03 Pernille & Annie’s Friendship

ENG

Annie Tan is 87 years old, or 88 according to the Chinese where life begins at conception. I am 36/37. She and I are friends. Annie says she’s often bored, which is something we have in common, so our weekly rides on the trishaw do us both good.

We gradually started doing things together other than riding the trishaw. We met each other’s families and Annie often cooks for us, she taught me to cook Peranakan food, such as Popiah and dumplings, to play mahjong, and practical ways to keep a house clean and ant-free (use lemons. Empty egg shells keep lizards away), she teaches me local languages and sayings and tells me stories about her life.

Annie lost her mother and sister in one of the raids when she was 12. Schooling stopped during the war, and when the war was over, she was too big to continue. She has no formal education and she is one of the brightest people I know. Annie always says “never mind”, and I believe it’s the secret to her success. She is not worried about things she can’t change.

CMN
一份相差半世纪的友情
新加坡籍的陈安妮,年龄87,虚岁88,但是却是我这个36岁的老外,丹麦籍的老朋友。
安妮常说她又闲又闷,与我同病相怜,于是每逢周末我们都搭三轮车兜风,这对我们俩都有益。我们因三轮车而结缘成了好朋友。
之后,我们渐渐参与其它活动。我们也常去对方的家聚餐。安妮常常下厨,她也教会我很多东西如做薄饼和饺子,打麻将和如何把家里打理干净,以及居家小贴士,比如用柠檬来驱赶蚂蚁,而用鸡蛋壳来驱赶壁虎。她也教会了我本地语言和文化。
安妮也叙说了她的人生。她经历过二战,12岁的她在一场空袭失去了母亲与姐姐。在日治时代,安妮无法上学。在战争结束后她因超龄而无法读书。虽然没受过正规教育,但安妮是我所认识的人当中极其聪明的一个人。她常说“没关系”,我相信那是她成功之道。她不会为无法改变的事情而担心。
我们下一个活动是学跳舞。本地有个剧团在招募舞者,不论经验,种族,性别,身形与体形,尤其喜欢招募外国人和高龄人士。我想我们俩会享受那样的活动。
有一天母亲在接触安妮后,对我说:“就是安妮这样的人,教会我们不要失去心里的童真。”

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