Shine Bright, Starlight!

This phrase appears on my whatsapp profile and I was reminded of this when the Sugu-Pavithra incident emerged in the news.

Sugu-Pavithra is a local couple who, during the MCO, became YouTube sensationw. Sugu the husband does the cutting and cooking, while Pavithra the wife holds the handphone for recording, and narrates/ explains the cooking process. Once cooking is done, their meal is served and eaten with their 2 little sons. They were awarded the YouTube Silver Play Button a few weeks back and Sugu stopped working in the estate to help Pavithra with her YouTube projects. Her (Their) first income was purportedly RM8,000 from YouTube.

Not long after, Sugu was arrested for allegedly causing harm to Pavithra- apparently he was upset about a non-mention of his name during an award ceremony, and news report alleged that in a drunken state he had hit his wife.. He is currently out on bail and has promised to do better. [Well my comment on this paragraph is based on what I have read on popular media. Please do your own research if interested, since I have not officially done a full fact-check].

After the brush with the police, Sugu deleted all videos from their YouTube account- they had 98 videos in total: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/07/611870/i-deleted-videos-says-sugu-sugupavithra. Yesterday, a lone Pavithra presented a cooking video and hubby was nowhere in sight.

My takeaway points: I do not know them but my gut feeling says that this has something to do with Pavithra's success [although I wish I am wrong]. They seem like a happy couple, but the world will never know the real story behind the scenes. I had lived that life before. Happy on the outside but crying and suppressed on the inside.

My personal wish is for Pavithra to have continued success- this is her thing that she allowed to be 'their' thing. I hope she continues shining, develop more content & enjoy the process. I also hope that the couple will resolve any issues that they may have and continue to raise their 2 boys in a happy home. On Sugu's part, I do hope that what happened was a lapse of judgement that he/ they can recover from.

My 'ayat maut' for the day: How come when men are more successful than their wives, that wife continues to be supportive yet when the situation is reversed, certain men go all ballistic? Are we not comfortable with successful women? Or is it an ego thing? I will continue to support my man and I am happy to receive full support + trust + love from my man.

For a Kinder World

Growing up I was clearly aware that Dad & Mum were from different 'races'. Mum is Chinese+Malay (I think she also has some Thai blood) from Kelantan but grew up in Penang, Dad is Javanese- second generation from the island of Java Indonesia. (I would claim that I am multi-lingual and multi-cultural, although unfortunately I cannot speak Javanese or Thai or Chinese).

At times Mum may make some jokes about the Javanese language sounding like German, and my late Dad will just laugh it off. When Mum's upset she may mention some bad habits that we have & insinuated that such habits would have come from the Javanese side of our family. Subconsciously I may have resisted my late Dad's attempt to teach me his language, having felt the implied (and wrongful) association of the language with inferiority. At this late age I am picking up various phrases in Javanese from the web, however I have missed the opportunity to learn the language properly.

Recently hubby mentioned some funny things about my Javanese heritage and I put a stop to it. He had said it in jest & I have actually forgotten what was said, however it was not necessary I feel. I will not have him create a picture in my children's mind about any race being subordinate to another. This is why the BLM issue started in the first place.

Whatever deep-seated feelings one may have towards a race, it should stop. Now. 

Our children and the world deserves better.

Back to Basics

The New Normal, as they call it, has required me to rethink a lot about education, working from home, and going out in general.

At this moment the CMCO is in effect (Conditional Movement Control Order): we can do jogs; we may participate in certain sports (like golf) that does not involve a lot of other people; we may go shopping together (2 from a household, compared to 1 before); we may travel 15km (compared to 10km before); more offices (non-essential services) may reopen except schools & universities: as a result, a lot more people are now on the move compared to before.

Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year was quiet and low-key. We visited hubby's elder brother's family; re-used our past years' clothes; ordered some food; and called my mom via video call. Quite interesting & meaningful all the same. Hari Raya is in the spirit, and this is the time to embrace it fully.

Hari Raya Aidiladha is approaching tomorrow and we have opted to stay home instead of joining the exodus. Have a safe and fun Raya to all Malaysians & others around the world.