wtf? it’s 2010 already??
I was recently in my hometown of Penang for my holidays and to attend a best friend’s wedding. The wedding was great fun and the food was amazing. However, the one thing that gets to me most is always the weather…and the mosquitoes…and to a certain extent, the people. Ok, three things then.
Everytime I am back, without fail, I end up with a slight culture shock. Why do Malaysians think this way? Why do they do that? Why would they spend so much money on something so trivial when they could be spending it on better education and safety of its citizens?
I am first to admit that I am ignorant when it comes to politics and economics. But surely, if I can see that the system is not working, it should be obvious to everyone else? Is it naïve to believe that politicians should be working for the people they represent and not for their own personal agenda?
I feel for my relatives who are stressing out on which school to send their kids because the backward education system seems to be retarding the future of their children. At the end of the day, it seems that if you can afford it, the best method is to send your kid to an international school that provides actual education. But, let’s face it, how many people are able to afford $10 000 a year on tuition fees? For 5 years? And then college and university after that?
Talking to my friends doesn’t make things any better either. Most are struggling to find ways to get out at every opportunity they can find. The corruption and unjust racial system seems to set them back each step they take in their career path. Regardless of how talented or deserving they may be, every reward seems to be unfairly judged. Even while at school, I had already felt the discrimination, let alone as an adult.
Progress seems undeniable at the surface, however. I believe that the country has successfully put itself on the map. Hell, if even “How I met your Mother” made a reference to it, I think the country’s publicity team has won.
The one thing which I find highly amusing which seems set to stay in the minds of the locals is how they simply adore Westerners. Probably stemmed from colonial times, this has not changed after more than 50 years of independence. I bet our first Prime Minister is turning in his grave!
My best example is, a couple of years ago, while travelling on MAS (our local airline), the air stewardess was going down the rows serving lunch. At the front and back of me were Westerners. Here’s how it went:
Stewardess: Hi sir, would you like the fish or chicken today?
Front person: Fish, please.
Stewardess: Certainly.
*moves down the aisle to me
Stewardess: Hi miss, would you like the fish or chicken today?
Me: Fish, please.
Stewardess: Oh, sorry, we have run out of fish.
Me: Oh, ok then. Chicken’s fine.
*moves down the aisle from me
Stewardess: Hi miss, would you like the fish or chicken today?
Back person: Fish, please.
Stewardess: Certainly.
Me: W…T…F?
See the problem there?
At the end of every trip I make back home, I come back feeling blessed at the opportunity I had in moving to a better country. It’s not perfect and, sure, racism still lurk about in shallow waters at times, but at least my kids will have a better education which will hopefully allow them to choose where they want to live eventually.
I’m so gonna hold that against my kids next time when they drive me up the wall.
