Don't drag country further

AS a man brought up in Burma from the time of military rule, I didn't have a proper education which is systematically denied by military junta. I do not aware what is the reason that make our country from the richest country in Asia in the 1950s to its status as one of the least developed nations in the world in the late-1980s. It is I think partly because we were denied to learn truth internal history to cover up their wrongdoing. Until I had a chance to work abroad, I do not concern how under-developed status within our country because we used to such situation since we were born. I am reading a book that reflect an era of military rule in Burma and felt so sad to learn history as it is. Burma wasn't left in ruin even by a colonial British government in 1948. In contrary, that time Burma was the most promising nation in Asia to succeed colonial era among other nations in region.

Knowing the manipulators to drag country bottom hit for their own benefit is really outrageous and feel they failed to fulfill their obligation and betrayal to state. Once rice bowl of Asia became a nation that cannot feed its people enough by military government. The country's surface and under ground natural resources have been severely extracted and people are suffering from adverse weather nowadays due to losing green environment. It look like the handful of generals enjoy country's resources by grant and let people suffer consequence of their mismanagement. I arguably doubt that Burma will become even developed nation if it never get independent status. I might be easily accused pro-foreign countries by say so. But the fact suggests mine thinking is right. During the last half century, our people have been living in fear, silence and darkness amid deteriorating country ruled by military government with iron-fist. What else they want to do with our country then? Still ex-generals are ruling current self claimed civilian government and grass root people are not feeling change thought they keep saying change is everywhere. Perhaps their partners and relatives might have been made billionaires by privatization effort and resource extraction. Even lower ranking soldiers suffer by the system they are working for. I hope to see NLD win in coming 2015GE and ASSK take presidential seat to put back the system already derailed and ruined. Otherwise, the destiny of our people will have been sunk for another five years so far. We seriously need new leader with brain now.

life as it is

I wanted to become an Architect since my hobby is drawing as a child. But I became a civil engineer through several system. Then work as a quantity surveyor since my graduation. I have been working oversea job for 9 consecutive years in two different nations. But both employers are doing deep foundation which is not meeting my interest indeed. I wanted to involve in a beautiful building projects but still I can't escape from ground. As a bored pile QS, I have less chance to advance my career. Despite I still stuck in the current company. The time past, confident declined. The older I am, the less likely to change job. The less exposure in complex project really make me feel guilty as it totally drain my motivation and lose confident in own capacity. 

Once my wife and some close friends listen what I said. Now the trend up side down and it is always me who listen what they are talking. No matter sometime they boast how their jobs are difficult and interesting. What had wrong with me those years back? Perhaps laziness and pleasing with comfort ground to work in. There is a Burmese saying that "you need to wait a shelter from sunshine". It has a secrete fact behind. Since the world is round and constantly rotate, now sunshine place will definitely become shade sooner or later. If it apply our life. I have stayed enough under shade and it is going to be simmering sun when I turn old. With regret, I am seriously looking for a better suit job but never easy as before since I have been aged. If life is not a rosy route, I need some time to settle in the new challenges that might come in. Finally we all have to leave the current life and we resume another life again. Life is always as it is rather than at our wills in the end.

No matter result, vote once

FOLLOWING open up in almost every sector, Myanmar has come back to international stage among world community. As a part of attempt to market our nation's image, our authority resumed to send our beautiful young women to international level pageant. Last year, our representative woman won public favorite award in Japan and she became instantly famous. The world might have noticed Myanmar's hidden talents through the pageant. To follow up last year success, our government is sending local beauty to other pageants within region and international level. We showed our unity by voting seriously in last year beauty pageant that probably help our beauty queen pocketed award home.

This year beauty queen seem younger and more attractive in photos. But she failed to win people's hearts like her senior beauty queen did. It is circumstance that make them different I think. Some lobby like writer urged fellow citizens to vote her seriously. Let people do what they like. It is human being who want to do something that they think is right. When forced, they will compromise and even try to reverse. In addition, our people have to realize that winning pageant in fair way will make our nation proud. Any foul movement will embarrass our beauty queen and nation if it become uncovered by organizer. As such, we have to be mature in voting and must try to accept if the final result come out against our wills. It doesn't matter if she can't win any prize so long as she try her best during competition. At least she may have performed well in fair manner and compile invaluable experience that she could able to share with juniors in homeland. I'll try to vote once and see how the result come out for our girl. Time will tell us soon. 

Where is my ticket?

NO matter what is the reason for coming. We all are happy to learn that our lady will come Singapore next month. The news flooded the social media website like Facebook to share a good news. The happiness of good news however didn't last long as there is something attached to worry for. It is how do we get a ticket to personally attend her meeting with fellow citizen. A lot rumor instantly come out with regard to ticket available online. It look unnecessary pressure for us who has prospected to meet her in person. Most of us have supported her through online media and rate this change an opportunity.

I don't think there would be somebody don't want to meet her speech alive here. The facts is there are hundred thousands Myanmar working in lion city through several rank include from white to blue collar. One rumor said government not allow organizer to hire public stadium that may place most of Myanmar here. Also spacious hall are needed to book in advance for six months. The possible venue become NTU's 1200 capacity auditorium for organizer which is widely believed 'Myanmar Club (Singapore)'. This news even make fellow citizen here more worry knowing impossible to sell/give tickets to demanding audiences. There are hundreds worrisome comments if not for thousands online. One friend informed me that ticket would be sold first come first serve and need buyer to show IC to be eligible. Also not allow to buy more than one per person. Once I call possible outlet at City hall shop, they seem sick and tired of answering the same question from curious fellow citizen. They also yet to know event schedule and just say "No". 

I am not sure what ASSK has been prepare for Singapore show. Her supporters in Singapore have been super busy with her visit for sure. I'm also sure that my fellow citizen are worry in failing enough support to her during her short stay here. At the same time, we all want to show international media that not only inside people, outside people are also crazily support to our iron lady.

May all eager citizen able to get entry ticket.

Taste differently

IT was strange in Myanmar to see a female staff on a public bus. But I enjoyed it when I went back Myanmar to join our daughter's 3 year birthday celebration. Also notice that the quality of Bus has been visibly increased just like its overall service. Despite we need to pay some premium fees for the better service, we were pleased with the bus operator's service. The way they treat to passengers make me recall the cabin crew service while we fly between Yangon and Singapore. The female on-board staff is wearing neat uniform that suit her performance. She spoke gently as well as serve politely during our overnight bus journey to our hometown in upper Burmese from Yangon. The operator also assures its passengers that their bus drivers were carefully assigned with more than 10 years experience. The drivers also must have attended compulsory training provided by bus manufacturer, Scania. The quality of bus, road and driver produce smooth journey experience to all passenger i believe.

In past, we all have to ride used highway bus mostly imported from Japan and Korea. Now, the operator are boasting their brand new buses which are manufactured by Sweden's famous bus company, Scania. Bus's interior decoration look like internal flight. Air condition are so cool and all passengers are wearing thick jacket as well as pillow and covered blanket provided by bus operator. They also provide soft drinks, drinking water, some snack, sweets, wet tower and even tooth paste and brush. I saw a lot similar buses in a midnight stop so called "119 mile" station. At one point, a staff announced that their buses are going to change seating plan from current 4 seats in a row to 3 seats. The announcement make me remember bus ride between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 3 seats a row will clearly make spacious to passenger and will bring some form of luxury. I think this trend is fruit of open market and economic reform by the current government. Once the market become open and competitive in the level field, it is always customers who is in the upper side to enjoy service sector. Anyway, I had a good memorable overnight bus ride during my recent holiday back home. I really felt that it is worth for my hard earn money.

Why I don't have the same transport?

IT has been about couple month our daughter has gone local private preschool. The school monthly fees is Ks 35,000 and additional Ks 15,000 for ferry service if parent choose to get. In order to avoid daily tedious job to send and fetch her, my sister took ferry service and paid Ks 50,000 per month as her preschool fees. We don't need to worry about sending her in time at the morning and fetch on time at the evening regardless of weather condition. The ferry car will come and fetch her in front of our home gate and send back at the same place in evening. As Ks15,000 is considered not small amount for a rural town residents and some parent take responsibility for their children's transportation.

Probably, our little daughter notices by time that some of her classmates came to school in their parent's motorbike and go back home in the same ride. One fine day, she suddenly asked my eldest sister to wonder why she cannot go school like some of her classmate go. She added that her friend's parent are sending and taking them at the school gate everyday. My sister was distraught to answer immediately because such question is not expected from a young girl. She then tried to console her by telling that she will send her one day when she got day-off from job. My sister was sharing me the experience and I wasn't feeling comfort to learn that. I dare not to tell my wife who is badly miss her little daughter. We, as a parent, usually underestimate our young children's ability to judge their environment and ignore their feeling. We are giving too much our time in chasing money and we will have to pay back in huge unless we find a proper remedy soonest possible. This incident will make us more determine in returning home before she join government school. 

It's worth learning

WHEN I read my home village in last month holiday, some of my friends who use internet told me to use Myanmar language when I share some items through social media website like Facebook so that they can understand well. It is not first time for me to hear such thing and my sole answer is that I cannot type mother language on computer. Sound a bit strange and proud. In other word, it is not appropriate to say so as a Burmese. If I can type English then I should have typed Myanmar as well. I even couldn't promise them that I'll try to type mother language in near future.

One public meeting during her European and US tour, our lady, Aung San Su Kyi, urged Myanmar family and youth to speak Myanmar language while they are staying away home. Also she stressed the younger generation who even cannot speak mother tongue to the give situation. At Q&A section, one Burmese lady requested her to allow her to speak English as she finds it hard to question in Myanmar. The lady immediately asked her not to forget the root and try to learn mother tongue as it is unwritten obligation. Now I am working in a country who encourage its younger generation to become bilingual people at least. By speaking more than one language, it is definitely extra advantage for a person who speak more than one when he/she enters working world. It is no doubt that knowing more than one language will not harm us and benefit us for that extra capacity.

I felt ashamed when I listen our lady's remark through online. Previously I wrongly thought that writing Myanmar and English alternative will weak my English language skill and hence I only used to type with English. In addition, I write a blog by English as a test ground to my writing skill. As I have been working abroad for almost 10 years on now, there were almost no place to practice mother language and it make me push away from mother tongue. It on the other hand still okay to comment by English when I am using Facebook for my friend's photos. My wife also cannot type Myanmar and we got problem to type Myanmar sometime and need to ask somebody to help us. As our home return in mind, I sooner or later have to write in mother language at lease after return home. I must start learn how to type and I made up my mind to learn yesterday. I downloaded Myanmar language software and install on my computer. Also print out Myanmar language keyboard and try to know where alphabetical are existing. As I am familiar with English version keyboard layout, it help me learn faster in Myanmar version. Today I could able to type normal basis conversion and I am amazing myself. The more I can type Myanmar, i feel happier to that. Some of my friends notice my comments in Myanmar on Facebook. Now I am trying to type mother tongue when I chat with my friends online. 

I am convinced myself that I'll soon be master my mother language if I continue not to type English in favor of mother language. Later I'll try to encourage my wife to exercise the way I have trained myself. It's fun indeed to know mother tongue because it make me enable to express my feeling precisely online. Thanks all incidents above that have pushed me some stresses on doing something right.

Get well baby

OUR daughter has been unwell for a few days in a row and we are not comfortable with the news of her. My eldest sister is giving extra care to make her recover soonest possible. She visits child-specialist's clinic twice a day though doctor asks her to see once ever two days time. As parent are away, my sister shoulders our duties to make welfare of our daughter. This is second time our daughter fall to sick within a month and we are extremely concern with her health. We have provided her the best possible service in term of hygiene and health care available to our home town.

The news of milk powder recalls make me worry whether they are the cause of my daughter's sick. NZ firm has announced that the affected batches have been dispatched to Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, China and Saudi Arabia. Singapore is making precautionary effort despite they are not in the list. Thailand and Vietnam are recalling all affected models from the shelf of supermarkets across their countries. As my country's supplier imported mainly from Malaysia, I asked my sister to off feeding Dumex milk powder to our daughter. For the first time, our daughter is yearning for mum and my sister was so sorry to learn the scene. Now the specialist started to give antibiotic to our daughter following three days medication failed to make the girl recover. Why she is so vulnerable to resist incoming bacteria compare to her peers around? She receives the best supporting against her friends who live in our ward. Other children seem no problem despite they are not getting the same quality lifestyle.

Oh baby, fight your ill out and get well soonest possible. And eat your favorite foods and play whatever you love. Go school and play with your friends as much as possible. We all are not happy when you are falling into sick, near or away. You are queen of our home. The home is not pleasant without your sound. The home is not beautiful when you are spending daylong in the mosquito net. Get up early and play around and tease people around. Your mother and I will wish you get recover soonest possible.

Car Girl

ONE peaceful night, my wife trying to convince our 3 years old daughter in the bed. It is not easy task to convince her to sleep with us. When dark came in, she prefer to sleep with her nanny who is relative as well. It is in fact quite norm for any baby to ask for somebody who is familiar to them when they want to sleep or eat. As a biological mum, my wife find it very hard to accept it. She wants to get all love from her daughter and she seem no tolerate to see her little girl asking for other in front of her. I am always onlooker whenever they are busy with something aside. My wife always seeks the opportunity to explain our little baby girl for why we are staying away from her. She afraid of our daughter misunderstands us and hate us for leaving her alone. Our daughter likes to get a red car and one night my wife said

wife: do you know where are we staying, my dear?
girl : yes, I know. Singapore
w : do you know why?
g : don't know mum.
w : you want to get a car, right?
g : yes I am
w : then we need to save money to buy car, dear.
g : i see
w : that's why we're working in Singapore
g ; i see
w : how many car do you want honey?
g : two, mum
w : what color do you want?
g : red and white
w : why two dear, it is not easy to find money in Singapore
g : red car for buying barbecue at strand road and white for going school.
w : oh i see dear. we'll order at factory for you later.
g : is it too long mum to get?
w : not very long dear, one almost finished in factory and another one to be ordered soon
g : let me have soonest possible, mum
w : okay dear, you stay clever while we are away for saving money.
g : yes I'll
w : clever.....okay time to sleep, dear
g : good night
w : good night

My wife is such a woman to tame her wild daughter. My eldest sister and I were listening what they are talking about and felt sorry. I also felt guilty for unable to live family together. We are hopeful we will get a happy family time sooner than later. For the moment, I got additional duty to buy a red car for our beloved princess. Have a great dream, my dear.

Green pasture is coming back

WHEN I think of ASSK, I feel ashamed in term of citizen obligation to home country. As everybody has different value of life, it could be differentiate among people. The government is doing his best while it is not total success through half term. Opposition is apparent trying to make ally with ruling party. It is better not to criticize if I am not excel at politic. But I am interested in what's happening on our home soil. We must one day return home as it is where our hearts exist. For any reason, we shouldn't surrender our citizenship, once told by former UN secretary U Thant. I am very pleased with his patriot toward country. Sadly, his funeral service wasn't success by selfish ruler that time. 

Myanmar nowadays is promising land for all investors across the world. Everybody rush to access Myanmar. I feel something wrong to learn that there are still big market to emigrate outside for greener pasture. It is much depend on the capacity of current civilian government on how much they can attract foreign investment at home. Nobody want to go oversea if they can find a job at homeland. Likewise, people abroad like me will not hesitate to return home if the time is quite right. I am sure such returners will bring in not only some capitals but technologies they had learned abroad. And it will help nation build quickly and our next generation will not suffer the same as we had felt in past few decades. May our government able to find right formula to correct the deteriorating system.

Too crazy to return?

SINGAPORE is seeing more layoff in the second quarter report. It is downward trend since last year second half. But MOM said they are seeing more new job creation in city state, especially in service sector. In brief, about 3% of Singaporean and PR are currently unemployed according to data finding. If say so, we are lucky to maintain our current jobs with a fair salaries. My wife and I are so far okay at our respective jobs. We are collectively earning about 4.8 million in our local currency which is almost impossible to get if we are working at homeland. No wonder, our family members and relatives urging us to stay here so long as our jobs are okay because our daughter is still very young. 

Our target to return home is before she goes to school which is 3 years away from now. As a buddhist, we are trained to content with what we have in hand. For young professionals back home, working abroad is a dream. After working abroad for a decade time, life perspective has been changed through works and environment. We got to scarify our current life comfort if we appreciate family lifestyle. On the other hand, we cannot become bosses if we keep work for others. We can easily become middle class family if we keep working abroad. It is up to us to choose the way. Life is finally short and we are already mid of our lifespan. If we think of dhamma way, our chasing to money without doing good deeds is stupid enough. Some would say we are crazy to return home amid messy politic and shaky environment. Then, when is the optimum time to return home? Nobody knows it exactly. It is easier said than done and here to return home is no exceptional. We have to courage enough to do so. Hopefully we may have a suitable way to return home in confident soonest possible.

Midage crisis

I am not very sure if I will return home end of the year to begin own business. I am confused myself on whether I should go back with a job in hand or I better focus on my own job with full time basis. My job partner is not an engineer and I doubt the success of the project if I left responsibilities on him alone. The more discuss about this with my close friends, the more advices coming out to blur. I dreamed of doing own job after doing works for other until now. I have to listen my heart if I want to be a happy man. I have to be courage enough to start business in messy country. I know that it won't come easy and cheap. I make wrong move, my assets of so many years might have gone shortly. 

What should I do then? I have less time to make final decision. Nobody push me but my wife who is confident in self-employment. As a household leader, I must take initiative to pave a way for my generation. But it is still long way to go. Lets believe in dream and hope it will become reality sooner than later. Life is not rosy in deed especially for a man with empty background like me. But I have to fight to death. At the end of the day, we all have to leave this life and we'll go with bare hand. Then I have nothing to lose. The most important thing is to enjoy present life and I have to try day after day. One move at a time and don't care outcome. I must be man of my future. I don't let others to decide my fortune. So long as my attitude is right, I believe that i have to succeed my dream.

Excellent Choice

THE day long waited for has come yesterday for my wife. She knows that end of July would be full of interest with the prospect of midterm bonus regardless of small or big. As her year long big project close to finish, she is expecting fat bonus following her best endeavor with her on-going big project. She has been working on site office for more than a year. She has seen her site caught fired. She has seen her company being fined by authority for inappropriate house keeping. She has seen several colleagues in and out during construction period. She has quarreled with several sub-contractors for the sake of company's profit. At some month, she needs to work over night. If she has to show the most impact person for her hard-working, she may have nobody but me as her hubby who everyday cook dinner at her absent. There were nights that I need to wait until over midnights. I talked my colleagues at work that how much my wife has been busy at her work compare to our workload.

Finally, it all bear fruits for her hard working. Her boss seem no stupid to retain talented staff like my wife. She yesterday suddenly asked me to guess how much she may get this month for bonus just before checking account through iBanking. In order not to disappoint her, I under guess by saying "1.5X" and she seem confident with getting fat bonus. I got wrong and she is right after we witness incoming money. It was 4X salary including July one that is adding to her account. We got surprised and of course happy together. We got to admit that we never got such big amount as a form of performance bonus in life. We both believe that our recent donations during our trip back home brought us good fortune to our life. I was intimidated by her success and response by silent. My clever wife does not fail to console by offering me a wish thing to buy. I am grateful to my wife for her present but it is shameful fact that I never buy her something present before like she does. All my handsets used in S'pore had been bought by her and finally I realize that I have got an excellent choice to have her as my wife.