Bad Influence - Manglish

Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

I may have been here for too long already. I know, if I stayed here for much longer - a year may be more than enough - I'll start speaking Manglish, too. I find it grows on you easily. I enjoy listening to it. Sometimes, back in UK I would even try to imitate it. And here I'm surrounded by it. Whether it's the sign at the bank saying "close" ("closed") or labels in shops saying "buy one free one" ("buy one get one free"). And most people that speak English speak it in this way - some stronger, some less strong.
Then, at the bus station a tout annoyed me. He asked where I was going - Johor Bahru - and then told me everything was full. I hate it when people just tell what I want is impossible. It's as if they enjoy trying to make me nervous. So, I snapped at him. "What makes you think I'm going today", was the intended message. What came out naturally and in my best Manglish yet was: "Not today, lah!"
When I get home Chinese may not be the only language that I need to practice.