Tag Archives: Hong Kong

Separation Anxiety, Part 2

21 Jul

This has been a busy month for us, traveling again in a spate of two weeks. I think both M1 and M2 are used to it already by now, being older and having more activities to keep them occupied.

Tonight as we prepare to fly off for another six-days of separation, I sincerely think separation anxiety should not be happening. After all, since our first trip away from them (to Hong Kong), over the years we’ve done more than a week for each of our trips to the far and the exotic, they did not seem to mind our absence.

They are much older now and with our lived-in maid taking care of them (and Grandma not troubled), they also have the pets to keep them company and school work to keep them busy, six days will fly by very soon. Anyway, there’s always Skype, iMessage and Facetime if we have to see or hear them…

Wish us a great holiday!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Separation Anxiety, Part 1

17 Jul

Many years ago, when both M1 and M2 were old enough to be left with Grandma overlooking them, I thought I could finally have an escapade and go away for a holiday with just the hubby. There was excitement as I thought, finally, they are independent enough and easy for Grandma to take care and we can have some time for ourselves. Then worried thoughts set in. Would they be fine? Would they miss us? Are we doing the right thing?

The six days plan to Hong Kong was not too extravagant as it coincided with their school term break. We were to take a holiday after attending a work-related conference/exhibition held there. The temptation was just too irresistible and thinking of the freedom from having to worry about their welfare plus timing it with the school holidays, I thought it was perfect and would not be too troublesome for my mother as well.

So off to Hong Kong we went!

However, by the fourth day of our trip, we had separation anxiety! We both started to miss them terribly! How could this be? It was the first time both of us were away from them and the separation anxiety for us was too much, it was so nauseating; we couldn’t wait for the remaining days to go by quickly. All that great holiday plans to have a good time, gone in a blink of an eye.

We came back bearing gifts for them out of guilt and you could sense our relief when we saw them again.

Their sentiments over the separation?

Nothing amiss as both were having a ball bonding with Grandma, who indulged them in so many ways that they hardly had time to miss us. Freedom backfired on us as separation anxiety got the better of us instead of them!

Image

Tags: ,

How You Spell Your Name Again??

15 Jul

Thank goodness I named the my two girls, currently code named, M1 and M2, with sensible sounding names that are easy to pronounce. Yet, we have people pronouncing them wrongly, or worst, spelling wrongly! Horrors.

During my early working years, I encountered many creative minds and with creative names, it was such an eye opener. The one that stands out most after all these years was from my working at a local publishing house. An enthusiastic ad salesman came a calling and introduced himself as Calvin but spelt, ‘Qalvin’, proudly showing me his business card!

Unimpressed, I queried him on this choice of spelling for the name and then, pointed out to him that a ‘u’ technically should follow after the ‘Q’ – typical of the letter ‘Q’.

I then went on teasing him, purposely emphasizing “QUAIL-vin” prominently, and this embarrassed the heck out of him. I guess he wasn’t impressed too for he never dropped by after that incident.

Honestly, I have no objections to one having a creative name, I am just of the opinion that it must be spelt correctly. Remember my ‘English teacher’ calling my mother intended me for? And it would be a bonus if the chosen name goes well with the person’s physical appearance.

Call me old school or whatever but wouldn’t it be more significant if one looks like their name? I often asked my girls if I had switched their names, how would it be like? They’d squint their eyes for a minute before bursting into contagious laughter! Obviously, they cannot imagine one being the other. See my point of one looking like their name?

I’ve come across a sweet lady aptly named Apple (coincidently in New York City), a bridegroom named Cyclops, perfectly healthy and with two eyes unlike what the name conjures up in the mind (only in Hong Kong you get something like this!) and of course, the timid bird-like Qalvin (in Kuala Lumpur)!

Image

Last week, I was down in Singapore attending an exhibition and met up with a ‘Seaman’ and a ‘Kinus’, from Singapore and Hong Kong respectively. I had to refrain from laughing in front of them as I found their choice of name so totally wrong with their physical appearance and country of origin.

Walking away, I commented to the hubby, “I met a Seaman.”

“Semen?” He asked incredulously.

“Oh stop it! It’s ‘s-e-A-m-A-n’. Got a couple of ‘A’s in between, ok?” I pointed out and in a way, was relieved Seaman did not look like a dick head.

“Aiyoh…. Why choose such a name?” the hubby could not fathom.

Makes me wonder too. Whatever happened to good old safe choices to avoid the embarrassment of correcting someone spelling your name wrongly?

Tags: , , , ,

Newer Entries →