How To Greet Your Brother (That You Have Not Met In A Long Time!)
Syafique’s Diary. Sunday, January 31st, 2010. 2.15pm
I had a meeting earlier, then I had to fetch Mum at Kelana Jaya and we rushed to the airport so that we can be at the airport by 2pm. It’s 2.15pm and no signs of my brother just yet, not even his shadow. There isn’t much crowd around so mum and I are standing right infront of the waiting area. We see many passengers coming out, all sorts of nationalities: American, Arabs, Nepalese, Indians, Koreans, and even locals, many of whom just came from Umrah.
“Etihad… Landed… 1.54pm…” reads the screen. I am getting more and more anxious.
I joke with my mum, “Maybe Abang is lost. He can be a little clueless at times!! His plane landed a while back, where is he?”
I have not seen my brother in more than a year. Although we do chat via Google Talk on a regular basis, but it’s very different if it is a face-to-face interaction. His last trip here was around the fourth quarter of 2008. I was still a TV reporter then and since then, I had switched jobs, twice! A lot has happened in the past and things are different then and now. I have evolved and I am sure my brother has evolved too.
So, my concern is: How do I greet my brother when I see him? What should I do? What should I call him? What should I say?
Some of the responses from my recent Facebook’s Q are:
Iffiey: “oiih. dh smpai.” err y do u look so awkward with him? curious2.
Juhainie: Like how you normally call him. Otherwise go by the full name and he might tell you what to call him. It helps sometimes.
Queen: Asalamualaikum abang…. sihat? how was the journey? did you had any problems on your way here…
Eunice: Kush Kush Hota Hai ~~
Based on the suggestions, should I:
- Call him “Abang” like I normally do?
- Call him “Oiiii” as that is our usually greetings online?
- Call him “Bro…” because we should use English, as he just came back from New York?
- Don’t say anything and just give him a hug? But we don’t hug each other. I hug my friends, but not him.
- Keep quiet and let mum do the talking?
Ok, there’s no time to think. Mum just told me he sees Kush.
“OMG! He is so fat!! Look at his stomach,” she laughs.
I nodded in agreement.
He is coming. He cannot see us just yet. Ok, we might need to wave at him.
He sees us now. He is approaching. He is coming. What should I say? What should I say.
I’m smiling… still smiling…still smiling.
I am looking at him in the eyes… “OMG! YOU’RE SO FAT, BUNCIT BETUL PERUT KAU!”
There. I greeted him.
From that greeting onwards, I know it’s gonna be one rollercoaster ride during his trip here.
Welcome back!
Guess who?
Hahaha..i would never thought you guys also have this kind of awkwardness…?! I mean, his your brother…?
neway, you must be counting your days for your Bali trip with him?
say hi to him for me, will ya?
1@cheesy: Hey!!! I told him you said hi and I don’t think he believes that there are actually people reading this blog!! hahah. yes, its more like I have this awkwardness cuz i have not met him in a long time….mana lah tahu, i have to be more formal suddenly like…”kushairi shuib..???” instead of “ABANG!!!!!” hhahahaha.
hope to see you and your husband soon. perhaps after my bali trip? hehehe…
take care.
2See!! u have nothing to worry about. Things just come naturally. =)
3@Jojo: Yes you are very right…. things do come naturally!!
4Urmmmm “His placed landed a while back” Syaf??
5Hehehe..
I LOVE the way u greet him, it sounds so brother~Ish.. Hahaha
@S.M. Britney: Wahhhh, Britney!!!! SSsshhh!!! Typo!!! Anyways, it’s very Brother-ish??? what is that suppose to mean? hahaha
6I see U’ve fixed it.. hehe
7Thought u’re mr.perfection, I was just kinda surprise.. hoho
Brother~ish coz we all know that we don’t do the whole ‘I miss U’ hug stuff like that.. haha
Is there any way that there is no need 4 me to keep on repeatin fillin out my details just 2 comment?? HAHAHA
@S.M.Aurora: I can make mistakes but I expect perfectionism from those around me. How about that? Hahahaha…..
sekali sekala!!! 
8J/K I am NOT Mr Perfection… I make mistakes too (loads of ‘em)…..
Yeah….I am afraid u have to fill in the forms…. ala, bukanya u comment all the time pun!!