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2015.02.16 | 貫性問答

[Volume 10 Issue 2, #1995]
Frequently Asked Questions... And Answers!!!
Fequently Asked Questions And Answers
唔係, 今日唔係要寫關於我呢個blog嘅問答, 只不過見農曆新年就到, 講返同新年有關嘅嘢會合理啲啫.. 咁你又會好奇, 新年問答?? 咩嚟呀?? 唔係關於新年嘅由來同傳統, 而係好多人都會好討厭嘅--你啲親戚會問, 或者應該該一定會問, 唔問會唔安樂嘅一連串問題!!
當然, 問咩問題係視乎你屬於邊一個組別:-
  • 如果你尚在求學 - 「考試考到咩成績呀?? 班上排第幾名呀??」.. 好似佢哋會在乎咁..
  • 如果你已在職場打拼 - 「依家喺邊度做嘢呀?? 做緊咩呀?? 花紅出幾多呀??」.. 好似佢哋識得晒全部大大細細公司同行業咁..
  • 如果你尚係單身 - 「你個男朋友/女朋友呢?? 幾時要結婚擺酒請飲呀??」.. 好似佢會包大封啲紅包咁..
  • 如果你係新婚或婚後無子女 - 「幾時要生返個呀?? 做乜唔生多幾個呀??」.. 好似佢哋會幫手你養啲仔女咁..
  • 如果你已成家立室有兒有女 - 恭喜你, 佢哋唔有有嘢問你, 不過就會問你關於你每一個仔女以上每一條問題!! :D

真係阿彌陀佛.. 其實大家有冇覺得呢啲問題好煩?? 尤其係啲疏堂親戚, 你一年都只係新年見佢哋一次成廿分鐘咁耐?? 不過成個新年就要不斷重復答一樣嘅問題.. 所以有乜係應酬呢啲疏堂親戚最好嘅方法??
老實講, 相信好多人都會好想答一句「關你叉事咩??」.. 不過話晒新年流流又係一場親戚, 而且多數係長輩, 點都要俾下面嘅.. 不如就咁樣:-
  • 打開你部電腦, 開啟你個文書處理軟件
  • 將你可以諗得到嘅問題一一列出, 然後逐一回答, 將你嘅答案清楚打晒出嚟
  • 將份文件打印出嚟, 單頁一張紙最好, 收好作新年用
  • 新年時若有親戚想「訪問」你, 就順手俾佢一張, 叫佢自己慢慢睇
  • 搞掂!! 我包保你位親戚肯定即刻冇嘢再要問.. :D
nope, this is not FAQ about this blog but seeing the CNY is just around the corner, it makes more sense to talk about the CNY.. and you wonder what this is?? not about the history, culture etc but rather something many would hate - questions your relatives will, or shall i say "die die" MUST, ask.. if they don't ask, they cannot survive the day!!
of course the questions follows the category you come in:-
  • if you are studying - "how is your result?? what is your academic rank in class??".. as though they really care..
  • if you are working - "where are you working?? what are you currently doing?? how many months of bonus??".. as though they know all companies and industries..
  • if you are single - "where is your boyfriend/girlfriend?? when are you getting married??".. as though they are going to give you a bigger angpow..
  • if you are just married or married with no kids - "when are you going to have your baby?? why not have more children??".. as though they are going to help raise up your children..
  • if you are married with children - congratulations, you will not be asked any questions about yourselves, but each and every question above on each and every of your children!! :D

holy!! don't you find that irritating, especially in the case where those relatives are not close to you at all and you only see them for 20-minutes once a year during CNY, and you are repeating the same thing again and again?? so, what may be the best way to entertain this group of relatives??
okay, i know some of us may very much tempted to reply "none of your business" but it's CNY and they are afterall your relatives and probably seniors, not good to do so huh?? okay, just follow the steps below:-
  • turn on your PC or laptop etc, open up your word processing application
  • list down all the frequently asked questions you can think of and then type in your answers to each of them
  • print them out into single-page sheets and keep them aside for CNY
  • if any of your relatives is going to catch up with you, just politely hand them one and get them read that piece of paper
  • DONE!!! and i guarantee they are going to shut their mouth immediately.. :D

93 comments:

  1. Hahaha, I already pass this section long time ago as I also hardly go "bai nian" and those relatives also hardly come talk to me la!! So one care to ask!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Studying ~ I usually answer, like that lo, same same every year, forgot already!!

      Working ~ Got people dare to ask about the bonus de meh?? I will answer "I don't want to tell you!"

      Single ~ I'll reply waiting for you to introduced lo, you never introduce to me, how could I get one ya???

      Just married or married with no kids ~ Currently I don't have la!! Aiyo thought give birth to egg meh, you want then you got, now got a lot want to give birth also don't have the chance!!

      Married with children ~ why don't you go ask them yourself ya??

      Basically like I said no one dare to ask me anything, if give ang pow also just give like that, mostly no one ask!!

      Delete
    2. They give up already ? hahaha...
      Anyway, don't take the questions seriously la. Just them a generic reply.

      Delete
    3. Sheta, hehe sometimes really best to stay at home nia right? No need go pai nian, kekeke, or at least go yum cha with friends is better, less stress.

      Delete
  2. muahahaha!!! Getting the script ready, eh? Oh yah, I hate all those standard questions. Which is why I actually dread visiting relatives or when they come visiting. I wish they would ask more interesting questions. The "'When are you getting married" one is the one I hate most!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. errr. .when are you planning to get married? oops...

      Delete
    2. Chris Au!! Don't be naughty :D

      Delete
  3. FAQ during CNY by all those aunties uncles and “sam koo look poh”, interesting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let me think.. I guess this happens to everyone, huh.. Especially if you have smarter and cleverer siblings.. They will ask stuffs like “Your sister went to what U what U, what U you wana go?” or… “My son applied for that U, to study this degree, that degree, what about you, wana study what?”..

      Delete
    2. Honestly, I never enjoyed my childhood CNY coz they ask these kinda questions a lot.. I have two elder sisters who excelled in their piano exams.. My elder sister got her diploma, while my second sister was doing her grade 7 or 8.. Me? I stopped at Grade 5.. So relatives were bz asking “Why your both sisters finished their piano exams and you didn’t”, stuffs like this.. Or even things like “Why your two sisters so skinny, like mou tak sek, but you so fat ahh, like fei mui zhai”… Gawd, God, help me !!

      Delete
    3. So this was the story when I was a teen.. After that? “Your sister got First Class Honours, do you think you can get also”… The list goes on.. You see, these are the questions you would often get if your sister/brother/sibling are smart people.. Stress.. Pressure..

      Delete
    4. Ok, after graduation? Bf, gf, paktor thingy.. Everything also can ask one wor.. Like, do you have a bf.. Why are you still not paktoring.. Ask Aunty XXX or YYY to “kai siew” to you, jadi “mui yan”, eeeeyer, bising !! Malas mau layan !!

      Delete
    5. Wedding banquet? Also got things to say one wor.. “3rd brother’s daughter got married last year and they had suckling pig dish, but here, we only get roast chicken”.. Aunties and uncles might sit among themselves and gossip together, we’ve been through that, eh? But of course they never ask upfront at your face la, they gossiped behind only..

      Delete
    6. After that? Still got.. I’ve been through this.. Ask me..

      “Your sister already pregnant wor, when you wana get pregnant” .. Then after you get your first child…. “when you wana get a second child”.. If you get two boys, then next year, they will ask “When you wana try for a girl”.. Or if you have two girls, they will ask “When you wana try for a boy”.. Gawd, I can continue the whole day.. So just end here la..

      Oooohhh, since we’re in this topic, last year, they said “Eh, you don’t work la, stay home be a siew-lai-lai la, ask your hubby to “yeong” you la”.. Stupid bladdy fool, I think they wana dig information to see if hubby is rich or earning big, idiots !!! I really feel pissed off, coz hubby is really not the rich type ma.. And we are not rich.. If I’m rich ahh, you no need say also I will become siew-lai-lai jor la, kan?

      Delete
    7. And, CNY is coming.. I wonder what they will ask this year..

      Delete
    8. hehehe .... luckily I don't have issues with studies as I am the top in the family. But then, I am the latest to get married... thus you know la... Anyway, its history now.

      Delete
  4. Usually, every year after my grandparents passed away, we will gather at my 大伯 house every 1st day of CNY, my cousins has young kids, my aunties/uncles will be busy entertaining the kids, no time to care about me, hahaha....

    ReplyDelete
  5. Let's tackle question number 3 first which is my "favourite". Level one - "So, where is your boyfriend?"

    1. I don't know which one to choose to bring home, so I left them all behind.
    2. I left him behind because he doesn't eat pork.
    3. I am keeping my options open, so who knows I might meet someone awesome here. Gotta be free to check the new guy out, eh? (click your tongue and give your relative a wink)
    4. My boyfriend is a model and he sorta looks like Leehom. I didn't want him to come and steal my thunder.
    5. Hello? He is celebrating with his parents lah!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Continuing to Level 2 of favourite question - "When are you getting married?". Chi sin questions need chi sin answers.

    1. What for? The ang pow collections is damn good and I'm going to collect every year. Why kill off this income stream?
    2. The feng shui loh said that at this point in time, our stars collide lah, so not so auspicious. But in 2019 our stars will be in harmony. Give me your email and I'll keep you posted.
    3. I enjoy being single! If it ain't broke why fix it?
    4. I am a very selfish person, I cannot conform to the rules and regulations of married life. I cannot imagine dealing with screaming kids. Nope. I am so not getting married!

    ReplyDelete
  7. When I was in school/university, I was asked these questions :
    1. What do you want to be when you grow up?
    2. What will you do after SPM?
    3. How many As do you think you can get/did you get?
    4. Are you going to Form 6 or A Level?
    5. Are you going to study overseas? Where/ Which university?
    6. What course are you doing? What kind of job can you get with this field? Will it pay well?
    7. Are you going to do your Masters/MBA?

    Chinese New Year is supposed to be fun but in the end it end up more depressing than exam week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Getaway next year ... go for a vacation or hang out with friends!

      Delete
  8. Good morning


    errr...since Chinese New Year is coming hor....so where are you working now? Bonus berapa ya? Got 3 months bonus ka?

    Err.....bila wanna kahwin. faster lo...kahwin then get one or two anak ...muhahaha....your father waiting to drink daughter-in-law tea leh

    *just imagine the above sentences spoken is a 3ku 6 poh mode wokay :p *

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bonus cannot tell la... dah kahwin ... why ? want to intro char bo to me ah? hehehe

      Delete
  9. you sure or not that this way will shut their mouth up.? Later it will set their tongue wagging more leh... Nanti habis every Chinese New year gathering will say wah...this year that stuck up daughter/son of 3rd aunty tarak print list for us to read ka? blah blah blah ...

    ReplyDelete
  10. anyway...happy Chinese New year SK and all. Gotta run now. tata

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mamarazzi in holidays mood already ho? Hehe!

      You too have a fantastic year of goat! Mehhhh....

      Delete
  11. When I started my job at an accounting firm they love these questions :
    1. Eh, but you don't have an accounting degree? Can still work there, ah?
    2. What has science got to do with accountancy?
    3. How much do they pay you? (This is the most moronic of the lot)
    4. Why are you not working as a scientist?
    5. Why can't you find a job related to your degree?

    Seriously lah people, I am already stressed out at the office and CNY is a holiday. Last thing I want is to be reminded of work. Please don't ask me about my job arrghhh!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just smile at them and said you are still considering lor...

      Delete
  12. Then these relative like to tell you that so and so's son or daughter is working in this MNC or some big shot company and salary 8K per monh, some more bonus 6 months blah..blah..blah... and does your company pay that well too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Then you scared them back... As big shot can be very stress. Lots of big shots kena heart attack.. Stroke.... Ask them to take care of health. Muahahahha

      Delete
    2. So evil one! But this will sure keep them quiet hah..hah...

      Delete
    3. Well this is the sad part, sometimes after they ask about you, they will start to compare. It's not good obviously, but what can we do right? We cannot stop them from asking, and we cannot act rude or walk away. So just pandai pandai 'zap sang' lo! Like I said, try not to feel offended, don't take it seriously la, afterall it's just a catch up session. Left ear in, right ear out, if we need to ^^

      Delete
    4. Agreed with Hayley! If possible, just walk away...

      Delete
  13. The last two questions thank God I am not there yet so I have two less questions to deal with. Anyway, most of my relatives have already stopped asking me THAT question after they got a lecture from me.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Another irritating set of people are those cousins who are going to get married or are just married (still lovey dovey honeymoon mood) and they like to ask "So when is your turn?" And they make like they are sikit atas just because they are married/getting married and you are not.

    But after a few years and a baby or two later, they don't ask me anymore lah.

    ReplyDelete
  15. But last year there was a breakthrough when a relative sounded out the positive side of remaining single. She told me, don't bother - live your life as it is right now because you don't have husband problems and headache with children etc. Be happy as marriage is not a necessity. That was really so refreshing. I am not against marriage, OK? It is a choice, not something to push down someone's throat.

    ReplyDelete
  16. At the end of the day, I think we need to give those uncles and aunties a break lah. Though their questions may be intrusive (or downright rude), they are just curious or concerned or they just don't know what else to ask you. They may be thinking that their question is relevant to your circumstances at that point in time. So the best thing is to smile and laugh it off or give them a vague or witty answer. After all, it is not auspicious to be rude :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They don't know what to ask la... cannot ask them to come to your house and diam diam right? Let me ask and you answer with generic questions.

      Delete
    2. Oops.typo..let them ask ...

      Delete
    3. PH, I second that, I mentioned that in my comment below.
      Sometimes they are just being concerned la. Who knows when I grow older already I will start to act like them too? Ngek ngek ngek....

      Delete
  17. Oi, Thambee, this giving them a printout thing is much more ruder than telling them in the face "None of your business" lah! It is like telling them: "Auntie, I already know you are a sei bat por, I prepare for you already!".. LOL!

    Seriously though, I think we have to sit in, not to please those relatives, but to please our parents. The whole point of these chui sui exercises are to one up each other, flashing cock to see whose is bigger, or in this case flashing the kids to see whose kids more successful. You should sit in and reply with exaggerated answers, like if the auntie ask: "How much your salary?", you should say "Okay okay only lah, RM 50k only"; or if they ask: "Where's your girlfriend?", you can say: "Just broke up with her, aiya no good one that girl, only aim my money". Most important is make those aunties speechless so that they cannot make their own exaggerations of their kids. You must create that illusion that your mom wins. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree, those aunties always like to compare and see whose kids are more successful. If want to ask questions, should ask out of concern, like "are you doing well in your job? Met any difficulty? Don't worry, new year will be a good year for you." Should say all positive things to encourage and motivate and not to compare.

      Delete
  18. It's almost the same whether for CNY or Raya or Deepavali, I guess. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kak Lina lari during raya...they cannot catch you!

      Delete
  19. But then I also evil la...ask back the same questions to my nieces and nephews...those that you listed especially the singles....muahahahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hah..hah.. Chris Au in uncle mode. But actually those are quite standard questions and I find myself asking questions too but filtered version and I don't ask when they are getting married :D

      Delete
    2. I ask merely to kacau them ..hehehee

      Delete
  20. Usually they always confirmed whether am I working in SG, what I worked as, are the children staying and studying there...etc. And likely kena question if I give a yes or no answer. Like why not stayed there for good..or why stayed there. Hahah

    ReplyDelete
  21. SK.. When you getting married?muahahahaha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walau eh! Your CB mouth ask this question that he loathes and you Kena deduct 50 marks for being offensive! Muahahahaha

      Delete
  22. OK la..else no questions to ask and all Diam Diam also no good.

    ReplyDelete
  23. On the other hand, I feel that as long as the questions asked are not irritating or too personal, I think it's all right. After all, it's a catch up with your relatives where you guys don't meet each other always, unless those very close ones. Just update each other lor and have a great time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, like I said, if we are ok then we just answer, else just smile over it, no need to get stress.

      Delete
    2. But but but, still depends on situation, if I know the relative who is very long winded one is coming, I'll get ready and hide in the room, wahaha, very bad I know :p

      Delete
  24. Since most of my relatives are friends with me on Facebook and I also kinda active on Facebook, they just confirm what they know about me like asking me if I have been jogging a lot lately... Lol

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is an interesting topic which I have suffered so much in my whole life when CNY comes. My grandfather had 3 wives, 17 children and 58 grandchildren. My Ang pow was always a lot in total even though I never collected from all eligible givers. So, the price of their hard to reach-my-hand Ang pows had to come with good greetings and very sarcastic questions!! &$@£%#!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thambee might recall the age I got married and the years I Kena from my busy body relatives and family friends. I was a smooth talker and always cracked them up with silliest answers that sent my parents laughing instead!! My mum always defended me instead and told them she was proud and happy for me to work & live well. She says better leave marriage to fate! Oh my mama believed in fate too!

      Delete
    2. I always told my aunties that nobody wanted to marry me. POOR ME,!
      They told me not to be choosy as plenty of gals everywhere. I replied, oh yeah at the 7-Elevens and night clubs??

      Delete
    3. I was wondering why those nasty and brainless questions had to come from all my aunties?? Not even a single uncle ever asked me these lame questions! Adoi.... All the makciks please eat Small Kucing's Nian gao and glue their mouths shut! Wakakakaka

      Delete
    4. Honestly I do not believe that a person has to be handsome, pretty, wealthy or brainy to find a spouse. Nah! It has to do with one's destiny and fate. Being single has more advantages too if one knows how to enjoy life as happiness is all around us. I always spent time analyzing my married friends who have ended up in divorce (20%) and the others have marital or serious financial problems (70%). This percentage is just my own mental estimates..... So probably 10% have less problems.

      Delete
    5. Usually the ladies will kaypoh mah. The uncles just either sat down and snooze off or play mahjong.

      Delete
  26. My aunt always ask us "what you working as right now?", standard question

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My aunt always like to ask us about our job and our salary, how much we are paid, don't know ask for what purpose, to compare?

      Delete
    2. If ask out of concern for us then it is ok, but if ask out of kaypoh or want to compare, then I think it is not necessary.

      Delete
  27. Sidetrack a bit, whenever I know that my mom is alone at home and I am outside, I would be worried for her, afraid that she might feel lonely and stuff like that, I would call her and ask "are you ok staying alone at home, don't worry, I would be back home early."

    You see, good questions are those questions asked out of concern for someone.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hehehehe, I don't face this issue because I almost never go "bai nian" to my relatives' house and they also do not come to my late father's house to "bai nian". This is because my late father will go "bai nian" to his siblings house alone to give out ang baos and collect ang baos on our behalf to give us children at home.

    However, I now belong to the other group as I often ask my niece and nephew about their studies whenever I see them, not only during CNY gathering. I see them like around 12 times a year I would think on average. They are both studying so I will ask them questions like:
    1. Are you ready for your exams?
    2. What papers are you sitting for?
    3. How do you go to school?
    4. What is your favourite subject?
    5. Where do you want to further study?
    6. What are you going to study?
    7. What do you plan to work as when you grow up? And if they say they do not know, I will proceed to ask them more questions like do you like science or arts? Do you want a sit at your desk the whole day job or a sales job?
    And I am genuinely interested in their answers. I am sure when they grow up and enter into the phases of life in your questions, I will be asking them the very same questions you listed above. Later when they are married, I will tell them it is ok to not have children. I don't know whether they will see me as you see your relatives or not. But so far, they are very polite and nice teenagers.

    So one day, if they do like your suggestion of printing out the faq and hand out, I would be very surprise because so far, I have not seen anyone do it. Furthermore I think it is more "dangerous" to print out the faqs because whatever said verbally can be forgotten fast but whatever is written in black and white may come back to haunt you. The faq paper may also end up in the wrong hands and be used against you.

    Having said that, I wonder whether anyone has done what you suggested or not. Do you know of anyone who has done it? Have you done the CNY faq handouts yourself? If not, will you be doing it this year?

    Another way is maybe write an online faq and whatapps the link to all the relatives who ask those questions. In that website, maybe can have a button that says, askmeanything to add more questions to that faq.

    ReplyDelete
  29. lol! Yes, it is so stressful to think of how to answer those questions. I never ask questions like these to my friends or relatives when I go visiting them.

    But, after I have married with 2 girls, you know the most frequent question to me is what?

    "When are you going to chase for another boy?"

    My answer is "My husband doesn't want. Not me." I will push to my husband. Not sure because of his face is always looking serious, no one dare to ask him wo!


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Then if people ask your husband, he will say it's you who don't want, 推来推去,xixixi... make the relatives pening/confuse, ngek ngek....

      Delete
  30. Aiyo! Bonus cannot tell la! Salary also cannot tell one.

    But, when I naughty, I will ask my friend, those still in relationship one, "Still with her/him or not? Still together ah? Not yet broke out? " I m more direct la. I think this is better than "Why not getting married?, no?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But I met people who really terang terang ask how much is the salary/bonus one *sweat*

      Haha, the way you ask is funny, I guess you are just joking la when you ask 'not yet broke out?'. If they know you are joking they won't mind but what if some people very serious and 小气 one, they will feel offended leh!

      Delete
    2. I think most people from the small villages and towns would bluntly ask anyone about their earning salaries and bonus!! That is alright and tactful to them to ask without qualms! I always kena from them and they would stare at me in disbelief that I could be so reserved, secretive and unfriendly plus "narrow minded" as they have labelled me. The male adults are even crazier to ask directly about sexual encounters as they tend to share everything openly. One guys even flashed his genitals just to show off his pierced rings! Wakakakaka I am telling the truths!

      I think we are the ones who have set rules with closed mind to make our lives difficult with ego & certain reserves! Agree boh?

      Delete
  31. But, SK, your method of printing a list of answer and passing to them to read themselves is even more sarcastic than telling them off directly. lol!

    But it is a good suggestion though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ask people who is still single and already old enough to get married, "Have you found a girl/boy friend? " is simply too rude.

      Ask couple who is getting married, but no kids "Why still no baby?" is also very bad.

      Ask couple who has only girls, "Why not trying for son?" is also no good right?

      Better just smile and eat peanut cookies.

      Delete
    2. To be honest, Yannie also finds going "bai nian" very stressful and troublesome. But, Yannie cannot get rid of it. Yannie has no more parents. If Yannie isn't going to visit aunties and uncles. they will say Yannie has poor parentage background.

      Yannie has to go to visit Yannie's aunties and uncles. Yannie has to go visiting Yannie's hubby's aunties and uncles.

      Yannie actually prefer to stay home watching TV and feasting on cookies. If have time, Yannie prefers to go to gym to sweat all the fat out.

      Delete
    3. Yannie, it's true, sometimes visiting relatives during CNY is unavoidable. If you do it once, you have to do it every following years, else you will start to hear lots of things liao, hoho!
      Thinking at the bright side, at least just for CNY, once a year only so still ok la!!

      I am like you, I prefer to stay at home watch Astro (cause there will be lots of nice movies/shows), drink Shandy, eat peanut cookies, then can just wear casually.
      When I wasn't pregnant last year, I also will find some exercise to do, jogging at the lake garden, or go sauna if the shop opens. I feel much better with this.
      Now, cannot already la obviously... with my sticky Aden around...

      Delete
  32. I have also overheard some conversations where some well meaning auntie tells the young couple/young mother what to cook for the baby, which kindy to send to and later on what school to go to. And then what course to after the kid's A levels hah..hah... Already so stressed dealing with a baby first time, now have to hear about the many steps ahead. One step at a time auntie.. one step at a time...

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  33. When I was a small kid, me and my cousins actually enjoyed visiting relatives because we didn't really care much about the questions they asked. It was more for the fun of collecting ang pows and eating all the Chinese New Year goodies. Besides it was great fun going out visiting and enjoying the festive and cheerful atmosphere. I do miss those days.

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    1. Small kids sure love and enjoy CNY, get to receive ang pao and eat ma! Plus being a kid we no need to answer questions, no stress, can just enjoy to the max!
      But as we grow up, things changed... Lebih lebih lagi if we are married with kids, usually it's a busy time, sometimes no mood also la....
      Like what I feel right now is, being married already means no longer receive ang paos (except those from our parents/in laws), on the other hand we have to prepare ang paos (burden in terms of financial), then got to prepare things for our own kids, they come in as priority.
      Then I myself no longer really anticipate CNY since few years ago (except for the part which I can go do hair/manicure/pedicure/shopping for clothes), cause macam nothing much fun to do already... All my friends are married and got kids, it's hard for us to organize a gathering since everyone also got family to handle, so not many yum cha sessions liao. Last time when single still can go friend's house to gamble, hehe, now hard already cause got to bring along the kids =_=
      Hmm, things changes la to be short....

      But I know CNY is not all about these la, most importantly is everyone in the house is back and it feels merrier. And I can take this chance to really 'rest' cause hubby is around ma!

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  34. But as I got older I found this ritual of visiting and being visited by relatives quite tedious. I mean it is lovely having the company of close relatives, people whom we are comfortable with have known for a long time. But the rest of the relatives that are not close, well it can be quite awkward to make conversation and more so when they start asking those standard questions. I actually dread it and that's the main reason I chose to stay away. I prefer to spend the time with just my siblings, parents and close aunties and uncles.

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    1. True, sometimes seeing those really-long-time-no-see relatives can be quite awkward, less topics to talk, in fact don't know how to start the conversation also... I really don't know how to deal with this, maintain silence also no good, but at the same time, don't know what to talk about also, cause so long time never see already, sometimes feel insecure if let each other know too much ma!

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  35. It would be a good strategy during this time to gear up for questions or topics to ask back to the relatives. Can change subject and find other more interesting or meaningful things to talk about rather than the same old same old every year. In fact if it works out, we can actually enjoy the conversation and even find common ground and shared interests.

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  36. Ahaha, this post comes just in time! Those questions, I am sure many of us kena until numb already!!

    Being able to celebrate CNY is no doubt a happy occasion, we get to makan and minum besar, we get to reunite with family and relatives, we get to gather with friends and etc. But that also means, we have to face some irritating circumstances, like what you listed here la, meeting relatives (especially those we see only once a year) and answer to all sorts of questions.

    Studying case, yea, they are concern about where/which school, and also the results, then they will advise you to study hard, so that you don't have to suffer in the future...
    Working case, similar to study one la.. Some will ask in an indirect way how much is your salary/bonus, some pula muka tebal one will ask directly one, hoho. Those ask directly one ar, seriously how to answer ho? Takkan tell you terang terang how much I earn meh? Most also can just answer 'ok la, enough to survive la..'.
    Then the 3rd, 4th and 5th questions are the most interesting one. Sure relatives/elderly will ask. And I wanna 补充 the last question, if you are married with kids, they will still got more things to say (based on my experience), which is to ask you to have more kids! They will say 要生就一次过,不要隔太久,会辛苦的 bla bla bla..

    This year, I selamat a bit, cause I am pregnant for the second time already, temporarily they got nothing much to say la, but next year, when they see me got 2 children, then they might continue to ask me to have more.. =_=

    Anyway, in my opinion, no matter what situations you are in, sure people got things to add on/comment one la! As relatives, we don't wanna act rude so usually I'll just keep quiet and smile over it. If possible, give a bit like 'beh syok' face, like boring face, when they see you act like this, they will automatically back off. LOL!

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    1. But in the end, 我要说句公平的话啦,although these questions can be irritating/scary, sometimes the elderly are just being concern la, if someone is not concern about you, he/she also won't care to ask/know so much... (Although you can say they are being a bit kepo also la :P)

      So anyway, it depends on individual lo! If like then answer, if not just ignore it, no need to take it seriously.. Cause CNY is suppose to be fun and happy ma! No need to get offended with these questions.

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  37. Better to have relatives asking you these questions than no one asking at all.. now that my mom has passed on, relatives will become lesser and lesser, meaning visiting will become less... and sooner or later, no more questions to be answered.. I am talking about myself here... our CNY is getting quieter each year..

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  38. Every year, we go visit our relatives and they are bound to ask questions. Well, I think that's the only way to get us communicating. Otherwise, each and everyone will just sit, eat and watch tv.

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  39. 咁咪好似啲公司𠴱啲Q&A?哈哈哈!

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  40. midnight blog walking here ~ XD

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    1. Shooo!!! Shooo!!! Sleep walking again. Hope you fall inside the longkang outside your house.




      XD Muahahahaha

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  41. 哈哈哈~
    是像寫履歷表那樣嗎?
    都幾方便的渦~

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  42. I started to tease many young kids now during this Chinese New Year visits. I would give them red packets and ask about their age, school studies, ambitions and BF/GF stuffs. Their faces often turned red and blushed in purples! Naughty Anay took revenge and hope when they grow up, they will blog about this stupid uncle who is so kay poh!

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