I am sorry for not updating you with our stories because we need to finish some of the last assignments as we are going to have our semester breakkk!!!
miss me???
For this entry, it might be different as Zuk and I will show two different videos as we are separated into different group,huhuhuhu
My topic is on Youth awareness on Discrimination.
Why this topic?
because we would like to know more on the existed discrimination among the youth and know how much awareness that they do have in themselves regarding on the discrimination in Malaysia.
In this post, we think we will write more on the better-not-doing non-verbals in Thailand.
Let's take look on what we have discussed with Nani.
Us: We are not allowed to touch others' head at there?
But why?
Nani: The Siamese people consider head as the top one and touching head is considered impolite.
Us: Is that mean that the head is considered as honorable?
Nani: It is more to courtesy.
Us: Politeness, right?
Nani: Yes.
Us: How about the feet? There is an information that we found on the internet saying " whereas the head is the highest point of the body, the feet are the lowest. Do not point at things with your feet and do not point the palms of your feet at anyone"
Nani: The foot is considered asThailand's poor. So, it should not be used to rake or foot walk across a person or an object, such as food, books and so on.
Us: So, we can not walk across the books?
Nani: Yes.
Based on the discussion, we can say that those two gestures are also considered impolite in Malaysia.
However, about tapping the head, I do believe that there are cultures in Malaysia allow their society tapping each others' head.
In conclusion, we have to know some gestures that are not allowed in certain places so we can avoid misunderstanding.
Today, we would love to expose some of the informations that we have found about her hometown in Pattani.
When we met and had disscussions, I did ask her about the war in Pattani. Well, she said that before this, Pattani was a country and after a period of time, Pattani lost and is colonized by Thailand.
What makes us more interested is,based on our readings on internet, Pattani and some places in Thailand such as Narathiwat and Yala are the lost Malay country.
I did ask Nani about what language they used there and she said Thailand' language and also Malay.
No wonder, Nani understand what I said in Malay, hahaha.
On the next post, we will reveal to you more on the banned gestures in Thailand. BYE....
Alright, now lets get proceed to our sharing moment.
On this post, we would love to share more on what we know about the dessert in Thailand.
I am so excited because these desserts are related to my hometown in Kelantan.
The other day, when we met Nani, she did mention about these desserts' name which I could not clearly listen to. But I was suprised when she showed me the pictures because they are the same as my favorite in Kelantan.
And you want to know what those desserts are?
It is 'Ton Yib' and 'Ton Foy'.
Arghhh, my mouth is watering right now. Maybe I should go and find some at Kota Bharu tomorrow. Hahahah
Alright, back to our topic, the desserts.
In Kelantan, we call them as 'Buah Tanjung' and 'Jala Emas'
So, besides Tom Yum and Som Tam, they also has famous dessert such as Ton Yib and Ton Foy.
It is undeniable that some Kelantanese' food are similar to their food. Maybe because we are neighbors and neighbors should share what they have, right? Hahahhah
Thai Food Network
Let me tell you one secret...
In Kelantan...
These desserts are totally sweet but delicious..
Trust me,hehehe
Wow Hidayah, my favourite is also Jala Emas!! I just love the sweetness of that food!!
Last two weeks, we have heard on what is perception or prejudice behalf on our part.
So......
This week......
we are going to share some information on what Nani (our international friend) has shared with us regarding on the issue 'PERCEPTION'.
She mentioned that she has a stereotype on the taxi drivers in Malaysia.
Why did so?
The reason is....
She mentioned that whenever she wanted to take a taxi, the taxi driver always charged them higher than usual price.
Apart from that, she also said that it is hard for them to take a taxi.
Maybe it is due to the fact that they are foreigner.
Has she ever been prejudiced before in our country, Malaysia?
Hmmmmm.
She said that since it is now only been three months since she was here, so she has not encountered yet any perception towards her.
However,
she mentioned that the biggest fear she has is, she afraid that people would not befriend with her.
Maybe she is scared that people might have any stereotype towards her.
Meet our friend,Nani!!!!
(the brown shawl)
In the context of culture,Nani said, her hometown in Pattani, Thailand majority of the
population is Muslim. We shared our story on Eid celebration in Malaysia and
she said it is quite similar to Eid celebration back in Pattani. In her
hometown, on the morning of Eid, they would go to the mosque with
their family to perform Eid prayer and they have to bring foods along with
them. Unlike us in Malaysia, we would eat in a small portion before we go to
the mosque to perform Eid prayer. Moreover, the community in Pattani they do give money to the children on Eid celebration, however, they give it right after the Eid prayer to the children that come to the mosque that morning. It is interesting to know someone's culture that is quite same with your own culture..
Hi! We meet again..Hope all of us are doing well today.
Have a look at the video below..Have fun watching it!
Take a look at the audiences' and one of the judges expression. They must have "what can these old men do?" kind of thinking.
In our last class in week 4, we were discussing about
stereotype,prejudice and discrimination.
What comes to your mind when these words, are to you? I bet that every one of us
cannot avoid on being skeptical or prejudice towards others.
For example, you’ve
known this one guy from region A, who tends to cheat you several times and you
meet another guy from the same region and you assume him to have the same
attitude as the first guy? I might say
yes if I did know him well. However, all these can be avoided by having a positive
mind. Take a look the video below..
What do you think about that? That guy was being skeptical and he discriminated a black guy just because of his past experience? huh..such a childish man..
I would like to share my experience as a "victim" of discrimination. My father was known as an outspoken person. Whenever he saw something wrong, he would correct it immediately.
The event happened through my school years. Every time the meeting of Parent Teacher Organization was held, he will point out any matters that were not being organized well by the administration for instance.
Some teachers looked at it as a threat instead of trying to accept parents opinions or advised. ( I am not making this up, one of the teacher from my former school told my father).
So instead of facing up to my father, they made us the victim. I remember when I was in primary 3, there was this one "ustaz" called my brother "gemuk macam babi" (you're fat as a pig) and he said something about my father because at that time the teachers were having a big fight with my father.
When I was in high school, this one teacher called us (me and my sister) and said harsh things about my father. At that time, I had the gut to voiced out and said," Madam, if you have problems with my father, just go and meet him personally and please..do not get us involve in this! "
"It is between you and my father! Please be professional!". I was not intended to be rude but I just could not stand it anymore.
So people! If you are being discriminated, do not fear! Stand up and voice out! I know it takes a long time to build the strength but you just got to do it!
I do not blame my father for being an outspoken person (never!) because it is our task as a human being to enjoin good and forbid evil! (Oh God! I am emotional while typing this out!)
Yeah that is from me..What about you Dayah??
If you ask me..personally, I will describe stereotyping as thinking of something negatively or in Islamic term, we call it as su'uzzon.
Actually, we should avoid being stereotype as it can influence our social life, like what happened to Zuk but I have to admit that it is hard to get rid of those stereotypes as me too, I have my own stereotypes of something or someone.
Being grow up in a family consist of six brothers, makes me think that men are lazy and they need to rely on their mother if it is regarding on their daily needs such as food and washing the clothes.
But I have to admit that when they are free, they would help my mum but... the ' free time' is hard to have.
Have I been prejudiced before?
I would say yes. No one will be freed from being stereotyped by others,right?
When I was in form one, I always wore slipper wherever I wanted to go including the night market.
It was similar to this one.
For me, there was nothing wrong with it but... like I said earlier, no one will be freed from stereotypes.
One day, I went to the night market, wearing the slipper as usual and when I was walking, there was a man who sat nearby the street was talking about me and I heard his sentence..
The guy: eh... dia pakai selipar je (she only wears the slipper)?
I was shocked and asked my friend;
Me: Is it wrong for me to wear slipper?
My friend: No, it is not. Just ignore him
The way he talked about me wearing those slipper as if I have done something wrong and big to him
Now, whenever I go out, I will always look at myself and ask my friend if anything wrong with my clothes.
Why?
Because I am afraid that people will look at me and say something negatively regarding on my clothes and look down at me
We meet again! On the last entry we have introduce our International friend from Pattani,Thailand. How was it? Is there any new things that you have learnt?
In this entry I want to share something about self-perception. In my last class we were told by our lecturer to draw our face without even looking to a mirror! At first I was worried as I do not have any basic in drawings! But, by using my wonderful imagination, I manage to draw my own face! yeayyy!!
Not that bad huh?
zuk!!!! Can I speak too?
Horrayyyyy!!! It is my turn now...
when we were told to draw ourselves, my reaction was..
Of course I would shock. Can you imagine, drawing something beautiful (my face, hahahahha) but with zero knowledge on the drawing?
but I still drew the drawing and started it with the shape of my face. My imagination is not good as the others as I do not look at the mirror regularly. So, I was imagining it through the pictures that I've seen in the Facebook.
this is the result!!
Good job Hidayah! We were also told to write a poem about ourselves. Honestly, I am not a good writer.. here is mine...Have fun reading it!!!
I AM
I am the third of a triplet
I am a part time baker
I am afraid of silent people, but when I asked them what are
their first impression on me? They said I am arrogant..
I think I need a new smile
Don't judge me if you do not know me
I am who I am
How was it? Really need to improve my writing skills.. (huh)
Now its Hidayah's turn!
Who I am?
When people first get to know me,
They thought,
I am a snobbish girl
Maybe...
It was because of my face,
or my attitude,
or it could be because of my body language.
However..
I am just an ordinary girl,
with an ordinary face,
with moderate behavior,
and no experiences.
Yes..
I am a girl,
with an ordinary beauty
with no great intelligence
But...
Those speculations were not going to change
my spirit,
my motivation,
and my wish.
LOVE: HIDAYAH RAZALI
Wow Dayah! You've really touched me!! What do you think?
On our previous class, one of our classmates did mention on what stereotypes that he had in a character of a wife and he said, women should know how to cook.
Well, you are right. We, women should know how to cook. But we are not slaves. We, women cook because people love our food and they love to eat, not because we need to.
If the reason is to feed the family, then what is the point of cooking if they do not eat our cooking and instead, eat outside?
My friend, she used to tell me that her father always complaint if her mother did not cook. But, the reason why her mother did not cook is because whenever she cook, her husband rarely eat it. Her father would go out and eat at the stall or we, Malay call as 'Kedai kopi' (coffee shop).
Some people may think that the house chores should be done by the wife. But the stereotypes at least should be changed and the husband should help their wife instead of letting their wives do the chores alone.
*You should watch the video and don't skip it..It is a good message.
I agreed with Hidayah.. We cook because it our responsibility and it is for the one that we love. I am not against my own culture, ( as my aunties and grandmother always told me that, even if you have your Phd, at the end your place will be the kitchen )but sometimes men need to help their lady to do the house chores rather than chilling around. I am not saying you need to do it everyday.. Men..sometimes your wives needs her time, they need to rest. It does not makes you look girly to do something that your wives usually do.
No hard feelings man! These are just our opinions based on the discussions we had in the class. I think that this thing has to do with culture. Different culture, different perspectives. What do you think?
Don't forget to give us your comment and subscribe to our blog! Byee!
What comes across on your mind when you see the title above? Land of Smiles..... these are the word that came out when I tried to search what Thailand is known for. When we are writing this post, Zuk and I, were discussing on what should we put as the tittle for this entry.
I would love to put our title as 'THE NEVER COLONIZED LAND' meanwhile,Zuk would love to put it as 'THE ELEPHANT LAND'.
But when we tried to google it, we have different result. So, we name our post as 'THE LAND OF SMILES'.
Sirampuj’s painting works off Thailand’s slogan “land of smiles .
But.... why would we search for Thailand information in our blog?
buffering....
Oh Yes!!! We are talking about Thailand because our international friend is from there!!!
Have you ever heard the Malay phrase "Tak Kenal Maka Tak Cinta" (You Can't Love What You Don't Know) ?
So, now we are going to introduce our international friend to you.
And...... she is a girl (same with me and Zuk). Hehehe
Let us start with her name.
Her name is Rusnanee Kareema and you may call her as Nani.
She said that the culture in Thailand is when they are greeting, they should say Sawaddika/kad.
She also added that at 6 am and 8 pm, they must stand for the National Anthem.
Now, let us talk about food.
What do you think their famous food there?
She mentioned that the most famous food in Thailand are Somtom, Tomyam and Padthai.
Somtom
Padthai
Tomyam
They have interesting food and cultures, right? But.. what did she find Malaysia interesting enough which make her to further study here?
Her answer why she chose to come here because she wants to practice English and change herself and become better. She also said that she loves environment and society here.
Inshaallah, in the next entry, we will travel through the cultures of Thailand
As for Pellegrino Riccardi , an Italian based in the UK, people expect him to be an average Italian men that talk fast and talkative. However they did not know that Mr. Riccardi was raised in the UK and adapt more UK culture than Italian.
He quoted that "people see what they want to see,but they don't always see what we see". Based on his speech, we can say that people tend to have their own perception and this sometimes can lead to misunderstanding between two communicators.
This situation is related to what Pellegrino said about misperception. Let me give an analogy, its between me and this person called as an A. For me, "hae?" is used when i don't understand about something but she misinterpreted it and think that I was making fun of her.
Therefore, this situation made me curious on why did she think that I was making fun of her? In the video,Pellegrino encouraged us to be curious when we are communicating with people from other culture.
Why? It is because when are curious, we tend look more about the culture. If we notice, in the video,he did give examples on the economy of language by different cultures.
For example:
English:Excuse me, may I just interrupt you for a second?
Norwegian:Du??
* Economy of language = Some culture might say something in 10 words while others with only just one word.
