”In the school you will meet the world.” Those were the words spoken to me and my fellow interns on our first day working at MSRI. We were sat in the office building for the Malaysian Social Research Institute speaking with the HR manager Alphonsa, who has been working at MSRI for over 20 years. At the time I didn’t quite know what she meant. I understood that the kids at the school were from many different backgrounds and countries but I hadn’t fully grasped and multiculturalism that defines Kuala Lumpur in so many ways. Throughout the last month I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the people, food, culture, religion, and lifestyle that is present all across Malaysia.
Over the next five months I will be working at the Malaysian Social Research Institute (MSRI) which serves refugee families living in Malaysia. At the school there are over 14 nationalities including families from Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, Yemen, Egypt, Syria, Myanmar, Palestine, and Iraq. KL itself is home to three main people groups, the Malay, Indian, and Chinese. This makes for an incredibly diverse setting that we are entering into. There have been days where I’ve eaten Roti Canai for breakfast (Indian/Malay), Shawarma for lunch (Arabic), and Wonton Soup for dinner (Chinese). That is the perfect way I can describe what it is like living in KL. Every different culture coexists and appreciates one another but they are also distinct and carry with them different ways of being in the world which I have gained a deep appreciation for.
After a month in KL I often still ask myself how I got here. In many ways KL was easy to settle into. We have a running joke at the office that Malaysians might be nicer than Canadians. I can see so much of what I am used to in the people around me. Then sometimes I am struck with the great understanding of the depth of what I am experiencing. Standing atop Penang Hill and seeing the island below me, walking past monkeys on the way to work, eating Michelin star samosas from a stall in Georgetown, experiencing the instant downpours of rain, and watching our students win games at their football matches. The awe that I have for KL shows itself in all the little things I experience throughout my days.
So what have I been up to?
When we first arrived the school was just beginning to get ready for exam week and subsequent student break at the start of June. This meant that as soon as we started it was full speed ahead on getting exams ready and making sure everything was in order. Another task that we quickly acquired was looking into grants and funding opportunities for MSRI. Since the breakdown of USAID and the subsequent move away from funding development work by the west, MSRI has lost a lot of its funding avenues. This has caused the organization to be under a considerable amount of strain. It is easy for us to sit in Canada and criticize the actions of governments cutting funding but here we see the everyday effects it has. Teachers can no longer get a lunch stipend and are on unemployment watch, we keep the lights off where possible to conserve energy, and there are less resources to go around for the families. This has not stopped MSRI from doing their mission though. Throughout the last month I have witnessed the incredible perseverance that people at that organization have which makes sense as their motto is “sowing seeds of resilience.” I was watching a documentary the other day with Emily about a nonprofit that works in accessible healthcare in the global south. While watching it a quote really stood out to me. “We have pessimism of the intellect and an optimism of the soul.” This felt very pertinent to the current situation that MSRI is under. We all understand that the money is tight and we’re in a hard spot but we choose to keep going and find ways to make it work because giving up is not an option. Throughout the last month I’ve gained a deeper understanding for what doing meaningful work is and what my job is as an intern. Sometimes that means carrying 40 boxes of biscuits up two flights of stairs in 35 degree heat and sometimes that means working with kids as they learn the dance to their favourite Katseye song to perform. Meaningful action takes many forms but first and foremost it requires a “yes” and it requires you to work with and amongst the community.
Since the break for the students ended we’ve started teaching and being more involved with the students. I currently teach a grade 1 class in the afternoons and am starting up a girls group for girls in grade 5 and up. Connecting with the students is something that is very important to me and I’m glad to get these opportunities. We’ve also been a part of a number of school events including a a Gaelic football tournament where our students got second place overall, an event with a local university group where they came and played games with the students, and a local soccer tournament for refugee school in KL.
Over the school break we had a long weekend and we took a trip up to Georgetown, in northern Malaysia. Georgetown is a UNESCO world heritage site and is such a vibrant place. While we were there it was Wesak Day which is a Buddhist holiday that celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama. Georgetown has a large Chinese population so we went to the Wesak Day parade that they hold every year. In the days leading up to the event people can donate flowers for the various floats. The procession was very beautiful and we were welcomed in by members of the community while attending. I ended up chatting to an older gentleman who looked to be about in his 80s. He explained to me that he had been born in Georgetown and had grown up there his entire life. He also shared that as a child he had taken part in the parade and it was so nice to still see people enjoying it. This just exemplifies the welcomeness that I have felt throughout my time in Malaysia so far. Sometimes slowing down and just having a conversation can make the experience so much more meaningful.
Overall, it’s hard to believe that we’re only a month in. I feel like I’ve learned so much about the world and also about myself. If you had told me a year ago I’d be sitting in Malaysia writing about all of these experiences I probably wouldn’t have believed you. Everyday I find myself so incredibly grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait for all the experiences and growth that will continue over the next six months. For now, this is see you later and I can’t wait to give more updates as I continue this journey.
Terima kasih kerana membaca!
Maddie
