Asian misconceptions : Cold Europeans

Clearing misconceptions between cultures is an important prerequisite for a racism free world. Being born and brought up in the orient, I'm quite familiar with the misconceptions most Asians hold about Europeans (or Westerners in general). In this series I'll try to address these misconceptions.

One such misconception is that Europeans are cold. They lack emotions and don't "connect like we do". I've seen many South Asians and South-East Asians holding this misconception. Many also tend to think that the western way of maintaining individual boundaries are inferior to the oriental way of maintaining no boundaries, hence the use of the word "cold". I don't agree with the idea of drawing us-and-them boundaries to begin with. Do you really know who "they" are, who you are ? Aren't these distinctions very superfluous ?

Mother Language Day

21st February is International Mother Language Day. Quoting from wikipedia,

International Mother Language Day is an observance held annually on 21 February worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

About half a century ago, my people stood up against cultural oppression and made sacrifices to protect the right to speak their language. Through a bloody revolution, the right to speak a language was protected. In effect, it also protected the right to practice their culture. The sense of identity and unity later inspired the independence movement of the country. Bangalis are not the only group to sacrifice for their language and culture in recent recorded history. I know that similar incidents took place in Assam(India), would not be surprised to know of more incidents like that. But Bangalis are probably the only group to work their way from cultural freedom to independence of their country. I consider that a good example. And proud of that.

As of now, let us all be proud of our languages. Speak your language, teach it to others. Learn theirs too. Discover how close we are, people of the world.

Coming Back to Bangladesh

June 29, 2011 Dhaka, Bangladesh

When I came back to Bangladesh for the first time, she welcomed me with her heavy monsoon rain. I got fully drenched in the rain soon after coming out of the airport. Infections on my back and legs hurt from rubbing against my clothes. There was foul smell of an overflowing drain on one side and pleasant smell of fruits from a stall on the other side. There were loud hydraulic horns and almost musical jingle of riksha bells. In front of me was the chaotic Dhaka city. People and vehicles on the streets and footpaths going in every direction. Vehicles about to collide somehow managing to slow down or divert their courses at the last moment. It's like a chaotic dance performence.

Yes, I was back in Bangladesh. My sense of touch, smell, hearing and vision has been overwhelmed. The only unattended sense was taste which could be taken care of easily at the tea stall on the other side of the street. I stepped out on the street and joined the chaotic dance.

Infection

The hot and humid environment of the Malaysian rainforest is a perfect breeding ground for germs and my body had no immunity against them. Be prepared to have infections on your surface wounds if you are like me regarding immunity. At one point I was carrying nine infections on my right leg and ten on left.

Takraw

Young and energetic Malay men living in the kampungs often indulge themselves in a game called Takraw (a.k.a. foot-volleyball). It's a native Malay game. Familiar in almost all over south-east Asia, with different names in different countries though.