MCLC Resource Center is pleased to announce publication of Wai-chew Sim’s translation of an excerpt from Exile or Pursuit, by the Singapore writer Chia Joo Ming. The translation is too long to include here in full. The whole translation can be found at https://u.osu.edu/mclc/online-series/sim/
Born in 1959 in Singapore, Chia Joo Ming (谢裕民) won the Singapore Young Artist award in 1993 and participated in the Iowa international writing program in 1995. He was also writer-in-residence in the Chinese program, Nanyang Technological University, in 2014. Chia is a three-time recipient of the Singapore Literature Prize, in 2006, 2010, and 2016. His works include: The Most Boring Nationality (最闷族, 1989), New Words of Worldly Tales (世说新语, 1994), The Insignificance of Being (一般是非, 1999), Reconstructing Nanyang Images (重构南洋图像, 2005), M40 (2009), 1644: The Year A Dynasty Was Hanged (甲申说明书, 2012), and Exile or Pursuit (放逐与追逐, 2015). He is currently a senior executive sub-editor in Lianhe Zaobao (联合早报), Singapore main’s Chinese-language newspaper.
Exile or Pursuit (2015) tells the story of Hok Leong (福良), whose family runs a won ton noodle stall in a food centre. It follows his experiences through school, national service (compulsory military service), and early adulthood, detailing in the process a distinct period in the Singapore socio-historical formation and experience.
Kirk A. Denton, editor
By Chia Joo Ming [1]
Translated by Wai-chew Sim [2]
MCLC Resource Center Publication (Copyright October 2017)
1
The year it all started, Hok Leong had just entered secondary two. A new student came into their classroom. Her name is Lin Chiu-yun, the form teacher said. She’s from Indonesia. From now on—everybody—please help her out as much as you can.
Hok Leong’s tentative memories of school life began more or less from that period.
To welcome the new student, the teacher clapped his hands, willing everyone to join in. Hok Leong felt that this was a tad unsophisticated but was prepared to go through the motions. He raised his hands and was about to bring them together when suddenly he heard his name.
“Hok Leong. Your Chinese is pretty good. You should help Chiu-yun.”
The boys in the class started to hoot. Hok Leong felt embarrassed and put his arms down.
Teacher wanted him to start immediately the next day. Hok Leong should come half an hour earlier to school, meet Chiu-yun at the library, and go through the material covered in class, he said.
Teacher must be sleeping, Hok Leong thought to himself. He had to help out at his father’s food stall every day. There was no way he could come early. Even if he did he’d rather play football with the boys. How could he help the new girl?
Hok Leong did not respond to the teacher. His classmates continued to laugh uproariously at his discomfort.
The next day Hok Leong did not come early to school. He forgot about the task given to him. In fact he was late. His father’s won ton noodles stall enjoyed extremely good business that morning. Even for him, it was a tough job getting away. Who had time to help the new Indonesian classmate with her school work?
. . . continue reading