True blue Malaysian, an' PROUD of it!
Murphy (as in Murphy’s Law) is right – whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.
It’s like getting caught in a traffic jam; the lane that you are in will always be the slowest to move.
Or like queuing up at a pay counter, and you’re in a hurry; inevitably a problem will occur with one of the product pricing, to the person queuing right in front of you, no less.
Too late to switch to another lane, you think. So you wait it out.
It was 5 minutes to the Merdeka countdown, and we were queued up at Ikea (to pay for a bunch of stuff), and I was thinking, faster faster faster!
But because Murphy’s Law lurks at all corners, something HAD to happen to the guy in front of us.
So while we were stuck in line, the entire nation (and everybody gathered outside the building) was gleefully screaming the numbers down to the customary ‘3… 2… 1… MERDEKA!’.
But it was okay, ‘cause we went out later and the fireworks was still going off, and I gotta say, it was beautiful.
The place was totally crowded, and all around you could see people holding up their cellphones and taking photos / recording videos of the fireworks show.
And every time one of those really awesome-looking fireworks went off, everybody went, “ooooooooh” and “waaaaaaah”, and then they’d start clapping. Wonderful.
I think I even kind of got that weird tingling sensation, of knowing that as the thousands of people at the venue stared up at the sky and ‘ooooh-ed’ ‘aaaaaah’-ed concurrently, every one of them could well be thinking of the same thing – how proud they are to be Malaysian.
Because no one NOT proud of Malaysia, no one wanting to get out of the country a.s.a.p., would have driven to a place at a time where parking lots would be extremely sparse, stood there amongst the huge sweaty crowds, and waited till 12 to countdown to our very own 4th of July.
No one but a proud Malaysian would do that.
By the time we got home, it was 2.00 am. The roads were completely jammed up, and it took us one hour to get out of the parking basement. (No, not exaggerating.)
It sounds a little silly, to go through all of that, when I could have stayed within the confines of my own home, in an air-conditioned room, studying for the trials that are going on next week, which incidentally I have not completely prepared for.
Tapi apa yang boleh saya kata, saya hendak menyambut hari kemerdekaan dengan beribu-ribu rakyat Malaysia yang lain.
Why I Like Being A Malaysian
(homework requested by Manwir last year, one of the few articles that ChooiYen actually enjoyed writing, and the only one she still keeps because SHE IS PROUD TO BE MALAYSIAN.)
The meet up was supposed to take place at 8.00 pm. I was already half an hour late, but upon reaching the meeting point, I realized I was the only one there. That’s one good thing about Malaysians and their sense of time. You could be late for a meeting but it wouldn’t matter because almost everyone else would be later than you. My friends arrived much later, one after the other, with the latest one arriving at 9.00 pm. I couldn’t be mad at them though, they all had the same valid excuse – “Got traffic jam lah.”
That’s Malaysians for you.
Despite their lackadaisical, tidak apa attitude, Malaysians are generally a jolly bunch of people who are easy to get along with. In fact, we’d prefer to be called laid-back and easy-going, than you very much. In most other countries, arriving late for a meeting meant you would have to endure venomous glances and under-the-breath mutterings from associates whose minutes are much too precious to spend on waiting for late-comers like you. But fortunately for all, Malaysians are sympathetic enough to understand your plight as long as you have a valid excuse (with traffic jams being the most plausible).
And true to the myth of where jolly people live, foods are aplenty, Malaysia has an abundant variety of food from different cultures. It is the only place where people with various skin colours enjoy plates of nasi lemak, char koay teow, chapatti, fish n’ chips and the tarik, all at the same table. And after the meal is over, you’re bound to hear the familiar, “Eh, today’s meal I belanja!” That’s racial harmony you can’t get anywhere else.
With so many different races and religion and ethnicity, it’s amazing how Malaysians manage to live so peacefully with one another (if you ignore the occasional hiccups). Malays and Indians are studying in Chinese schools, and the Chinese are speaking Malay more fluently than ever. Malaysia is definitely a cultural melting pot. This is especially evident during the festive seasons. Malaysians no longer celebrate just one occasion; now they celebrate Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas. It’s almost impossible to pass up an invitation to an open house when you know there are plates of rending and turkey and sweet meats waiting to be devoured.
On the topic of food, Malaysia definitely has the best array of local foods. Food connoisseurs who take pleasure in tasting the finest of fine cuisine would admit that after mouthfuls of foie gras, at the end of the day, a good plate of nasi lemak or wantan mee fills them up nice and full. Just ask any young Malaysian who has, or still is, studying overseas. Their luggange is heavier than the dumbbells at the gym, and most of them would be packed with packets of Milo, rending curry powder, and Malaysia’s all-time favourite – Maggi instant noodles. They would write letters back home every now and then, with one of the main reasons being asking for extra fixes of pre-mixed spices of Malaysian food.
I had an American friend who once asked me innocently enough, “Do Malaysians still lived on trees?” I couldn’t answer him, not because I didn’t know the answer to the question, but because I was somewhat surprised. It shocked me that some foreigners think Malaysians still live and think like the prehistoric cavemen. But Malaysia is set to conquer the moon in a few year’s time! Malaysia may not be the most developed country in the world, or even in Asia for that matter, but we are definitely well on our way. With our somewhat advanced technology, and our capable leaders, and most of all, our “Malaysia Boleh” spirit, Vision 2020 is not so far away from being achieved after all.
* * * * *
BTW, that part about the American thinking we live on trees, is completely true.
What’s funny is that sometimes, you come across Malaysians who seem to worship the Western culture, who seem to think once they move out of this country their lives would improve loads and loads, who thinks all that is local-made, is definitely of inferior quality.
Haven’t they read accounts of Malaysians coming back to Malaysia after years of living abroad, because living in Britain/Australia/the States wasn’t exactly what they had expected, and because Malaysia is after all, HOME?
Though sometimes Malaysians work in a weird way, (like the presenters at Siti Nurhaliza’s wedding introducing artists and reading out of small cards they held in their hands, shouldn’t they be completely prepared beforehand? You can bet no one reads out of card notes at, say, Princess Diana’s wedding), but we all know working in weird ways is what Malaysians do best, and that’s what makes us, us.
Hahaha, okay that doesn’t quite make sense, we really should stop our weird ways and get a bit of improvement going on.
And in regards to the Reader’s Digest article on courtesy, well they just happened to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time, that’s all. Besides, those are just the small stuff; when something big happens, like someone being in trouble, I’d put in all my chips and bet that there WILL be people all too willing to lend a helping hand. And you can bet they’d be Malaysians, too, not some blonde expatriate who happened to be there.
And I’d not even go on about Malaysia food, ‘cause it goes without saying that every Malaysian loves their Malaysian food.
Conclusion to today’s post – Why be anything else, when you can be Malaysian?
It’s like getting caught in a traffic jam; the lane that you are in will always be the slowest to move.
Or like queuing up at a pay counter, and you’re in a hurry; inevitably a problem will occur with one of the product pricing, to the person queuing right in front of you, no less.
Too late to switch to another lane, you think. So you wait it out.
It was 5 minutes to the Merdeka countdown, and we were queued up at Ikea (to pay for a bunch of stuff), and I was thinking, faster faster faster!
But because Murphy’s Law lurks at all corners, something HAD to happen to the guy in front of us.
So while we were stuck in line, the entire nation (and everybody gathered outside the building) was gleefully screaming the numbers down to the customary ‘3… 2… 1… MERDEKA!’.
But it was okay, ‘cause we went out later and the fireworks was still going off, and I gotta say, it was beautiful.
The place was totally crowded, and all around you could see people holding up their cellphones and taking photos / recording videos of the fireworks show.
And every time one of those really awesome-looking fireworks went off, everybody went, “ooooooooh” and “waaaaaaah”, and then they’d start clapping. Wonderful.
I think I even kind of got that weird tingling sensation, of knowing that as the thousands of people at the venue stared up at the sky and ‘ooooh-ed’ ‘aaaaaah’-ed concurrently, every one of them could well be thinking of the same thing – how proud they are to be Malaysian.
Because no one NOT proud of Malaysia, no one wanting to get out of the country a.s.a.p., would have driven to a place at a time where parking lots would be extremely sparse, stood there amongst the huge sweaty crowds, and waited till 12 to countdown to our very own 4th of July.
No one but a proud Malaysian would do that.
By the time we got home, it was 2.00 am. The roads were completely jammed up, and it took us one hour to get out of the parking basement. (No, not exaggerating.)
It sounds a little silly, to go through all of that, when I could have stayed within the confines of my own home, in an air-conditioned room, studying for the trials that are going on next week, which incidentally I have not completely prepared for.
Tapi apa yang boleh saya kata, saya hendak menyambut hari kemerdekaan dengan beribu-ribu rakyat Malaysia yang lain.
Why I Like Being A Malaysian
(homework requested by Manwir last year, one of the few articles that ChooiYen actually enjoyed writing, and the only one she still keeps because SHE IS PROUD TO BE MALAYSIAN.)
The meet up was supposed to take place at 8.00 pm. I was already half an hour late, but upon reaching the meeting point, I realized I was the only one there. That’s one good thing about Malaysians and their sense of time. You could be late for a meeting but it wouldn’t matter because almost everyone else would be later than you. My friends arrived much later, one after the other, with the latest one arriving at 9.00 pm. I couldn’t be mad at them though, they all had the same valid excuse – “Got traffic jam lah.”
That’s Malaysians for you.
Despite their lackadaisical, tidak apa attitude, Malaysians are generally a jolly bunch of people who are easy to get along with. In fact, we’d prefer to be called laid-back and easy-going, than you very much. In most other countries, arriving late for a meeting meant you would have to endure venomous glances and under-the-breath mutterings from associates whose minutes are much too precious to spend on waiting for late-comers like you. But fortunately for all, Malaysians are sympathetic enough to understand your plight as long as you have a valid excuse (with traffic jams being the most plausible).
And true to the myth of where jolly people live, foods are aplenty, Malaysia has an abundant variety of food from different cultures. It is the only place where people with various skin colours enjoy plates of nasi lemak, char koay teow, chapatti, fish n’ chips and the tarik, all at the same table. And after the meal is over, you’re bound to hear the familiar, “Eh, today’s meal I belanja!” That’s racial harmony you can’t get anywhere else.
With so many different races and religion and ethnicity, it’s amazing how Malaysians manage to live so peacefully with one another (if you ignore the occasional hiccups). Malays and Indians are studying in Chinese schools, and the Chinese are speaking Malay more fluently than ever. Malaysia is definitely a cultural melting pot. This is especially evident during the festive seasons. Malaysians no longer celebrate just one occasion; now they celebrate Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas. It’s almost impossible to pass up an invitation to an open house when you know there are plates of rending and turkey and sweet meats waiting to be devoured.
On the topic of food, Malaysia definitely has the best array of local foods. Food connoisseurs who take pleasure in tasting the finest of fine cuisine would admit that after mouthfuls of foie gras, at the end of the day, a good plate of nasi lemak or wantan mee fills them up nice and full. Just ask any young Malaysian who has, or still is, studying overseas. Their luggange is heavier than the dumbbells at the gym, and most of them would be packed with packets of Milo, rending curry powder, and Malaysia’s all-time favourite – Maggi instant noodles. They would write letters back home every now and then, with one of the main reasons being asking for extra fixes of pre-mixed spices of Malaysian food.
I had an American friend who once asked me innocently enough, “Do Malaysians still lived on trees?” I couldn’t answer him, not because I didn’t know the answer to the question, but because I was somewhat surprised. It shocked me that some foreigners think Malaysians still live and think like the prehistoric cavemen. But Malaysia is set to conquer the moon in a few year’s time! Malaysia may not be the most developed country in the world, or even in Asia for that matter, but we are definitely well on our way. With our somewhat advanced technology, and our capable leaders, and most of all, our “Malaysia Boleh” spirit, Vision 2020 is not so far away from being achieved after all.
* * * * *
BTW, that part about the American thinking we live on trees, is completely true.
What’s funny is that sometimes, you come across Malaysians who seem to worship the Western culture, who seem to think once they move out of this country their lives would improve loads and loads, who thinks all that is local-made, is definitely of inferior quality.
Haven’t they read accounts of Malaysians coming back to Malaysia after years of living abroad, because living in Britain/Australia/the States wasn’t exactly what they had expected, and because Malaysia is after all, HOME?
Though sometimes Malaysians work in a weird way, (like the presenters at Siti Nurhaliza’s wedding introducing artists and reading out of small cards they held in their hands, shouldn’t they be completely prepared beforehand? You can bet no one reads out of card notes at, say, Princess Diana’s wedding), but we all know working in weird ways is what Malaysians do best, and that’s what makes us, us.
Hahaha, okay that doesn’t quite make sense, we really should stop our weird ways and get a bit of improvement going on.
And in regards to the Reader’s Digest article on courtesy, well they just happened to be at the wrong place, at the wrong time, that’s all. Besides, those are just the small stuff; when something big happens, like someone being in trouble, I’d put in all my chips and bet that there WILL be people all too willing to lend a helping hand. And you can bet they’d be Malaysians, too, not some blonde expatriate who happened to be there.
And I’d not even go on about Malaysia food, ‘cause it goes without saying that every Malaysian loves their Malaysian food.
Conclusion to today’s post – Why be anything else, when you can be Malaysian?
Labels: Significant Days
isthisme exuded garlic breath at 3:37 AM
