Interesting Cultural Tidbits

[Osho Rewa]

I'm always eager to learn about different cultures, different ways of approaching things - so let's share interesting stuff we know/notice on this thread.

[Osho Rewa]

I asked the pretty girl on my right (she's from the Philipines) how they say Hi! in Filipino - Kumusta (how are you literally but that's how they greet).

Oye I thought I've heard that one Como Esta is How are you in Spanish. Turns out Filipino and Spanish have thousands of common words coz the Spanish were in Philipines for a very very long time and Spanish was the official language until 1973.

[Osho Rewa]

ha! makes sense Alex

[Osho Rewa]

'em Chinese like to be all tactical you know, so say we're rating women and say she's a 7, she's a 9 etc they'd say:

Ta hen piao liang - She is very beautiful - What it really means > she's extremely beautiful

Ta hen ke ai - She's very cute - What it really means > she's quite allright

Ta hen ai guo - She's very patriotic - What it really means > she's really plain looking

Ta hen shou gui ju - She obeys the rules well - What it really means > she's ugly

Ta de zi hen piao liang - Her handwriting is very beautiful - What it really means > she's ugly as a toad

zai jian!

[Osho Rewa]

Peter Fenema is from Netherlands, he traveled to Indonesia a few years ago and fell in love with the country and its people. He's become a minor celebrity in Indonesia recently, appearing on National TV and radio singing Indonesian songs fluently

YouTube- Sendiri Lagi, Chrisye (Cover by Dutch singer nlpeter)

[Osho Rewa]

I had a lady from Indonesia ask me today if I was from Indonesia after I spoke to her in Indonesian, haha felt excellent. This has happened with me earlier too, people asking me whether I am from Singapore(I'm starting to speak the local English creole Singlish quite well) and North India(I grew up with Hindi speaking friends). Funny how fast you can blend into a society if you want to.

[Osho Rewa]

In the neighboring state of where I was born, called Tamil Nadu in India, the passing away of an an old person is celebrated like you won't believe it. They serve a feast to all those around, screen a movie on the previous night and the funeral procession itself is something to see - people dancing like crazy to live music, whistling, laughing - such a different paradigm from the oh-so quiet affairs we know of.

Its giving thanks to the heavens for the long life that this person had been blessed with.