Small talk

I'm in West Malaysia most of the year so I only get to go back to my hometown Tawau during term break. When you haven't seen people in a long time, it gets harder to maintain conversation. Most of the time you find yourself saying the same things and repeating yourself. Now that's no fun.

One of the comments that I get often is 'Besarnya suda kau!' (you've gotten so big). Mostly from not-so-close family members. It's a lie, of course. I'm 21 years old. I haven't grown an inch in 2 years. I haven't gained 2 kilos in 5 years. There's no way no how I could have gotten any bigger since the last time they saw me.

I put up with it because they probably can't think of anything else to say. Its just a formality. Maybe its tradition as well. Pretty soon it'd be expected of me to say the same lines to they're children. Hmm...I just might. I'm not good with small talk either.

Even with Nena-nee there are recurring topics in our catch-up conversations. Some of them are:

• We're both crazy
• Amanda is still single
• Persidangan Bulan Lima: The Nightmare Bitch

In this case, I don't mind the small talk. Its a break from some of the stress. However, there's a lot of other types of Small Talk that really gets on my nerve. Take the following examples:

• Suda makan ka? (Have you eaten?) - The hell you asking me that for? If I'm hungry, I'll eat. And if I don't, what are you going to do? Force feed me or something? Something as trivial as that, you might as well ask whether or not I've bathed today.
• What are you doing? - This question may be relevant in some instances. On the other hand, when what I'm doing is plain as day obvious, I don't appreciate the disruption in my concentration.
• West Malaysian Idiot: Where are you from?/Me: I'm from Sabah/West Malaysian Idiot: Oh, did you get here by plane then? - I'm not even going to comment on this one.

In conclusion, please think before you open your mouth to say something.....