Well, here I am to take a break from the most tiresome part of student's life, STUDYING. I know I shouldn't have the right to complain about my workload when my friends back home in Malaysia have mountainous amounts of school work as well. However, being a Year 11 high school student in Australia is no easy job. My friends back home and I face different challenges in our school life but we have our fair share of challenges no doubt.
In Malaysia, students have exams as they do here in Australia and they have assignments as well. What they don't have is regular tests- in Year 11, it's not surprising to have one to three tests or assignments due every week- but what they don't have in frequents tests they make up for in the number of exam subjects. In Australia, you sit for 2 major exams in Year 11 and 3-4 exams in Year 12 with 5-6 subjects to study for. Malaysian students have to sit for 4-5 exams each year in high school with 10-11 subjects to study for.
There's one thing we've got to remember about knowledge; quality over quantity. Malaysians would have the bragging rights for having a wide range of subjects in their education, but will they have use for any of the subjects in the future? One subject that I find completely and utterly ridiculous is Moral. Yes, moral. We had to memorise the definitions of 36 different values raging from Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan ( Belief in God) to Kasih Sayang ( Love). In the exam, we would be given a situation where we had to associate with a value that should be put into use to overcome it, together with its definition. If you get the value wrong, everything is wrong. I mean, the interpretation of wat value we would use is completely subjective. No two minds would think alike. Imagine this: a student who has spent so much time learning those definitions but failing the paper just because of his individual interpretation.
Another subject which I find quiet amusing is History. Why, you ask? I wouldn't complain if it were not only based on Malaysian history. And people ask why we have such limited general knowledge. Yes, it's good to learn about how our country came to be, but we need to learn more about the past outside the confines of our nation. The Civil Rights Movement in America, The Arab-Isreali Conflict,The Holocaust, something that is not stated in any History textbook in Malaysia.
Also, the key to pass with flying colours in Malaysia- memorising, word for word from the textbook. What happened to creative thinking and expressing your own opinion? I guess that doesn't mean much in Malaysia, unless you can list the names of all the Sultans. The youths in Malaysia have so much potential, really, and they shouldn't be restricted to being able to recite the textbook.
Wow, long post, and probably quite boring, but oh well, I am kinda boring. Actually NO, i have the brightest most colourful personality-jokes. My brain juices have run dry so till next time ;)
Friday, 3 May 2013
Introducing,Me!
Well, as many of you would've have already noticed, I am MALAYSIAN, and a proud one. However, it truly breaks my heart that I am currently not residing in my beautiful home country. I am a Malaysian girl living in Australia, who moved here when she was 16. Parting with where I would consider the most vibrant and amazing country in the world- that might just be the homesickness talking, but Malaysia is truly remarkable- has been the toughest things I have ever done in my life.
One would assume that spending 16 years in one country, one would have numerous attachments. Friends, family, and other connections. People know you, and you know people. You are perfectly happy, comfortable, surrounded by your own people. Try picturing having all of that taken from you. It is not a pretty picture. You might be thinking- look at this girl, complaining, like she is the most unfortunate person in the world. Yes, I admit, I am not, and I count all my blessings and are thankful of them. But sometimes I wonder how life would be if I never left.
I am grateful that I have a wonderful opportunity- studying in Australia- compared to Malaysia, the education here has given me so many different options and has expanded my horizons on the world, cliche as it sounds. I am grateful for the sacrifice my mother has made for me, leaving Malaysia after spending twice the time I was there would have a far greater impact on her life than hers. Many say that when you migrate, its the adults that find it the hardest to adapt, and I agree totally.
Well, I just thought that I would start a blog, an outlet for me to vent all my emotions. I love writing, wording my feelings seem to help me stay calm and improve my writing skills. Oh well, even if no one reads it, I hope that I enjoy doing this, and if you are reading, I hope you do too.
One would assume that spending 16 years in one country, one would have numerous attachments. Friends, family, and other connections. People know you, and you know people. You are perfectly happy, comfortable, surrounded by your own people. Try picturing having all of that taken from you. It is not a pretty picture. You might be thinking- look at this girl, complaining, like she is the most unfortunate person in the world. Yes, I admit, I am not, and I count all my blessings and are thankful of them. But sometimes I wonder how life would be if I never left.
I am grateful that I have a wonderful opportunity- studying in Australia- compared to Malaysia, the education here has given me so many different options and has expanded my horizons on the world, cliche as it sounds. I am grateful for the sacrifice my mother has made for me, leaving Malaysia after spending twice the time I was there would have a far greater impact on her life than hers. Many say that when you migrate, its the adults that find it the hardest to adapt, and I agree totally.
Well, I just thought that I would start a blog, an outlet for me to vent all my emotions. I love writing, wording my feelings seem to help me stay calm and improve my writing skills. Oh well, even if no one reads it, I hope that I enjoy doing this, and if you are reading, I hope you do too.
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