

Out of the few responses I got, the majority of them said "Chinese". This really surprised me. I had non-Chinese friends saying they loved Chinese food. As expected, a few friends said their favourite food was from whatever culture they are from (e.g. Thai, Filipino, Mexican, etc). But I still can't figure out why a non-Chinese would say Chinese food is best.

Then again, there is really no need to have a reason for liking a particular kind of food. Tastebuds are subjective. To each his own. One of my friends was cheeky enough to ask if "free food" counted as favourite! Haha. I don't see why not!

So, are our tastebuds nationalistic? I don't know. While we're enriching our lives and knowledge with other cultures and languages, let's enrich our tastebuds too with delicious food from around the world!

Enjoy your feast!

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Fried spiders anyone?

I've always been an adventurous eater, thanks to my dad. My dad used to love to try new kinds of food and new eating places. I learned to enjoy raw fish (both Japanese and Cantonese style), eat snails (French escargot and Asian stir-fried snails), and learn to appreciate so many different kinds of weird and delicious food eaten around the world. My philosophy of food is: "I'll try anything once. If I don't like it, at least I can say that I've tried it and don't like it."

Because of my adventurous tastebuds, I get irked by people who say, "Ewwwww! How can you eat that?!" or "There is NO WAY I am going to try that! That's gross!" (Note: these expressions are accompanied with a look of great disgust.) If I mentioned what nationality those people are, I'd be beaten to a pulp physically and verbally. Some readers will know who those folks are. Better left unsaid.

When I moved to Cambodia as a missionary teacher, I ate everything put in front of me, with very few exceptions. I enjoyed everything. I ate like a local. My local colleagues and students loved me because I would eat anything they offered and enjoy it e.g. fried spiders (picture above). This was a real treat because the good ones are only available on the way to the countryside. So, if I or someone else was passing that way, we'd be sure to buy some for the office staff as a treat.

Some years ago, The 700 Club sent a Filipino cameraman, John, and white American producer, Ken, to Cambodia to film the CBN medical team in action. The team travelled daily to different villages to treat patients. On the last day of the filming, Ken needed to film a story on fried spiders. So, we headed to the truck stop of Skoun (1.5hr drive from the city) to get the story.

Ken was petrified as we approached Skoun. This big white man cowered in fear at the trays of fried spiders. Since he had a hard time getting people who were willing to be interviewed on camera, I got on camera as well. Ken bravely did his few lines eating a spider leg, then spit it out as fast as he could as soon as John said, "Cut." The children watching giggled at this big white man and his antics. They got to eat the leftover spider that Ken couldn't stomach. We spent about 1/2 day filming the story and headed back to the city.

For the rest of the evening, we couldn't stop laughing at Ken. John had to do his best to keep the camera from shaking because he was trying to stifle his laughter. Even over dinner at a fancy French restaurant, we were laughing over every bite of our meal. For Ken, he had heard about fried spiders from someone else. He sold the story so convincingly to his boss that he had no choice but to return to the US with the footage.

Nothing really prepares you for the experience, does it? You may be like Ken - terrified of the dead insects that we eat as a snack. Or, you may not be scared, but disgusted instead. Or, be like me and jump right in to see if you like the taste. Whichever type of person you are, try something new today. Be adventurous! You'll be richer for the experience.

Happy eating adventures!

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Cook a Pot of Curry Day

Food is just so close to our hearts. No wonder the old saying goes, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Honestly, this saying applies to both men and women, not exclusively to men.

A rumoured incident in Singapore created a hot and spicy ripple of reaction across this tiny island country. When the tempers calmed, we found out that the incident actually happened several years ago, and not recently, as the whole incident seemed to imply. Well, since we all found out the truth before the said Cook a Pot of Curry Day, everybody decided to carry on and cook curry anyway. After all, food is just so close to our hearts. Besides, Singaporeans pride themselves on their love of good food.

What ended up happening was a pleasant and happy outcome. Ordinary families cooked their favourite kind of curry and invited friends and neighbours to come over for a meal. It became a pot-luck curry lunch/dinner among friends and family. It also became an informal multi-cultural event. Families and friends of different races shared their special type of curry with one another.

I didn't take part, but I thought it was a very happy ending to what could have been a very nasty incident. New immigrants need to learn to adapt and fit into our neighbourhood, not the other way around. What better introduction than over food - something close to everybody's heart.

Here's to adventurous eating and learning about another culture in the process!

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Are your tastebuds nationalistic?

I know Singaporeans love food. And we're very proud of some of the local dishes we have: chilli crab, char kway teow (fried flat rice noodles with lots of yummy ingredients and sweet black sauce), Hainanese chicken rice (not found in Hainan, only in Singapore and Malaysia), Nonya laksa, ... to name a few. When friends from overseas come, we want to serve them the very best of local food.

Imagine my shock and disappointment when a group of Cambodian youth returned from 1 week of youth camp in Singapore with local Singaporean youth. Of course everyone wants to know their stories. But, what crushed me deeply was the incessant complaining about the food that was served them. These Cambodian youth were not given special treatment. What the Singaporeans ate, they ate. Same box meals for everyone.

But the Cambodians said about the food: "How can they serve us such horrible food?! It's just like feeding us pig slop!" They went on and on for days on end. I felt as though each of them had taken a dagger and stabbed me in the heart over and over again. I was angry!

These kids didn't pay 1 cent to get the privilege of flying in a plane and going to another country. The Singaporean hosts paid their airfare, housing, meals, everything. Even their passports were paid for by their parents! (Mind you, back then, a passport cost USD150 to make.) Yet, instead of being grateful and appreciative, all they did was murmur and complain loudly about the food.

Finally, I had enough. I spoke to the leader of the group and told him he had to put a stop to this negative talk. The next day, no more audible complaining. I don't know if they continued to complain behind my back, but I had to do something.

Thinking back on that incident, I wonder if our tastebuds are nationalistic. We are so used to eating our national food that nothing else can hold a candle to our own food. "No Michelin starred chef can beat the cuisine of MY country," so we think. Maybe nationalism extends to food as well, from the looks of it.

Food is an integral part of our culture. So, I guess since we love and defend our culture, we likewise love and defend our food! But let's not take it to extreme. Embrace another culture, food and all. Your life will be so rich.

Have fun learning a language, a culture, and enjoy the food!

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I want to try your food

Racism. The cause of many conflicts today, big and small. What's wrong with us? Why do we get upset over the smallest things done by someone from another culture?

Perhaps one of the problems is our lack of understanding and appreciation of another's language and culture.

Am I racist? Perhaps. It irks me when someone spits on the open ground while walking on the street. I get irritated when the public toilet is filthy from people who don't seem to bother caring for public property. I felt very sad reading in the newspaper about plants at Gardens By the Bay being damaged because of visitors touching or trampling on them... The list can go on. But, do I hit someone because of these minor irritations? Of course not! I choose to live and let live.

This article shows how successfully families of different races have become firm friends. Parents were the key to unlocking the doors of each other's homes and hearts, thus involving the children as well. In all these cases, food is the common denominator. This should not be surprising, since one of the national pastimes of Singaporeans is eating! There is truth to the saying: "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach". In this case, "man" refers to any human being, rather than limited to the male gender.

I live in multi-cultural and multi-racial Singapore. I have friends of different races, cultures and skin tones. I love them all! My life is so rich because of their input. My classmate who lives in America commented that it was very difficult living in the US in the beginning. You just cannot get "everything" in the supermarket! Why is available variety fruit limited to the seasons in which they grow? Why can't I get spices I use in cooking? etc, etc. Oh, don't get me wrong. She's not racist, just practical. After all, food is very important to the Singaporean, you know.

It isn't easy getting to know and appreciate people of a different language and culture. But, we can make food the starting point, since all of us need to eat anyway. The best way to introduce yourself is to ask to learn how to cook. Be a student of the new culture. You will be pleasantly surprised!

Happy exploring another culture!

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"Language Block" - what's that?

Writer's block: writ·er's block (rtrz)
n.
A usually temporary psychological inability to begin or continue work on a piece of writing.

Noun 1. writer's block - an inability to write; "he had writer's block; the words wouldn't come"
mental block, block - an inability to remember or think of something you normally can do; often caused by emotional tension; "I knew his name perfectly well but I had a temporary block"

I live and function in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual society. The friends I see regularly converse in the following languages: English, Mandarin, Indonesian, Khmer, and Hokkien. My Facebook friends post stuff in English, Chinese, Indonesian, Khmer and Thai. I tend to post stuff in whatever language comes to mind first. If it's a quotation, I will post it in the original language with no translation. I noticed some of my friends "like" my posts even though they can't read or understand the post. I think Google Translate is their resource.

Writer's block is when the words just won't come. Mental block is when the mind goes blank. Have you experienced "language block"? That's my theory. Every now and then, I get "language block". I'm speaking in a language and suddenly, I can't think of the correct word in that language! Instead, the equivalent in another language is the 1st word that pops into my head! Now if my audience understands that language, I will use the word, instead of pausing to find the correct equivalent. This is why I find Debbie and Karen's invention of "Tinglish" so inspiring. I tend to talk that way now!

Interestingly enough, people who speak more than 1 language as a norm, would not find this confusing. I wonder why. Maybe our brains are more adept at switching languages than we think. I certainly don't get confused. In fact, I find life so much more interesting that way.

Language and culture are inextricably linked. A word in one language may not have any equivalent in another language. Some words and concepts just don't translate! My solution? Go learn a new language. Have some fun in the process. Make new friends. Learn a new culture.

Happy learning!

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"Look Who's Talking"

This story may be old, but it's worth telling. It's almost the weekend! Let's enjoy a good laugh.

My friend K called the local clubhouse to find out what movie was showing that week.

K: Hello. My name is K. May I know what movie is showing this week?

Clubhouse staff (CS): Look Who's Talking.

K: My name is K. My membership number is K2345. May I know what movie is showing this week?

CS: Look Who's Talking.

K: My name is K. My membership number is K2345. May I know what movie is showing this week?

CS: Look Who's Talking.

This went on and on for about half an hour. K kept repeating herself, trying not to get upset at what she perceived as rudeness by the Clubhouse Staff. The Clubhouse Staff just kept saying the name of the movie over and over again with no other sentences or words to clarify. Both sides were getting more and more frustrated with each other.

Then suddenly, both K and the Clubhouse Staff suddenly realised what was wrong. K thought the Clubhouse Staff wanted to know to whom she was talking. The Clubhouse Staff thought K didn't hear the name of the movie. When they both realised that different perceptions seemed to have caused frustration and miscommunication, they both started laughing. Matter solved amicably.

Remembering this story brought to mind an earlier post I'd written about the way Singaporeans communicate with one another. Neither K or the Clubhouse Staff were being rude or wrong. It's just the way we are - cut out the fluff and go straight to the point. Is that wrong? Well, that depends on which culture you come from!

I'm happy to adapt to whichever culture and language I'm in. My life is so full because of all the human interaction. Let's make this world a happier place by learning from and about one another's language and culture!

Have fun learning!

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Different races, common 3rd language

An old Chinese man got onto the bus I was on. He was carrying a heavy bag and was struggling to get on. Immediately, 2 ladies, 1 Indian and 1 Chinese, got up to give him their seat. Since the Indian lady was in front, the old Chinese man looked at her and asked, "Mau turun, ah?" (meaning "You're getting off?" in the Malay language). Since her back was facing me, I didn't see the reaction of the Indian lady, but she got off at the next stop, a short distance away.

This scenario is common in multi-racial, multi-cultural and multilingual Singapore. The old man speaks no English or Tamil (the common Indian language in Singapore). The Indian lady speaks no Chinese. But between the two of them, they both speak and understand some basic Malay, which is the national language. So, while the old man and the Indian lady are worlds apart in culture, there is a common tie that binds - the Malay language.

In the early beginnings of colonial Singapore (before independence in 1965), migrants from China and India came to Singapore to find work. The Malay people are the original residents of this land. Since everyone spoke a different language, the migrants took it upon themselves to learn the local language, Malay, to communicate with the locals, and as a result, with one another, across cultures and languages.

New immigrants to Singapore today are very different. While their reason for coming to Singapore is largely the same - search for work - their approach to living here is not.

Today, the newspaper regularly carries articles and letters citing both positive and negative examples of new immigrants. Many of them expect us locals to learn their language to communicate with them, instead of the other way around. While I enjoy learning their language, I don't necessarily agree with their attitude. But, I'm not here to say who is right or wrong. Let me first set the example by being friendly and a student of their language and culture.

Let's be students of other languages and cultures! Fun Language Tools

Multi-lingual home language

My friends Debbie and Karen are a product of a multi-cultural home. Their father is Thai and their mother is Italian. Dad was an architect in Italy when he met mom and married her. They lived in Italy for many years before moving to Bangkok. School in Bangkok for the two of them and their oldest sister, Monique, was international American school.

So what do they speak at home? Most of the time, Italian. Mom speaks only Italian and nothing else. Dad speaks Thai (of course), Italian and English. Debbie and Karen speak fluent English (from school), Italian and Thai. Monique speaks Italian and English, and is probably fluent in Thai now, having moved back from Italy several years ago. But since Debbie and Karen have been together at home longer than Monique, they speak to each other in "Tinglish". Karen said it's a mixture of Thai, Italian and English. They use words in whichever language comes to mind first. That's the special language that the 2 sisters share. Even Monique has no clue what they're saying.

I've only met their parents once. When Dad found out I was from Singapore, he spoke to me in Teochew (a Chinese dialect), to everyone's surprise! Dad is ethnic Chinese from Thailand. No one in the family ever knew that. It took me, a fellow Chinese, to bring it out of him.

We can be multi-lingual. We can be fluent in so many languages that we just can't figure out what our "heart" language is anymore. We function equally well in any language. Yet, when we meet someone who shares the same heritage as we do, suddenly the "heart" language that was buried away for so many years come out. This was the case with Dad. He'd hidden his true identity to everyone in the family, or maybe just forgotten to mention it. So many years later, it emerges because our "heart" language never dies. It's an integral part of us that never goes away. I think Dad felt an affinity to me because of our shared ethnicity being Chinese.

For Debbie and Karen, their heart language is entirely different. In fact, they have a few "heart" languages. When speaking to both Mom and Dad, they speak Italian, since Mom doesn't speak or understand anything else. But when speaking to Dad exclusively, they switch to Thai, Dad's "heart" language. But between the 2 of them, it's their own "heart" language, "Tinglish".

Have you discovered your "heart" language? Go find out what it is. You will be richer for not losing it completely.

Happy learning!

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What's your "home" language?

When you're at home, what language do you speak? Perhaps it is English, or whatever is the national language of your nation. But, it may not be "proper" or "grammatically correct". What you speak is simply what only your own family understands. Sometimes it could be very correct English, but only your family knows exactly what you're trying to say because of the nuances that accompany your words.

The writer of this letter to the Forum Page of the newspaper brought up two important points:
1. We may all have studied in English-medium schools and use English very comfortably in our daily lives, but the moment we meet someone who speaks our "home" language, we revert immediately to that language.
2. To succeed in doing business in Guangzhou or Hainan, China, today, proficiency in Cantonese or Hainanese is key.

I remember the first time I met my friend from Hong Kong. We were in New York attending a conference, followed by a Board Meeting. She knew I was from Singapore. She started speaking to me in English. Then I said to her in Cantonese, "I can speak Cantonese. I am Cantonese." Suddenly, her face lit up and she got really chatty. Today, when we meet or talk over the phone, we communicate in a mixture of Cantonese and English. For the both of us, this is our "home" language. It also gave her a sense of comfort and reassurance that she could ask me in case she didn't understand or catch the accents of the other international members of the Board.

A few years ago, natives of Hong Kong and Guangzhou organised protests against the Chinese government's decision to increase broadcasting of TV programmes in Mandarin, as opposed to Cantonese (the local dialect). Language aside, many other underlying issues are involved. Why would a small protest make the news around the world? Simply because most of the Chinese immigrants in western nations are Cantonese. This affects them too!

The language of our home and growing up years is the language of our heart. Talk to me in this language and you've unlocked my heart and home to you, a stranger. We are generally a lot more "culturalistic" (as opposed to "nationalistic") than we care to admit.

Want to touch my heart, learn my language.

Happy learning!

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Speak my language, win my respect

Here's another article in support of learning the language of our ancestors. The writer is right: lose the language and lose the culture and tradition completely. Is it any wonder then that a small group in China is trying to keep alive the Manchu language?

The writer describes his trip with his Hainanese friend to Hainan Island, China, to visit the latter's relatives. His friend could well have spoken to his relatives in Mandarin, the unifying language in China today. Yet, because his friend spoke Hainanese (their local dialect), he was accorded the greatest respect. The writer went on to say: "The intimate bonding came about because he was able to speak a dialect that is close to their hearts."

Bingo! That is the "heart of the matter" in a nutshell. It is not the language per se that touched the hearts of the relatives but the fact that someone so far removed because of migration and time, could still communicate in their "home/heart" language that made all the difference in the world. To them, this meant that this young distant relative had not lost his heritage that they hold so dear. Besides blood ties, this was the real key: language, and therefore shared heritage and culture.

Technology today is making us increasingly more alike, regardless of language or culture. We all use the same brands of computers, cell phones and tablets. Even our household appliances are the same brands. In our race to modernise, let's not lose sight of our language and culture. This is what makes us distinct, not "same as everybody else". Let's start learning our own language well, to keep the links with our past and to pass them down to our descendants.

Happy discovering and learning language and culture!

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Texting language - sometimes a mystery

Sometime ago, my friends in church used to end their text messages with "MSH". The theme for the church that year was "Mujizat Masih Ada" in the Indonesian language, which translated into English means "Miracles Still Exist" (literally).

In Indonesian text language, we remove all the unnecessary vowels of a word so that we can fit in as many words as possible in 160 characters of 1 text message. So, "MSH" to me, was short form for "masih", meaning "still", as in "miracles still exist" (above). For months, I was puzzled as to why the full phrase "Mujizat Masih Ada" was shortened so drastically to end up only being the middle word. Since the rest of the message was the important point, I simply ignored it.

Then one day, the light came on for me! "MSH" means "Miracles Still Happen"! Of course! The lady who must have translated the phrase from Indonesian to English is a very good translator and a master of the English language. "Miracles Still Exist" may be literal translation of the original phrase, but "Miracles Still Happen" is the correct meaning, and certainly sounds more correct in English. I wrote on my Facebook status update that day that I was slow, but I finally got it. All I got was peals of laughter from friends. The next text message I got from one of my church friends ended with '"MSH" not "masih"'. Sure, just rub it in. But I wasn't insulted.

Text messaging language is still sometimes a mystery to me. But I'm getting the hang of it. It isn't easy learning text language of a foreign language! Learning the correct forms of the foreign language is hard enough. But life is all about learning new things. I will not trade communicating in another language for anything in the world. My life has been so enriched because of the new friends I've made, just by being able to communicate in their heart language.

Here's to lifelong learning of new languages! This Christmas, give the gift of learning. Pick out a book, DVD or software package and bless your loved one with a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Happy learning!

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DKNY = donkey

I was walking to church when I spotted my friend and her 2 daughters (then aged 7 and 5 years) a few metres ahead of me. I walked quietly behind them as we passed the DKNY store. The older girl said, "Mummy, look! Donkey." Her mother didn't pay too much attention, so she repeated, "Mummy, donkey!" Her mother nodded and kept walking.

I had a good laugh. Children today grow up in text language, rather than fully spelled out words. Of course, we all know that "DKNY" stands for Donna Karan New York. But to this little girl who knows nothing about designer labels, DKNY is simply a short form for "donkey". Actually, the text form should be "dnky" rather than "dkny". But, what's the difference anyway? It's still "donkey" to the 7-year-old.

Well, I don't think the PR and Marketing people at DKNY would be very amused, but that's what they're there for - to change our perceptions of their brand. C'mon DKNY Marketing folks, tell us that DKNY does not mean "donkey"! Haha. Tell that to a 7-year-old! By the time she grows up to appreciate fashion, DKNY might be a label for her mother!

Branding is essential to a company. Choose your brand name carefully. You may end up with strange looks in another country just because you've wished sickness on your customer or chosen a daredevil name for your fancy car license plate. At the end of the day, it pays to know some words in another language, even if only a few. It could mean the difference between sickness and health or life and death for your company's reputation (puns fully intended).

Have fun with languages! They open up a whole new world to you!

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Sry cnt mk it

We have become a text messaging world. We can't spell anymore. We type a message without vowels. Sometimes even our email messages are cut short. My PR professional friend said she took a few reads of my text message before she "got it". She said she's a PR freak - everything must be spelled out in full. She just wasn't used to my txt lng (aka "text language").

Me? I do both. I text message in shortened form and type emails in full spelling, with correct grammar. I even had to learn text language in Indonesian because of work. I don't know all the codes. Some are still a mystery to me. Some of my Indonesian friends even write Facebook posts in shortened text code. Most of them I can figure out because all they do is remove all the vowels unless absolutely necessary to retaining the meaning of the word.

But the point of the article is that we no longer keep to appointments because of the ease and distance of text messaging. When before we had to meet face-to-face or telephone to make or book an appointment, some people actually think it perfectly fine to cancel the pre-arranged appointment minutes before the appointed time. We don't feel bad or sorry for doing so because messaging is not all that personal after all.

What's happened to our culture of politeness and etiquette? Do we not value our word anymore? Maybe the issue is deeper than just text messaging, but a complete disregard for personal integrity and human relationship. I was told that for a couple from a particular religion to divorce, all the husband needs to do is send a text message three times to his wife saying that he "rejects" her. So sad. I feel for the wife. Does he not have any decency to at least say it to her face? I wonder. How the culture of that religion has changed because of the introduction of technology.

Indeed, technology has changed our lives completely. Instead of talking face-to-face, we "talk" with our fingers on a gadget, even if we're sitting next to each other! Can we no longer open our mouths to speak? I talked about this "chatting" idea sometime ago. We have become beings who are so good at being impersonal, yet so connected all the time.

Give me face-to-face interaction anytime. I love sitting down with friends for long chats over a glass of water. Nothing fancy, but deeply satisfying.

Let's bring back the culture of human interaction!

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Scissors, Paper, Stone

I love comics! They make me laugh and fill me with a sense of wonder at the different way people can look at life. Some of the stories are so real and universal in nature ... just like this one!

As a child growing up in Singapore, I used to play "Scissors, Paper, Stone" with my friends. It was not just a game. Often we used it to see who would go first in another game. Friends in neighbouring Malaysia played the same game.

As an adult living in Cmabodia and working among young people, I found them playing exactly the same game! I felt most at home because it was something I was familiar with from my childhood. We were from different generations, cultures and languages, but our game was exactly the same. They too used the game as a means of seeing who would go first in another game.

Then I read this comic strip. The cartoonist, Jim Toomey, is an American. The comic strip is set in Micronesia. The characters are all sea creatures. Yet, here they are playing the same game as I did as a child! And the same game as my young Cambodian friends were playing! Granted the sea creatures called one of the items a "rock" instead of a "stone", but what's the difference anyway?

We may be so very different from each other - language, culture, physical appearance, etc - but we have at least one thing in common - this game! Are we so different after all? I wonder...

But since this game requires us to have at least knowledge of the words scissors, paper and stone/rock in another language before we can play it with those from another culture, we still have to learn a new language. It isn't such a chore. You'll get to learn so many other games in that culture!

Learn a language, embrace a new culture!

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Language of my ancestors touches my heart

I came across this article in yesterday's newspaper. The writer is ethnically Chinese with parents speaking 2 different Chinese dialects in their childhood: Cantonese and Hakka.

Chinese dialects are probably mis-named as "dialects" because one dialect group cannot communicate with the other. China has 56 major ethnic groups, each with its own distinct language and culture. Most of the languages use the same Chinese writing system, with some variations of "local characters" that do not exist in Mandarin, the national language. If presented with a short written text, a Cantonese and a Hakka will read the same text in very different sounds, yet capture the exact same meaning of the text. The same goes with other Chinese dialects. Perhaps this is one uniqueness of the Chinese language(s).

Yet, as the writer pointed out, in his adulthood, he has chosen to try and learn the dialects of his parents, so that the older folks would not have to switch from Cantonese or Hakka to Mandarin when speaking to him, and he would not be left in the dark when the family was having a conversation in one of those dialects. In my opinion, his desire to learn about the culture of his grandparents and ancestors has also touched the heart of his older relatives.

Today, very few Chinese Singaporeans aged 35 years and under can understand the dialect of their parents. Thanks to a very effective "Speak Mandarin Campaign" in Singapore, even non-Chinese Singaporeans can speak very good Mandarin. I still belong to the generation of those who can at least understand several dialects spoken in Southern China, from where most of our ancestors come. Some of my classmates are more comfortable conversing in Teochew (one of the dialects) than in English, despite all of us having attended English medium schools.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to what our heart language is. Learning the language of our parents enriches our lives with traditions and customs that we would never know if we never learned their language. It gives us the key to touch the hearts of distant relatives in the "motherland" and allows us to pass down traditions to the generations that follow.

I am so grateful to my primary school classmates who taught me rudimentary Teochew and Hokkien (2 Chinese dialects), and to my maternal grandmother who spoke to me in Cantonese almost all the time, even though she spoke perfect English. None of those may be my heart language, but my heart is warmed every time I hear those languages spoken, and I understand what is going on! It's a feeling that cannot be described.

There may not be any books on how to learn the language of your parents or ancestors, but don't wait too long to learn. Grab the opportunity while you can. Your life will be so much richer because of the language.

Happy learning!

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Learn a language? Read the Bible

I am so excited! My Scottish-Australian friend wrote in Facebook today that she's reading the Bible in Spanish. This is what she wrote: "I'm reading the bible in Spanish. Do I know Spanish? Not at all but I will by the time I have read it all."

Now how many people in this world would make such an effort? Not many. I do know several languages, but I've read the Bible in those languages simply because I've already learned the language, and therefore, have an understanding as I read the Bible. Of course, whatever I don't understand, I either look at the English version or ask a native speaker what the word or phrase means. What my friend is doing is simply amazing. I salute her for her efforts! May she be enriched and blessed by the language and the content of the Word of God.

The best part of her endeavour is not just learning Spanish, but she will be able to appreciate the nuances of translation and be able to do comparative studies of Bible verses in English and Spanish. One of the blessings (and loads of fun too!) of reading the Bible in different languages is having my eyes and mind opened to the richness of the meaning of a sentence. Different words or phrases may be translated (from the original Hebrew or Greek text) differently because of the limitations of the language. As a result, reading the same text in different languages opens up a fuller meaning of the content. On the other hand, it sometimes shows the inadequacy of translation too. But, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

Let me give an example: Genesis 22:14b: "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." 创世记二十二：14b: “在耶和华的山上必有预备。” (Chinese version: on Jehovah's mountain there is definite provision.) Kejadian 22:14b: "Di atas gunung TUHAN, akan disediakan." (Indonesian version: on the Lord's mountain, there will be provision.)

I could quote the same verse in other languages, but I wanted to show that the same short sentence translated into different languages from the original Hebrew, come out differently. If I read only 1 language, I would understand the text, but not receive the full meaning because of my limitation in language. So, after reading this verse in 3 languages, what do I understand about God's provision? That as long as I am on God's mountain, He will provide for me - it could be there already, or to come later - but there is definite provision. My understanding is enriched and my heart is at rest.

So take up a challenge today! You can choose to learn a language, then read the Bible, or choose a language that uses the same writing script as your native language, and plunge right into the Bible. Whichever route you choose, you will emerge better for it.

Happy learning!

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