SSEAYP. Have I ever mentioned that in my blog before? I don't recall any, especially since the last one was two years ago.
Brief info: SSEAYP stands for "Ship for South East Asia Youth Program" which is basically a home-stay program for individuals from 18 to 30 years old from all 10 S.E.A countries and Japan. And they use a ship to travel from country to country, instead the more common and conventional mode of the transport, the aeroplane. WHICH IS SO FRICKIN' AWESOME. I hope one day I can join it too! o:
This year is the third time we became a host family, the first and second time in 2005 and 2006 respectively. The ship didn't land in Brunei last year. :( So anyway, this time, we took four of them to "home-stay" with us! I think the one from Indonesia has the most interesting names. Her name is Antartika, but you know what her height is? She only reached up to my shoulder. *roflmao* So much for having a name of one of the world's largest continent.
L-R: Alia (Malaysia), Sun (Vietnam), Anti (Indonesia), Romy (Japan)
In the car, they were so amazed at how...empty Brunei streets are. And about how many trees there were. XD
We went back home, where Kaka Amoi was preparing some Ambuyat (♥__♥) and other traditional food. I don't know about them, but I finished almost the whole bowl of Ambuyat to myself before it turned out all dry.
After an hour of rest, the time for FUN begins. As typical it is with tourist attractions, we took them to Kampong Ayer. Haha. But it's okay, I LOVE KAMPONG AYER. I don't know, I just love travelling in the boat, looking at the houses, just basically, relaxing. We even got to go to see Jong Batu. The islet with the legendary tale of the man who betrayed his mother and was cursed? Yeah, that. Even until now, I am so amazed with the shape of that islet. It really looks like a half-sinking ship which just really freaks me out.
So Unchu then told them how to say "delicious" in Malay, which is "nyaman". Romy kept repeating it the whole night! Every food thatw as offered to her, she said "nyaman, nyaman!" Then there was a time when my aunt asked them how old they were, and she asked in malay, I guess she kind of forgot that Romy wouldn't have understood, and Sun was somewhere else with my mum. So the conversation went like this:
Unchu: Berapa umur kamu semua?
Alia: Dua puluh tiga.
Anti: Dua puluh.
Romy: ? ...dua puluh?
We laughed because we realised she didn't get it. And then before we got the chance to explain, Romy again went, "Ah! Nyaman! Nyaman!" LOL
In the end we did tell her what we were actually talking about, and she realised her mistake. And dude, she may be petit, but her apetite must be double her size. XD We offered everything, and she accpeted all of them. From kebab to pasta to satay, and the malay kuehs, she just ate them all. And of course, "Nyaman!" I commented on how much she ate, and she said, "this is normal for me." =____=;;
Like, seriously?
Day 2
I had to go to school. T_T But have no fear, because they also have to stay at home! TO COOK! My dad's programme ever since the first time we became the host family is to have them cook a local delicacy of their own!
I only remembed Sun's and Romy's cooking, Vietnamese Spring Rolls and Japanese Curry, because I especially loved them. I think Alia's was something egg-related, and Anti made something REALLY spicy with minced chicken. Don't remember the names. XD
My grandfather was also invited, so he came with two other of my aunts. Good thing he knows English. Funny incident (involving Romy again XD) was when she was introduced to my grandfather.
Nini Aki: Ah, so you a japanese?
Romy: Yes.
Nini Aki: How do you say this, aaa....aaa... Ah! Ohayo gozaimasu!
I couldn't stop laughing! XD My grandpa is 90, and it's already afternoon. Not that those two are related, but well. For those who don't know, "ohayo gozaimasu" is Japanese for "good morning".
Even when he left, he said "ohayo gozaimasu" when he meant to say "arigato gozaimasu (thank you)". LOL, how he even knows Japanese, I have no idea. Probably remnants of the 1940s?
We then went for a short visit to Jame' Asri Mosque. Turns out we could actually enter the mosque to explore it, except we can't bring in cameras and we have to wear these black robes, especially for those with tight-fitting clothes. Not that I was wearing any, but I wanted to feel the experience of wearing them, so I did! XD
After the visit, SHOPPING TIME! Where else would we go, if not the Mall? The Gadong Mall, that is. Kiulap Mall and Airport Mall? Pssssh. We ate at the food court before we went out separate ways. Sun went with my mum to a souvenir store accross the street. Dad went with my sister to somewhere else. Azzah and I were left with Alia, Anti and Romy. They wanted to finish their Brunei dollars XD Alia and Anti stopped at one of the gadget stores while Romy wanted to buy a baju kurong. Since Azzah was more "knowledgable" about the gadgets, I left with Romy to find her baju kurong. Unfortunately, we went here and there, from the second to the ground floor and up again, looking for a baju kurong in vain. And no, there was no happy ending, we did not find it.
In the end, Alia and Anti didn't buy any mp3s as well, so all three of them decided to use up their remaining dollars in Body Shop.
Day 3 - Good Byes.
Woke up extra early that Sunday. We had a small gathering in our living room, the last one EVER. We exchanged gifts with each other. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sun's gift. It was a dragon fly made of wood, and it can balance at the tip of your finger by the end of its "nose". IT WAS AWESOME AND SIMPLY ADDICTIVE. I don't know, probably for someone who studies Physics like me, it really is a simple wonder. Especially since Sun said the toy existed since in the past.
Dad was wearing his Arsenal jersey because Arsenal won the night before in a match against Manchester United. So yeah. XD And at Kaka Amy's house, we saw Sakura, my 3-month-old niece! Romy was surprised to see someone named Sakura here, and she was so excited by it. Alia and her kept going "Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan!" Sakura is so lucky to have a japanese name. T_T
It's because her grandmother wanted all her grand-daughters to have flower names. Her first grand-daughter is Yasmeen (Jasmine), second is Aleesya (Rose) and then we have Sakura (Cherry blossom). I suggest the next grand-daughter to be named "Rafflesia".
It's because her grandmother wanted all her grand-daughters to have flower names. Her first grand-daughter is Yasmeen (Jasmine), second is Aleesya (Rose) and then we have Sakura (Cherry blossom). I suggest the next grand-daughter to be named "Rafflesia".
We went to Royal Regalia for a short half-an-hour. Um. Yeah. I don't know. I'm getting tired of Royal Regalia. XD
And then.
*sobs*
It was good-bye.
We went to Muara Port to send them off. We were all separated for a while before finally finding each other in the ship when it was open for us to come in. We had a tour in the ship, and I just can't get tired of it. Who knows, one day I might be in it too! I hope one day I will be able to join SSEAYP.
They were put into groups of their own countries. We were closest to Romy and Alia, but Alia was busy being the press, so we only managed to have a chat with Romy. Took a picture with her; Azzah, Romy and I. And I dubbed it "Saigo no Sasshin. (The last photo)" Jiwang jua eh. XD
Finally, it really was time to say good-bye.
No more delays.
They had to go to their ship. SSEAYP has this tradition, where the participants will throw ribbons to their host families from the ship and by the time the ship moves away, they will release it. I'm pleasantly surprised to find a "thank you" messages at the other end of the ribbons when it was released. That was when I started tearing up when everyone else was already sobbing waterfalls hours ago.
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WE ARE FAMILY♥
I want to see all of you again. We will, right?
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