Getting to a new place means adapting is essential. To various degrees, people miss home and crave the sense of belonging back in the motherland. So what have we been missing as well as experiencing the new life in a new place?
1. Weather
To have a weather conversation in Malaysia is like saying hi and bye to a friend and that's it. After all, there are only two words describing the weather: hot and humid. The most you can go is "Today you think will rain ar?" Here in the UK, however, we are always concerned about the weather. What is the temperature today and for the next few days? Too cold to go out? How many layers of clothes do we need to go out? Is it going to snow? Is there any disruption to transportation due to weather? Why is the heater not working as it should?
And yes, the anticipation of the sun is part of the life here as well. It is such a far cry from Malaysia, where avoiding the sun is the primary mission for the day. Here, you embrace it.
 |
| Weather plays a big part in UK's daily life |
2. Food
If it is not for globalisation, I think most of the food we expect will be mostly western. Fish & Chips, various chops available and pasta. It is true that with varieties such as Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Middle-Eastern food now available at most places, choices of food is wider nowadays.
But nothing beats the variety we have in Malaysia. And being a food enthusiast, I am for one, miserably missing the food back home. Nasi lemak, curry mee, law mee, tosai, wantan mee, nasi beriani, you name it.
Unless you are filthy rich or picking up decent wages in the UK, eating out is almost not an option. One meal is up to GBP4 average for a fulfilling meal. Good thing is, you pick up lots of cooking skills and recipes during the time in the UK.
Also, the hang out place here are the bars and pubs. That is the equivalent to mamak stores that we have back in Malaysia. Alcohol drinks instead of teh tarik.
 |
| The usual template of food in the UK |
3. Language
Malaysian's resume tend to look good, especially the language section. Most of us are at least bilingual. Yes, our education system is pretty complicated, but to be able to converse in more than one language is a huge advantage. For example, if you can speak Mandarin, you are able to converse to at least 300,000 people in the UK with their mother tongue. Imagine that. Most of the time, a typical Malaysian's English can't be wholly rotten and faced extreme difficulties to survive in the UK. So, being the prime example of a multilingual nationality, this is one of the things that we are proud of. Of course, being with the ang mohs, we can't simply blurt our beloved Manglish when conversing with them. It is a tad unnatural sometimes, when we can't say lar or lor and have to be beating around the bush to get to the point. Sometimes, you just wish you can ask "Can meh?" instead of "Do you think that's possible?".
4. Transportation
One thing that is not within our list of concerns here is the traffic jam. As the public transports as well as the town planning are largely systematic, to have a car is the least of concerns getting from one place to another. Getting around one typical city (apart from London), is mostly by foot, which is sufficient. Trains, buses and light rail transits are, most of the time, right on schedule (unless there are disruptions mostly due to bad weather). Cycling is a great alternative as well here.
 |
| Walking is a large part of our travel options in the UK |
Other things like air conditioners, fans, rows of high walls in residence area, haze, a hoard of Myvys on the road, reckless motorcyclists are pretty much non-existent here. Is that good or bad, you asked. I would say both. After all, Alladin once sang: "A whole new world; a dazzling place I never knew".
No comments:
Post a Comment