Over the past month there are a few things that I haven’t written about that do deserve their own post but I have not really felt the motivation to write them. The first was a trip to Muar that happened way back in October that was a great experience of village life. The other was the celebration of Deepavali, a slightly different South Indian version of North Indian Diwali, where I stayed with another host family and went to temple with which was nice because it connected me to my culture as a half Indian person? I don’t know if that is the correct wording. While I do want to write about these two experiences, I just haven’t felt compelled to say anything. Sometimes it feels as though I should write because the experience is something that others tell me is a once-in-a-lifetime activity but I do not have many reflections on them. This introduction is more to say that I have experienced these two things and if anyone would like to know more I am happy to summarize but I do not necessarily have any commentary. I will create their own posts if I find the inspiration later on in life, so this is a disclaimer if what I write about starts to not be in chronological order. Now back to the scheduled programming.
At the end of November I had the great privilege to celebrate Thanksgiving with the exchange students, host families, and AFS volunteers in the Johor chapter. Everyone was excited to experience a Thanksgiving because, besides the Americans, no one had ever had the chance to have a Thanksgiving. Harnoor (the other American in Johor), Carlo (one of the Italians), and I spent the entire day preparing the most traditional dishes we could manage in Malaysia including mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, and a pumpkin dish (no pumpkin pie unfortunately but we did manage muffins). After hours of cutting, peeling, baking, and being temporarily stuck at a store trying to exchange a bad turkey for three chickens, we finally managed to put dinner on the table for about 21 people. The entire night was a lot of fun as we ate, listened to 70’s music, and laughed at each other’s exchange stories. While it did not feel like home, I felt the love that I feel at home during Thanksgiving. I felt so proud to have been able to do something that brought so many smiles to so many peoples faces. The world is a very sad place most of the time. Just recently, the American government released tear gas on women, men, and children who had trekked to our border in hopes of refuge. The man-started conflict in Yemen has caused the death of tens of thousands. Many live in extreme poverty and half of those in extreme poverty are children. What does this say about humanity? Or rather, why are we not doing more? As my time as an exchange student grows I grow more confident in the idea that I want to pursue a job in a field that creates change for the good of the international community. I have always loved Thanksgiving because it is a time where one is to reflect on their privilege as well as thank those who they appreciate. This Thanksgiving I am appreciative for this opportunity, my community here in Malaysia, and of course my family and friends back home. Additionally, I am thankful for the education I have received and the environment that I have been growing up in which has always pushed me to be a better person for others. While it is not New Years, I also have made the resolution to consciously act upon what frustrates me in this world.
I do not really have an ending for this post and quite honestly the last few sentences were discombobulated but I do think they are an accurate reflection of how I have been feeling for these past few weeks. I suppose I will end with a question to those who read this blog. What are you thankful for? Text me, comment on this blog, dm me, etc. your response if you want. I am quite interested in ya’lls responses.
- SEJAL
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