Is it really that hard?

OK... I am not sure how this happened! I only loaded one smiley and a host of family members decided to join. Oh well... will leave it as it is. Because I think it ties in with what I want to say.

Many people ask me what I miss about UK... and the list is extensive. From foods, to ppl, to the sheer joy of seeing things for the first time. But today I realised there is something else... I miss the simple pleasure of saying "Hello" or "Good morning" to anyone I meet.

I must admit, the first time someone random wished me "Good morning" or smiled at me whilst in UK took me by surprise. However as time went by, it was nice. It was like a silent agreement to bid each other and to wish them a good day ahead. And more often than not, you do feel a little better when that happens.

I recall sitting in a bus on the way to church when a disabled person got on. And they get free travel card, BUT have to use it before 9.30am. Poor soul got on about 15 minutes too early and being simple minded and trained to just flash the card and sit down, the technicalities of 15 minutes too early doesn't ring a bell. The bus driver tried telling her to get off and wait for the next bus. But it doesn't compute. So he comes over and taps her and tells her to get off. eventually very roughly.

What do you do?

I paid her fare.

And I sat next to her while she cried out of fear. Strangely if it happened in Malaysia I may not have done so. But something about wishing each other "Good morning" just makes us do silly things... nice silly things we never thought of.

Today while walking to work I met a couple - saw them yesterday as well - I think they are guests of the hotel next to my office. So I smiled and bid them "Hello". I think it took them by surprise, because it wasn't till they passed me when the lady turned and "Hello!" back. And then like I said, a nice gesture like that makes us do something silly. So, I walked up 5 flights of stairs.

And then I cursed the heat.

But even so, what is it about us that holds us back from saying "Hello"?

I went shopping with my folks just before Chinese New Year and as it is I loathe crowds at malls, but then again I will just shut up and shuffle along. For those of you who know me and my mom, you will know that my mom hobbles with a walking stick. And there she was with a trolley, trying to manoeuvre it up the (flat ramp type) escalator. But someone had abandoned a trolley next to it so she tried to push it out of the way. A man behind her with a very rude tone told her to make up her mind which one she wants and get on with it.

I snapped!

"What is wrong with you!? Can't you see she walks with stick? Give her some time."

He looked as if he was going to walk away. But he snapped too.

"What is your problem!?"

"Oh course it is my problem! She is my mother, and she walks with a stick and you were being rude."

His wife dragged him along.

Then while going up, my mom almost slipped and me being behind her was frightened. I had my aunt and her trolley to worry about and my mom was falling backwards. So with what limbs I had, I struggle to keep my balance, my aunty's trolley, my mom's balance and her trolley stable.

That man turned, looked and walked away.

Never in my life did I ever have such HATRED for Malaysia. I was ashamed to be a Malaysian... and in some ways I think I still am. I understand now why many ppl chose to abandon ship. I would too, if I had the option.

Like the recent comment made by a certain minister about female bloggers and that the blog community are all unemployed and blog aimless rubbish to fill their time whilst propagating anti-unity crap. The liars was thrown in his comment as well. And this is from someone whose ministry is trying to promote Visit Malaysia 2007. OK... a bit of history lesson - Our ministry invited some press for the launch of the Flower thingy in Putrajaya. Some members of the press thought is was badly managed, and reading their comments, I thought so too. I would like to think they were just being nasty... but the reality is, it is more likely to be true than not. So news of the blog comment got into his ears hence brought forth the barrage of comments. (Funny thing is it was only covered in Sin Chew Daily and no other mainstread paper)

And that brought back memories of an article read almost 10 years ago about a Singaporean press complimenting our then PM as the Top Dog in SEA. A minister lashed out saying how can someone call our PM a top dog? ... no respect... dogs are unclean animals... moreover top dog... didn't do your research... don't you know his contributions to the country... should provide a public apology...

I cringed in my seat when I read that. As I cringed when I read about former article as well.

I read in a UK mag that if you wanted to know how much an employer valued his / her employee, you should check the toilets because that is the ONE place that everyone goes to everyday. And all sort of things happen in there. And if one is not comfortable in the toilet, not only the smell will bother you, but the thought of working in such an unhygienic place just provokes nausea from the depths of your being.

I guess then the state of all our public toilets say a lot about how our government feels about us or how establishments feel about their patron.

And honestly, whichever (desperately kind but silly) soul said that Malaysian was wonderful people obviously did not go shopping during a sale OR get caught in traffic OR saw someone spit on the road, OR blow snot OR throw rubbish out of a car.

Malaysia... Truly Asia.

OK... this entry took a drastic turn for the ugly. Need to redeem myself now!

OK... so... lets just think about it. When we say "Hello" to someone, or do something nice, doesn't it give you that warn fuzzy feeling? So the question now is, would you rather be a grumpy pot all day and spread shite loads of bad temperament OR to feel good?

All you need is a Smile and a "Hello"

Sounds kinda cheesy I know... but it is true.