Su's Notes

Ever wondered what Myanmar people eat for dessert?  These sweet treats are often sold by vendors who roam the neighborhood streets with push carts, and they hold a special place in the childhood memories of many Burmese people. In this blog, I'll share some of the most famous desserts found throughout the country and even tell you what ingredients you need to make them right at home! Thar Gu (သာကူ) Named after the main ingredient, the Sago pearls - သာကူစေ့ (thar gu sei), this dessert is simple yet unforgettable. The chewy texture combined with the soft, warm sweet potato cubes will leave you longing for more. My personal favorite since it's easy to make, gives you cozy feelings and pretty filling for your stomach!  Coconut Milk  Jaggary / Palm Sugar syrup Boiled Sago pearls Sweet potato Shwe Yin Aye (‌ရွှေရင်အေး) As a tropical country with plenty of sunshine, people in Myanmar often prefer desserts with icy syrup to help cool down their body temperature. Shwe Yin Aye is a...

Myanmar is renowned for its rich diversity of flora and fauna. The people of Myanmar take great pride in this natural wealth, viewing it as a national asset and a vital part of their identity. Among the most iconic elements of this biodiversity are the beautiful and culturally significant flowers that flourish throughout the country. Here, I would like to highlight a few of the most renowned flowers commonly found in Myanmar, along with the reasons why they hold a special place in the hearts of the people. ပိတောက် Padauk – Burmese Rosewood Padauk is often considered the national flower of Myanmar and is widely recognized for its vibrant yellow blossoms. These flowers are especially prevalent during the Thingyan Festival, which marks the Myanmar New Year in April. The vibrant, pea-like flowers are worn by women in their hair and are also used as decorations during the water festival. Padauk trees are commonly found along the roadsides throughout Myanmar, where they are carefully tended ...

When you learn Burmese, studying the basic is the most crucial steps.  In this blog, I've listed out the numbers in Burmese and how to pronounce them plus some examples for you to read through. It isn't difficult at all as it follows a pattern after 1-10!  Burmese numbers: 0 to 10 English Burmese Myanglish One ၁ tit Two ၂ nit Three ၃ thone Four ၄ lay Five ၅ ngar Six ၆ chout Seven ၇ khon / khon-nit Eight ၈ shit Nine ၉ koe Ten ၁၀ tit-sal People usually confuse the One and Two since it sounds a little similar. But once you have a hang of it, it's pretty easy. "One" has the very obvious 'T' sound and "Two" starts with the 'N' sound. Listen carefully and you'll hear the difference!  One more thing you need to take note is that number S even is a littl...

Chinese New Year (CNY) in Myanmar is celebrated with much joy and passion, just like in many other parts of Asia. The streets come alive with vibrant red lanterns hanging outside homes, the rhythmic beats of lion dances filling the air, and the delicious aroma of Chinese dishes wafting from your neighbors' homes. It’s a season where the entire community seems to unite, regardless of their ethnic background. One of the most beautiful aspects of life in Myanmar is its diversity. It’s not just Chinese New Year that brings people together, but the way different ethnic groups coexist and share their traditions. During festive seasons, we would often exchange gifts with each other, and the spirit of giving was always present. It wasn’t just about celebrating the holiday itself but sharing in each other’s joy, even if our traditions were different. One more thing I’ve learned is that food has a magical way of connecting us. As much as we might come from different backgrounds, the act of s...

 Looking at Duolingo's most popular languages in Myanmar in 2021, Japanese ranks first, followed by Korean in second place. This isn’t too surprising, given the recent situation in Myanmar. Many people feel that staying in the country offers limited opportunities, leading young people to desperately seek prospects abroad. In this context, being fluent in another language becomes a crucial asset, often the first step in preparing for migration. Language Education in Myanmar English is widely accepted as a universal language, and most Myanmar state schools teach it from the basics, focusing on reading and writing. However, since other subjects are taught in Burmese, many people don't develop fluency in spoken English. Wealthier families may send their children to private English classes to refine their skills, but the average person doesn’t often prioritize it. That being said, there has been a significant shift in recent years, with nearly everyone now trying to improve their En...

Prejudices you can expect from Myanmar people when you go for a visit အလည်အပတ်သွားတဲ့အခါ မြန်မာလူမျိုးတွေဆီက မျှော်လင့်နိုင်တဲ့ အစွဲများ To truly understand how Myanmar people view foreigners and the prejudices they may hold, it's essential to experience it firsthand. However, I would like to list out a few as a native of this country although I can’t speak for everyone. This is simply based on my observations over the years. Please keep in mind that my perspective might be outdated by the time you read this, as Myanmar has undergone significant changes in recent years. All foreigners come from a rich country At popular tourist hotspots, there's often an expectation that you'll buy souvenirs. If you do decide to purchase something, be aware of your surroundings. For example, if you buy a flower from one vendor, other florists nearby may approach you, and they may not leave until you've purchased from each of them. It's common to experience hard-selling tactics, as m...