In my Mil’s room, sitting on the main display table by the wall, lies a magic box, otherwise known as the Television.
Mil spends a great part of her time in front of it, catching her favourite shows. She has a schedule that she sticks to, one that allows her to balance between busying herself with the kitchen-y things that she wants to do, and the dramas that she wants to follow.
On slow afternoons, and in between her chores, helper also spends time in Mil’s room chasing after the many dramas with ‘Ah Ma’.
During my WFH days, their conversations while watching the dramas together, never fail amuse me.
“Ah Ma! This one die already ah? DIE ALREADY AH?!!” As if in disbelief that a character she saw in neverending Taiwanese drama could truly be killed off in the show. (Imo probably will be resurrected as a sibling or amnesiac character later on based on previous shows.)
Or
“THIS ONE VERY NAUGHTY! Always so naughty!” Mil comments indignantly - and with such vengeance!
“You see! Fighting again! VERY NAUGHTY!”
(To put things into context, Trump is also categorised by Mil as a naughty someone.)
She sometimes gets herself so invested in the plots that you can hear her commentary all the way from the living room.
“HMPH! Very bad ah!”
Or,
“GOOD LA!! VERY GOOD LA!” when the ‘naughty’ characters get their just desserts.
Other times, there are conversations that go like this:
“This one where the daughter? Die already ah?”
“No.. This one girl ma. Grandma like boy.” (Mil explaining on the concept of重男轻女.)
More often than not, they are on familiar first name terms with the characters.
“Wow. How come she come out alrdy? Who help her?”
“Oh. This one Weijie help her.”
Understandably the questions come from helper as she either, did not understand the conversations/plots in the show, or missed out a chunk while doing her chores.
And so, Mil, in her limited repertoire of English words, would try to explain the plots to helper.
Although Chinese educated and armed with only a very limited vocabulary of English, Mil has always been able to somehow, describe certain events, proceedings, descriptions, cultures and yes, even drama plots to my helper.
Their conversations often consist of a mixture of English, a smattering of Mandarin, and whatever dialect/malay/singlish words my Mil conjures up with. Through their daily interactions over the months, they have very likely invented a language that only both of them understand.
In the midst of overhearing their conversations, I have come to the conclusion that the ubiquitous Television is indeed a Magic Box.
Not only does it keep Mil entertained, but through the programs and their interactions, it also bridges the gap between 2 different nationalities, cultures, and generations.
To my eyes, the benefits do not end there. On a smaller domestic scale, in the need to explain the plots to helper, it forces Mil to keep her mind engaged and active. I suppose as opposed to just droning while watching, this forced engagement challenges her to expand her limitations of language as she tries to push herself to explain the happenings in the shows.
In exchange, helper also feels more included, and is also able to better understand and assimilate into the culture, customs and family she is living with.
So you see, not only can the Television bring knowledge, it brings two complete strangers together.
Indeed. What a magical box the television is!
