You might have heard of the popular saying “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”, a similar version in Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is “masuk kandang kambing mengembek, masuk kandang lembu menguak“. Both sayings are trying to alert people to behave as those around do, rather than imposing their own views or behaviours upon the locals. A recent controversial post by a girl studying at a public university in Sarawak, who hails from Selangor sparked my interest to reflect on these sayings.
When I first came to Sarawak back in 2003 to pursue my study at the same university, I came on my own with a couple of friends without the company of my parents. Back then, air tickets were expensive (AirAsia was still in its infancy) and I used my own savings to actually buy the flight tickets to pursue my decision of going to Sarawak to study. Some of my friends were very skeptical (some of them still do) about Sarawak. They kept reminding me how remote the state was, how people in Sarawak were a bunch of uneducated natives who would eventually make my life difficult and how the lack of basic amenities would make me suffer. Turning a deaf ear to those words, I followed my heart and boarded my first ever flight to Kuching, Sarawak. Right from the minute I landed at Kuching International Airport, I smelled fresh air. A different kind of air that has been elusive in my homestate. I was also greeted by friendly people, and right from that moment, I got to see “new faces”. Faces of Bidayuh, Iban, Melanau and even Kayan who were so foreign to me. I was too used to the “three-race” mentality back in the Peninsular (Malaysia).
Years passed, and now it is my 8th year in Sarawak. I enjoyed every second of my stay here in Sarawak. The people, the surroundings and even the air of unity here. I do not mind renewing my “Visa” every year just to stay here, I do not mind if there are specific rules that limit a Peninsular citizen like me as I know clearly, they are all part of the agreement when Sarawak decided to join Malaysia. Sometimes, many fail to realise how big Sarawak is. The state is almost the same size as (if not bigger than) the Peninsular. Running the state itself is like running an autonomous country.
People tend to compare the food here and theirs back in the Peninsular, but I guess it is normal as we are used to the food that we grow up with. Talk to any Kelantanese, they will still be proud of their favourite nasi kerabu, talk to any Penangite, they will still be proud of their Penang Laksa or even Hokkien Mee, and similarly talk to any Sarawakian, they would also be proud of their Sarawak Laksa, Kolok Mee and Kueh Chap. I see no point of lamenting about how bad the food is, when I think each delicacy has its own lure and taste. It’s just a matter of “getting-used-to”, as how I fall in love with Sarawak Laksa and midin as well as Teh C Peng. The same with the language, the same with the difference of time (the Sun rises and sets slightly faster here, as in Sabah) and the same with coping with the diverse cultures here. We can make our voices heard but it would be pointless to boast how good we are and condemn how bad others are. After all, each state in Malaysia has its own uniqueness that we can all learn. It’s a matter of adaptation and not confrontation, like how we cope when we go overseas. We cannot impose our ideology upon the locals, we just need to learn to respect and adapt.
Occasionally, when I go back to my hometown in the Peninsular, I often think how lucky Sarawakians are. At least life in Sarawak is still far more tranquil though I am not sure how long such situation will last. I am still proud of my homestate, the same way I am proud of being in Sarawak.
When in my homestate, I do as the people do. When in Sarawak, I do as the Sarawakians do (The good things of course).
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8 Responses to “When in Sarawak, Do as the Sarawakians Do”
Nice write up LC!
We are glad to have you here in Sarawak!
Fantastic write up. Unbiased and simply beautiful.
this is so true. i mean be glad if u still can spend ur uni life in malaysia. i mean. i magine those who are send far away form malaysia. gosh. suffering.
but yt still life time experience.
Thanks Amiey & Cyril. Well, the post comes from my heart…
@Joyanne: Yeah! Well…it’s a matter of adapting.
isn’t it wonderful to have more people like you in Malaysia. i too am extremely shocked to have read the posting the girl lamenting about her ‘life’ or mistreatment at a public university in sarawak. reading from her posting it seems to me she is a lonely girl trying to find friends – perhaps to no avail. maybe she should think whether the lack of friendship and loneliness is not about others but more of her own attitude. one can’t actual find friends by just staying put in your room.
being a sarawakian myself i do find sarawakians pretty odd sort of people but that is just what being sarawakians is all about. we have our own identity and our own way of doing things but it doesn’t mean we are not friendly. perhaps we are too friendly that we get bullied a lot by others.
i consider myself privilege having the opportunity to study in australia (not only any scholarship mind you) for college and then to tertiary education. colleges and university life is totally different in that you’re given the freedom and that means taking care of yourself and of course assimilating yourself to their culture and way of life … it’s simple and easy in that if you wish not to do so then be prepared to face loneliness/ boredom or even being ostracized by the majority. you have only 2 choices ! being in a new culture and environment particularly when you’re there for study is the best time to learn not only in terms of academic studies but more than that to learn to be independent, learning new cultures, meeting new friends and to learn a different way of life .. unless one does so, you may as well go back to where you belong and just live life seperti katak dibawah tempurong !
nicely written babe
Nice post. Like!