"Tiger Oil"

After her dinner, Marieann started complaining about her tongue being itchy. Huh, how can one's tongue be itchy?? At that time, I was in the kitchen washing the dishes while my mother was having her dinner. Juliane had also finished her dinner but was still seated at the dining table.

I was washing the dishes and at the same time, trying to look at Marieann's tongue. But it looked normal to me, no swelling, no redness, no nothing. But she was still whining away. I suggested that she go rinse her mouth or drink water. She drank water but she still complained about itchy tongue. Suddenly, Juliane in all seriousness said, "Tiger oil *". My mother burst out laughing and almost choked on her rice. As if that wasn't funny enough, Juliane went on to elaborate, "Jie jie ** tongue itchy, right? Put Tiger oil, then no itchy". Hahaha. Well, her thinking is logical. When she has mozzie bites, she would put Tiger oil and the itchiness is gone. So by the same logic, putting Tiger oil on her sister's tongue, the itchiness will be gone too. Oh, but we know Marieann will be feeling more than just itchiness if she puts Tiger oil on her tongue, lolol. :P I had to explain to Juliane that Tiger oil is only for external use, like insect bites and such. I don't think I want Juliane to try putting Tiger oil into her mouth should her tongue ever be itchy too, lol. :P

In the end, Marieann took her grandmother's suggestion of sucking on an ice cube. The itchiness on her tongue was soon gone.

* Tiger oil is Tiger Balm Liniment, a topical pain relieving liquid in a bottle with the same medicinal qualities as Tiger Balm. We call it Tiger oil, a direct translation from its Chinese name.

** Jie jie is Chinese for elder sister.