Compadre Vol. 1

I am returning this deed to Marcus, who did this 'Malay of the Week' interview on me last month for his blog (http://laughandahalf.blogg.se/2008/august/veckans-malaj-1.html#comment). So this one's for you, dawg!

What’s your full name?

Marcus Johan Harald Gamme

Where are you from and what’s your race? – a racist question…hahahah!

I´m from Sweden, and I guess my race is Caucasian then..

The thing/s you like most about Malaysia?

Eveything is cheap compared to home (but I still manage to spend more than I should haha) and of course the beautiful sites. And my lovely friends…

The thing/s that irritate you most about Malaysia?

Restrictions, I guess most from religion... Like not being allowed to wear whatever I want, whenever I want and so... and it´s not that great listening to prayers five times a day, but I try to get used to it☺! (Ty says: This is because you spent too much time in UKM..)

What’s your favorite Malaysian food?

I´m not really sure what is Malaysian or not, but the things I enjoy eating at the Kolej café is Noodle Pataya, Nasi Goreng Seafood, Nasi Goreng Ayam and Nasi Ayam.. Nasi Lemak is too spicy for a Swede, I´m sorry guys…

What musical instrument/s do you play?

Guitar, Clarinette, Drums (n´ other instruments needed to record a pop song)

What’s your opinion on long-distance relationship?

They suck! But I´m used to them..

If you were given a chance to be someone else for a day, who would you be?

Cool question! I would be Angus Young (lead guitarist) of AC/DC, I´ve always dreamt about playing guitar in front of a huge arena-crowd.

What’s your biggest fear?

To hurt people I love. (Ty says: And not bugs?)

Three words that best describe you.

Hardworking, curious, outgoing

Describe yourself when you are tipsy or drunk.

Hmm.. I don´t think I´m that different, except maybe my eyes tend to close up just a little bit.. (Ty says: I think I can add a few more on this..)

If you have to choose between money and brain, which one would it be?

BRAIN! Brain will get you money.

Delayed Annuity

I'm having the urge to write crap again. But this Financial Management quiz which will be occurring 6 hours from now is pulling me back. And I don't know shit about it. The fact that I am having a lecturer who is also the dean of the faculty doesn't help at all. Bugger can't manage. Can't teach. And speaks Kelantanese English.

Ok I'd better stop before some smug peeps start telling me that I should stop bitching because it's Ramadan.

Premiär för "Veckans malaj" by Marcus Gamme

This post was written by Marcus, one of my course mate in UKM for his blog page. It was a terrific idea and because this first premier of his brainchild featured me in it, I am now reposting it over here. And 'Veckans malaj' means 'Malay of the week' or something like it. Right, Marcus?

Hej kära läsare! Så har det alltså äntligen blivit dags, idag kickar jag igång projektet "Veckans malaj" som i intervjuform presenterar olika personer jag lärt känna under min tid här. Först ut är en kursare, som jag läser alla mina tre MBA-kurser och umgås mycket med. Jag kommer att presentera de skriftliga intervjuerna i sin helhet, på engelska, precis som frågorna besvarats. Frågorna jag ställer kommer förmodligen att variera en liten aning från person till person.. Ok, då kör vi!


Name: Tyiana Rosli

Born: and bred in Kuala Lumpur

Occupation: umm... full time procrastinator?

Are you actually even Malay? If not where are you from?
My mom is Chinese but my dad is a Malay, so I guess it makes me a Malay then. And I don´t care what my grandparents are. I am totally disgusted with Malays who likes to pull various blood mix like "ooh, my great, great, great grandparents were Irish, so I am in some way Irish too..." - oh god please... (roll eyes)

Best about Malaysia?
It is home. That´s the best thing about it. And the variety of bizarre street food I can get here.

Negative about Malaysia?
Weather is too hot!!Can you name a Swedish celebrity?
Umm again.... Marcus Gamme?

What else do you know about Sweden?
Meatballs, Volvo, IKEA, Absolut and oh, The Ice-hotel!

Favorite word(s) in Bahasa Melayu (malaysiska)?
Alamak = something like oh-my-god, but since mak is malay for mom, this is more like oh-my-mom haha...Terima Kasih = Thank you, and is pronounced as te-ree-ma-ka-seeh and ABSOLUTELY not as MAKASIAAAAAH (jag och Peyman, som är från Iran, tycker dock att det låter så, vilket vi börjat härma både ofta, glatt och högljutt till Ty´s stora irritation).

Most important place to visit during a stay in Malaysia?
Langkawi, Langkawi, Langkawi!!

Why did you choose to study at UKM?
I didn´t choose UKM. UKM chose me. Hahahah...! Honestly, I don´t really know why. It´s probably proximity infatuation...

Best club in KL?
Owh... This is difficult. It depends on what one wants. Anyplace can be a great place if you are with the right company. No?

Higlight your selection:

1. Rice vs potatoes - potatoes
2. Red wine vs white wine - white wine
3. KL vs Bangkok - KL
4. Obama vs McCain - Obama
5. Proton vs BMW - BMW
6. Langkawi vs Redang - Langkawi
7. Heineken vs Carlsberg - Heineken
8. Jude Law vs Johnny Depp - Jude Law

-Copyright M. Gamme

Ty and Again

I attended Operations Management lecture this morning and left for home half way through. I have an appointment with Un and Sterling today at noon and maybe after that, will go scout for some potential sushi meal.

There is a big difference between lying and not telling. When you don't tell, you aren't lying. And back to my 'honesty isn't necessarily the best policy' theory, I'd like to say that sometimes, 'not telling' could be the best policy.

I was recently fascinated by a line quoted by Dr. Zac over coffee. He said, 

"I can never say that I am honest but I can sure say that I am sincere."

It makes perfect sense to me.

I am no seeker for heartache. I'll be perfectly alright facing a lie as long as I don't know that it's a lie. And I don't probe around just to prove that someone is telling the truth or if someone is telling a lie. What I'm saying is that, if you're a good liar, and that by far you are doing a great job, and it somehow makes me a happier person, please keep up the awesome job and do not stop lying.

I remembered an incident one of my sisters went through with my dad. Back then, he didn't know that her daughters smoke and my sister was caught having a pack of cigarette in her bag. My dad was semi-furious, I would say, and believe me, semi-furious is grim enough. But my sister, calmly said...,

"Why were you even ransacking and snooping into my bag in the first place, Papa? If you didn't do that, you won't find the cigarette, and you won't even be angry, because then you won't have to learn the fact that I smoke."

Again, this makes perfect sense to me.

Why do we keep looking for deceitful matters? Why are we constantly thinking that the people around us are lying to us and that we are on a mission of trying to prove that these people are liars? What would we get out of that? Would we be happy? Would we get ultimate contentment for being a triumphant detective in convicting people who lie? I would say not. Instead, what we would get is just hurt and pain, a scarred self-esteem and one significant dosage of crying spell. This is definitely not what I want.

Therefore, I am taking the path where I would rather not be in the know. It is better that way. If it is detrimental to me, then don't tell. Lie if you must. Just don't hurt me because I won't hurt myself either. And be rest assured that I am not some featherbrained chick who would go through people's stuffs just to discover something I shouldn't know. Especially not if the discovery would be affecting me in a devastating manner.

The moral of the story is, if you need to lie, make sure you do a well done job in keeping it odorless. Also, please remember that what you don't know can't hurt you. So don't go sniffing around and look for trouble. The lesser you know, the better off you will be.