A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE

By:- Xu Zhi Yi (David)
     TEF150701

The place we went for Social engagement this semester was a school for 3 days. I was very grateful to my friends (including my classmates, professors and also the schoolmates), that’ because I cannot understand Malay at all, under the help of them, I could complete this time’ campaign. I cannot remember all what had happened though, but it actually was, for me, a good experience. In majority, the things we were required to do are the things I am not so good with, but because of this campaign, I think the distance between my friends and I become closer than before.

Before the departure, I was so nervous that If I cannot understand Malay, how can I live here. but the fact was it was unnecessary for me to be anxious about that. On the bus, the person who seated beside me, talked a lot with me. And then we arrived, the first sentence I said, even now, I can still remember, I cannot speak Malay, how can I stay here? And maybe after 3 seconds, my friends just told me that I would translate for you, if you were in trouble.

The first thing for us to prepare is to convey the goods to the top of the slope where the school is situated. To be honesty, that’s a little bit painful. After that, we were required to have the dinner, of course, I sat with my friends. We talked a lot and then one charger of this campaign start to explain what should we do all in Malay. And…my friends start to translate for me, maybe this kind of thing for them-the local Malaysian is easy, but I was also happy that the people in Malaysia were so hospitable.

After that, I was in trouble, my luggage disappeared, I became a little nervous, because I was so tired that time, I want to sleep instantly. One of friends said that I went to the dormitory firstly and see if there was someone who took yours by mistake. And another friend of mine started to seek my luggage. After 15 minutes, my luggage reappeared. And someone told me that there was a girl who took yours in girls’ dormitory.

And then, of course, I took my luggage and decide to sleep. Soon, I fell asleep after a short discussion with the roommates in our dormitory. Frankly, that was a bit horrible, I never imagined that 20 people per room can exist.

The second day, the first thing is to do the morning exercises, and the first background music was in Chinese. After that we had our breakfast before we started to officially do things. The first request for us to do is to teach the students in that school, of course, with Malay. At that time, I was speechless, although I thought there would be some situations like this. I tried to be useful, but at this kind of situation I was really helpless, how could I teach people with the language even I don’t know. But I still tried to teach them English, just for the pronunciation part.  And then that became my most successful thing in that 3 days. There were a lot of things which required the Malay.

For the third day, my professor asked me what I did yesterday, I just told him what I did. And he was also very satisfied with that. That day we were required to do the painting, but for that, I could do nothing. And I talked with my friends, they told me don’t be worry about that, and for that time, I did a long discussion with them. After that, we did some games with those children. At the evening of that day, we had a big banquet outside the restaurant in the rain. That sounds a little bit strange, but the banquet went well, and then we went to the restaurant to see the classic performance in Malaysia, That’s also a good experience for all people outside Malaysia, we can know a lot about Malaysia through this kind of campaign. After that, we went to a place to listen the things about Islam. This time, my friends did translation for me again, and due to the translation, I had some new view on Islam.

The fourth day, namely the last day for our campaign. For that day I remembered that I was required to seat in the tent to play game with the children-drawing. Although, I know I cannot do it well, but I still did it. After that, we were required to return all the things to the original place, like tables and chairs, That’s the second thing I was very proud, although I cannot teach the children a lot, but I can share the work with my friends. That’s enough. Before the departure from this school, the school administration organized a farewell party. My friends translated it for me again, and then I could understand it totally.

About 2 hours we leaved the school, and returned to UM. For me actually, I didn’t do a lot contribution to this campaign because of the language obstruction. But I still thanks to this campaign, because of this, I met a lot of people, and become more familiar with Malaysia. Maybe because of this campaign is in Malay, that became the bridge to link me and the local students.