Little bargain girl

ONE fine afternoon, my little daughter was playing herself while her uncle is washing before bathing by the water tank. Suddenly, she see her uncle washing and approach him with the idea in mind. As soon as she reaches, she raised a question to gain her uncle's attention.

little girl: what are you doing, uncle?
uncle : I'm just washing my clothes, dear.
l g : can I help you please?
uncle: oh so clever, baby.
l g : but it won't come free, you have to buy me a snack from shop.
uncle: hmmmm,,,,,pause for a while before he could proceed with some words,,,,okay my dear
l g : you have to use your own money to buy snack
uncle : alright dear
l g : If you agree with me, I'll do it for you.
uncle : ha ha,,what a smart girl are you at your age? you need not to help me for snack. I can buy you a lot without doing it because I love you baby. Let me finish my bath and lets go to the shop for your favorite snack. Go play around.

When we are being told later, we are of course pleased to hear that but hard to believe. Uncle also share his experience in surprise. She is just over 2 years now and she can understand of give and take. I think nobody would teach her such thing at this age. Perhaps she would have seen somebody behave something like that in front of her. Anyway, as a parent of her, my wife and I were amazed to learn that. At the same time, we were aware of her as she has been cautious girl with money. In frank, we don't want her to spend money at very young age. Unfortunately, she has liked eating snacks from nearby shop than quality foods at home. Hope it is nature of a kid and may not lead negative attitude.

Are we real millionaire?

TODAY I am tagged by a friend for her own poem so called "M I Millionaire?". She wrote it as a feeling to reflect her colleague's remark. In term of Myanmar currency, she earns million Kyats as she is working in most developed nation of ASEAN family. Her foreign colleague remarks her as a millionaire after she is being told the exchange rate from S$ to Myanmar's Kyats. Actually, she is not wrong basically. In fact, we need to spend about half of our income for living, transportation, foods and others only if we make sure that we don't go shopping spree like locals does. Our people in Myanmar also think of the same way by seeing salary multiply with exchange rate. It is not in fact their problem because they don't know how much living cost here is expensive. Anyway being rated as a millionaire is a good feel factor at least for a moment being told I think. Depreciation of our currency make our hard earn saving worth less after less automatically.

I once read one day millionaire in a book. The author shared his experience while he was working in Philippine. He said, the Filipinos who work oversea come back to home and go shopping spree with their siblings like a real boss. They don't mind to spend their years of saving over night by staying on five stars hotel. They just want to feel like a real millionaire. No wonder Filipinos are known for social people. But this trend is completely different to other immigrant workers. We all knows what is the mission of working oversea. Hence, we save as much as possible by spending as less as possible. We, however, inevitably need to spend minimum spending of daily necessity cost. 

Recently I went back native village for couple week of holiday. The common question I encounter from around people was how much I earn in abroad. Under normal circumstance, it is not polite to ask such question though I am receiving it. I have to try to explain in order to avoid their miss-understanding that lead them feel over-impression on us. As a monk, I have to maintain not to tell lie as a very simply discipline of a monk among so many others. I got to explain them how much I could earn but how much I have to spend including paying taxes to both side governments. Then I could calculate the net income before personal spending for social activities. Anyhow, as a immigrant worker, I could able to spend much better than local people from my village. I could able to donate whatever I want to. It make me feel privileged as I am happy when I can give people something. I could feel responsible person when I could support people in need at my native village. I could donate some for my future/next life investment. Overall, working abroad make us feel some form of riches through different channels. I would like to emphasis to my friend's poem that it is good to be one day millionaire than never.

Myanmar Hospitality

A welcoming signboard infront of a Myanmar restaurant was found by my friend during her visit to Bagan, Upper Myanmar. She was apparent surprise to see it at first sight and took photo to appreciate it as longer as possible. She shared it on Facebook and I downloaded it for this post. The hospitality of our people can be found here so much, even when they are doing business, they don't forget the spirit of Myanmar culture. Let me explain a bit what does it meaning for those who cannot understand Myanmar language.

"Dear Customer"

"You need not order your favorite curries here"

* Please be reminded that we do not sell beef.
- Just tell us if you can eat pork or not.
* We'll make sure all curries accessible/available to you.
- You can enjoy them as much as possible.
- We'll top up your curry bowls without limit.
- We don't feel tiresome of your demanding on our service
- We won't shake (stingy) to your greedy taste buds
* You could even break our plates (guarantee) if you feel is not worth-eating for your money here.
- We are selling just like donation, not doing business as it is meant to.

(Nu Wah Buffet Restaurant - Owner's Signature)

What a good advertisement is it? Try to find said restaurant if you visit Bagan of Myanmar someday. I'm sure you'll find it pleasure to witness Myanmar's hospitality regardless of where you explore in land of Pagoda.

Strange Signboard

AS a result of serial reforms, our people have been afford to buy a car now and no wonder car show-rooms are mushrooming in Yangon. During my recent holiday back home, I followed my friend to a car show-room in Yangon. I am impressed to learn that customer can search a potential car online with the help of agent's staff in their show room. One year ago time, it would have been dream for our people indeed. Since our people are allowed to bring in car without permit, car price in my land has been upside down. Now a lot of upper middle class people are enjoying the new rule that make them afford to own a car.

There was another surprise I found in local car show room. It is nothing but a signboard stick at the wall. The show room is decorated by tile on floor and glasses on internal partitions. What the sign suggest is "you are allowed to wear slipper within the premise of this show room". What a really funny enough is it? For me, yes. But for our people who have been raising under iron-fist rule, they are dearly losing confident to step into the nicely decorated places. I feel something wrong with the notice and asked my friend if such signboard are necessary or not. He easily answered yes, because some locals not dear to wear their slipper in the office. It say a lot to me rather than an answer. It have made me understand how much our people have been brainwashed by former rule. In fact, those customers who are able to buy a car can be considered rich people. I suddenly understand from that incident that our young people's mindset must be completely changed if we are going to breast with others.

Versatile Sex

CURRENTLY, republic's newspapers has been influenced by a news of on-going trial against former CNB chief case. I become public interest because it is involving government's high ranking officers with relate to some form of corruption case. We thought corruption only relate to money bribery. However, we all learn from this on-going case that there are other form of corruption other than money. Anyway, the case has been under spot light among locals. What the media affectionately name it "Sex for contracts". Title make people interesting with the story including me. In fact, sex related cases are not new to Singapore's courts. I have been enjoying reading several similar news on local papers.

Most recently, there were so many high profile people involving in the case of paid under-age sex scandal. In Singapore, it is considered offense if you undertake sex with minor regardless of paid or consensual or force. I think that multi-richs people involving case still on going while some has been sentenced to jail and fines. Another similar case came to light was "Sex for grade" in which a NUS law professor and female student involved. That case is still adjourning on court and people are eagerly awaiting the verdict. Nowadays, teacher and student's love-relationship has been appeared to media one after another which is outrages for parent.

We generally understand that sex for love or money. Now I am repeatedly hearing another. Sex for Contract and Sex for Grade. Sex for position. Sex for favor. Sex for prize. Sex for marks. Perhaps, I would able to hear some more definition in future.