Tuesday, March 11, 2014

I have a blog?

Hey! Keeping a blog is really hard job. I apologize for my lack of effort in updating...
But here is a post about my second major holiday in Malaysia! 

The most special holiday I have spent in Malaysia was Deepavali, this is celebrated by all the Indian communities and just as every major holiday, the date tends to change year to year. This past year, Diwali fell on November 2nd.
Before going on and explaining what happens during Deepavali, I want to explain why this is the most important holiday for me. This is an important holiday for me because it was when I met ALL my extended host family, and they did make me feel like I was at home, although I know they kept asking my sister who I was and why I was there and kept staring a bit too much. Also, I would like to apologize for the lack of pictures…I thought I had lost my camera and I forgot you can take more than selfies with your phone.
Deepavali (Diwali)
The “Festival of Lights” celebrates Rama’s (the 7th avatar of the God Vishnu) victory over Ravana (the demon). It celebrates the victory of Light over Darkness. Deepavali is the most important Hindu festival in Malaysia. Hindus celebrate this by illuminating their homes, they light up clay lamps called diyas and keep them going on for the whole night. The diyas are usually placed within kolams, which are drawings made out of colored rice, rice powder, and chalk. These are to invite Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth into their homes. And like every other Malaysian holiday, Indians of all groups, invite their families and friends into their homes for the open houses.
I got this from the internet. This is an example of an elaborate Kolam, found outside Pavillion a mall in Kuala Lumpur.
A few weeks before Diwali my host parents took me and my sister to Little India, somewhere near Klang I think, to go shopping for our Deepavali punjabi suits and a sari we were going to wear to a wedding (we were later unable to attend the wedding, so my sari remains unworn ): ). Anyways, it was quite busy already! With lines and lines of people crowding into the shops, ordering clay pots, cloths, and arrangements all for the holiday still a few weeks away! I’m starting to think that Malaysia is an amazing country for shopping…holiday sales basically all year round!
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Somewhere in Klang.
Anyways, my parents and sister took me around, pointing out music, jewelry, clothes, food (ohhh yess the food), and random facts about Hinduism and Indian culture.
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This is the reason I cannot fit into my jeans or shorts anymore. ‘Sweets, come to me my sweets”
After much time of much awaited anticipation, the evening before the 2nd, we all dressed, picked up Ama (my host grandmother), and went to a relatives house. I think the house belonged to the oldest relative of my host grandfather…Not really sure what was the relation. Anyways, when we got there there were a few family members already. They all greeted us quite warmly but I still remember the looks they all gave me as they told me to sit down. Only my host aunt, uncle and grandmother knew who I was, so everyone else was much more perplexed. I remember sitting near the door when an auntie walked in and said something, in Hindi I later learned, then in annoyance scoffed and left the room. It wasn’t until much later that evening that I learned she thought I was Punjabi/Northern Indian and thought I was being rude when I didn’t acknowledge her greeting. Sorry!
After the whole family was there and introduction were made, my host grandmother began lining up people according to age and started doing prayers to our ancestors. I was so surprised when she called me over and told me to do the prayer too. She was by my side and instructed me what to do. I honestly love the fact how my host grandmother was always including me in the prayers and whatever was going on. It made me feel like I really was beginning to be part of the family.
After the prayers were done, we all had dinner! Oh my god, the food was delicious. Prawn sambal (which I couldn’t eat because as we had found out the month before I was allergic to sambal), vegetable curry, mutton curry, rice, murukku, and so so so so much fish curry. After dinner the aunties asked my host cousins, sister, and me to go and begin the kolam outside the entrance (Seriously, some Kolams are amazing! And huge..they all are beautiful. Full of geometric patterns and important symbols) . After finishing it, we all headed home to rest for the big day.
On November 2nd, after having showered and gotten ready, we all headed to a Hindu Temple, where my sister and dad did some prayers. I had no idea what was going on but my mom and sister shoved a small oil lamp into my hands and told me to follow them. I mimicked what they were doing, and then finally we all crowded around where the priests where. I remember them sprinkling some water into us and then another priest coming with a bucket (?) of rosemary water and pouring a bit of it into people’s hands. I saw they were drinking it and after having my dad tell me to drink it I did. Many people kept looking at me, my dad said it was because they thought I was Punjabi and normally Punjabis are Sikhs not Hindu. Anyways, after all that we all headed to the house from the night before and spent the day with the family.
Like with Hari Raya, there was a lot of food, a lot of people visiting, and of course duit! The older married, and unmarried, cousins passed out enveloped with money to unmarried/youngins. I can brag that among fellow exchangers I was making bank.
We spent the day talking to family, eating, playing games, and just relaxing.
Deepavali is such a family holiday, centered on sharing memories and moments with your siblings and cousins and uncles and aunties and grandparents. I mean, it literally was a full house. And finally, after two days I went from being ‘That girl’  to  to finally ‘Priya’s sister’.
Can, I say mission accomplished?
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My host sister and I. The house was so crowded we crowned the stairs as our own. She really does look like my sister.

Friday, November 8, 2013

The Absentee

Okay so I've been absent for a long time, and like always I would try to come up with the best excuse ever but I'll be honest and just say I've been extremely lazy. I promise a post detailing how I spent my Diwali will be coming soon!

Anyways, after my delayed orientation I returned to school until everyone began to take their end of the year exams...Form 4 only takes finals while Form 3 and Form 5 take the PMR and SPM, respectively. Anyways, since Form 3 took their exams earlier than everyone that meant I had a two-week self proclaimed holiday. Then I returned to school, and now my class is done with their classes and now Form 5's are taking exams sooo everyone basically started holiday from Oct. 28 and so forth. Officially, school is over on November 16th, so our school gave us holidays although there are about four days we are supposed to be in school. It is alternated between forms and streams so not everyone goes at the same time.

School is a bit weird, well the timing is. We arrived in July which for them is the middle of the school year. Then we didn't start school until mid/late August because of problems with a certified letter and paperwork. Which mean that the rest of August and September would be study months...then October came around which meant more testing month. I hope school goes better in January, then the year starts anew. For one classes will be easier to follow, I will already know the kids in my form, and well I won't be the sad and lost exchange student who doesn't know their left from right.

Anyways, October has been a rather uneventful month. Besides the delayed orientation and marking the end of my school year in Malaysia nothing significantly WOW has happened. Here are a few highlights:

  • Delayed Orientation
  • School is over for the year
  • Sari/Punjabi suit shopping
  • Made Mexican food a lot...
  • Cooked Mexican food with one of the AFS volunteers who was a past YES Alumni
  • Spent time with my fellow exchange students (and I got to see a few of them after three months! The last time I had seen them was after the handing over ceremony in July...)

Monday, October 7, 2013

AFS Delayed Orientation

This weekend I had my AFS delayed orientation somewhere in Pahang. It was a resort in the middle of the wilderness/jungle and it was honestly one of my best weekends thus far in Malaysia. Not only was the view spectacular and beautiful but the people I spent it with made it worth so much more. It was a weekend full of fun, bonding, learning, and sharing about our experiences in the two and a half months we have been in Malaysia. We all talked about our experiences with our host families, host schools, host communities and how we've dealt with the hurdles we have crossed.

I honestly feel at home in Malaysia now. It is really crazy fast time goes. I have two new families- my host family and my fellow exchange students. Both of them provide different types of support and fun. Both of them are awesome, and I cannot imagine not knowing them. Both of them provide different types of support- but in the end support is support.

And the most important thing I learned this weekend? Do not compare your experiences with anyone else. It does not help anyone, it just leaves you feeling like you are not doing enough. But always remember that different people have different lives. Enjoy your year as you, not as someone else.



Italy, France, USA, Malaysia

AFS Klang Chapter 2013-2014

Whoa



I could spend every weekend here


Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK)


My host school 

A majority of the conversations I have had start with the same  questions "What are you doing here? How old are you? How do you like Malaysia? Where are you from?" This happens so often that I always find myself giving the same standard answers "Exchange program/studying abroad/cultural exchange, I am 18 and I really really like it here, it's awesome. I love it. Oh and I'm from the US." After giving my mini-introduction the next thing they ask me, or at least most of the adults I have come in contact with is, "What are you studying?" They assume that since I am 18, I am studying in a university here. I calmly explain that although I have graduated from high school already, I am attending a local high school, with students two years younger than me. Most of them are surprised I would be willing to take a year off from my studies, and I think they seem more reassured of my future once I tell that I already know where I am going afterwards.  Yet they tend to loose hope in me when I tell them I do not know what to study yet (well maybe not loose hope but you know what I mean).

This brings me to the main topic, school. Sekolah Menangah Kebgansaan or SMK as it is known in Malaysia is Secondary school, or high school. It is standard for all National schools to be thought in Malay, although there are some schools where the medium is Chinese or Tamil. There are five forms, or grades if you will, some schools even offer an extra form, Form 6. The forms are divided into two groups lower secondary (Form 1, 2, 3) and upper secondary (Form 4,5, and 6). (Ages are 13 to 17/18) School here is also divided into Science and Arts stream. In science stream you take, well science, and in arts you take accounting, economics, art and the like. In Form 3 students take a major exam, PMR, and then in Form 5 the students once again take another major exam, SPM. It goes without saying then, that the schools curriculum and way of teaching is geared into preparing its students for the exams. 

I am in Form 4, which means my classmates are 16. It can be compered to a mix of Sophomore and Junior year. I'm also in the science stream which means that I take physics, chemistry, biology, additional maths, modern maths, sejarah (history), English, Bahasa Melayu, moral , sivik (civics), and PJ (PE). All my science and maths classes are in English and the rest are in BM. I have 9 periods, each are 35 minutes long and I have a different timetable for each day. There is also a 20 minute recess period. Unlike the United States, I stay in one class all day and the teachers rotate classes. This also means that I am in the same class with 40 something students all day. Oh, that is another difference, classes here are huge! Since classes are so short, there are double periods. It is quite different than my past high school, I was so used to moving around all day and being able to pick my classes. 


We also have to wear uniforms! Guys wear some dark green pants, with a white shirt, white shoes, and a tie. Girls can wear a blue pinafore over a white shirt or a baju kurung (which all Malay girls must wear) and white shoes.Google has some nifty pictures showing the uniform since I haven't really taken a picture in mine yet...oops

Girl wearing the baju kurung 
The girl is wearing the pinafore (usually you will have your school badge and name sewn into the front)
I'm going to be honest and say that yes, sometimes school is slightly boring but it is not that bad. Even though I have learned most of the topics covered already, it is nice to refresh and to see how they use different ways of teachings to teach the same thing. And what better place to make friends than in school? And to practice learning the language?




Friday, September 13, 2013

"I fell in love like you fall asleep; slowly and then it just happened."

I loose track of time, and I forget to update people on my whereabouts. Sorry!

I've been in Malaysia for 58 days now. 58. That is almost two months, yet I feel like I have already lived here for more than that. Anyways, here are 10 things I like/find interesting/funny/are different.
  1. My host family are the nicest people ever, and funny too.
  2. I have to wear a school uniform
  3. Why aren't there proper sidewalks?
  4. The Wanted/One Direction- everyone knows them
  5. Char Kway Teow 
  6. Fruit (Rambutan...mangosteen...I am in fruit heaven) 
  7. Food
  8. Lots of green everywhere
  9. Malls. Large Malls. HUGE Malls.
  10. The curiosity, friendliness, and hospitality of Malaysians
  11. Okaaaay lah (personal favorite)
Just look how green! 

Genting Highlands 

Monday, August 12, 2013

Hari Raya!

From Tuesday to Sunday of this past week I stayed with a Malay family to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri or as it is more commonly known throughout the world Eid al-Fitr. Hari Raya is the Feast of Breaking of the Fast, celebrating the end of Ramadan. During the ninth month of the Islamic calender Muslims worldwide observe a month of fasting, which is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam, known as Ramadan.

In Malaysia, it is customary for Malays to go back to their hometowns and celebrate with their families, this is known as Balik Kampung- which roughly translates to 'homecoming'. During this time people will ask for forgiveness from their parents, in-laws or other elders. In many kampungs (hometowns/villages) people also decorate the outside of their houses with oil lamps, usually in bamboo ,think tiki torches, and as you drive through the country side and see the houses the sights are beautiful. 

On Tuesday afternoon I met my Malay host family. Well I met Mama, my host sister (Sya) and Abang (host brother) because the rest of the family had already gone back to their hometown. That same evening I broke fast with them and was asked if I wanted to try to fast the next day. Fasting (puasa) was something I wanted to try so I readily said yes! Fasting was from sunup (~5:30AM) to sundown (~7:30PM) so you had to be up earlier than 5:30AM to be able to have a big breakfast and drink as much water as possible! This is known as sahur, or a pre-dawn meal. On Wednesday morning I was woken up around 5AM and had a filling breakfast, I am not used to eating such heavy meals early in the morning but I made my best to finish my plate as Mama recommended and drank glass after glass of water. After my host family finished some last details we all piled up in abang's car and drove up north to Perak. I was very happy to have been able to make it the whole day without eating or drinking water, I can actually say it was one of my proudest moments thus far. 

Since we were still en route to the village, we stopped to buy some snacks to break fast, we had to wait until we reached the village to have our proper meal. After all, it was the last day of fasting. After reaching Aya's (my host dad) village later that night, I met the rest of the family. Two older sisters, a younger sister, and a few younger cousins. 

Waking up the next day (Aug 8th) was special for me. Not only was it Hari Raya but also my 18th birthday, and Aya said "You have a big celebration, think of it this way, all the Muslims around the world are celebrating your birthday too!" which made me laugh. It is customary for Malays to wear traditional clothes for Hari Raya, this means the baju kurung and tudung (long skirt and a head scarf) for women and the baju melayu for the men (silk shirt worn with a sarong), usually families wear a color and we all wore pink, except the men they didn't like the idea of pink. After taking many pictures we all set out to visit relatives! (Pictures are coming soon. I'm kind of horrible at taking them so I have to ask my host sis to send them to me. But I promise they will be up as soon as I get them!) 

To put it simply wherever you are in Malaysia you will eat! Every house we visited, we were offered food and well I simply could not refuse! During those three days we were at the village I must have eaten nonstop. I did try some Malay food which is quite spicy but delicious, I am thankful my taste buds can handle all the spicy! From all the food I ate I can say my favorite was lemang and ketupat! Both are nasi (rice) and that is all you eat here! Nasi for breakfast, nasi for lunch and nasi for dinner! Anyways, lemang is a glutenous rice cooked inside a bamboo which is pretty nifty if you ask me. Usually lemang is served with redang which is a type of spicy meat with lots and lots of spices. After these past few days with my Malay family and the weeks I have spent with my other host family I can say for certain that food is the center of all Malaysian culture, but how could it not be with all the variety and deliciousness?! 

When you greet other Malay's you need to salaam (did I spell this correctly?) them, which is a special greeting where you take a person's right hand and bow low and place their hand to your forehead and then since it was Hari Raya you said 'Selamat Hari Raya' which is roughly 'Happy Hari Raya.' This greeting shows respect to that person.

There is also another tradition known as Duit Raya is where people give money to children and sometimes unmarried people. Oh! And there are the open houses where it literally is an open house, you go to someone's house and eat! You might not know the person and they are also very welcoming of non-Muslims attending. 

These past few days were an experience for me. It was overwhelming at first trying to adjust to a lifestyle that was completely new to me and to have been welcomed to a family who was eager to show their traditions and the importance of Raya with me. Although Malay was all that was spoken the last few days and my Malay is honestly non-existent it was an adventure trying to communicate with the children- although the only person I understood was a 3 year old child.  

During this last week I learned so much about Malay culture simply by living and observing, it was a very different way of life that proved to be rewarding in the end. I am grateful that I was able to experience a few days of Hari Raya with my Malay host family, since the celebration lasts for about a month. A month of fasting and a month of eating as Ayah and Mama rightly said. 
Lemang! 

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Noodles or Rice?

Noodles or rice. Rice or noodles, that has been the first question my host family asks me every time we are about to go eat lunch or dinner. And that really answers what type of food you will end up eating- well sort of…most of the time. It has now become a joke of sorts, isn't that awesome? Anyways as of today I have tried- Malay, Indian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese food! And all of them have been incredibly satisfying, new and well delicious!
I think I have surprised my host family as to how much I love spicy food and how easily I can eat it. I keep telling them it is because I’m Mexican and I love cilli’s and spicy stuff,and they said I was making it easier for them to take me out and try new foods since they didn't really have to worry about the spiciness. I LOVE spicy food so I think I have landed in a very accommodating place.
I have also learned how to properly eat using both a spoon and fork and my right hand. Although I can’t use chopsticks yet, it takes so much coordination and I’m sad to say I get hand cramps! But I will make it a goal to learn how to eat with them by maybe the end of next month…hopefully.
My host family finally discovered when I really don’t like something I have tried, I usually say rather bluntly when I love something or it is good but when I don’t I say “It’s different" or “It has a different taste." Now they have associated me saying it’s different to me not liking something- although I still clarify when I mean different in a good way or not.
So my two favorite dishes so far?
Char kway teow and Nasi lemak (although I had this at an organic shoppe and they tell me it isn't as good as normal one)

They also laugh because every time we order something the first thing that comes out of my mouth is "What is that? What is it called?" and the sad thing is I never remember!
Char kway teow

Nasi lemak