defensive posture of heritage
Since it is still fresh in my memory, Xandria Oi( Hitz.TV VJ) came and gave a talk to my college today ( yeah, yeah, the one who emerge as a winner when people was the least expecting it in the Hitz.TV UVJ search), as well as Niki Cheong, ( Editor of the Star). I admit feeling quite excited meeting Niki Cheong as i can finally come in contact with him beyond his writings.Quite a young lad he is, plus cute too.
Aside, i thought it was worthy to note how sunway do funny things to your senses. They say that as you venture far away from home, you started to adopt defensive posture of your heritage, of your roots.I suspiciously think that such occurence did take place in me.
Okay, sunway is not THAT far, ( semashur is farther), but metaphorically speaking , when the environment within your parameters is a bit off from what you are used to, you start to apreciate more about who you are and what you have.
All the signs were evident.Suddenly wearing baju kurung swells you with pride, and your pulses flipped when it is made to be known to you that theres malay dance performance around. You find yourself proudly explaining to your lecturers why the young " salam " the elders, even remarking that they should come to your ‘ open house ‘ this hari raya.You couldnt wait to show off that you’re fasting, just because you could grab the chance to tell more about it to people who enquires ( isy, isy , isy, hanani, habis pahala puasa). Pardon me if i sound like i’ve taken these stuff that mould us into who we are for granted. Maybe i did, once upon a time.But definitely not now.
Basically, this is the message i’m trying to convey, i ‘m positive oya can reflect with me right now, aite? Sorry to burst the bubble, but contray to the popular belief, i do not agree with accusers whom nonsensically assume that we’ll be baptised in foreign culture may we go abroad.Cant blame them really, by logic, they do make sense as humans naturally adapt with their surroundings, mainly for survival purposes. And adapting means immersing the foreign elements itself right?
Well, well, well, look what we’ve got here. It seems logic does not imply in the game of human behaviour. Defying common sense,what happened instead is the other way around,we turn out transforming into a protective lot of our culture. At least i am.And a vehement one while at it.
To ramble on, best things about college is you learn new things. I’m picking up climbing and trekking and i figured i will take up Life Saving Course sometime soon.I’m also learning to be tech-savvy as my english course calls for it. The fact that i am surrounded by computer literate people also contributes.To those whose already masters of HTML and IT media, please spare me the blushes on the pretext i am a hopeless computer-blind before this, just for now. My computer skills are limited to Google, and Microsoft Word, nothing else.
Recently, i was introduced to use Pinnacle for my radio play ( not exactly using, but watching my friend using it, ) and as you guess it, it is for english.
Just for this once i’m allowing you guys to thought lame of me but still, the least i can say is,its a start.
P/s Poor Mr Tan is having a fever today. Kesian pulak.
August 10th, 2006 at 3:09 am
emm.. u noe wat, i alwiz believe dat asking is a very effective way of learning.. if u need anytink, (e.g. guidance on how 2 use some particular software or html tips or wat so eva) u can alwiz ask, to da ppl whom u think mite noe, even not very much. how can ppl possibly know dat u r interested to know bout sumtink if u neva mention it “directly”. some ppl juz dun understand hints or clues.. i suggest being straight forward.. i, myself wont hesitate to do dat.. i believe u understand wat’s dis all about.. n bout da heritage n culture thing,i dun tink its necessary to “show off”, coz “show off” is not apart of our malay culture, isn’t it?
August 10th, 2006 at 8:33 am
i always enjoy reading ur sunway-related blogs as i can get the picture of the life i’ll lead soon.yeah,it sounds soo much different from school(of coz la),but still i cant wait to enjoy college life..*im counting days*
August 11th, 2006 at 9:28 am
speaking of culture, ive just finished my culture and socialization’s assignment. one burden has gone. thank god for that.
nways, the social sience module had been more exciting than previously since my class is armed with international students whose own a various type of cultures and beliefs. interestingly, they never have a doubt to share with other malaysians n lecturers.
but one thing that made my heart even flattered is to answer their curiousity of malay’s culture n language. as well as islam matters. its such a great feeling of proudness came into the air to pour out the tales abt ur culture ayte?
and recently they’ve adapted the accent of malaysians in the nick of time.. they imitated ‘of course lah’ put the ‘lah’ part. their tone are exactly like malaysians which hard to detect the diferrences.
August 11th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
ah. proud would lead ineccessantly to showing off.
we own that right. i’m to blame about that.