Thursday, June 30, 2011

Tongue in cheek


So, I came to work on the weekend to finish some experiments. The lab was generally deserted and only a colleague and I were working.

As I was working on my lab bench, I heard some noise. It sounded like someone was chanting something, saying something over and over. I looked up to see my colleague at the other bench muttering some gibberish. I first thought she was talking to someone. But no, she didn’t have a phone. I looked closely to see if she had a Bluetooth headset? (It happens all the time these days! You think someone is talking to themselves and you realize they are actually talking on their headsets). But clearly, she didn’t have a headset or anything like that.

She can’t be talking to herself for so long, I thought. It was more like she was having a conversation with herself. But I couldn’t make any sense out of what she was saying. Didn’t sound like anything English or even chinese. But she kept saying the same thing over and over.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I walked up to her and said casually, “ Hey what’s up? Are you chanting a mantra to work magic on your experiment? “
Hahaha, she laughed.
“Oh no, I was just practicing my Portugese. I just came back from my lesson. So, I’m learning how to say some phrases!!” 

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A Trendy mess


There is this old Malay man, who works in my office as a cleaner. He is supposedly 78 years old and yes, he still works for a living. And he is always jolly and flashing his ready smile at everyone.  With a broad smile or a joke to crack or even dishing out random advice, he keeps us all entertained. He is fondly called Pachek (translates to ‘Uncle’ in malay)

After years of sporting poker straight rebonded hair, I was dying to go back to my natural curls. I finally went to this new hairdresser and chopped off all the straight hair and my hair was again curly although short. I finally had a nice ‘messy’ look which I loved.
Until, pachek took one look at me and said, ‘You still young. Why so messy? Must comb your hair.’
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