It's a jungle out there!....literally :P

Good evening fellow bloggers!

Chinese New Year is a time where families spend time together and create unforgettable memories to always have to look back on.  It's times like these when foreign students really miss their homes not to mention their families. 

It's hard enough being away from home without being reminding of it. You have to be independent because if you don't look after yourself who else will? Being independent (as an adjective) can be defined as: 

1.not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself: an independent thinker.

2.not subject to another's authority or jurisdiction; autonomous; free: an independent businessman.

3.not influenced by the thought or action of others: independent research. 

4.not dependent; not depending or contingent upon something else for existence, operation, etc.

5.not relying on another or others for aid or support. 

Most of these apart from definition '2.' and financial support can be used to define a foreign student's way of life. I recently left my home in England to come study Psychology at Segi University College in Malaysia and it has been one tough transition to say the least.  Some days I wake up and can't believe I'm in Malaysia out of all places in the world, it's funny, before I moved here I couldn't even tell you where Malaysia was on the map!  It's always hard become a student but especially harder when it's out of the comfort of your own home.  Although I am now a mature student coming up to my 23rd birthday, and I have been in and out of education and work for the past 7 years, this does not mean I find it any easier coping with the adversities that one faces when living alone. 

However I am undoubtedly grateful for the endless life experience it has taught me and I would not be here today without it.  Through the years I've experienced my perceptual constancy change so much, I've learnt to question things and not just accept what I see.  Looking back I used to be so stubborn so set in my old way but now with a little patience I have much more understanding and have become open to more things, people, ideas and the list goes on.  This with time has helped me develop into the person I am today and my self-esteem has never been at its highest because I know that anything is possible and it starts with oneself so we can always be in control of our lives and guide our futures to our dreams.

Personally I think it's the little things that make you miss home the most, whether its the way your mum used to make your favourite breakfast or that random chat you would have in the car with your dad while he's giving you a lift home. Sometimes it would be nice just to come home and have someone ask you how your day was :( .  It's funny but whenever I think about home I always seem to only remember the good and never the bad, I guess sub-conscientiously I keep using selective retention to reinforce how great and amazing it was living back home.  Not once do I sit and recall how I used to argue with my family and storm up to my room in tears or how on a cold, crispy winters morning I'd hate having to get out of bed because of the snow waiting outside to freeze my ears off. 

Living in Malaysia was like living in a whole different universe, I found things so odd when I first arrived.  People kept saying "la" at the end of their speech like "Yes laa", "No laa" etc.   Soon I realized this was just a cultural thing and soon enough I began saying it myself, I know it may sound silly but I think it helps enforce communication between myself and the society here so conversations feel more natural.  However one think I dislike here is how much I get stereotyped!  I really do hate how people assume on first impression that I'm Nigerian or a dangerous African just because of the colour of my skin.  Most people don't even give you a chance and just make up their mind based on your looks which is completely ridiculous if you ask me.  I understand that Nigerians are pretty infamous here for their know violence and criminal activities but that doesn't mean every black person that comes here is Nigerian nor that they behave negatively.  I'm British-Sudanese and for once I wish strangers would try and find that out instead of stereotyping, even my own neighbour hates me without even knowing me, she always gives me negative looks whenever I am entering or leaving my house even though I always try my best to smile and give a welcoming impression with a gestural wave or a kind "Hello".  However I know myself and I know I am and who I'm not, I don't need anyone to assure me that I'm a decent person because I'm confident in my up-bringing and my character, all I want is just not to be judged.


My time in Malaysia has taught me an awful lot, regardless to the downs there's always an upside to things!  Malaysia as it has been said IS truly Asia! Before arriving here I wrongly assumed I would only see Malaysians but I was wrong! Deadly wrong! Malaysia is inhabited mostly by Malaysians, Chinese and Indians but there many other ethnic groups here like for example Thais, Javanese, Japanese, the list is endless without even stating all the non-Asian ethnicities! Matching its multi-ethnic population the country is also extremely multi-cultural with its population practising Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Taoism etc.


I've been privileged to meet and get to know all these different types of people without even having to travel around Asia.  I have experienced all kinds of diverse celebrations ranging from Deepvali to Chinese New years.  I even had my name in-scripted in the ancient art of calligraphy a few days ago.
 

If you're ever looking to do some travelling and experience other cultures, I would strongly advise you to pop down to Malaysia and have a truly memorable time!


Well that's all from me for now, until next time take care and stay safe.


From Sarah with love x

 

Oh, hi!

We talk, a lot. Not physically, but mentally. Often, we do that when we make choices such as waking up in the morning and questioning ourselves the very first question; Should I bath first, or brush my teeth? I'm feeling a little hungry. Of course, we mentally discuss it and make the decisions and start doing whichever activity we desire first.

Back early last year, my father had decided to get me a baby tortoise as a present for my SPM results, and I took her in as I was an animal person. When I first saw her, I mentally debated with myself the biggest question, "What should she be named?"

I eventually called her Izzie.

When I first saw her, I was afraid to touch her because she was moving all over the place and upturning everything in her glass box. But eventually I mustered up my courage and carried her out of her comfort zone...to the ground.

Fast forward to four months later, Izzie suddenly stopped becoming her perky self, and started to eat lesser as well as moving lesser. That was when I started debating with myself.
"Should I bring her to the vet? She's not looking too well."
"But she's walking around normally. Is that a good sign? I hope so."
"She's sleeping too much. That's not good, right? Please say it's normal for a tortoise to sleep the entire day and wake up just to eat."

One night when I was busy preparing for my presentation, I noticed that Izzie had stopped moving as much as she used to last time. I gently picked her up, and she felt cold. Panicking, I placed her under the light, hoping that she would revive. But morning came, and she had passed on by then. The emotional side of me said, "she was too young to go," but the realistic side said, "it was her time." It was as though I was comforting myself

During my first lesson in my Interpersonal Communication class, I learnt that when we communicate with ourselves, it was actually normal because we had to think of questions to ask our neighbors in a class activity, and that talking with ourselves was actually called intrapersonal communication, which is the process of using messages to generate meaning within self, and that it usually occurs in our own minds.

All in all, we do communicate within ourselves, whether we admit it or not. Don't believe me? Try stepping into a mamak stall and see what thoughts would arise in you. Would you want a teh tarik, or something else stronger? ;) and maybe a roti telur to go along with it? Aha. You be the judge, and you'll be communicating with yourself again!

Till then,
Eva :)