Dancing Buttacupp

These past few weeks have been really crazy with deadlines and no sleep, but nevertheless, something was salvaged from the whole experience.

I was very excited to take part in the Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Week and donate my blood. One of the first to arrive earlier than scheduled, I checked my weight on the scale and was relieved and ecstatic that I passed the initial stage. Past experiences show that either I was already donating (you girls know what I mean) or because I wasn’t ‘heavy’ enough. Basically, I have been waiting a long time to do this bid for society.

After getting my blood tested and passing the 2nd stage ( I was free of any ailments),I moved on to see the 3rd Doctor. So he checked my blood pressure. We were engaged in an interesting conversation. "Is this your first time?"

I replied happily,"Yes" .

"The minimum amount of blood that you can donate for your weight is 450 ml. Do you agree to that?"

"Yupp, no problem."

Dr Blood Taker smiled. Soon after, his expression froze.

"I’m afraid you are not eligible to donate anymore."

Naturally alarmed, "Why not?"

"You have really low blood pressure"

"But I’ve been eating a lot lately. I even passed the the minimum weight mark."

Not wanting to argue or get frustrated, I spoke to him a little more about my " blood pressure". After getting advice from the Doc, I accepted my fate and walked out. I told my colleagues the story and they felt for my pain.

Then one pal commented, "Asma, the scale is not accurate-lah. I just weighed myself yesterday, but today I am 6kg heavier".

DING DONG

Funny. ANd I was so happy thinking I had gained weight. Darn.

-Asma wan signing off-

Staying in a small town, devoid of big glitzy shopping malls, the trendy hang outs, coffee houses, and the whole works…forces you to adapt to a more humble lifestyle. Not that I was ever used to the popular Starbucks or Coffee Bean. Actually, I am more of a teh-tarik person. Perhaps it’s my low-tolerance for caffeine as I prefer milk or plain water ( I’m not a heavy coffee/tea drinker).

Having said that, I tend to get conscious of the local folks’ well-being. How do they survive? PD’s main economic driver is tourism. Tourism is a seasonal activity. If not for school breaks, festive seasons or long holidays, you hardly see anybody. Then if we’re faced with a serious issue such as the tsunami scare, we see less travelling to PD.

Ever since moving to PD, I frequent the local stalls/restaurants and purchase my groceries from the neighborhood sundry shops. I have only eaten at KFC twice since staying in PD. Why would I do that when I can buy it at a cheaper price at The Store or Billion (yes, they are the main attraction)?

Simple. I treat the sundry shops as 7-Eleven and your gas-station convenient stores. They charge higher prices because people are desperate for food/necessities and really can’t argue over the price. Still, people still purchase their goods at 7-Eleven regardless of the price. Nobody complains. Similarly, sundry shop prices are either equal or cheaper than 7-Elevn/gas station marts. Granted, they are not nearly as competitive as the big commercialized hypermarkets. Even so, sometimes price difference to the hypermarket is only 10 cents.10 cents could not cover 1/20 of my gas, toll and parking if I were to go the nearest hypermarket (Makro, Seremban). Of course if people live in a walking-distance to a hypermarket it’s not a problem.

Indeed, I don’t buy in bulk, and not for the consumption of many individuals in my household, staying alone and all. However, I think my small purchases do help the local business.

Is it nationalism? Not really but you can say that it partly is. To me, it’s a sense of responsibility and pride. I am happy that Malaysians are taking risks and getting involved in business. My purchases signify my support and encouragement for them to do better. They have to compete nonetheless; deliver the same product and service quality, but they normally lose in pricing. That is one of their obstacles. Although pricing is the result of efficiency, we can’t expect sundry shops to be efficient. They don’t produce the goods. They just buy and sell them back. Besides that, they hardly think of adding value to their services/products. They know that big players are here to stay, but they don’t do anything about it. No medium & long term plan. No diversification.

I was talking to a local businessman and he was complaining about fierce competition and unscrupulous customers. Yes, liberalization is hurting many parties. Thre seems to be more cheaters these days too. What amazed me is that he has a good business, provides good services. Moreover, he doesn’t seek charity nor does he resort to shady means to stay afloat. Those few businessmen that succeed from their own hard work rather than rely on handouts (or the ill-utilization of them). Sadly, he never thought of ‘improving’ his business by implementing cost-effective (cheap) practices. Ok, the guy is probably uneducated and started from scratch. So, I gave him a few suggestions. The dude was really taken aback. I guess nobody really cared to tell him.

Nobody really cares anymore.

I wish him and all aspiring entrepreneurs the very best.

The Highlight of the Week:

1) Saving a dog from getting run over by well…my friend and me

My friend Dilla (bukan nama sebenar) normally sleeps over my rented house a day/two during the working week. Now she makes sure we watch Beauty & the Geek together (this reality show is so cool unlike the Bachelor, Outback Jack & Joe Millionare- it actually teaches people a lesson). When there is a sleepover, we carpool to work.

On this bright and sunny day, as we were nearing our office (sitting solitarily on the top of a hill), a puppy was crossing the street, unaware of an (our) approaching car. Instinctively I would have honked at it to move, but my friend just kept going (assuming the pup wld run off) . When we the pup didn’t move she did an emergency brake.

Both in shock, Dilla instructed me to examine whether we just killed the pup.

I went out, peered at her tyres, and nearly fainted cos i couldn’t see the dog- but then there was no blood splatter either…

Then I heard a faint but very frightened wimpering. It was the pup!

It was so scared that it did not want to move underneath Dilla’s car. So i started beckoning the pup to come towards me, "C’mere boy, let’s get you to safety " (assuming it was male). When the pup started moving towards me, I extended my hands to reach out but realized it was wet (theoretically Muslims can’t touch wet dogs…plus I must’ve forgot that it was a pup and not a kitten). As the pup came clsoer, i backed away, leading him to the fields.

In the background I heard a Shell lorry tanker approaching, and the tanker stopped as our car was parked quite strategically (right in the middle). We couldn’t hold up traffic, so Dilla drove further up nearer to the field. She called me to jump in so we could get to work.

I didn’t want to leave the pup.

On the opposite side of the road, another tanker approached. The pup clearly frightened by his environment, decided to cross the road again. When both tankers saw me still standing by the roadside calling out to ’something’, they stopped.

One driver came downa nd inspected his tyres to find the pup. Dilla was honking at me to get in.

Before getting into the car, I told the tankers that a pup was under his car.

Back in the car, both Dilla and I started talking at once, and we were close to tears.

I never knew what became of the pup, but I remembered how cute and innocent it was. After work, we tried to see if there was any ‘puppy carcass’, and was relieved to have found none.

Another animal saved from road accidents.

Everything else equal, normally I prioritize my life and that of my passengers if I were to decide which to save. However in this circumstance, we were driving slowly , and belted.

To those who remembered, and bothered to take the time and touch me with your wishes, Muchos Gracias.

I am truly blessed as He bestowed me with wonderful friends. That is truly the best gift He can ever give me. 

You were there when I could not speak, yet have so much to say

You were there on the days when I was not so strong, yet never walked away

You were there …always moving me on

Terima Kasih

This song is one of my childhood favorites. I dedicate it all to you. <May God reward you for your efforts>

————————————————————————————

And I never thought I’d feel this way
And as far as I’m concerned
I’m glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you

And if I should ever go away
Well, then close your eyes and try to feel
The way we do today
And then if you can remember

Keep smilin’, keep shinin’
Knowin’ you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for

Well, you came and opened me
And now there’s so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you

Whoa, and then for the times when we’re apart
Well, then close your eyes and know
These words are comin’ from my heart
And then if you can remember, oh

Keep smiling, keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
In good times, in bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
Oh, that’s what friends are for

Whoa… oh… oh… keep smilin’, keep shinin’
Knowin’ you can always count on me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for

Keep smilin’, keep shinin’
Knowin’ you can always count on me, oh, for sure
‘Cause I tell you that’s what friends are for
For good times and for bad times
I’ll be on your side forever more
That’s what friends are for (That’s what friends are for)

On me, for sure
That’s what friends are for
Keep smilin’, keep shinin’

<Dionne Warwick>