If by-the-book millennials run this place, these videos would not have been produced. We just don’t have the energy.
Thanks to our full-of-life colleagues who are in the younger age bracket of Gen Y and the older age range of Gen Z, we were able to participate in this fun video. All the ‘older’ us have to do is just follow their instructions. They do the recording and the editing.
I really appreciate their enthusiasm for taking the effort to include everyone in this annual fun activity.
More than 30 years ago, ramah tamah or open houses during festive seasons were uncommon. They were around but mostly organised by public figures or workplaces. For the rest of us, it is mostly just coming up to the house that we’re planning to go and pay a visit. Rarely there was a formality of giving a call first, announcing the arrival and whatnot. Simply because cell phones were not invented yet and to own landlines is a luxury. Instead, it was a culture where, when a guest shows up at your door, you honour them accordingly and serve them food and drinks with anything you have.
That’s the word. The great thing about this is that the visits are personalised. You get to give your full attention to those who make time to see you because they want to. Thus, the house is always at its best. Always polished and clean as you never know when someone is coming to say Hi. The not-so-fun part is that you’d end up receiving guests every single day during a festive occasion. In modern times, it can be a hassle because you’re tied up with other commitments – family and job. Hence, we see more people organizing ‘open Houses’ where they can entertain their friends and family in one session. Convenience trumps it all. You still love the idea of meeting everyone but you need your own peace of mind as well.
A phrase that is understated nowadays. People are just not sure anymore if it is a sincere invitation or small talk. I do know I rarely say it to others because I don’t want it to happen. Ha ha. I will be ready to receive unexpected visitors once I clean my porch and fix the bathroom at the end of the aisle. Even then I still look forward to entertaining and hosting – not now, one day. Ironically I’ve got all the props, knicks and knacks to make it happen. It’s the energy that I don’t have.
It is almost compulsory that every organisation holds their own Ramah Tamah. My workplace has one too with a different concept every year. This year we are doing it outdoors and although I was not part of the committee, I was keen to contribute. I bought a huge banner that has a picture of a wooden house to be put up as a decoration. The same banner was recycled by my sister for her Ramah Tamah at school. I thought it looked amazing.
In an interview, Suga BTS was once asked if he was given a chance, which song would he like to record or again or remaster as they call it. Namjoon made an educated guess by saying that Suga would record none. To him, whatever was produced at the time was the best version and effort they have put into the piece. I understood his point.
You should always create an output, even in daily life, your best. The best meal. The best of yourself and others. Of course, there are times when you are not at your best but always do something that will make you proud in the future. It will not be perfect but it will showcase your personal growth in mind and matter.
There are plenty of tips online on how to grow your Youtube channel. The most popular one I came across from a lot of video gurus is to be consistent in your uploads. Some even suggest daily uploads of anything. I don’t think I could do that as it will compromise quality and what I hope to show on my channel. So, this is the best I can do – weekly or 2 weekly uploads.
hit like, comment and subscribe yahhh..
There were a few videos circulating of how some neighbourhood hosts their Eid party outside their home, eating on mats spaced out between each other to comply with the SOP’s of Covid-19. I was somewhat amused to see some comments saying how lucky the people in that neighbourhood are and how they wished to live there too with the friendly neighbours.
If you like to live in such neighbourhood, then surely you could try creating that atmosphere for yourself. I find that most people would reciprocate accordingly the energy, intention and gesture that they receive. Especially one with a positive influence.
This year, Malaysia is in another MCO. That means celebrating the festive season only with the ones staying in your home. I can’t even visit my parents in law who stays 10 minutes away. The police are patrolling the area, up to the extent of checking on houses with too many cars or slippers! The last thing we need is a compound from the authorities. Since we can’t really go anywhere, I find this an opportunity to send my neighbours a few Eid goodies.
I ordered a few bottles of cookies in advance. I don’t have a lot of neighbours to start with. So, I prepared 3 separate bags. My neighbourhood is a mix of generations. We have that sandwich generation like myself but it is mostly an area populated by senior citizens. Those within the age of my parents, in their 60s, if I may say so. In fact, we have old folks home in the area. We don’t see a lot of foreigners nor do we see people of the university student age. It’s a place where people have been staying here for a very long time. Even our current house is bought from another old gentleman who wanted to sell it off.
My first neighbour is a couple probably around the age of my parents. I see their children and grandchildren visit them from time to time but the frequency is getting much less with the pandemic setting in. I don’t see them much too since I go to work during the day and they own a business too. I see the uncle more than the aunty as he arrives home late in the evening with his motorbike.
My 2nd neighbour are of the same generation as us. We knew their father before but he passed away due to stroke. So, it’s his grown up children that’s staying at their house. We also don’t get to see them as much due to work. We exchanged food the other day for like, the first time. I gave them cookies and they sent us rendang for Eid. It was quite a huge portion, I didn’t have to cook my own rendang as I was also getting a ‘care package’ that included rendang and ketupat from my MIL.
My 3rd neighbour is actually a colleague at work. Funny thing is, we have lived near each other for so many years only to realize that we both work in healthcare. Luckily when I happened to work at this current clinic, his colleague was the one that highlighted the fact that we were staying a few houses apart. If not, we probably wouldn’t have noticed each other. And now since I know that we are neighbours, I have been paying more attention on who lives near me and all. He sent me some Chinese New Year goodies and I gifted him with raya cookies.
It felt good sending the cookies to my neighbours. We haven’t gotten to the stage where we can makan2 together outside our houses but I think to be nice, is always a good start. My eid was short and sweet this year. We ate and pose for a few photos, and then we just relaxed and watch TV for the whole day. It’s a rare opportunity to have a long holiday amidst the Covid19 season. I really hope that with the national vaccine programme rolling out, we would be somewhat free from Covid-19 by next year, InsyaAllah..
Raya is supposed to bring people close together but somehow I felt a bit distanced this year. Perhaps its my self diagnosed cyclothymia. Or just the things left unsaid.
No proper family photo.
No sesi salam2 cium tangan, cium lutut (LOL) mintak ampun. When in fact, I was very enthusiastic in Ramadhan to clean my house and get it sorted for Eid early on. Despite that, I pulled through the festivities. Get those eyebrows don, eyeliner on point, plaster on a fake smile and here we go. Seeking pleasure in the little acts of kindness and sedekah. InsyaAllah.
I like giving away duit raya to the kids. ItΒ is not a hefty sum but it’s enough. It is a form of sedekah. We started our morning with light breakfast at my MILs house followed by the Eid prayers. Then, we went to visit my husbands relatives before driving off to my parents house 2 hours away.
I have never actually visited the graves of my grandparents. My parents never brought me. My parents never did the same. They also hardly spoke of them – kinda reminds me of the Pixar movie, COco. Did something happen before that I do not know off? To be honest, the only living grandparent I get to meet for a while was my maternal granddad. I only remember him loving to watch that late night show of WWE wrestling. I have very little memories of him. Hence, when people say he was funny or smart – I am unable to relate.
Kuih lapis is almost a must in any Sarawakians home for Hari Raya. Only difference being when you’re a Sarawakian living outside the state, your choice of kuih lapis is a bit less extravagant. We choose those simple straight line design but in Kuching (my hometown), you have all sorts of kuih design laid out on the table.
My sister being the 3rd greatest cook in our family invited us over to her house on the 2nd day of Raya. Her menu spread was a fusion of Tganu-Srwk dishes which are Nasi Minyak + Laksa Sarawak. I think we spent about 5 hours at her place eating and eating with solat and movie watching in between. My dad even had an hour nap at her house. We watched The Pool ( A thailand thriller) and what was supposed to be a movie of suspense turned into a comedy once my brothers laced it with their humorous commentaries. Gosh. It was the same when we watched Misteri Delaila. Zul Ariffin became comical when I watched it with my brothers as they laughed at every emotional outbursts this muscular actor’s dialogues.
I had thought that Raya was over after spending 2 nights at my parents place but Mr Husband decided to end the trip with a short excursion to Bayou Lagoon Resort in Melaka. Till the next blog entry yah!