lunch with the 33s

I used to write alot. Before the internet era, I used to carry a book everwhere I go so that I can immediately write whatever that comes to mind. Somesort of a journal. Then, I was introduced to blogs and how cool it is to have one. I started having a really private blog somewhere in 2003 or 2004 I can remember. I don't even remember the URL and the password. Then I blogged in friendster's blog. People loved my blog because I used to write about really cool yet depressing things. Haha!

I decided to shift to blogspot when I wanted to have a low profile blog so that only a few can follow. I wrote alot. About almost everything. And I had quite a number of followers. 17 as I could remember it. Hahaha.. takde la ramai sangat but ok la. I decided to privatise that blog only to myself after I saw people landed on my blog after googling my name and also my husband's name. I didn't want people to find out about me, I guess.

So here I am now, I don't mention my name or my husband's name. People can't google us and only a few knows about this blog. So, you are the chosen one. Wilkommen :)

Yesterday was an eye opener day for me. In the morning I was chatting online with my very good friend. She said that sometimes she is confused with her life. Hey, aren't we all ? Later that day, I went to the city to do some shopping and I also met my ex-Deutsch-classmates for lunch. Both of the 33 years olds just got married this year. After finishing half a chicken, a bowl of fries and a wholesome delicious salad, we got to talking about how we all landed here in Deutschland. It surprised me that they hated Deutschland and I felt differently about it. Madalina told us that she was very successful back in her homeland and so was Jasmin. I guess we all have our stories. Things changed totally after they decided to come here and follow their husbands. But I guess I am thinking it positively. At one point I told them this. 'Yeah when I talk to people back home, they said, oh you're just a housewife there? Sometimes it can make you feel really down the way that other's look at you now.' How to explain to them that it is not easy since people don't speak English here. Even all the forms are in Deutsch. How to explain that when you've only been here 5 days and you got chicken pox, after a month of being here, you husband broke his leg. And having to go to the Apotheke and to the insurance company and the bank all by yourself in foreign land that speaks foreign language. How to tell them that you had to go to the Dentist and remove 3 of your wisdom tooth and how difficult it is to talk to the administration people. How to explain that people here talk Deutsch all the time and you can't get by without learning their language. How to tell them that we don't have the luxury to go to mamak stall or gerai² to get that Mi Bandung at 10pm. We don't have the luxury to go around with our cars everywhere and the mode of transportation is by the Bus and SBahn even when we have to carry heavy things. And they ask me, you buat apa JE kat sane? Dok rumah jadi housewife JE ke? I need not to justify myself. I just say, Yup. Jadi Housewife JE. Let them think whatever they wanna think because even how crystal clear I explain how it is here, they have no idea. And they never will have the idea until the come here and see it for themselves and experience it. Germany is not like other countries. They don't operate in English. But I like the fact that this is how it is. It taught me the meaning of survival. Jasmin said that there is always another way to look at it. People don't understand that being a housewife here is so different. The biggest challenge is the language barrier. And we have a plus point that know Deutsch when we go back to our homeland, we can speak Deutsch. We are more independent.

Looking back, God gave us a test. Can I really survive it here? God knows how frustrating it is when you can't understand what people are talking about. But alhamdulillah now, I can get around although my Deutsch is not perfect. In fact, I am soo in the beginner's level but I can understand and speak a little. Not that fluent but at least I am surviving here, and it's all in God's will.

While the 33 year old's were talking, it got me thinking about life. And how my friend earlier had asked, is there more to life ? This time last year or two years ago, I asked myself the same question everyday when I travel 60 kms to work. Perhaps, there is. And I know that I am here for a reason. Inshallah, with lots of effort and support, and God's willing, I will survive and make it here. 

What's cool

What's cool about living upstairs from a Malaysian - German couple is that we are jiran macam jiran kat Malaysia, minus the jaga tepi kain part, cause here we have enough kain to jaga ourselves let alone menjaga tepi kain orang hehe..Bila susu, minyak, garam or gula habis, boleh naik turun tangga mintak sket, sometimes beberapa keping roti bila weekend and semua tutup and malas nak ke bandar hanya untuk membeli roti.

Yesterday, we had a great time celebrating Hari Raya here in our house (our house means me and my houseowner who lives downstairs punya rumah). We had almost like 50 - 60 guests and filled with a lot of Malaysian food. The Malaysian students pitched in and we had a variety of delicous food. Everyone put on their baju kurung and baju melayu.. Even the Germans who married the Malays!

Me, my husband and nicholas prepared roti jala cicah with kari daging. Seronok pulak memasak dengan suami. and ada pulak assistant sorang.. hehehe.. It tasted really good! and was the first to finish.. hehehe.. Carie is back! She flew with MAS and she reached home at about 8am and terus screamed from downstairs, 'Selamat Hari Raya!!' and I ran downstairs to meet her! She is like my little sister here in Mannheim. I gave her my kuih raya to taste and guess what she said.. Guess la, guess la...?? .. She said, 'oh my god, (long pause sambil mengunyah and tutup mata.. gila dramatic) this is the best thing i have ever tasted' Hehehe.. She is 14 so it could be true.. or not :p So as usual, we would borak² while I masak in the kitchen. She updated me about her new boyfriend, Paul. And biasalah 14 year old, cute jer citer² dia..

Then the Frankfurters came. They are one cool and happening bunch of people. Kurik (our old schoolmate), Rose and David (Abang Dave), Emilia, Daniel and baby Aidan yg teramat comel gila!!! We had a lot of fun laughing and making jokes. I was laughing alot yesterday. Setelah bersedih - sedihan on first and 2nd day of raya. It was a great change for me.. Terubat juga sikit rasa rindu kat rumah :)

The open house started from 12pm (tapi sebab kita orang melayu, maka start betul² dia around 2pm sbb tunggu satay siap) and it ended at almost 1130pm.. Makan, makan, hanging out, makan lagi, coffee, kuih raya, pictures and karaoke session (by the way, karaoke i scored 96% singing I will Survive.. highest score beb!) hehehehe.

This is one of the many pictures billion of pictures.
This is the garden behind our house.  This was only 1/4 of the guests. 

Yang lain merata² ada. Kat atas, tingkat dua and tingkat tiga pun ada.

Note : rumput tu, cheq yang potong naah. hehehe. 

Can't wait to be home!!

*Kalini saya cakap Melayu sebagai penutup. 'Selamat Hari Raya! Maaf Zahir dan Batin!'

malas-nak-type syndrom

Im so bad. For a few days, I got the 'malas-nak-type' syndrom. I didn't update my facebook or my blog or replied any emails (ko punya Shaz, nnt aku reply) until today. But I am slowly getting there.

Kenapa ? Perhaps because it is Ramadhan. Which is a good thing. Kurangkan berFB, that's my daily goal :)

Yesterday was quite a tiring day. I was up and down the city trying to find 40 X 40 X 40 boxes or nearest to it or smaller.. Jumpa la kat Bauhaus tapi 41 X 45.5 X 34.5. I didn't get them yet. That would be my last resort kalu tak jumpa. Balik jer flat. But while singgahing at Galleria Kaufhof, (suka nya!) I saw Dr. Oatker's instant chocolate cake and terus teringin sangat nak buat. So I bought it. Nak bake smlm la kire.. But I was too tired when I got back. I reached home at 415pm and a few minutes after that my husband pun sampai. Here was our conversation.

Husband : I bought something today.
Me : Waaa.. für mich?? (for me)
Husband : Nein, für uns (No, for us).

My husband took something our of his bag and tada! There were noodles, sardine with tomatoes and .............. keropok!

Husband : You nak order pizza kan ? Dengan syarat, kena goreng keropok nih.. :p
Me : waaaa bestnya!! ok ok, nanti I gorengkan.. Actually, I pun ada beli something.. für uns auch.. (for us also)..

I took out the cake yg beli from Kaufhof..

Husband : waaa.. you nak bake ke tu ? Tapi I punya lagi best.. Kek mana² boleh dapat.. Ni keropok.. How can you beat that! :p

Betul gak tuu :p Memang dok cari keropok for awhile now.. Ada je kat Asea Shop tu tapi tak jumpa. Kedai Asea Shop tu mmg macam horror sikit. Banyak sangat barang and lantai dia warna hitam. Lorong dia kecik sangat and takde tempat nak letak barang.. Some of the things dia pakai letak je atas lantai.. It reminds me of kedai runcit old skool kat Mesia.. particularly kat SS5 :p

Later on I ordered la Pizza after berhari hari teringin nak makan pizza.. On Sunday, I ordered Joey's Pizza gak. Punya la excited nak makan vege pizza. Skali tersalah order yang Salami punya.. Frustnya tak boleh makan.. tak halal maa.. Dalam hati menangis.. Nevertheless, bersyukur la sebab masih ada makanan yang boleh dimakan.. Sebelum tu, I made roti jala tapi fail...2 round.. And masa buka puasa, I ate pudding roti yang dah lain macam rasanya.. (rosak).. So after all the aftermath, yesterday's pizza (vege.. finally!) tasted so sedap..

Update citer about school pulak. A guy classmate yesterday invited everyone keluar lunch at some Bistro today.. except for.. guess who ? guess guess?? except for me and another 2 Iranian students.. Warum ? Memang la we all tengah puasa tapi dia ni memang purposely pergi kat everyone except for us..

Hmm.. sedih tu sedih la.. but malas la nak layan orang yang ego and always thinks he is right.. (Actually ada citer yang lebih panjang and hangat di sebalik kisah nih, kalau dah habis malas-nak-type syndrom ni, I will blog about it okay). Oklah, I have to go. Syndrom is attacking now!

Tschüss! and selamat berpuasa!!

PS : Perasan tak pattern I tulis macam tengah bercakap dengan orang ? 

Gig 2

Halu all,

I am back again.. with the usual .. nothing much going on. just going back and forth to school. Next week I will be entering the 3rd level of my Deutschkurs. Alhamdulillah.

Today, I went to Galleria Kaufhof in Mannheim. Bestnya! Ada sale buku² wow! If only the books were in English and the prices were in RM instead of €. Trotzdem (Nevertheless), I bought a Kochbuch (cook book) for 4.99€! Cool ay! Ada satu lagi from Dr. Oatker but The Italienische Küche looked interessanter als die anderen Bücher (more interesting as to other books. See, German is not that difficult after all :)

Anyway, this week we learned not only about Deutsche Sprache, we also learned about Deutschland and Deutsche Kultur (bukan pengkulturan bio tu.. culture as in Budaya). Its an interesting topic as the teacher also touched abit on the Zweite Weltkrieg (World War 2). The rest, I had to read about it myself cause I forgot everything I learned during Form 5 :p (my bad.. I never liked History). One fact that might interest you also is that the English language we speak today was brought to Britain by the German Invaders (wiki). And my teacher also told us that the English people didn't like the Germans (back then) so they changed some of the names so that it won't sound German. i.e. Miller was changed from Müller. And Smith was originally Schmitt.

It's really amazing to know all this (well, at least for me). Okla, update tak panjang sangat this time because I am abit tired and not so well (Don't get too excited, I am not pregnant - why I say this? because everytime I say I am not well the first thing that comes to mind is that I am pregnant).

So people, take care! bis dann.. Tschüss!

sory²

Perasan tak the previous post has no title and ended just like that ? ok, I was blogging and suddenly my husband came back and I terus tertekan publish post :p hehehe actually I was waiting for the telur to masak so I blogged for awhile. Yesterday's dish was nasi lemak, kari daging and telur rebus. Sedap. It wasn't me who said it, it was my husband. heheheeh sorry I have no pictures. Dah licin habis dimakan.. I guess we were really that hungry. The heat is making us (or at least me) eat alot, sleep alot and laze around alot. Tak larat nak buat apa. But yesterday, the weather was just nice and I decided to surprise my husband with his fave dish :)

Everyday pikir nak masak apa. Sometimes dah sampai takde idea nak masak apa. Yeah² so random housewife talk kan.. hehehe well, its okay. I guess its kinda cool being a housewife. A friend once said , waah you are an expat housewife.. sounds so cool.. heheheh it would be if you're in Malaysia. but here, everyone is the same. Everyone speaks the same language no matter where you are from.. :)

Now that I am in level 2, we are at the difficult of Deutsch. Grammar! Deutsch is one of the most difficult language to learn. I would know, cause I am learning it. It's no where near English. I thought the articles were difficult. Tapi bila masuk dativ and akkusativ mak aih.. And all of this are only in present tense. Belum past tense lagi! oh gosh.. Tabik hormat (lama tak cakap nih) to those who studied in Germany for their degree or masters. Because it is not easy to learn a 3rd language (eg. Deutsch) and also learn a difficult course in it... Most of the time, I am just trying to figure out what they're trying to say or ask..... and then... figure out the answer and how to reply in Deutsch.. that will take me a few seconds.... :p

Hope I will manage! okay.. its 7am now.. gotta get ready for class.. catcha later!

Bis Dann!

Condensed Milk Weekend

The past few days have been quite chilly. We spent the weekend hanging out at home and drinking hot drinks. Since we've ran out of Milos, I started drinking my tea again and prepared for my husband coffee. But since the coffee machine is now kaputt, I invited him to join my tea club. He was quite hesitant at first. Teh sini tak sedap mcm teh kat Mesia. But I assured him that I will try my best to make it taste like teh Mesia. I finally opened the condensed milk that I bought a few weeks ago at Asea Mart. The end product of the tea almost tasted like teh Mesia. So it was not bad. Previously I used just normal fresh milk in my tea. But now, having the condensed milk in my tea makes a whole lot of difference!

The condensed milk was also used as a spread on bread. The last time I did that was somewhere in th 80s! And the ultimate usage for condensed milk was when I cicahed strawberries with it... and OOO MY GOD! It was super! MUST TRY!

Funny condensed milk Story

Me : I beli ni haritu kat Asea Mart. You rasa dia condensed milk ke? Cuba bacakan, I tak paham.
Husband : Meh I baca kan (Pause : Looking at the tin) Betul la ni. Nape tak baca yang English punya
Me : La ada ker? Tak tau pun! ahahahah

I got used to having my husband translate instructions since everything here is in German language, I didn't bother to check if they have it in English :p

Was gibt's in der Küche

I have been posting my dishes on facebook lately. I don't feel like posting my own pictures. Or a picture of me and my husband just like most newly weds would do. Pejam celik pejam celik we celebrated our 11 months wedding anniversary 2 days ago. I made beef stew and we ate it with rice. We had a candle light lunch which was still bright. Usually we would have our dinner around 630 which would still be bright nowadays since it's Spring. I am still getting used to the weather. Funny thing is, the weather is very unpredictable. You go out wearing a sweater and a jacket and turns out, in 1 hour, it's sunny and you have a heavy attire on your body. Of course I dare not risk not wearing a jacket. I get cold too easily. Even at 12°C right now, I am wearing a long sleeve shirt and a sweater and I still feel chilly.

Today I went to the city again to buy meat at Abone. I spoke full German today while buying meat without feeling scared if I make any mistakes. And I didnt make any! Yay for confidence! I did an extra shopping than the usual daging, minced meat and chicken. Today I also bought peaches, salad, tomatoes and bread for kebab. I reached home at 1240 and told my husband all about my 'adventures' for the day and after that I asked him what time doesn he want to eat?1pm. So, alamak lah! I cooked a very simple dish, since I just bought the minced meat, I fried it and potong² the salad and tomatoes. And it took me just about 20 minutes to produce a very delicious (can I say that?) kebab :)

 The end result are as follows.. checkit out...

Recipe for Kebab
Ingredients :
1/2 senduk minyak
1/2 Bawang besar
2 ulas bawang putih
200gm minced meat
1 senduk serbuk kari
Roti kebab
Mayonaise
Tomatoes
Salad
Chilli sauce
Salt and pepper

Cara - cara : 

1. Panaskan minyak and tumis bawang besar about 1 minute

2. Masukkan minced meat and sprinkle serbuk kari goreng2 till dah siap

3. Masukkan bawang putih till fragrant and add salt and pepper

4. Panaskan roti kebab atas pan till lembut (no need minyak).

5. Sapukan mayonaise on top of roti and susun daging, salad, tomatoes, bubuh chilli sauce, lipat, and your done :)

This was my nasi goreng cina sempena China won against Malaysia.. hehehe no laa.. totally coincident. These pictures are also in my facebook.

NASI GORENG CHINA RECIPE
Ingredients :

satu senduk minyak, 2 ulas bawang putih, minced meat sket, udang cocktail beli kat kedai KIM HA, fishballs, mixed vege, nasi semalam yang dah digaul dgn garam, 2 tablespoon cili kering yg dah diblend, eggs (optional)

1. Panaskan minyak
2. Tumis bawang putih, minced meat, udang and fish balls, cili
3. Bubuh air sikit dalam stgh cawan
4. Masukkan mixed vege
5. Masukkan nasi, gaul² smpai rata
6. Goreng telur by the side and gaulkan
7. Bismillah, makan :)

I am enjoying cooking and somehow I have a weird feeling that people have this weird feeling whenever I post my dishes on FB. Well, its okay. It's food so it's pretty generic.

Biss dan!

Housewarming and Birthday Party

Check out some pics

This was what me and Ikhwan prepared for our housewarming and my birthday party.. 

Sean helped with the curry ayam :)

We had a western Menu, speghetti bolognaise

Of course the roti jala to be cicah-ed with the curry and telur rebus for the nasi lemak

The cucumber was creatively arranged by me.hehehehe

Sean's Curry Ayam.. sedap

This is my 29th Birthday present from my beloved husband :)

Today I am like abit flat out since I have been cleaning the house since wednesday preparing for the housewarming and party.. and doing groceries and running around.. but all is good :) alhamdulillah.. my family in KL had a makan² also.. I wish I could do a makan² for them here.. miss home.. 

Ikan Talapia 3 Rasa

Halo2. I mentioned in my last post, I cooked Ikan Talapia 3 rasa yang jadi macam 1 rasa. Hehehe.. Actually it happened that way probably because I takde the proper ingredients and I altered it abit. Anyway here is the recipe (Sorry takde gambar) huhuhu.

Bahan - bahan :
1 ekor ikan talapia
3 sudu chilli sauce
3 sudu plum sauce (this I had to ganti with tomato sauce)
1 biji bawang besar
10 biji cili padi (this I had to ganti with Sambal Olek paste)


Cara²:
1. Sapu ikan talapia yang dah dicuci and dikelar with garam. Bubuh minyak sket kat dalam pan and goreng sampai garing and kuning.

Untuk kuahnya:
2. Cili dipotong kecil (in my case tak payah buat apa² cause it's paste). Tumis bawang and cili padi dengan minyak sampai dah agak agak masak.
3. Dalam bekas asing, combine kan chilli sauce and plum sauce. And masukkan dalam bawang and cili padi yang dah ditumis tadi.
4. Masukkan 1/3 cawan air and masak sampai mendidih and sampai kepekatan yang dikehendaki (bahasa :p).
5. Kuah ni boleh dituang kat ikan goreng tadi.

Lastly, we say, guten appetit! :)