double-duty

That's my favourite word of the week! Haha I have an affinity with alliterations. Lookie that.

The Lunar New Year has been pleasantly uneventful thus far, and surprisingly, not that it matters plenty, but hongbao takings have not dwindled but have actually increased. That is pleasantly surprising, considering the recession.

I've spent some time with the Indian migrant workers so far, and it has been very amusing and interesting. Apparently, in the Tamil language, there is no such word that connotes 'is'. So this reflects a difficulty for them in grasping the English syntax. During student demonstrations, they always end up saying things in front of the class like, "My name... Bala" or "This... a book", even after repeated corrections and all. I brought over some English picture books last week that were associated with certain parables, and they were all very interested in it; just goes to show how hungry they are to learn.

And to walk to the place where we teach them, you have to walk an entire lorong, complete with seedy atmosphere and all. Pimps cat-whistle, and sex workers mingle and patiently wait for their catch outside an imposing Hotel 81.

All in a day's work I guess.