LOVING YOUR OWN COUNTRY

I passed my Japanese Beginner II last night and I felt almost heaven. This time round, I didn’t really put much effort in it – I was getting lazy, much to the disappointment of my teacher. It was a miracle that I passed with a B.

As agreed with Ann, we would go celebrating it with spaghetti and vegetarian bruschettas at the Dome. We decided to take our sense along.

Me: Ota-san sense, Dome e isshoni tabemasen ka.
(Let’s go eat at Dome)

Ota: EEEeee!! Why never tell me earlier?? Watashi wa okane ga arimasen.
(I don't have money with me)

Me: Don’t worry. Watashi wa haraimasu.
(I pay)

Ota: Eeee!! No no!

Me: Watashi wa takusan okane ga arimasu.
(I have lots of money – LOL!)

By the way I am conversing; you know I am still half past six in my Japanese. Heh!

The conversation throughout the supper was mainly in English, peppered with a bit of Japanese here and there. I learnt that my sense’s parents are also here now. They have been here for the past 4 years and applied for Malaysia: My Second Home program. They teach Ballroom dancing during their free time. The parents desire to retire here.

When I asked her, what made them chose Malaysia – she gave the answer that almost every foreigner I know would give – Malaysia is an amazing country with so many races living in harmony. We can never find this anywhere. Malaysia is such a peaceful country.

I felt that statement is true – our forefathers had fought so hard to foster unity and to draw a line of sensitivity among races. It is a tremendous effort to unite a multi-racial country.

It is disheartening to find that the country now is imposing rules on how one should show affection in public; our appointed leaders are using the media to quarrel in public; the so called distribution of wealth; the so called democracy; the brutal censorship as if we don’t have a mind of our own to discern between the good and the bad; bright students have to use the media to get into universities of their choice; the brain drain (and amusingly, they were surprised that it happened); and sadly the list goes on and on.

Despite all the flaws, I was born and raised in this country, which I have learned to love and know. If only a handful of people who tried to jeopardize the country’s unity would think rationally, if only everyone would see the uniqueness of a multi-racial country like any other foreigners do, if only everyone would adopt an open mind and respectfulness towards other people’s culture and custom, if only everyone plays a part to work towards common goal: to see the country grow healthily, rather than being over developed and lacking in social ethics and crime laden.

When my sister was in Bangkok and a fellow Thai colleague took her around sight seeing, she was very impressed with how much the Thai colleague loved her own country; she has everything positive to tell her about her country; despite the famed prostitution. I have met several Thai people – they have nothing but only pride for their own country.

No doubt, Malaysia is indeed a harmonious multi-racial country, but it would take Malaysia sometime to actually be in that state optimally – that is when all differences are set aside, being totally respectful and tactful towards each other and accept everyone as their own.