To Dwell in Possibility

One of the perks of being an exchange student is that you get invited to a lot of events, by people you don't even know, that want you there because you're foreign.

the happy couple

Aren't we cute :*

Us with the bride and groom

The Chinese wedding we kinda crashed..

It's strange how the world can go from a semi-normal routine to crashing down around you in the time it takes to read one e-mail.

On the second day of our Cameron Highlands Trip, after a very much-needed rest, we were off to see the rafflesia flower. We were bussed around Cameron Highlands to a hotel, where our group switched vehicles and piled into a Jeep. Not the kind of cute Jeep you see barreling down the roads of suburban America, but a real, legit, all terrain Jeep. It bumped up and down the rocky paths, sometimes on the verge of tipping over, until it reached an area of land that flooded.From there, we started the "by foot" part of our journey. It was intense jungle trekking, sliding down mud, wading through knee deep puddles, leaping from rock to rock to cross streams,  getting scratched up from overhead and underhead brush, but about a very muddy hour and a half later, we reached our final destination.
The rafflesia is the largest flower in the world, and I'd be willing to bet one of the ugliest. This was not the pretty dainty roses of the day before, this was a serious flower. With its thick crimson petals, and spiky interior, the rafflesia was not the kind of flower you'd want to place in a bouquet.... Not that it would fit in one. Websites boasted that the smell of the rafflesia is like the smell of rotting corpses, but sense I don't have any experience with that, it was impossible to make a comparison. My best description would be that it smelled like sewage. Yum.
After we took tons of pictures (after all, we had hiked for an hour plus to see the ugly flower), we finally made our way out of the jungle, pausing only for a break to splash cold water on our hot faces from a conveniently-located waterfall. Exhausted and dripping sweat, we trudged to our van and reached an Orang-Asli settlement. We learned how to shoot poison darts (ours were fake of course) using the traditional blowpipe. Walking through the Orang-Asli village was strange. It felt a bit awkward for us, as it felt like we were invading peoples' personal lives. It was not the best experience, and although I've heard the Orang Asli culture is beautiful, today was not the day to learn about it.
We stopped at a few sightseeing places to take pictures and enjoyed char kuey teow at a restaurant somewhere in Pahang. The food took 45 minutes to come, something practically unheard of in Malaysia! Oh well, just another orang putih problem I guess.
The day was finished with a tour of the BOH tea factory. It was extremely foggy so it was hard to take  any good pictures, but at least the tea warmed us up. The Jeep bumped along the road back to the bus stop, where we very nearly missed our bus... But once we made it, needless to say, there were 7 sleeping , but happy foreigners on the bus back to Ipoh.

One does not mess with a rafflesia.

So big lah this

What a beautiful view....

My favorite picture of the group I think

Pictures cannot do the view justice

Back home in America, today is Thanksgiving. I suppose over the years, like most other American holidays, it's become commercialized, an opportunity for poultry companies and stuffing producers to make money. But the real reason for this holiday is to give thanks. Malaysia has made me thankful for so much.
Today I am thankful for family. A family in America, one that skypes me and sends me wonderful care packages. A family that somehow makes me feel just as loved when I'm 15,000 km away from home compared to when I'm sitting the living room. I miss them like crazy. But also, a Malaysian family. A wonderful, if not slightly crazy host family that has taken me in and treats me like a sister/ daughter. They deserve a million hugs for putting up with me when I'm ridiculously homesick and laughing me when I'm not. My host family have taught me so much about so many different things.
Today I am thankful for food. I didn't have turkey or mashed potatoes, but still managed to feast, Malaysian style. I ate cultural dishes such as durian, nasi, roti canai, mangosteen and mee udang. Not what you'd call a a typical Thanksgiving dinner, but still delicious.
Today I am thankful for friends. American friends: people that will fill me in on the latest BHS gossip and promise they'll be there when I get back. Malaysian friends: people that will translate anything for me and teach me about this beautiful country and culture.
Today I am thankful for my fellow exchange students, who fall under the categories of family and friend. Sometimes it feels like they are the only people that understand what's going on and can put words to emotions you have no idea how to describe. Especially me fellow YES Abroad Malaysians. I don't know where I'd be without them. These are people I can call while crying and be laughing within 5 minutes.
Today I am thankful for the people that don't fall into any of these categories. Teachers, pastors, shopkeepers, the man that opened my durian and 12 mangosteen for me tonight. People that have touched my life in ways great and small.
Today I am thankful for the YES Abroad program and AFS. It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that I'm living halfway around the world sometimes, and I am forever grateful that I am given a scholarship to do so.
Today I am thankful for the intangible things. Differences and similarities. Cultural sharing and meeting new people. Learning about so many new things everyday. Changing and growing as a person.
Today I am thankful for Malaysia. Malaysia is home. I am thankful for so many welcoming people, delicious food, and incredible diversity. It's strange to think that this time last year, I knew almost nothing about Malaysia, let alone thought about living here. Yet here I am.
It may not have been a typical Thanksgiving, but it's one I'll never forget.
Today I am thankful. Everyday I'm thankful. What are you thankful for?

Also shoutout to my mom for sending me thanksgiving decorations....

The American had been turned into an Avatar with the help of her fellow foreigners and some strategically-placed butterfly flowers.

The day was not off to a good start! The poor American was grumpy because the mamak took a ridiculous 45 minutes to serve her nasi lemak and teh tarik.

She was so hungry that when she finally got her food she ate too fast and choked on the sambal so she had to go to the klinik.

Forytunately, the doctor was able to help her but the 4 different kinds of pills he prescribed made her a bit loopy. She even tried to eat with her left hand!

Eventually the medicine wore off, and the American was a bit embarrassed by her  actions. She apologized to everyone and salam'ed them for good measure.

Everything worked out for the better-- later her host family even took her to the Pasar Malam. Jalan-jalan cari makan!

While walking through the pasar malam, she passed by an auntie selling spices and the curry was too much for her to handle.

Luckily, she was able to buy her satay anyways. After eating, the very tired American returned home to mandi and tidur. She lived happily ever after.

While staying with my Deepavali family, Nora and I were able to follow them for a short holiday to Penang. It wasn't even a holiday, rather a time for all the kids in the family to meet up and enjoy each other's company while their parents do the same.
The older children in the family had planned such activities as trivia games, making someone into an animal using only what's on the beach and tag games. These were definitely fun to participate in, but the best part of the holiday was the beach.
I love the beach. I have always loved the beach. I probably always will love the beach. I've been to beaches  everywhere from the rocky, freezing waters of Nova Scotia, Canada, to the powdery sun-warmed sand of New Smyrna, Florida. There's just something about the rhythmic crashing of the waves, the foam lapping at your toes, the seagulls cawing in the distance, that makes a beach more than just a tourist destination.
 The beach on Penang was absolutely beautiful. The water was lighter, clearer and a million times warmer than American beaches. The sand was powdery near the ocean and coarse near the hotel. This was my first beach in Malaysia, hopefully I'll visit many more.

♥♥♥

Postcard weather, n'est ce pas?

View from the Penang ferry

Kollum before

Kollum after

Nora dan saya

Saya suka pakai saree!

Henna

Another saree..

Our lovely Indian host family

The maid's kollum.... and all the candles!

I survived Form 4! Alleluia!
The past week of school hasn't even felt like school. Exams are finished for everyone except the Form 5 students who are taking the super important SPM, which is a government standardized test that is key to getting into a good university and acquiring a good job. But for us Form 4's and the Form 3's it was party time!!
Kind of.
Each class was assigned an area of the school to clean, along with cleaning their own classroom. But 4 Kekwa was assigned the volleyball court. Also known as a giant slab of concrete. It's hard to clean a giant slab of concrete without hosing it down and that was impossible... So after picking up a stray candy bar wrapper, we had finished cleaning!
To pass the time until school was over, it was decided we should play games. And take pictures.
I was in a cultural sharing-y mood, so I decided to teach my classmates an American game, Quack Diddly O'so (spelling?). Basically you sit in a circle and clap (kind of like giving a high-five only horizontal) the hand of the person next to you. There's a really silly song that I managed to teach everyone- it sounds so cute when sung in the Malaysian accent!
Quack  Diddly O'so Song:
Quack diddly o'so quack quack quack
Senorita, your mama smells like pizza
Dalora, Dalora, I threw up on the floor-a
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10!
When the song reaches the 10, the person who you're about to slap hands with either moves their hand or you hit them. If you miss, you're out. If they're hit, they're out.
It sounds really complicated, but I think it's one of things that you have to see to understand.... So, a video!
After Quack Diddly Oso (Shivani was crowned champion), we played truth or dare. I'll sum it up like this: Malaysian truth or dare is completely different from the American version. There were no boys, so that might have changed things up a bit. We all did some pretty, er, interesting things and I somehow ended up with an "I'm sorry" balloon. I pretty much love my class and all its craziness.
Finally, it was time for us to go back home, and we all hugged and said goodbye. Someone wished me a Merry Christmas and I laughed until I realized that, yeah, the next time I'll be in school will be next year!
Two of us in the class told our parents the wrong time for pick-up, softer most everyone had left, my friend Fari, her sister and I went to the mall next to our school for a drink. While there, we found a store with Christmas decorations already up. Eeeeeee! I love Christmas, but it's hard to get in the spirit when it's 90 degrees outside, all the time...
Anyways, happy school holidays to all Malaysians!

The Aidilfitri decorations have finally been taken down and replaced with bright swirly "Selamat Hari Deepavali!" banners. Little India is packed with people buying their new elaborate punjabi suits, or sparkly new bangles, or just stopping buy for a teh tarik and capati break before returning to their houses to make further preparations. Open house invitations have been starting to flood in, trying to keep track of them is a bit confusing. Without a doubt, the Deepavali spirit is in the air! And it's not just limited to the Indians that stay here in Malaysia.
On Saturday after picking my younger host sister up from Kokorikulum Day at her school, my host mom, her friend, my sister and I were driving through Ipoh and were confused about the jam-- until it hit us. Little India, duh!
My host mom's friend decided she wanted to get henna (my friends call it inai, I guess that's what it's called here?) done on her hands, and I also wanted to give it a try... so I did.
Pictures later, cultural notes first. 
Although we got stared at, no one seemed to question or seem angry at the fact that a white girl and her clearly Malay family were in Little India. Malaysia is surprising like that. I've heard a lot of people talking about race issues, discrimination, etc, but I've found that all races have been equally welcoming to me, especially in sharing their culture. In coming here, I've not only learned about Islam and my own host family's customs, but also about the traditions of the Chinese and Indians here.
Malaysia is one of the few places with such a distinct culture of diversity. Each race manages to keep it own identity intact while still being a puzzle piece in the jigsaw that is Malaysia. You may be Indian, or Chinese, or Malay, but you're also Malaysian.
Yes, that sounds cliche, but where else can you stop for some dim sum after shopping for bangles while listening to the Call to Prayer winding up and down the streets?
To Malaysians- Take pride in the country you live in. Both the scenery and the culture are beautiful here.  You're lucky to live in such a place. To Americans- Learn to value the diversity of your country as it is valued in Malaysia. America's a pretty awesome place too. To others- Again, just value the place you live. To a foreigner, it's bound to be amazing and unique.
Culture is what keeps generations connected, what defines a people. Be proud of your culture. It has helped to shape you to be the person you are.
To put it one more way.... A person without culture is like a meal in Malaysia without rice!
As for my Deepavali plans, I'll be spending the holiday with an Indian family somewhere in Perak. Really excited for it!
Also, I've been blogged about! Thanks to BlogSerius for writing a sweet article about me. Link here: http://blogserius.blogspot.com/2012/11/serius-cute-remaja-pertukaran-pelajar.html

Pretty henna

Peek a boo!

While the paste was still drying...

I'm fun at parties

I have to say, one of the perks in living in such a centrally located country is that it's very easy to travel. Want to head over to Thailand? Easy 5 hour drive. Craving some Singapore laksa? Only 9 hours by bus. Crazy desire to see the beautifully historic country of Vietnam? 2 hour flight on a relatively cheap airline. And that's exactly what me, 2 other exchange students, and 3 Malaysians did this past weekend.
After a night bus and a very early morning flight, we arrived barely conscious at the Ho Chi Minh Airport. Our tour guide Terry (T-E-DOUBLE-R-Y) drove us to our first destination. The day was a very historical one, with visits to the Vietnam war museum and the Independence Palace. With members of my families who are veterans of this war, it really meant a lot to see the place where it happened. It was also interesting to see it from a Vietnamese perspective. In the US, we breezed through the Vietnam War chapter, mostly because it wasn't supposed to show up on our US History Regents. Which is sad. The Vietnam War was a really interesting time in US History and I wish I could have learned more about it before actually going to the country where it happened.
Our meals that night, and over the 3 days we were there were all traditional Vietnamese foods. A lot of spring rolls, seafood, and noodle soup. I tried local dishes such as beef pho, elephant ear fish, popped rice, and coconut toffee. It had more of a light and fresh flavor than Malaysian food, although I did miss my nasi goreng usa when I was there!
That night, after a tour of the shopping district, we were off to Ben Thanh Market. For Malaysians, picture Central Market. Now picture it 3 times as big, with lower prices. Voila. Ben Thanh Market. It had everything you could ever want- from colanders to clothing. We went there or to the night market that opened beside it, or both, every day in Vietnam. The prices were incredible first off. 1 USD (3 RM) was equal to 20,000 Vietnamese Dong, and the most expensive item I bought (a handmade traditional Vietnamese dress) cost me only 25 USD. It was really easy to bargain with the shopkeepers. They told me I got discounts for being fair and beautiful but I probably still paid ridiculously high amounts as compared to what real Vietnamese people pay... ah, such is life. Over 3 days I bought two traditional Vietnamese dresses, three kimonos, a silk dress, a pair of pants, two t-shirts, two scarves, and one handbag and I probably spent less than $150. Shopping in Vietnam rocks.
Our second day was spent mostly on the river in a river taxi boat type thing. We sailed to an island where family owned workshops made candy, popped rice, and snake venom alcohol. It was really neat to experience everything firsthand: feel the heat of the cooking candy, smell the durian being mixed into the rice mixture, taste the freshly brewed tea. After the workshops, we were treated to traditional Vietnamese folk performances which were like a mixture of song, dance, and speech. Really unique. To conclude our day on the river, we took a low sitting row boat back to the mainland. The boat ride was relaxing, but it sure was hot!
My final day in Vietnam was spent at this historical site, the Chu Chi tunnels. But the tour guide's accent made it seem like the Gucci tunnels.. These were tunnels built by Vietnamese villagers turned guerilla fighters. It was amazing that they managed to build what is essentially an underground city with only a shovel and a basket. After one very rainy drive to the airport, and one last (5 last) group photos, we said goodbye and set off on an airport quest to use up the rest of our Vietnamese Dong on sushi and Big Macs.

Vietnam War relics

Makanan Vietnam

Grand Cathedral

ssssssnake wine

Women making rice paper

Jade Pagoda

Terry gets feisty

cute group photo in which a guy pretends to shoot my head and hikaru is being perfect as always