SENSITIVE ISSUES part 2

Assalamualaikum and a very good day, everyone!

As you all know, yesterday (1st March) was our first date with Maryam. Since we discussed about 'stereotype' last week, today we are going to share Maryam's story about stereotype. Now, let us ask you a question; if we did not mention that Maryam was from Laos, which country do you think she belongs to..?

*credits to chinesefontdesign.com*

Honestly, when Syuhaidah first showed me Maryam's picture (before we met), I thought she was a Thai (－‸ლ), but then Syuhaidah said Maryam was from Laos. Well, I personally never had a Lao friend, so I do not know how they actually look like. That's why I was quite confident that Maryam is a Thai haha! She looks a bit like a Thai actress, Ice Preechaya though... (￣▽￣*)ゞ

*Ehem ehem..sorry for that. That's enough for now.*

What we actually wanted to share is about stereotype, again... but this time it's Maryam's version! Since we thought that she has a little bit of a Chinese look, we asked her whether she has ever experienced being mistaken as a Chinese...

And her answer was YES! (hahaha, we thought so!) She said that it happened when she went to eat at a Chinese restaurant in Malaysia. The Chinese workers speak Chinese with her because they thought she's a Chinese! She also told us Malay people often think that foreigners don't like them, but actually, the foreigners are totally okay with us and the locals! When we asked her whether she has a stereotype like a friend of our classmate (she's an Indian living in Saudi) - Malays not mingling around with people besides 'their' people; fortunately, she said that she never had that kind of stereotype, because to her, they are doing the same thing! Maryam said it is normal if people 'prefer' to be among their people (sharing the same nationality, culture and language). They don't mind being friends with people from outside their circle, but still, they will have their 'own circle'  ( ˘⌣˘) (˘⌣˘ )

*credits to Google Images*

Wherever we go and no matter how many friends we have, we will always feel more comfortable with our own people. This is evident especially when we travel or when we study abroad. An Indonesian friend of Atirah once told  her that whenever she is in Malaysia (or anywhere other than Indonesia) and happens to meet a fellow Indonesian, she will automatically feel happy because meeting with her own people outside of her country makes her feel like home ╰(▔∀▔)╯

Can you guys relate? Do share your experiences and thoughts below!

That's all from us this week. Thank you!  (◕‿◕)



Yours truly, 
Atirah & Syuhaidah