Last week, I went on a trip to Cameron Highlands with some other exchange students. It was a very "touristy" type trip, we made stops at all the popular attractions there, but still a wonderful, surprisingly thought-provoking time. The first day we went to a lettuce farm, a honey farm, a rose garden, and a butterfly house. While the aforementioned places were really...
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...
On Monday and Tuesday I went to Cameron Highlands with a bunch of other exchange students. I'll make a more detailed post, but before that I'd like to tell you a story. (Note: this story is completely false, but I feel it portrays some of my favorite parts of Malaysian culture) Once upon a time.... in a magical and strange land called Malaysia,...
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...
This past week I stayed with an Indian host family and another exchange student from Switzerland for the Hindu Festival of Lights, Deepavali. After a day spent getting to know our new parents, and 4 younger siblings, Saturday night, Nora and I went to get henna done in Little India. While there, I was given a bag of free food from an Indian...
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...
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...
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...
My next few posts are going to be a bit out of order, but the past 5 days have been some of my busiest since I've came here. On Tuesday night, the 6 YES Abroad Students were invited to a Farewell Dinner for the American Fullbright English Teaching Assistants who are leaving within the next week. The Fullbright Program sends college age people...
