My first language (first few words) was English. I learned to talk while we were in the States and my first four years of life was filled with only a few Malay words. When I came back to Malaysia, I had trouble understanding Malay. I loved my cousins but I hated the visits to their house. Y. especially was a bully. She knew that I couldn’t understand Malay that she just laughed at me and said mean things.
I’m not sure how or when did I start to understand and speak Malay. I guess at 4 years old, I could absorb a second language fast. While in the States, I started kindergarten at 3 years. I studied at two kindergartens; one was a private one and the other is a government kindy. I came back to Malaysia and studied joined a kindergarten in our new neighborhood. I guess it was in Tadika Pertiwi that I learnt Malay. My parents then sent me to an Islamic kindergarten when I was five; Tadika Manarul Islam where Malay was the first language. At six, I was transferred to an English stream (ada ke kindy english/malay stream? hahah) kindy which was St. Margaret.
I learned Arabic while I was in Uni for 3 semesters but I still could not understand a single Arabic sentence. Ah.. why wasn’t i sent to an arabic kindergarten or why didn’t my parents send me to learn arabic while i was still young?
Just finished reading a post in my cousin’s blog. The whole family basically uses English as their first language at home. My family on the other hand, stopped using English as our first language about 20 years ago when we came back to Malaysia.
I guess, my situation 20 years ago is what she had to go through in Asasi. It’s not that she didn’t understand or could not speak Malay. It’s easier for her to converse in English (as that is how it’s done at home). Generally, some would say that if you do not use Malay, you are not a Malay. Apa2 je laa.. I now have a button to switch my language. I could use full English with some people, Malay or even Manglish with some.
Generally, English is the language I’d used in the office and with my colleagues. I never had problem when I was in #9. After a few weeks in #1, the PA confessed to me that she hated me at first as I only speak English, even with her as she’s a Malay. “Minah ni spiking je”. So, I was expected to converse in Malay with her. But, in #9, you are to use English as the medium of communication. Aku pening weii..
I was lucky that I was stationed in Muhibbah kindergartens, schools and universities. Although in a public Uni, the bumiputras is supposed to outnumber the non-bumis but I was again lucky to be in course where the numbers are almost equal. My undergraduate course was about 50% bumi, 50% non-bumi. My masters had slightly more non-bumis than bumis. Kami bahagia jee.. There was no such thing as Melayu tak ramai, maka kita kena bersatu as what I’m going through now.
In #1, they had this clique of Malays. So kononnya, Melayu tak ramai, kita kena bersatu. In #9, you wouldn’t see any of these craps. We are Muhibbah, everyone could lepak with anyone without thinking of the racial differences. You say that you’re not racist, but you hang out with only people from your own race.
The first week I was in #1, I received tonnes of emails on the upcoming Hari Raya Pot-Luck Gathering. Only Malays were invited (and last minute they decided to invite Muslims who were non-Malays). Come on lah! We’re in a multinational company. Shouldn’t everyone be involved? Okey, so it’s Hari Raya, the Muslims (Malays) can bring food and we can invite the others as well.
I am ashamed and sorry to quote this, I asked one of the senior colleague’s there.
Me: “Ni gathering semua sekali ke Melayu je?”
Her: “Malays je. Tapi nanti bila makanan tak habis, kita jemput lah sesiapa yang ada kat pantry tu. Tapi memang setiap tahun ada makanan lebih”
You for a fact knew that there will be extra food, why can’t we just invite our friends. Why is it that you only call them for leftovers?
Bengong ah. Aku emo.
Bye!
