At the Eastern Transit

The year started awesome. I was crying as I jerked back by the window on the plane thinking if going overseas alone was the right thing to do. I realised that the first thing that I thought of leaving Australia was my mother. But there I was on the plane about to abandon myself with the arms of Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Brunei.

My first stop was Brunei where I would have a stopover that would last a whole night so naturally I decided to leave the airport, get an extra stamp in my passport and wander around. Of course it was as humid as I expected it to be, I did not expect though that there would be little opened though. In a country that basically bans alcohol for the majority of its population you can see why the people are so kind here yet go to bed so early. I ate at the only open restaurant left, some Thai restaurant where the locals stared at me knowing that I was not one of them. I shrugged it off, I would have to get used to that.

Afterwards, I decided to venture to the shopping centre, it looked like the one in Cambodia. Again more stares. I realised there was nothing to buy and everything was closing soon so I thought to myself that I had better find myself a place to sleep soon. Exiting the shopping centre I walked for about a decent hour, typically it started raining. Somehow I was already feeling stung by loneliness, I fought against it telling myself that I had courage to do this.

I returned back to the shopping centre dismayed that my luck had run dry. A local security guard, a figure surprising in peaceful Brunei was a man I thought was somebody that could help me. What do you know? Half an hour later a man rocks up in a taxi, accidentally runs over a cat that storms right under his car (attempted suicide?) and drops me off at a hotel. Mind you it is only 7pm, the same taxi driver confesses that he got out of bed at 6pm for me. Shocked by the cultural difference he hands me his card, thanks me in Teochew and wishes me a good night.

In the hotel room I looked out to the gloomy night time sky, there was little to see and for a moment I felt let down, disheartened. I had a shower and let the sweatiness of the humidity cuddle me to sleep.

The taxi driver the next morning personally called me to get me to the airport. Such kindness, a faith in humanity. A glimpse of it.

Maybe traveling was the way.

Looks like the education system in Asia is still winning

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Basically this is how I see it. The reason for this disparity is back to culture. In Asia, teachers are far more highly respected in those countries, especially when many of the countries themselves are fighting with more poverty than Australia ever has. Education provides a way out of the cycle of poverty, which to many Australians seems distant. When you are placed in a far more desperate predicament, you are simply more willing to do something about your situation if you are given the chance. Australians, as we are living in a lucky country often forget that point. There’s no doubting that we take it for granted, but when we want it, we can damn well take the opportunities.

Western countries unfortunately have the reputation of a classroom where the teacher is too busy scolding everyone, and to be honest, it’s not that far from the truth. I don’t doubt that this does not happen in Asia, but in contrast it is far, far less. It does not help that in Asia, parents are more strict and conservative about their discipline should a child not succeed well in school. Sometimes, unfairly so. We’d have to change the way we think if we want to compete with being as successful as Asia, in terms of our education. However, this education is meant to attain our careers. Are Australians more successful career wise? If we can still with such results in education attain successful and prosperous careers then I don’t think there is much to be worried about.

The questions are always complex it seems.

I remember overhearing an article in the free paper, the mX a while back. There was apparently an article by an international student, AKA a ‘fob’ (unfortunately)that had an interesting take on the perspective of other Asians around this person.

Now while I haven’t exactly read the article, it does elicit a knee jerk reaction. Before I carry on with my bantering, I am not here to disregard the work that many international students are doing in complimenting the Australian environment, economically socially speaking. Working with many international student allows me to see into their life to know that they are just like us. Not freaks of natures. Just born into a world many unfortunately are too scared to face.

Essentially what this person said was that many of the Asians born here were not ‘truly Asian’. While I never read the exact argument she was stating, it saddens me that someone even needs to say this. Firstly, what the fuck does that even really mean? Asia is not just oriental Asia, but it is also South, Central and Western Asia encompassing areas such as Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and all the way to Lebanon. From there all the way to Japan is an endless supply of different ideas, traditions and thinking patterns that attribute to the beauty of Asia. A unique glossary of glamour. To categorise all these traits into one specific form is frankly, impossible. It is exclusively ignoring another important part of Asia. Secondly, as an Asian myself born in a Western country, it is offending to hear that I am not what I am. I being born in Australia, raised in the culture here of course as well will understandably think in a different manner to many Asians themselves, at least over East and South East Asia. But to say that I am not Asian is quite horrifying. It is certainly much more than my skin colour, it is the way I identify myself with who I am. My history before me is just as relevant to me as the future before me. It gives me a stature to know what I am fortunate to have, the tenacity and strength of my ancestors breathes through my veins and knowing about it does not make me any lesser than I am.

Apparently this article also stated specific ways which exemplified being Asian. What? Sorry? We have to stick to a stereotype and be all the same. I have to force myself to like something and force myself to hate something I like to be ‘Asian’. Right? Okay. Really? Everyone views things in their own mannerisms, respect that. If somebody is not satisfying with you, get over it. Or get some intelligence to open your mind. Even then, in East and South East Asia there is still a huge array of differences. Let’s face it, China has a bad reputation with many South East Asian nations yet everyone has fallen for Korea’s hallyu wave. Do we suddenly need to act Korean now and forget our own nationalistic identities to be Asians? God forbid if I have to get a Hello Kitty phone cover before I can be accepted. Frankly, we grow up differently. If there’s one thing that is unique for everyone, it is our experience. I do not see Hello Kitty as Asian, yes it is from Asia but it’s a very marketed side of Asia. Asia is more than that. Why don’t we just be more than we are? I think then, that would show everyone real pride in who we are. Confident people taking control of our lives.

As far as I’m concerned, I’m James Heng. I am Cambodian. I am Australian. I am also Chinese. I like music. I like to be in love. I am a Mac lover who is saving to earn a Max. I like graffiti. I like the TV show skins. I love languages. And I love a million other things. I also am a million things. But I know what I am not. I am certainly not your image.

• Vietnam
• Thailand
• The Philippines
• Japan
• Korea
• Laos
• Switzerland
• France
• South Africa
• Morocco
• The UK