Advantages of going on an exchange
Aside the usual answers you hear (i.e. learn a new language, be more confident, food, experiance a new culture walah-walah), there are some hidden advantages to be discovered only after you’ve board your plane and arrive at your host country.
1. Your parents will suddenly know when your birthday is (before that every year they’ll ‘purposely’ forgot your birthday), and call you in the middle of the night to wish you happy birthday. Frankly, i was touched.
2. Your parents will keep on asking whether you have enough money to spend, whether you can communicate with your host family etc. Before that, I have to beg like Oliver Twist for an extra Ringgit for Wan Than Mee in school.
3. Previously, your parents will want you to decide whether you want F6 or college 3 months before you graduate. Now that you’re abroad, they keep repeating in every e-mail ‘don’t worry about it, you can make your decision when you’re back’, ‘don’t worry about your tertiary education, if you can’t get into Public U, we’ll sell the house…’
4. Previously, if you have to go to KL for something, there are only 2 choices: express bus or train. Now, you can ask your parents for a MAS business class (cos i have a big bulky luggage, and i don’t think any bus will accept that. Moreover, I’ve commune over 20 hours of plane upon arrival in KL, so just spare me another 4 hours of bus ride).
5. Amazingly, you’re allowed to go to pubs, discos and bars (as an experiance), accompanied by a handful of girls. In Malaysia, try mentioning ‘pub’ to Mum, followed by ‘a girl’, she’ll have you out of the house the next minute.
