Prabha's comments (member since Feb 01, 2008)

Prabha's comments from the Language & Grammar group.

And I was thinking how I would LOVE to learn Tolkien's Elvish....!

lemon pledge evokes warm memories of squabbling over chores with my sisters...

You just summed up life, Moe. How divine :)

'Balance' is a lovely word... That's one more element I 'Seek'...

'Salam' is also 'hello', or 'geetings', in Malay. The Persian influence, I think.

'Namaste' means 'Greetings' in Hindi.

I'm reading "Eat Pray Love". Been reading it for the last ten days. A little at a time. Reading and thinking. And reading some more.

Something that really piqued my interest was the idea of each person having a word. And each city / town. Perhaps even country. And each family too, maybe. A defining, dynamic word that best describes the person / city / family at that point in time.

I found myself looking for my word. Could it be a verb? Or a noun? Or an adjective?

I think my word for now may be 'Seek'. I seem to be searching all time. Seeking stability, peace,energy, success, friendship, strength, wisdom. Seeking the time to do all that I want to do. Seeking the time to do nothing.

Funnily I don't seem to be seeking happiness. Perhaps I feel that if I do get all those other things that I seek, happiness will find me. Eventually.

PS-I think the word for my family (my parents and siblings) is, and always has been, 'Success'. All my life, it was subconsciously drummed into my psyche. 'You're nothing unless you're successful' attitude. Of course, I rebelled. I still do. But I've learned to make my peace. I've learned to love myself.

My three year old says "Day you know..." which is his favourite way of starting a sentence. So I started paraphrasing it with a "Do you..". Until I realised that he uses the same word when he means "Did you.." e.g. "Did you buy me the book?". I think he's combined 'do' and 'did' to create 'day' which he probably feels sums it all up effortlessly.

I'm with you Deb. Played on 'special' turf here in Malaysia. Which looks like... grass. But costs the earth. Sigh - Malaysian priorities, and what they do with the taxpayers money...

Nationalism is a bit of plague. Nothing like a watching the national football team getting thrashed by the national team of God-knows-where on home ground to bring out sterling nationalistic emotions of all Malaysians.

Speaking of the Olympics, last night was huge for Malaysians - Badminton finals, singles (men). Unfortunately, our chap lost to China.

The pain of coming in second when your country's hopes for gold are pinned you... it was so clearly etched on his face.

I know too, Deb!

But I don't kiss and tell :)

Thought NE's name was...NE. What else could he possibly be?????

Yes, it's LOVELY to connect. Again. Moe, you look divine. NE, you look the same. Deb, thanks for being the fine gossamer thread- holding us all together even during the 'voids'.

Hi all

my how we have grown.. 300 members and counting!

welcome to all the new and the not so new and the re-newed members!

re-introducing myself..

Hi - I'm a teacher from Malaysia, and very new (again) to Goodreads. My interests are in special educational needs and ed psych. I'm a single mum, with 3 wonderful kids who teach me new lessons in life and learning everyday.

English is not the first language nor is it the medium of instruction in schools in Malaysia. As such, you may find some bizarre and distorted usage of language and grammar which is completely 'acceptable' here. (e.g. - Express check out lane sign in supermarket saying "Only 5 items or less")
There is a lot of first language interference as well.

Since 2003, Maths and Science is being taught in English in schools in Malaysia, which i think is a huge step in the right direction towards raising standards of English in the country as a whole.

Will try to contribute my two sen (hey i'm only Malaysian!) worth to these discussions...

hey

malaysian, not indonesian.

yes, we're neighbours. but i have no clue what the indonesian anthem is.

malaysia has 14 states, and each has a state anthem. i have lived in 3 of them, and can remember the lyrics and tune of each of these. all in malay

malaysian natonal anthem (pronounce each syllable phonetically and you cant go wrong - malay is really easy to read as there are virtually no exceptions to the phonetic rules of pronunciation:

Negara ku
Tanah tumpahnya darahku
Rakyat hidup
Bersatu dan maju
Rahmat bahagia
Tuhan kurniakan
Raja kita
Selamat bertahta

unofficial eng translation:

My country
my blood flows in your soil
your people live in harmony
and progress
may God ever shower His grace upon our land
and our King

PS thanks for all you lovely wishes and thoughts

xxx

phew i thought you were going to say that you'll be christopher plummer and sing something patriotic

Earth to NE, come in NE...

You do write beautifully Moe. Missives of poetic musings...

Moe, Deb, thanks for your kind words re job. You're so right, it's better to be jobless for a time. In fact, it'll be a nice change. Feeling good about it now.

I love that Donna, thank you.

I love how this has slipped into a discussion on the 40's decade.

I jumped in last year, and yes, I have been trying out the various strokes. They all work, some better than others, at different times. But I too love the float, Moe. I think, that's the stroke for the 40's. Float. Kick a little. Watch those in the 30's whizzing past, furiously trying to reach their destinations, and knowing that soon they too will realise that everyone will, eventually, and that it's much more fun getting there whilst enjoying the swim.

The 40's has empowered me. I can now say "I'm too old for this" with total authority, and with a snort of contempt. I have found myself, again. I like myself, again. I have learned to accept people for what they are, and have stopped expecting them to be anything else. I have begun to accept triumphs and disasters with a sense of calm, and to 'treat those two imposters just the same'.

Moe, sadly, no. May be out of a job soon, which I suppose is better than working under someone of questionable integrity. Choices, choices. Ah well, this too shall pass...

"but the mental image of a man of indeterminate age standing on the roof pontificating about prepositions WITHOUT a bathrobe on just popped into my head!!"

I love it! Debbie you're just priceless! How well you described NE! Now if we can just add the virtual image of the moon to that visual, it would be purrrrrrrrfect!!!

I love you guys (and gals). Virtual friendships, and real friends. Maureen I'm honoured to be your only Malaysian friend. Deb and NE, I love the way you look out for me when I'm MIA - which I have been of late due to upheavals at work :(

If this was Facebook I would have been able to share with all of you in this group a virtual toast: To the guys and gals of Language and Grammar @ Goodreads - long may you pontificate!