July 21, 2010
Watching some Animal Planet last night, I was suddenly reminded of a bunch of Swahili words which I picked up from our safari trip in Tanzania last year. It has been more than a year now, and I hardly ever use those phrases since we got back from the trip. I mean, seriously, when will I ever need to be speaking Swahili in this country?
Strange as it may sound though, some of those Swahili phrases really stuck to me.I reckon, the language is so cool- sounding that unlike Thai, is a much easier language to pick up. I still have some of the phrases on hand, and get this: I can remember them without much effort! Here are some of those cool sounding phrases:
- Habariah Asubuhi: Good Morning
- Kwaheri: Goodbye
- Lala salama: Sleep well
- Jumbo: Hello
- Habaria koh: How are you (and to that you reply: Salama nzuri – Good)
- Moto: Fire
- Maji: Water
- Safi: Clean
- Safi maji: clean water
- [Safi also means fine or cool]
- Karibu: Welcome
- Mzungu: European (as in white guy, or farang or ang moh)
- Mambo**: what’s up (and to that you reply: Poa – Cool)
- [I remember that these exchanges of Mambo–> Poa is only being used by the younger generations, and the older generations were quite embarrassed to use it since it will not be “cool” for them]
- Chakula: Food
- Mbaya: Bad
- Badaeyit: later
- Kima: Monkey
- Mbega: Colubus Monkey
- Asante: Thank you
- Sana: very much
- Asante sana: Thank you very much
- Chungu: Pot
- Pole – pole: Slowly, slowly
- Hakuna wasiwasi: No problem
- Twende: Let’s go
Last but not least, one of my favourite words and one that everyone knows: Hakuna matata (No worries)
If only Thai is this cool-sounding and as easy…
July 21, 2010
The cats have all been extra loving today. All.Three.Cats.
They all took turns almost every half an hour to check up on me this morning. One by one, each came to me to snuggle and say hi. After a while, Fudge found a gap in between my pillow and me, and in her usual repertoire, parked her ass to my face, purring away as she napped. Somehow, the other 2 cats don’t seem to mind she was in the way and continued to vie for my attention.
When I finally got out of bed, they made sure they were close to me, watching me like a hawk. It did not seem like they want food (their food bowls were full) or want their litter clean (litter still fresh). Yet, I’m being followed everywhere I go with Donut squeaking, Fudge howling and Andy wailing away in the distance (that usually means she found a toy and she wants you to know and come to her!).
I feel so loved today. Is there such a thing as affection overload? 😀
July 19, 2010
Paul Weller’s Wild Wood is indeed one of my all-time favourite tunes. I love his voice…rough on the edges, but extremely soothing to the ears and soul. As with most of my favourite music, lyrics will always be one of the key factors that always get me.
In this case, the song (especially the chorus) resonates with the way I see my live; how I have been living it, regardless the obstacles … and eventually getting to where I should be going.
“Climbing forever trying
Find your way out of the wild wild wood
Now there’s no justice
There’s only yourself that you can trust in
And I say, High tide – mid afternoon
Oh people fly by in and the traffics boom
Oh knowing, just where you’re blowing
Getting to where you should be going”
There’s a little bit of reflection to things of the past, topped with a tinge of soul searching which I feel is reflecting me as an individual who,with some sense of direction, is just trying to get by in life…while finding my way out of the wild wood (at times, with massive forest fires!).
The acoustic version is such a brilliant piece here. Enjoy!
