Sudah Makan Bang??? (Have you eaten)

This is just one thing I really love to do....Hey...it’s a Malaysian thing plus it’s a wonderful ice-breaker to start a conversation with a stranger.

All one has to do is just approach with a smile and just say...

ME: Sudah makan bang? (Have you eaten)

STANGER: Sudah....baru makan....hahahahahah ( I have..just did)

ME: Bagus bagus....apa khabar bang? (Good, good..how are you)

STRANGER: Baik baik....hahahahahah (Good, Good)

(Conversation continues)

Even when you see a friend across a road, all you have to do is just make the “sudah makan” gesture and your friend will give a friendly nod...now how cool is that??!!!

So this is a habit and once it’s into you, it comes naturally and no matter what your race is; foreign or domestic.... you will just ask him “sudah makan?”

Several years back, I remembered handling an international group in Singapore. The group came all over from Europe and was in Singapore for a conference. I was in charge of the Italians, attending to their needs and taking care of them during their stay in Singapore

I was introduced to the group leader and we started out good. Few hours later,  I bumped into him at the lobby and gave him the “sudah makan” hand gesture....my life went downhill after that....The tour leader was all sour after that incident....”merajuk”....”menjeling”....you name it!

This is the hand gesture

After a day dealing with him, I picked myself up, gathered my courage and approached him. Asked him what the deal is and it turns out that the gesture I did earlier...for the Italians...it means “WTF” (what the f**k)...After explaining to him what my true intention was and countless bottles of wine later....we were like long lost brothers!

Days after that, I was more Italian than an Indian...wherever they go, I was in the group picture...not standing at the side people...I was in the middle.... like a dot on a white paper...my name from Ray became RAMON....i felt like a GODFATHER because any problems they have...they see the GODFATHER....It was a fantastic 1 week and I have to say this group takes the No.1 spot in my “Top 10 favourite groups”

So moral of the story is....before the hand gesture kicks in....make sure you know where your friend came from yah

Lately I have seen less of this and only a number of the older generation still do this...Although this is not a culture or a tradition thing but it’s Malaysian...it’s part of our identity and one of those things that sets us apart...

So when you see a stranger...just ask him “sudah makan bang” and see where the conversation goes...

Written by Ray, published by Devi... shhhhhh he doesn't know I uploaded his picture for this blog...i just didn't feel that the picture of the hand gesture  alone was good enough