LIM PEH SI HOKKIEN LANG

Yesterday afternoon…..

“Nang ning nang…..un chuah gia teok ….. chi ki seo hor suah…. Hong tua…”

(The two of us - why take one small umbrella… the wind is blowing hard….)

I called Ann and told her to listen to it. Both of us almost died giggling. So happened that; she was carrying an umbrella while taking my phone call.

I am not saying something vulgar here. This is just one of the songs being played in office throughout the day. When I was little, this used to be the famous hokkien karaoke song. I think even now, if you have elderly singing karaoke - my mom and dad’s era – you would listen to them singing to this song – or the famous “Chia Cham” (Bus station) or Ann’s personal favorite – soo soo liam liam.

When I first started working here, I was not used to the patriotic song at approximately 8.30 every morning. I said approximate because, sometimes it would be 2-3 minutes early. It seems the song is getting played earlier and earlier. My sis and I made it a point to reach office before they blast the stereo system with the patriotic song, or else you are considered late. Towards the end of the month – you will kena one memo from management.

At times, they would play songs of the 80s or 90s that I like – some Kenny G, George Benson’s Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You, Air Supply…. They also have Teresa Teng – and I find myself liking them. I have an old heart.

But this hokkien song is a bit too much lah. It was a good thing that the songs are purely instrumental. Or else, I think we would be listening to those Phua Chu Kangs singing along to the hokkien songs in the office. My colleagues must be thinking I am mad for giggling or sniggering whenever a hokkien song is being played. My neighbor colleague didn’t even know that these are hokkien songs.

It is great for laughs though. Geez… I still can’t get over it.