*Note: This was written for the birthday of Marcus Braaksma on 23 June 2008!
Today is the birthday of Marcus Braaksma. To celebrate it in a thoughtful and sensible manner, I decided to share with you the second most intelligent conversation Marcus and I have ever had. This conversation took place when we tried to figure out the best way to make poverty history.
(Note that the most intelligent conversation Marcus and I have ever had is the one occurred when Marcus very much insisted in saying, “I’m not crazy…I’m an airplane!” I totally disagreed and replied that he was indeed not an airplane, and cleverly pointed out the evidence that he was simply a flying elephant…..)
I write this conversation in an abridged form. Because I can not recall clearly who said what, I indicate any person only as a Q (question) and an A (answer). You may notice later the strong influence of Dunglish (Dutch-English) within this conversation. I apologize for any inconvenience occurs from this. In case I think it is a bit too contextual, I will try to give an explanation. But if you still don’t get it, just find some brick and hit your head with it. It may give you more insights or you may just get very dizzy…
Q: So, the topic of today is how to make poverty history.
A: You sound a bit like Bob Geldof…
Q: I don’t think so! I am much cuter…..But if he also wants to make poverty history, then he’s a copycat!!
A: If you say so….[in a very cute tone…]
Q: OK. I’ll start. I want to ask you something important. Which animal is rechargeable?
A: A Li-on (battery)!!!
Q: Which animal is drinkable?
A: A bear!! (=beer)
Q: Hmm…I think you will not get this one. Which animal comes before twelve?
A: An elephant! (=eleven)
Q: Which animal is usually loved by the Malaysians?
A: Koala Lumpur!! Hihihihihi….
Q: A slice of bread is waiting for this type of food to get landed first….
A: I know that. A butter-fly!
Q: What is the smallest place of religious worship?
A: A mosque-ee-to…
Q: What animal comes before C?
A: A beeeeeeee…..That’s too easy!
Q: Which animal decides not to get married for religious purpose?
A: A monk-ey…
Q: Name an animal that can float on water!
A: A duck?
Q: No!!! You’re tricked!! It’s a sheep (=ship)…hihihihi….
Q: Which animal is always accused to be promiscuous?
A: Horse…(=whores)
Q: Which animal is a country near Switzerland?
A: An ostrich! (=Österreich, which is the German name of Austria….Puurrrhaps you’re going to kill me for this answer because even Marcus thought it was a bit far-fetched and it kinda triggered his desire to hit me with a brick…Because I gave him a look with twinkling eyes and a big smile, he hit his own head instead…)
Q: Which animal gives you a schedule?
A: A rooster! (=rooster, which means ‘schedule’ in Dutch, or roster in Indonesian language)
Q: So, how can we make poverty history?
A: First, write the word ‘poverty’ on a white board. Second, erase that word. Poverty then becomes history….
So, that was the conclusion of our conversation. I hope you find it educational and inspirational. We hope that we have given a contribution to make the world a better place, which I believe is one of Marcus’s biggest dreams. (His other biggest dream is to change himself from a Boeing 747 into a Concorde…)
Happy Birthday My Flying Elephant!! (Marcus: “I am an airplane!!”)
21 June 2008, Cikarang, 02:08
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