Papa was a Peranakan, mama a Hokkien, but all of us never learnt any Chinese. Years later, when we were adults and still unable to speak Chinese dialects, we were known as "O-C-B-C" (orang Cina bukan Cina/ Chinese yet not Chinese). And when by chance we meet another Peranakan, we break into Peranakan lingo and relive our yesteryears. But marriage blended our lives, we have a give-and-take policy, a juxtaposition of both the typical Chinese culture and the Peranakan. Our diet is a mixture of Peranakan and typical Chinese dishes, enjoyed by one and all.

Source: The Star July 16, 2021 05:37 UTC