10 reasons why I'm proud to be Malaysian

One of the home made videos shown during the UMSA ball had random Malaysian students on campus declaring their love for Malaysia and in particular, what they loved most about Malaysia. Majority of the answers were food related. And why am I not surprised? Being a sucker for good food myself, I would have done the same..nasi lemak, chicken rendang, fresh coconut drink, Sarawak laksa, rojak, cendol, durian.. you name it, Malaysia has it and we all love it. However, I can think of a hundred different reasons why I'm proud to call Malaysia home. Despite being born a Kiwi and having lived a decade (non-consecutively)in NZ, my heart truly lies in Asia.. and this is also hardly suprising after spending the greatest years of my life there..

So here goes... top ten reasons.. actually there may be more, but just writing what comes to my head first:

1)the good food (so totally cliched.. but hey, if you ever visit Malaysia, or you're Malaysian yourself, you would know what I'm talking about..and Cam never exaggerates)

2)the way we openly criticise other people for doing something that gets on our nerves.. I love how frank Malaysians can be around each other. So who cares if feelings get hurt?

3)the bullet train way we speak and never ever care to pronouce the words correctly.. it's okay..Malaysians understand if you say it the wrong way. No problemo.

4)the notorious 'lah' we use after every sentence. After coming back here, I had to control myself, not that I used it much in my daily communication back home, but after being deprived of the 'lah', I use it whenever I can amongst the home crowd here. It just makes me feel at home. Ah, that safe and secure feeling. I like it lahhh

5)Pasar Malams (night markets) where we can bargain and when we do get a bargain, I love the feeling of accomplishment. Yes!

6)DURIAN DURIAN DURIAN.. I can never have enough of it..until I got so sick during my last trip due to excessive amounts of durian.. but still, I love it!

7)the extent of competitiveness or kiasuism as most of us know it.. it's so hilarious how we fear losing out.. it was always to be the first, in everything. But I love that drive too..makes us special.. (don't you dare bring up the topic of Singaporeans winning in that category!)

8)the great malls, the great sales, the great theme parks, the greatest Penang

9)the way most of us live hormoniusly in another races' presence. I don't wanna talk about racial issues but we were brought up to accept one another and I absolutely adore my non Chinese friends! They enrich my life and infuse it with great tales of their different cultures which I totally adore.. I love open homes though I must apologise for always missing out on Yana's.. I didnt quite like the Pongol rice Thanu specially brought to school one early morning, but the thought of having someone share part of their culture touched me deeply.

10)all the public holidays we get!!! Raya, Thaipusam, Deepavali, Agong's Birthday...wah, so manyyyyyyyyy..I miss them!

So as Malaysia turns 50 today and the crowd back home are celebrating 50 years of Independence... I sit alone penning this post, thinking of home... Attending UMSA's ball and hanging out with Malaysians really made me more homesick... oh well... just wanted to end with a huge HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY MALAYSIAAAA!!