Off to KL this week to look for a new car - maybe. With the small tribe we've succeeded in breeding, we feel the need for a larger set of wheels! So it's come down to a race between the Toyota Estima and the mighty Alphard. I'm all for the Alphard, just cos it's a big beastie on the road and it looks awfully comfy! And the TV/DVD will come in handy no doubt too!
Change of topic.
Last week my March IEP (Intensive English Programme) finished. Was a good course, but as it was a bit short of students, I called in some old students who had finished the previous one. The reason? Debates!
Usually, at the end of the month-long course, we have 2 debates on issues facing Malaysian students today. Sometimes the topic is something like 'Which is better? Studying in Malaysia or Studying Overseas?'. A topic like that gets everyone talking!
This time I went for something even more taboo here - one on culture and another on politics! Ah politics, I just love politics in Malaysia. I'm sure to do a post on it when I feel like writing a tome.
The first debate was 'How has Western Culture affected Malaysia - generally positively or negatively?' This generated a heated debate, with points being raised on both sides that really made me grin. I, being a Westerner, was prepared for some negativity towards my ilk, but I am a professional and show no bias. I was rather impressed with the whole debate, as it was mature and insightful - most of the time! There were times when it strayed off the point, but hey, that happens. There were also times when some very dubious allegations were made, with little or no factual basis. But on the whole a very decent attempt at a contentious topic by Malaysian students. Points raised to denounce Western cultural influence included fast food, sexual liberalisation and media influence on Malaysian youth. Points raised in affection of Western influence included concepts of charity, the honour system and waiting in line! As you can see, only small parts of both arguements were presented, mostly because of time constraints, but it was a very good arguement with the side in favour of Western influence winning by the narrowest of margins. I wasn't biased in the least.
The second debate I'll put in the next post later... again, time constraints.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Evening Post
I taught a class tonight, my Cambridge CAE class, and many topics were discussed. It was a good class for conversations, passing ideas around and me teaching my students about how to argue properly!
I first showed them a youtube clip about the US health reform bill which was passed today. The clip was of the so-called Tea Party Republicans who were against the reform of the health system. I was interested to hear their side of the argument, but was sorely disappointed and showed my students why. A pair of media studies students from a University (didn't say which) were asking questions of the protestors as to what in the bill they were against. Not one could offer a rational argument, a debatable proposition or even a coherent sentence as to what they were against. What WAS clear however, was the complete lack of knowledge about what they were fighting against! Most just quoted a Fox News presenter or mentioned a rumour they'd heard or a part of the bill they THOUGHT was in it which they were against. No facts. No actual details of any sort - and it made them look like hillbillies. Uneducated, close-minded hillbillies.
Now my purpose of showing this to my students wasn't to pass judgement on the protestors, I left that to this blog! My purpose was to show them the importance of reading, research and finding out facts before believing in something you have been told. I showed them the footage to highlight how ridiculous these people looked, even though they firmly believed the bill was bordering on communism. I am showing a high degree of bias here, but the effect was plain for all to see.
Now, the other point of mentioning this tonight was just how much it resonated with what has been happening in Malaysia the last few months, if not years. The fear-mongering, the lack of facts, the rumours and heresay about threats to rights, privileges and the creating (or strengthening, to be more accurate) of the seige mentality of the majority Malay community here. I would hazard an educated guess and say that most Malays are not impressed or represented by these groups, but they get a following in more rural, conservative (and poor) areas. Groups which have sprung up such as Perkasa (translation I'm not sure of - see post below of my command of Bahasa!) are purely based on racism and exist to create fear and suspicion of other communities in Malaysia. Now a couple of points come to mind immediately.
How do groups like this exist at all? Why aren't they shunned into oblivion? Why do people give them the time of day? There is no one answer as far as I know, but suffice it to say that education and money play an enormous role. 'Fear of the others' is a common thread which has been implanted into the mind of your average Malaysian, and racial profiling is par for the course. Everyone does it. Most would be ashamed to admit it My point is that the politicians here use this fear to garner votes, to hold power, to accumulate wealth. I always say to my wife that if I was a reporter here I'd probably be dead within a week, a month at the most. I rock the boat, I ask the obvious question. I don't take the answer as gospel truth! The simple fact remains that these groups exist, and there are groups from each community which espouse the same nonsense, but they are not tackled head on publicly for fear of the questioner being labelled a traitor of their race, a bad Muslim or Hindu or Christian, too liberal (whatever that means) or too Westernised. That last one I just love. Anything to deflect the bigot from answering a direct question. No facts presented, just deflection.
I guess, to balance this post, I do support freedom of speech. I would go so far as to say that I support their right to express their opinion on matters they deem close to their hearts. I wouldn't question their rights to that for one second. What worries me is that they are moving in from the lunatic fringe into the mainstream. People are not countering their arguments with undeniable facts or logic. This scares me. I spend a lot of time trying to educate my students to be critical thinkers, to question the knowledge, to always ask WHY? I think in Malaysia, as in the USA (and no doubt everywhere else) education is the key.
I feel there is more to come on this topic. Watch this space. Please leave comments and I hope to get a debate going on this issue and more in the future!
I first showed them a youtube clip about the US health reform bill which was passed today. The clip was of the so-called Tea Party Republicans who were against the reform of the health system. I was interested to hear their side of the argument, but was sorely disappointed and showed my students why. A pair of media studies students from a University (didn't say which) were asking questions of the protestors as to what in the bill they were against. Not one could offer a rational argument, a debatable proposition or even a coherent sentence as to what they were against. What WAS clear however, was the complete lack of knowledge about what they were fighting against! Most just quoted a Fox News presenter or mentioned a rumour they'd heard or a part of the bill they THOUGHT was in it which they were against. No facts. No actual details of any sort - and it made them look like hillbillies. Uneducated, close-minded hillbillies.
Now my purpose of showing this to my students wasn't to pass judgement on the protestors, I left that to this blog! My purpose was to show them the importance of reading, research and finding out facts before believing in something you have been told. I showed them the footage to highlight how ridiculous these people looked, even though they firmly believed the bill was bordering on communism. I am showing a high degree of bias here, but the effect was plain for all to see.
Now, the other point of mentioning this tonight was just how much it resonated with what has been happening in Malaysia the last few months, if not years. The fear-mongering, the lack of facts, the rumours and heresay about threats to rights, privileges and the creating (or strengthening, to be more accurate) of the seige mentality of the majority Malay community here. I would hazard an educated guess and say that most Malays are not impressed or represented by these groups, but they get a following in more rural, conservative (and poor) areas. Groups which have sprung up such as Perkasa (translation I'm not sure of - see post below of my command of Bahasa!) are purely based on racism and exist to create fear and suspicion of other communities in Malaysia. Now a couple of points come to mind immediately.
How do groups like this exist at all? Why aren't they shunned into oblivion? Why do people give them the time of day? There is no one answer as far as I know, but suffice it to say that education and money play an enormous role. 'Fear of the others' is a common thread which has been implanted into the mind of your average Malaysian, and racial profiling is par for the course. Everyone does it. Most would be ashamed to admit it My point is that the politicians here use this fear to garner votes, to hold power, to accumulate wealth. I always say to my wife that if I was a reporter here I'd probably be dead within a week, a month at the most. I rock the boat, I ask the obvious question. I don't take the answer as gospel truth! The simple fact remains that these groups exist, and there are groups from each community which espouse the same nonsense, but they are not tackled head on publicly for fear of the questioner being labelled a traitor of their race, a bad Muslim or Hindu or Christian, too liberal (whatever that means) or too Westernised. That last one I just love. Anything to deflect the bigot from answering a direct question. No facts presented, just deflection.
I guess, to balance this post, I do support freedom of speech. I would go so far as to say that I support their right to express their opinion on matters they deem close to their hearts. I wouldn't question their rights to that for one second. What worries me is that they are moving in from the lunatic fringe into the mainstream. People are not countering their arguments with undeniable facts or logic. This scares me. I spend a lot of time trying to educate my students to be critical thinkers, to question the knowledge, to always ask WHY? I think in Malaysia, as in the USA (and no doubt everywhere else) education is the key.
I feel there is more to come on this topic. Watch this space. Please leave comments and I hope to get a debate going on this issue and more in the future!
Languages and my acceptance of my 'here-ness'
I've been in Malaysia almost 7 years now. That's a substantial amount of time. Long enough for me to have learned the local language and adapted to the local culture. The second one has occurred but the former has unfortunately not.
Now, I'm no imperialist. I wish I could speak Mandarin and Bahasa Whatever-it-is-this-year (either Melayu or Malaysia... depends on whether an election is coming I think...) fluently. But I can't speak either to any extent and I'm deeply embarassed about that. I've organised Mandarin lessons, which fell apart after a few weeks due to work commitments, and whenever I speak Bahasa I get stares and bewildered looks which automatically make me think I've said something wrong or dirty. I guess people here are just not prepared to hear their own language coming out of a Mat Salleh's mouth. I probably spoke correctly, but they were just not expecting it and showed me their astonished face and that promptly stopped me repeating what I said.
I guess I will have to make some arrangements sooner or later for more lessons, but my language esteem is at an all time low. My mate's in KL can have entire conversations in perfect Bahasa. I can't even ask for the time correctly. I guess I'm just no linguist. I've tried learning various languages over the years, all to no avail. No matter how much tuition I received I simply forgot the words when it came time to actually speak to someone. Trust me when I say I understand COMPLETELY my students fears and difficulties in learning English. What astounds me is their perseverance.
This language issue of mine runs parallel with my habitual reluctance to really settle down here. I've always kept myself at a distance from Malaysia as I always thought I'd be leaving any day. Not putting my heart and soul into learning the languages was one way of keeping distance I guess. But not so any longer. Here it is people - I've finally come to the acceptance that this is where I live, this is my home now and this is where I'm going to stay - for the next several years at least, work and education pending. But I've accepted that I'm here to stay.
I suppose my daughter's birth has had a major impact on that realisation. I don't call it a decision as I feel deep down it had already been made. She has made me understand that it's not bad to be here - we're in a good place. Just let it be and enjoy it.
I also suspect my grandfather's death in January also played a part in how I feel. I'm not sure how yet, but I sense that that trip to NZ just for a week opened my eyes to just what life I was living in Malaysia - one I couldn't have with 4 kids in NZ.
Looks like I have 2 homes now, lucky me! I just have to do my part for Malaysia, to improve it however I can for my kids and others. I also have to allow Malaysia to improve me, to let it get close and to allow me to learn her languages. Which I will, just not sure how or when.
Now, I'm no imperialist. I wish I could speak Mandarin and Bahasa Whatever-it-is-this-year (either Melayu or Malaysia... depends on whether an election is coming I think...) fluently. But I can't speak either to any extent and I'm deeply embarassed about that. I've organised Mandarin lessons, which fell apart after a few weeks due to work commitments, and whenever I speak Bahasa I get stares and bewildered looks which automatically make me think I've said something wrong or dirty. I guess people here are just not prepared to hear their own language coming out of a Mat Salleh's mouth. I probably spoke correctly, but they were just not expecting it and showed me their astonished face and that promptly stopped me repeating what I said.
I guess I will have to make some arrangements sooner or later for more lessons, but my language esteem is at an all time low. My mate's in KL can have entire conversations in perfect Bahasa. I can't even ask for the time correctly. I guess I'm just no linguist. I've tried learning various languages over the years, all to no avail. No matter how much tuition I received I simply forgot the words when it came time to actually speak to someone. Trust me when I say I understand COMPLETELY my students fears and difficulties in learning English. What astounds me is their perseverance.
This language issue of mine runs parallel with my habitual reluctance to really settle down here. I've always kept myself at a distance from Malaysia as I always thought I'd be leaving any day. Not putting my heart and soul into learning the languages was one way of keeping distance I guess. But not so any longer. Here it is people - I've finally come to the acceptance that this is where I live, this is my home now and this is where I'm going to stay - for the next several years at least, work and education pending. But I've accepted that I'm here to stay.
I suppose my daughter's birth has had a major impact on that realisation. I don't call it a decision as I feel deep down it had already been made. She has made me understand that it's not bad to be here - we're in a good place. Just let it be and enjoy it.
I also suspect my grandfather's death in January also played a part in how I feel. I'm not sure how yet, but I sense that that trip to NZ just for a week opened my eyes to just what life I was living in Malaysia - one I couldn't have with 4 kids in NZ.
Looks like I have 2 homes now, lucky me! I just have to do my part for Malaysia, to improve it however I can for my kids and others. I also have to allow Malaysia to improve me, to let it get close and to allow me to learn her languages. Which I will, just not sure how or when.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Aunties, haircuts and stiff upper lips
Today is a rather strange day.
For a start, I'm doing a class which is normally a Monday to Friday thing, so I'm feeling a bit lost - it's either Friday again or it's Monday...
Secondly, it's my new daughter's one month Chinese big do. This is a big deal to the Chinese, and I'm not entirely sure why as no one has given me an explanation that satisfies me other than her hair just has to be all shaved off because 'that's her birth hair and we want new hair to grow through'. This is weird to me. Have any of you seen a baby with all it's hair shaved off? Especially after you've got used to your little baby looking a particular way? My daughter looks like a girl now - but after she's bald?
Frankly, and I don't mean this in a nasty way, I just don't get all the little things the Chinese just have to do. Every little event becomes a major cultural tradition and just has to be maintained to preserve Chinese culture and ways. As if Chinese culture is under threat! Last time I checked, there are quite a few Chinese around and I didn't see any danger of their culture disappearing. But hey, my wife's Chinese and so I go along with some of these things. I just can't explain them to my parents who are even more mystified about the importance of old traditions than I am.
I will be there with smiles on today without a doubt, but I must admit I do get annoyed when some 'Auntie' believes so incredibly strongly that if we don't follow her instructions on things all hell will break loose. The amount of energy spent trying to generate 'good luck' and 'prosperity' is substantial. I find it all rather unnecessary, and I suspect my wife does too but we just grin and bear it to keep the boat on an even keel because these 'Aunties' are a rather unstable lot as a group and are liable to break down into screaming fits if we don't do something on an auspicious day or at the right time or without an '8' in it...
I guess I'll just have to indulge in a beer or two and keep out of their way to make sure I don't get a good ear-bashing from the harried wife later. Stiff upper lip and all that soldier.
For a start, I'm doing a class which is normally a Monday to Friday thing, so I'm feeling a bit lost - it's either Friday again or it's Monday...
Secondly, it's my new daughter's one month Chinese big do. This is a big deal to the Chinese, and I'm not entirely sure why as no one has given me an explanation that satisfies me other than her hair just has to be all shaved off because 'that's her birth hair and we want new hair to grow through'. This is weird to me. Have any of you seen a baby with all it's hair shaved off? Especially after you've got used to your little baby looking a particular way? My daughter looks like a girl now - but after she's bald?
Frankly, and I don't mean this in a nasty way, I just don't get all the little things the Chinese just have to do. Every little event becomes a major cultural tradition and just has to be maintained to preserve Chinese culture and ways. As if Chinese culture is under threat! Last time I checked, there are quite a few Chinese around and I didn't see any danger of their culture disappearing. But hey, my wife's Chinese and so I go along with some of these things. I just can't explain them to my parents who are even more mystified about the importance of old traditions than I am.
I will be there with smiles on today without a doubt, but I must admit I do get annoyed when some 'Auntie' believes so incredibly strongly that if we don't follow her instructions on things all hell will break loose. The amount of energy spent trying to generate 'good luck' and 'prosperity' is substantial. I find it all rather unnecessary, and I suspect my wife does too but we just grin and bear it to keep the boat on an even keel because these 'Aunties' are a rather unstable lot as a group and are liable to break down into screaming fits if we don't do something on an auspicious day or at the right time or without an '8' in it...
I guess I'll just have to indulge in a beer or two and keep out of their way to make sure I don't get a good ear-bashing from the harried wife later. Stiff upper lip and all that soldier.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Off with a bang! (or a whimper, that depends on you)
I've had a blog before.
It went ok, but I got bored after a while. So why am I doing it again? A need to express myself? Could be. Then again, it's probably due to more than a dozen reasons, ranging from writing practice to venting some fury!
Whatever it happens to be, this blog is about my life in Malaysia, a country not of my birth and certainly not of my culture. Yet what a place it is.
I need to talk about their 'ways', their peculiarities, their foibles, not to mention mine! I also feel a need to put up posts for some of my students, of whom I have many. I may touch on grammar or vocabulary, I might rant about the need for travel, or I could just be putting myself out there for the whole wide world to examine - or not.
About me there is much, but I begin with this.
Married, 33 going on 34, 4 children (shock, horror!), a teacher of English, a pilot by passion, a rugby player in my dreams, a wity but slightly acerbic type of personage, a wannabe traveller, a motorbike-rider-has-been-and-wanna-be-again, a postulator and a sage.
Other than that, a normal kinda guy. Just don't get me drunk.
It went ok, but I got bored after a while. So why am I doing it again? A need to express myself? Could be. Then again, it's probably due to more than a dozen reasons, ranging from writing practice to venting some fury!
Whatever it happens to be, this blog is about my life in Malaysia, a country not of my birth and certainly not of my culture. Yet what a place it is.
I need to talk about their 'ways', their peculiarities, their foibles, not to mention mine! I also feel a need to put up posts for some of my students, of whom I have many. I may touch on grammar or vocabulary, I might rant about the need for travel, or I could just be putting myself out there for the whole wide world to examine - or not.
About me there is much, but I begin with this.
Married, 33 going on 34, 4 children (shock, horror!), a teacher of English, a pilot by passion, a rugby player in my dreams, a wity but slightly acerbic type of personage, a wannabe traveller, a motorbike-rider-has-been-and-wanna-be-again, a postulator and a sage.
Other than that, a normal kinda guy. Just don't get me drunk.
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