ES2007S Professional Communication.

Evaluating intercultural behaviour

Sunday, 7 October 2012

Unknown

We spoke different languages, had different skin colours and had different lifestyles. However, a simple game of “Monkey” bonded us together. After so many years, I could still remember the plain yet happy days I had in a small village in Pahang, Malaysia.

The trip was supposedly meant for students who learnt Malay language in my high school. Even though I was not one of them, I chose to take part because of my close acquaintance with the teacher and students who were going. I was the only person who cannot speak basic Malay and I knew that I would definitely have problem communicating with the villagers.

I had a hard time adapting during the first few days. There were no hot water showers and no bed (only thin mattresses). Furthermore, there were only a few persons who could speak English so I had to rely on my friends to help me translate most of the time as simple English was too hard for them to comprehend. Their lifestyles were very different as well. Few homemade dishes were sufficient to feed a family of seven. The small television in the living room seems to be a decorative item as it was never switch on in my two weeks stay.

At that point of time, I kind of regretted going for the trip. However, my mindset changed completely after we started playing ball games with the children from the host family. It could be just passing or kicking the ball around, yet the children were having so much fun. Their laughter and happiness seems to be viral, my friends and I slowly got infected by them. Playing ball games gradually became a routine for us. I enjoyed it so much that I was reluctant to go back.

There were a lot of differences between us, in terms of culture, language and most importantly values. As we were brought up differently and grew up in different societies, we think and act differently. They were very easily contented while we complained of every single thing. We dreaded studying but they were ecstatic when they saw the small library we built for them. I can’t help but to feel ashamed of myself when I looked at them.

3 comments

3 Comments:

At 10 October 2012 at 23:23, yongsheng

Hi Yea Wen,

Although I heard your story before, I would still like to comment on it. :P

I admire your courage to join the students who learnt Malay to Pahang even when you were not one of them and you totally have no knowledge about Malay language. The difference in culture between the rural and urban areas also highlighted the difference in language and lifestyle. We grew up in the urban city of Singapore in which we have most things in place for us. On the other hand, the rural area has very limited supply of resources. Taking their leisure activity for example, they play simple ball passing games while we play Xbox and PSP. However, even with this difference, I believe the level of enjoyment will still be the same. Don’t feel ashamed of yourself, but try to learn from them. Be contented and be satisfied with what you have in life.

Cheers,
Yong Sheng
At 16 October 2012 at 09:32, Brad Blackstone

I enjoyed this post, Yea Wen. Your prose seems to reflect well the rhythm and simplicity of the rural Malaysian village. I especially like the way you focus on the ball games and how such a simple pleasure played a part in bonding you city kids and the village children.

Thanks for sharing this experience.
At 16 October 2012 at 21:10, Unknown

Yong Sheng,

I feel that it is really a pity that most of the children living in the urban area never have the chance to to experience such life style. I actually feel that playing with the village children brings much more enjoyment than playing with Xbox or PSP.

Hi Brad,

I am gald you enjoyed reading my post. The trip really makes me appreciate the beauty of a simple life.