An identity (race) crisis??? (Part 2)
When I 1st attended our 1st ko-k meeting, I discovered that there’s an Indonesian guy in the same contemporary dance class and after a week, he approached me and told me that he was relieved when he saw me the 1st week. He said “At least I have an Indonesian with me in the class” He thought I was an Indonesian! He said he mati2 thought I’m from there because I don’t look like locals here. Another wrong assumption on my real background! =)
That one particular day during EST class, my classmate asked me to say something in Kayan. So I said “uh nah ikak kuman do?” which means “have u already eaten?” he was like “wwahh.. sounds so different!” my lecturer overheard us and asked me to repeat the sentence again. She told me that the bahasa ada bunyi2 Philippine. So she thought I’m from Philippine. There goes another assumption..the 4th one I think..
And this happened just recently.. I was in my room doing some work that night and my neighbour which stay a door away knocked on my door and asked whether my roommate is in the room or not. I told her that she’s(roommate) not back yet. So she said nvm. And as I was closing the door she stopped me and asked what am I actually.. she goes like this.. “ urmm u ape sbnrnye? Chinese ke? Ouh u Chinese-Siam eh?” terkejut me dgr at that time.. almost speechless.. hahah I can just say yes to her but no.. told her I’m a Sarawakian. That’s all. If I go into the details, who knows what she’ll be thinking. So by saying I’m a Sarawakian is more than enough.
Lastly, this just happened last Wednesday. It was the annual election for the whole IPTA and we students are required to vote for the candidates. In my own opinion, the election held is not fair. IPTA students should know why it is not fair.. Btw, I walked into the election room, I need to register myself at the 1st counter where I need to give them my matrix card to check my name on the computer. They said my name out aloud to confirm with me.. and one of them asked me, “Jeannette Urai Daniel…U Portuguese eh??” hahahahah won’t comment more on this one. =P
So get a picture here? Ppl here are not used seeing our looks (srwkian & sbhan) here and they’ll come up with their own assumptions but normally, they will think us as Chinese or Malay (free hair). Well, this might not apply to all of the East Malaysians but I’m blogging based on my own experiences.
Ni baru confuse abt race..blom lagi crita ttg what’s their view abt srwak n sabah..lagi ‘imaginative’.. but that one, I’ll keep it to myself. Feel free to ask me though. I’m not thinking of putting it in my blog at d moment.. well,maybe not yet..ngehngeh
So the best way to describe myself??
A MALAYSIAN =)
Lucky to be one!
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