This is what I’ve learned about Malaysia over these last few days.
First, sleep is the last thing on the to-do list. For most of the Malaysians whom we are working alongside, they won’t go to sleep until 2:00 or 3:00AM at the earliest!
You would think that in order to make up for their lack of sleep that they would sleep in until noon, but they wake up after a short few hours to go to work.
Thankfully, for our sake we do not have to work in the morning and, therefore, actually do sleep until noon.
In talking to one of the church members about it, she said, “I would rather fellowship with my family than sleep.” Alright, alright…that’s a noble answer. But how are you not yet dead from lack of important shuteye?
Since our days start around noon, this brings me to the second difference: meal times. Compared to what we are used to at home (or anywhere else for that matter), everything is pushed back four or five hours. Breakfast, as you may have guessed, is when we wake up at noon. Traditional Malaysian breakfast is coconut rice with chili sauce; however, we purchase our own breakfast items of bread, fruit, and coffee.
Kayla and I with coconut rice and chili sauce served in newspaper
At 5:00PM we are served a hearty Indian lunch of different curry dishes, vegetables, fish or chicken, and always rice.
Finally, after the night’s event, we go out to dinner, which could be eaten anywhere between 11:00PM-1:00AM.
While this country is made up of Malaysian, Chinese, and Indian people, the food is also traditional to those cultures. Every meal that I’ve been served has been different and has been incredibly delicious.
Typical Indian food: rice, vegetable and chicken curry, veggie salad
Another thing that I have learned about Malaysia is their willingness to include.
“Oh, you said you’re not hungry? But everyone is eating. Come! Come! Gorge yourself on all of these traditional Indian pastries. And eat more rice!”
“Only one person can play the guitar? We want all of you to sing and dance and do what we do. By the way…you are singing in a wedding tomorrow! I hope you’re prepared, because, after all, you’re missionaries. Missionaries are always prepared.”
“You were going to wear flip-flops and a sun dress to the wedding? How funny! You HAVE to dress in our traditional Indian sari’s and look like one of us.”
I have been more immersed in the culture here than I have in any other country. Every night is spent with the entire church family, of which everyone is related, and there is always something going on—a wedding, a birthday party, a Mother’s Day celebration, etc. Any excuse to come together as family is reason enough for them.
This is quickly becoming one of my favorite months on the Race and we haven’t even been here a week.
Our team with the happy couple
Our team singing "Blessed be the Name of the Lord" at the wedding
My teammates, Kim and Kyle, and I singing "Your Love Is Extravagant" at the wedding
