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This Malaysia work-study has been both an eye opening cultural experience, an amazing learning opportunity and an experience I will never forget. Coming here I was expecting major culture shock, wasn’t sure how much English would be spoken (although I was told everyone speaks English here), and knew I’d stand out with my blond hair and fair skin, but didn’t know how much. After settling in, I was surprised at my lack of culture shock, the skill with which the average Malay spoke English, and the astonishing amount of attention I got from locals. I was also surprised by many things I wasn’t expecting or prepared for, like just how much the Malaysian concept of time would bother me, how amazingly nice, and helpful the people are here, and how accepting people seem to be even though I am so different from them. The three concepts of life in Malaysia I’d like to review during this analysis of my experience are the following: the Malaysian concept of time, how far citizens of Malaysia will go to maintain harmony in the workplace, and in everyday life, and the race and religion differences between the Malays and me.
The concept of Malaysian time was very confusing for me at first, and continued to be a concept I struggled with for the duration of the trip. It shocked me that “be at work at 9” meant you can come anytime before lunch and your considered on time. The main issue I had with the concept of time is having a Canadian boss. He seems to run on Malaysia time himself, but expects everyone else to run on “Canadian time”. This double standard was very confusing for me. It both frustrated me and provided me with a very poor idea of how I should be trying to fit into the country. This double standard of time seems to be a common occurrence. It appears as though someone can be as late as they want to meet you, but the second you are late to meet them, they are frustrated. When we went on our tour of Shah Alam and Putrajaya, we were a few minutes late for the bus, and the bus was already over 45 minutes late, but the second the bus driver got to our apartments and we weren’t ready he was frustrated that WE were late, when he was the one who was actually late in the first place!
If there was one thing I had to pick about coming to Malaysia that I didn’t understand, didn’t enjoy and wish I could change it would be the concept of time! I fully appreciate the Malays living differently, and if Canada had a culture like this I’m sure it would be something I would embrace and enjoy. However, I think it’s the confusion I have with having a Canadian boss with different standards and expectations that has really thrown me and frustrated me. I think if I had worked in an office where the entire culture of the company was Malaysian, this time issue would have been a small blip on my radar rather than something that I noticed and felt the pressures of everyday. This observation of mine, in no way put a negative view on my experience in Malaysia, but is the one frustration I had while living here!
Maintaining harmony in the workplace and in daily life is something that I find to be very interesting and different between Malaysia and Canada. In my workplace especially, there is a large variance of races, religions and expectations. So seeing how the different cultures and religions interact is interesting. The individuals in the office who practice Muslim are much more likely to go to greater extremes to maintain harmony than others. And I’ve noticed are much more affected by situations where harmony is not maintained. For example, one of the employees in my office, a devout Muslim and Malay, was driven to quit his job last week over the sense of disharmony he feels in the office. When his work isn’t accepted, and concerns or criticisms aren’t raised appropriately for his standards, he gets visibly upset and has talked to me about how he feels more than once over the same situation.
The issue of harmony may again be more evident in my workplace because we have the Canadian boss who still very much lives and works in a Canadian way. He doesn’t do anything wrong, that I’ve noticed, it’s just very clear how different our cultures are in regards to keeping harmony. Something that may seem as insignificant to us as telling someone that the layout they’ve created for a building doesn’t work, could shatter the harmony within an office in an instant.
It’s nice to witness, and work in a peaceful environment, and the harmony I feel around me is one of my favourite things about this country, and my experience here. However, I also feel like the individuals here may deal with a lot of pent up frustration and anger by not saying what they want to say, or expressing their true feelings towards a situation. I hadn’t noticed that Malays were doing everything they could to maintain harmony until our talk by Dr. Asma Abdullah, and ever since, I have noticed instances where harmony is being maintained rather than true opinions spoken nearly everyday.
The final thing I’ve noticed that I’ve documented in my journal many times is how welcoming the people are here, despite my being very different from them, in my appearance, by religion, my race and by language. They of course stare, ask to take pictures of me, talk about me in Malay right in front of my face and talk to me just to hear my voice; but they also offer to help me, speak in English to me and welcome me everywhere I go.
To me, this is so refreshing. I know I’m different, and expect to get looked at, just as I would probably take a longer look at someone in Canada who is different. In Canada though, I don’t think all people are as welcoming towards those who are different, or new, as the people in Malaysia seem to be overall. I’m not sure if this is a religious difference, a result of cultural differences like trying to maintain harmony, or if people are more welcoming due to there being 3 prominent races and religions within the country, but it was something I was very pleasantly surprised by, and I hope something I can take back to Canada with me. I am already a very tolerant person, welcoming of everyone no matter their race or ability, but I hope that returning home, I can demonstrate this acceptance more, so other people will catch on, and stop pre-judging an individual before they get the chance to meet and get to know them.
To me, this is so refreshing. I know I’m different, and expect to get looked at, just as I would probably take a longer look at someone in Canada who is different. In Canada though, I don’t think all people are as welcoming towards those who are different, or new, as the people in Malaysia seem to be overall. I’m not sure if this is a religious difference, a result of cultural differences like trying to maintain harmony, or if people are more welcoming due to there being 3 prominent races and religions within the country, but it was something I was very pleasantly surprised by, and I hope something I can take back to Canada with me. I am already a very tolerant person, welcoming of everyone no matter their race or ability, but I hope that returning home, I can demonstrate this acceptance more, so other people will catch on, and stop pre-judging an individual before they get the chance to meet and get to know them.
Overall, I have had the time of my life in Malaysia. Each day, experience and activity is more amazing than the last. I think I came here expecting a major culture shock, but dealt with and adapted to various situations in a way that makes me feel proud of myself. I feel like I am leaving Malaysia a more intelligent, worldly, and mature person. More open to different cultures, norms, foods, races and religions. I have more respect for the way people who are vastly different from me live, and I am leaving with so many new friends and memories. This experience has been life changing, eye opening and all around amazing.
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