JYSim for jobless-yokel Sim

It’s too difficult to determine a title for this post. It is rojak all over. It is a blend of a lot of feelings, thoughts as well as a lament on how summer just flew past without me realizing (and the good times too). It is about basking under the sunny skies a few days ago shooting photographs like a sua-ku with my Taiwan friends and having to stay at home today because of the torrential non-stop downpour.
The past week has been like re-living my carefree childhood days for me. Weaving through the history of Penang and sampling every fabric of the golden days when the streets of Penang is roaming with Babas and Nyonyas, the Malays, Indians, Chinese and Caucasians. Flooding ourselves with the different Penang delicacies and spending more time looking for a parking space than visiting places is more than enough for us to contract Penangnitis - a disease majorly contracted by Penangnites from all over the world, of which the patients have a tendency to reminiscent tasty Penang food and dreaming about picturesque images of old Georgetown while lamenting no place matches better than Penang itself. I am drawn closer to Penang while my friends to Malaysia.
It was more than a pleasure playing host to one of the first friends I knew in university, and his sister too. I trust this friendship to be genuine and long-lasting, though experience tells me (and him) that our relationship had been like a roller-coaster ride all the time. Nevertheless, if we are to appreciate the differences between ourselves rather than to criticize it (as I’ve learnt from last semester), we’d learn to tolerate others better and gain more for ourselves.
Recapturing the past, my first year in university had both seen sunny and rainy days. The experience of being in a foreign land mingling with students of different backgrounds is totally refreshing and occasionally agonizing. There are nights when I just couldn’t sleep because of the many problems swirling in my head; there are also nights when I’m so busy I slept the next second after I hit the bunk, and I wouldn’t wake up even if World War 3 erupted right beside me. There are moody days, euphoric days, gloomy days, productive days and also unproductive days. The one major difference is that there is no Dad and Mum beside who provided silent comfort and guidance. Hence, as I’ve written in one of my posts previously, the feeling of boarding the aircraft heading home is always so priceless. The countdown to how many days before you can finally step into a jet and the next moment you wake up you’re home, the moment when the aircraft touched down at KLIA (or Penang Int’l Airport), the horrific yet friendly ‘thump! brrrr….’  is just too welcoming for us.
Nevertheless, I slowly get to know I was never alone. There are always people around us feeling the same things, just as what I’ve said to my junior "they look happy, but if you are to really talk to them, you’ll find them as insecure as yourself.’ Even after one year, I still have to occasionally fine-tune myself to suit the different personality climate in Taiwan - I will not draw conclusions. One year in Taiwan, I thank those who hurt me, as I get to learn from climbing up again; I thank those who provided guidance and support all the way, and I sincerely thank those who so willingly listens deep into the night and never try to interfere when I complained (sadly he’s hardly online nowadays).
It’s hard drawing a close for an untitled post. Think I’d just re-emphasis my key-points then.
1. I really enjoyed this week playing host to my Taiwanese friends, and I thank all my local friends for showing up whenever I asked for it.
2. I pray with all my heart for a smooth-sailing semester (and year) ahead. And God bless all the other foreign students in our school, too. Let us have genuine friends and a fit academic mind.
3. We are not as detached from home as we think we are.

This topic was gaining more and more attention as the general election draws near. One month ago you saw the politician H holding a Keris and shouting Malays would never perish from the face of the Earth, and today you see the same politician praising the Chinese for their intelligence and endurance in the business and service economic sector. The Malaysian political scene has became no more than a stage for our fellow politicians to showcase how they love their race and how anything that stands between him and ‘his people’ (so-called) should perish in one way or another.
Tunku Abdul Rahman’s idea of a multi-racial and multi-cultural identity for Malaysia is fading as we speak of his words and honour this old man. Remember the NTV7-made national song which ends with a quote by Tunku - "Let us all remember that Malaysians would live together as members of one big family". ‘Unity through diversity’ was Tunku’s thoughts when he flew Malaysia Airlines to Britain to fight for the future of Malaya. If you read The Star on Sunday you would know that on the evening of August 31st 1957 every guest at the Istana was served shark fin soup, rendang as well as a selection of Indian sweets. The government’s thoughts in dishing up a signature dish of every race was indeed touching. However, 50 years later, not only do the whole world shuts down during prayer time, they even tried to stop Gwen Stefani from entering Malaysia.
In a country like Malaysia, tolerance goes a long way. Selfishness will be, like it or not, the time bomb of doom for us. We have people speaking different languages even just beside us, and they have different thoughts about issues and concepts. Instead of trying to brainwash them (as if your thoughts are more superior), why can’t we respect that there will always be differences in the world and we should appreciate the beauty of variations in it. Imagine not having anyone to argue with about the best football player or the best airline. We are united because we are diversed - I prefer Ntv7 but you like 8TV more, fine, we ’share’ the television. We eat with hands but you eat with spoons and forks, it’s ok, we also provide them in our stall. Malaysians always keep things cool, that comes the so famous ‘cincai-lah’ culture in Malaysians. And let’s keep it.
Multiculturalism is our most valuable asset if we look at it welcomingly enough. Turn on the radio and you hear Cantonese, Chinese, Malay, Hindu, Tamil, English (or Manglish). Walk along any road in Malaysia and you have roti canai, tosei, nasi lemak, char koay teow, laksa, nasi kandar. Why can’t some people up there just stop criticizing and comparing the differences and just appreciate them? Malaysians don’t just look good in baju kurong or kebaya, they look good in every other attire as well, including the conventional jeans and tee-shirt. Why can’t we say ‘oh, cantiknya your saree!’ instead of ‘oi! tolong pakailah sopan sikit!’ Remember, Malaysia is not Afghanistan or Iran, we do not only send prayers to Rasullulah or Allah but also Jesus, Buddha, and many more. Hence, it is never wrong to be more dedicated to your religion and to pursue it with greater depth, but please remember, there are others around you who might not feel comfortable if you went overboard.
50 years was all it takes to have politicians starting a verbal war with one another, and 50 years was all it takes to separate a race from the kopitiam and re-settle them in medan selera-s (though the food in the kopitiam-s are not halal though). How long will we take before all of us have distinct borders on where to live and which channles to watch and what to eat? Not very soon if efforts are not put into reviving inter-cultural relationships.
Malaysia (or Malaya) is the first nation to gain self-rule without spilling blood. Let’s keep it so.

While most of the other flights parked along the tarmac of Penang International Airport are delayed for technical reasons (China Airlines flight 674) or non-avaliability of aircraft (Malaysia Airlines flight 1147), my AirAsia flight 6315 touched down and pulled back surprisingly punctual at Gate 7. A fraction of a second after the last passengers disembarked, we were all hushed into the sterile-looking Airbus and departed right to the minute. The seats were nice, and they can even recline! However, the masses of people swarming around on a full flight in the 29-inch seat is quite a torture if you were to be stuck in it on your way to Moscow (dubbed soon by Tony Fernendez). Several minutes before landing an Indian boy seemed restless and soon started to stand and trying to attempt a bungee jump from his seat. Without hesitation, the AirAsia girl picked up the loudspeakers microphone and started ‘little boy, sit down hah!’ Half the cabin turned their heads as another ‘SIT DOWN!!’ rang through the cabin. Nevertheless, the embarrassment was soon forgotten when we landed at the LCCT.
The next day I woke up eerily early at 5.38am. At 6.05am my aunt’s brother’s wife drove me to Sri Petaling LRT station and I officially joined the other Kuala Lumpur workforce heading to the city center to their jobs. I arrived at Hotel Istana at 7.02am to be greeted by my schoolmate, and we sat there looking into the ceilings until approximately 7.30 before our school registrars Mr. Lai and Ms. Shih arrived. We quickly set up the place and made our booth looked like home. Fuelled by sources of the Kuala Lumpur Tzu Chi Branch, we got a table and half a dozen of chairs for a ‘counselling corner’ as well as tea, tit-bids and a huge LCD monitor to run our school introductory clip. Crowds started pouring in at 9am, and armed with my saccharine smile I started on every curious crowd "Tzu Chi University was founded as Tzu Chi College of Medicine in 1994. The school then expanded rapidly to include Schools of Life Science, Communication, Education and Humanities. Currently our medical and mass communication are among the best in Taiwan…yadda-yadda". However, after several ‘oh, thank you, bye’ from the crowd, I soon cut it short to "What courses you interested in? Fashion design? Go try Providence University, ok? Bye-bye" My day ended at 5.38pm and I arrived at Sri Petaling at approximately 6.
And so was it for the following days - people come, I asked my 14,529th repetition of ‘What courses are you interested in?’ and I will have 34% of people just smiling emptily into my face (I’m good-looking perhaps?), 23% frowned and said "you don’t have engineering?", another 23% for "no business or commerce meh?" and 20% of them either wanted me to explain more about medicine, mass comm. or other related courses, among which, 45% of them having no response after my explanation, 23% of them ended up not knowing what to ask next, 22% of them asking whether students need to be Buddhists to enter the university, and 10 % of them chatting amicably with me.
On Sunday we packed up at 4 and headed straight to Muar at 6pm. The three girls following us were curled up behind the van watching a TVB drama while I punched SMSes to Seong Ling, Jieyang and Ping Hui. Due to extreme fatigue I couldn’t really recall the following particulars, but I was extremely clear that I did not sleep very well that night because the Mr. Lai in the same room was snoring with such symphonic variations I found it entertaining.
Monday was a day off for us. We went sightseeing around Muar and I was soon captivated by the town’s old-time feel and traditional air. Coffee shops in Muar still uses carcoal to heat water for coffee, and opposite the eatery was a mini-market reminiscent of one my aunt’s Mum owned several years back. I think the lasts of these became extinct in Penang when Tesco, Giant and Cold Storage started blasting Penang consumers. We ended up watching 7 episodes of the TVB drama the girls were so crazy about yesterday. At 9 that night I MSNed my classmate in Taiwan to ask for my junior’s name. He gave me this name I felt I heard somewhere before, and I instantly asked Ms. Shih. "Oh, he’s that guy from Chung Hwa lah. He’s Khai Jing (my classmate’s) aunt’s husband’s brother’s son."
Tuesday sees us back to our job, this time at Muar’s Chung Hwa High School. Students flooded the hall from 10am onwards, and soon I find it discouraging to explain the difference between medicine, life science and biotechnology to little Form Ones. The organizer, out of their enthusiasm for crowding the fair, had also invited Form Ones, Twos and Threes. While it is a positive act to get to know about universities and tertiary education early, it is senseless to have us determine their future paths for them (’in your opinion what should I study leh?’)
At around 4.20pm the booth was crowded with another flock of schoolchildren. I was standing on the outer ring of the booth, battling my way into the sanctuary when this young guy greeted me. He said "hi, I’m whoever, and I’m going to TCU for medicine soon," flashing a cheeky smile at me. I returned his cheeky smile and said "H’m, I’m your direct senior…"
Seated, we chatted pleasantly on registration, fees, and the school environment before I reached this very sensitive topic:
"What year are you from?"
"1988" (SimRadar: danger!)
"Month?"
"December" (damn it!)
"Oh dear, day?"
"16" (NO!)
"Gosh, I’m born on December 16th 1988 too. Oh dear, what time were you born?"
(His Mum) "At early morning" (SimRadar: For the love of God, NO)
"I was born at 2.30pm"
"So your junior is actually older than you?" Khai Jing asked.
"(sigh) yeah."
"So you take good care of your younger senior yah?"
Anyway, the 6 episods of drama we watched later wiped my memory about the elder junior away completely.
Wednesday sees another mundane day of ‘Tzu-Chi-University-is-famed-for-medicine-and-mass-comm.’-ing. We started disassembling at 4pm, and literally flew home to watch the last episodes of our beloved drama.
The idea of an elder junior is beyond description of words…

A picture is worth a thousand words - and it is hence that Muggles around the world take pictures wherever they go, as evidence that you’ve really been to one place - supported the leaning tower of Pisa with your arms, sat at Emperor Shih’s seat in the Forbidden City (forgive me, I never really learnt Chinese history), or stepping on the Greenwich Meridian Line.
Over time this old computer of mine collected enough memorable pictures to be showcased here today - pictures that portray something but signifies another, that’s what makes them valueless.

A kid photographed moments prior to touch-down in KLM from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. His Dad, who stayed up all through the 12-hour journey, standing behind him. This little kiddo and his family caught my attention from the first moment they boarded the aircraft. Daddy was seated two or three seats away from Mummy (toddlers were not assigned seats, provided if you pay the cash for it). Perhaps they were late for check-in, they boarded the aircraft rather late too, and Daddy was frustrated to find the overhead compartments all full with our stuff (exchange students, what to do?). He crams his luggage into the compartments nonetheless, threathening the doors to tear apart, and was seated. However, the constant and non-stop gargling of Dutch to Mummy two seats apart was too much for the Indonesian seated in between them. He offered him his seat, just beside Mummy, and they were more than pleased to accept the offer. Soon after take-off Little Kiddo started to wail for milk, and the blue KLM crew whizzed around with baby biscuits and baby food from the galley before Daddy stood up and with a thunderous ‘plump!’ opened the overhead compartment. Food wasn’t a pacifier good enough for Little Kiddo, at a little after 2am Little Kiddo burst into a series of sobs and intermitten wails that continued on till 5.30am. Daddy and Mummy constantly switched pacifying Kiddo during the entire journey.
Breakfast time sees Little Kiddo soundly asleep. For the first time in 8 hours, Daddy got a chance to eat something, and it was the rubbery airline omelette processed and cooked 16 hours before, loaded into the aircraft and kept warm for 10 hours.
2 hours before touchdown Little Kiddo woke up to a fresh morning, while Mum and Dad constantly yawned and fell into slumberland at 10am. The captain announced preparation for touchdown, and Little Kiddo was excited. He started grabbing hold of seats and tray tables, wanting some exercise after 10 long hours of solidary confinement in a 25 x 32-inch space. He somehow managed to stand up and look behind him to my friend’s camera, and this momentous occassion was recorded with a Cannon. It was a legacy, and a tired memory of how on long plane rides you should always avoid taking along Kiddo-s.

A piece of tainted glass my host Dad gave me before I leave Italy, with Malaysia Airlines economy class cabin baggage tag on top (the baggage tag is just the icing, let’s focus on the cake). My host Dad presented this perfectly squared glass one day before I am scheduled to leave, perhaps never seeing them again for the rest of my life. I wrapped it with my towel and jacket and placed this fragile being in the centermost past of my baggage. After traveling through 4 airports, 20 hours of fights and 3 airlines, this ornament arrived safely. My host Dad said in Italian, translated by my host sister that the sun signifies ‘coldness of the Italian winter’ while the mountains are the two mountains I’ve visited during my stay (I don’t really remember the names now, regrettably). The rest are left to my interpretation. Perhaps this glass was hung in a secluded corner at home, it took me two long years to finally figure out what this piece of art meant. Observe the colours - the yellowish taint of the Sahara, the azure blue of the Carribean, the icy blue of the Scandinavian plains, the jade green of the Amazon, and the tranquil green of the rainforests - everything under one roof (or two mountains). And once I figured this, it took me straightaway to the answer. Connect Malaysia and Italy in one straight line, extending either easterly (over the Americas) or westerly (over Africa), and you can observe all these colours, the natural colours of the world. It is an item of memory, that I now had experienced the life of the light-green zone (Malaysia) and the icy blue zone (Alps weather), as well as a token of blessing - to bless the short-sighted Jun Yi to explore lives of all the other colour zones in his life. The world is too wonderful for one to stay put, stretch out and experience, it says, because soon you won’t have the chance as Earth meets its ultimately demise, and hence the weakening sun. Mountains are challenges in life that you must face everyday in your life, and another mountain conquered is another icing topped (remember the baggage tag now?).
See, a picture is truly worth a thousand words.

2 weeks back home. Apart from doing some very expensive shopping and sticking myself to a stringent but uneffective Biochemistry study plan, I met several old friends to ‘relive the moments’. Whether or not I had had a milder semester at Taiwan or a quarter of my mind is preoccupied with Biochemistry, this summer is filled with the warmth of Malaysian Hospitality for me.
From people asking me to call them right after I landed (Kai Yan), which I forgot, naturally, to Seong Ling asking me out spontaneously and myself getting a reply in less than 30 seconds after I sent out an invitation SMS, I was thoroughly amazed by how hospitable and together my friends could be. In fact, it was until the news about Malaysia Airlines being awarded the World’s Best Cabin Staff that I finally realised this - Malaysians are hospitable and warm in nature. It’s in us. MAS had been having the World’s Best Cabin Staff for 2001, 02, 03, 04 and 07. It’s something already second nature to us.
It’s rather different in Taiwan, as I observed. Nevertheless, observations by an individual alone may be biased or subjective. And gradually, I lose my warmth and friendliness dealing with other people - especially when I’m busy. Slowly getting used to the ’self-service’ way of life in Taiwan, I feel so pampered as a guest back home - Kee Wai making sure I got on the right KTM Komuter terminal heading for Puchong, Soon Khen asking me along to his AIESC meeting, though I wished to go shopping that evening, and Seong Ling offering me a lift home even though I can walk home. Things don’t usually go that way in my secular country.
I guess being together and being friendly is a nature brought up in every Malaysian through living and receiving an education in Malaysia. In fact, I don’t feel lonely back home, as I quite often do back in Taiwan. But then again, the simple fact that I’m a ‘guest’ and not a ‘long-term burden’ will bias me on my judgement. However, just allow me to say that the amount of warmth exhibited by everyone I’ve met is just overwhelming.
Nevertheless, soon everyone will be off on their own chosen pathways and calling on a gathering would not be as simple as it is today. In fact, this might be my first and perhaps last summer spent in Malaysia with all of you guys - one year from now everyone will spread to every corner on the globe and Malaysia (which sadly have different seasons for holidays), and till then I think it would be worthless to spend summer back home alone (to Mum and Dad - ‘alone’ doesn’t imply without you guys, you are still greatly welcomed in my life). Without you guys, Big Thumb (or Just Cafe will simply be an ordinary cafe serving ordinary drinks with amature singers mimicking the stars. Without you guys, e-Gate and Tesco would just be a place to shop for groceries and have dinner. Without you guys, MidValley would just be another option on the shopping list to shop for a sling bag.
It’s always hard to imagine a total transformation of life when you’re so comfortable with yours now. It’s always easier to grip and enjoy what you have right now and not anticipate tomorrow, but reality will always strike the ones least prepared.
So, to everybody back home who really made my summer meaningful and worth the almost-two-thousand-ringgit air fare (not that I had any extravaganza awaiting for me in Taiwan), thank you so much for the care and warmth you showered Jun Yi when he meets you with a blank face. He really does enjoy meeting old friends and reliving every and any moment in his 18 years of life, and he thanks all of those who can show up, again and again. And even though he might not have contacted you, please do find the opportunity to whack him when you see him strolling in Gurney or Queensbay (which I haven’t gone to yet), or nudging him on MSN and make his computer hang. If it’s not for preparing to serve Lord Biochemistry, he would’ve visited each and every one of you guys at home.