nummerzwei
06-12-2003, 08:02 PM
malaysian students in overseas
by
Iznan Shamsuddin
(tokpenghulu_nan81@<hidden> )
The only way that I envision the Malaysian students overseas to improve the lethargic mentality of malaysians is through interacting with local and international students at their respective universities. The reality that a majority of students sent abroad come back home without
valuable experiences to enrich themselves is a known fact, credited by many people. According to statistics, there are not less than 5000 Malaysian students currently in Europe only. Should we be complacent by letting all these students come back with just a paper degree, something that
they could obtain locally, without the government and private companies having to send them abroad?
As students in a foreign land, the chance to mix and learn from the local community is something that should not be left to waste. Instead of cashing in on this chance, most Malaysian students still prefer to stick to themselves in a plight that seems to have no ending. Imagine the case of a student who goes to class from 8 am to 2 pm, goes back to his room to rest, eats and sleeps until the evening comes. Will he have any outlet to go out and meet new people? Although interaction with one?s classmates may constitute an interaction between two cultures, what if
the student chooses to stay in his Malaysian circle even during class time?
Undeniably, living together as a Malaysian community has many benefits but living in a Malaysian community should not be used as a scapegoat to ignore other people outside our own circle. This clearly shows a lack in the mental development of a person.
This is where a community center plays an important role. In the same way that a Christian student goes to mass on Sunday, a Muslim student should try to attend and be active in his or her local masjid for there is no better place than the masjid, or a musolla in or near the campus
area as the main community center for him or her. The problem comes when we, as people, as insan, start feeling arrogant that we are better off than everyone else, and do not need other people?s help.
Another benefit of mixing with the local population is the possibility of learning and applying the positive aspects of their culture. Most countries in Europe have long been the focus of foreigners (in this case non-Europeans) to build a new life with better chances. Their experiences as people who have immigrated, adjusted, and lived for a long time in these countries should be something that we can learn from. In the context of Europe, the majority of the Muslims are immigrants; the
Algerians, Tunisians, and Morroccans in France, and the Turks in Germany. Their zeal and hardworking ethics should be emulated. Only one who understands hardship would appreciate the meaning of ?work?.
Moreover, daily interaction with locals can also raise the students? awareness of what is happening locally. Talking in a different language adds to the students? communication skills. Exchange of cultures through, for instance, weddings, increases the intellectual capacity and
critical thinking ability of the students. The question of being too busy would not come up if the student is good at managing and organizing his or her activities. The opportunity to interact with locals is sometimes pushed aside when students spend hours and hours chatting on the phone,
or internet, among other things.
Another excuse often used by those who shun the local society is that they are scared of the cultural shock that they will face. However, if one analyzes the effects of television as a daily source of input for university students, without realizing it, many students have (though
saying they are scared of the cultural shock), ?invited? this culture into their own homes. This intricate weapon in changing the minds of societies and disseminating propaganda is sometimes more dangerous than the scantily clad women roaming the sidewalks (which most probably, or most surely will not be found if one chooses to go to the right places).
This weak argument used by some students may be because of the lack of enjoyment in interacting with the locals, especially when done in the proper manner. For them, how would the ?fun ? from watching American Idols compare to taking part in the congregational prayers? Most students would prefer to only go to parties while declining to help with more social work, and community based events. Though parties would also allow students to interact with people, but not all parties are commendable, while almost all of the latter activities are certainly meritable.
As a developing nation, Malaysia is in dire need of the students that have been invested with billlions of tax payer?s money to come back with something more than just a degree -- students who return with a strong will to see that this development that we are dreaming for comes true.
Thorough development means not only material progress, but improvement in all aspects of life. Without opening these individual minds through interaction with other cultures, the nation?s hope of seeing the fruits of our investment would only be left as castles in the sky.
written by:mohd iznan shamsuddin editted and translated by: sis nur zahirah sukran
by
Iznan Shamsuddin
(tokpenghulu_nan81@<hidden> )
The only way that I envision the Malaysian students overseas to improve the lethargic mentality of malaysians is through interacting with local and international students at their respective universities. The reality that a majority of students sent abroad come back home without
valuable experiences to enrich themselves is a known fact, credited by many people. According to statistics, there are not less than 5000 Malaysian students currently in Europe only. Should we be complacent by letting all these students come back with just a paper degree, something that
they could obtain locally, without the government and private companies having to send them abroad?
As students in a foreign land, the chance to mix and learn from the local community is something that should not be left to waste. Instead of cashing in on this chance, most Malaysian students still prefer to stick to themselves in a plight that seems to have no ending. Imagine the case of a student who goes to class from 8 am to 2 pm, goes back to his room to rest, eats and sleeps until the evening comes. Will he have any outlet to go out and meet new people? Although interaction with one?s classmates may constitute an interaction between two cultures, what if
the student chooses to stay in his Malaysian circle even during class time?
Undeniably, living together as a Malaysian community has many benefits but living in a Malaysian community should not be used as a scapegoat to ignore other people outside our own circle. This clearly shows a lack in the mental development of a person.
This is where a community center plays an important role. In the same way that a Christian student goes to mass on Sunday, a Muslim student should try to attend and be active in his or her local masjid for there is no better place than the masjid, or a musolla in or near the campus
area as the main community center for him or her. The problem comes when we, as people, as insan, start feeling arrogant that we are better off than everyone else, and do not need other people?s help.
Another benefit of mixing with the local population is the possibility of learning and applying the positive aspects of their culture. Most countries in Europe have long been the focus of foreigners (in this case non-Europeans) to build a new life with better chances. Their experiences as people who have immigrated, adjusted, and lived for a long time in these countries should be something that we can learn from. In the context of Europe, the majority of the Muslims are immigrants; the
Algerians, Tunisians, and Morroccans in France, and the Turks in Germany. Their zeal and hardworking ethics should be emulated. Only one who understands hardship would appreciate the meaning of ?work?.
Moreover, daily interaction with locals can also raise the students? awareness of what is happening locally. Talking in a different language adds to the students? communication skills. Exchange of cultures through, for instance, weddings, increases the intellectual capacity and
critical thinking ability of the students. The question of being too busy would not come up if the student is good at managing and organizing his or her activities. The opportunity to interact with locals is sometimes pushed aside when students spend hours and hours chatting on the phone,
or internet, among other things.
Another excuse often used by those who shun the local society is that they are scared of the cultural shock that they will face. However, if one analyzes the effects of television as a daily source of input for university students, without realizing it, many students have (though
saying they are scared of the cultural shock), ?invited? this culture into their own homes. This intricate weapon in changing the minds of societies and disseminating propaganda is sometimes more dangerous than the scantily clad women roaming the sidewalks (which most probably, or most surely will not be found if one chooses to go to the right places).
This weak argument used by some students may be because of the lack of enjoyment in interacting with the locals, especially when done in the proper manner. For them, how would the ?fun ? from watching American Idols compare to taking part in the congregational prayers? Most students would prefer to only go to parties while declining to help with more social work, and community based events. Though parties would also allow students to interact with people, but not all parties are commendable, while almost all of the latter activities are certainly meritable.
As a developing nation, Malaysia is in dire need of the students that have been invested with billlions of tax payer?s money to come back with something more than just a degree -- students who return with a strong will to see that this development that we are dreaming for comes true.
Thorough development means not only material progress, but improvement in all aspects of life. Without opening these individual minds through interaction with other cultures, the nation?s hope of seeing the fruits of our investment would only be left as castles in the sky.
written by:mohd iznan shamsuddin editted and translated by: sis nur zahirah sukran