When you have no words
28 Jul
My stay in Sydney has been busy but somewhat relaxing. We’re spending a lot of time catching up with friends and family like what we always do, but this time it feels a bit different.
A dear friend once put it in a succinct way, “Once it’s official you are getting married, they are so much nicer to you!” Not that the kangaroo clan has never been nice to me but they are even nicer now, if that’s possible. And I think it goes both ways – my folks love the kangaroo and I feel so blissed out that both families accept us both for who we are.
Sorry for all the marriage and family talk but it really does feel like I’m entering unchartered territory and I’m still marveling at what is strewn my way.
Though we both speak English, coming from two different cultures makes for puzzling incidents and funny gaffes. The kangaroo puts “lah” at the end of every sentence indiscriminately just to make me laugh; I finally know what “fair dinkum” means (honest, true) and that only out-of-touch Aussie politicians use it; the importance of Asian face is still somewhat a mystery to the kangaroo…and many more.
Let alone the rest of the kangaroo clan understanding Singaporean culture and my mystifying brand of vegetarianism, and vice versa.
And sometimes I am rendered speechless in certain situations, so I realized all you have are actions, and well, food.
Mrs Kangaroo has been receiving depressing reports about a close relative suffering from a dangerous brain tumor and was in tears this late morning. I wanted to say something kind and comforting but found no words and so I offered to make lunch, to which she kissed me on the cheek and sighed, “You’re making chicken? You’re not eating chicken? Yu Ming you are so sweet.”
So I made Asian chicken stir fry with orange juice (this is not my photo and there was no rice in reality; photo credit here):
Recipe:
Juice of one large orange
2 small chicken breasts, sliced
Half a white onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, chopped
Splash of sesame oil
Dash of soy sauce
Generous pinch of black pepper
Marinate the chicken in everything but the onion and garlic for half an hour. Sautee garlic and onion in olive oil and then slide in the meat and marinade. Simmer for 10 min and it’s done.
I made a huge salad with rocket, alfalfa sprouts, corn, cucumber, baby tomatoes, avocado drizzled with a parsley dressing, to accompany the chicken and I paired my huge helpings of salad with raw crackers from Raw Pleasure, an Aussie raw online store.
Tears were gone and ice-cream was also consumed and peace and harmony were restored for the time being.
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ooo indeed food is the best universal language of love!!
)
Yes, I think it’s a great way to show you care…..
I`m sorry to hear about your fiance`s family relative. it must be tough but you are there for them!
the chicken does look yummy!
I agree on the “nicer” statement! lol
Thanks for the kind words. I’m enjoying getting to know the kangaroo clan even better
I get what you’re going through.. Lol. My Oz hubs loves his LAR (he worked in Kuala Lumpur for 4 years) like in sentences that doesn’t really need a Lah! It does annoy me to bits!
Well practice makes perfect, he believes… Sigh!