Expert: Cmei - 6/10/2011

Question
I am a sophomore majoring in nursing.  I need to conduct an interview from someone from a different culture for my intercultural communications class.  This interview will help me gain knowledge of different cultures.

Thank you, Tiffany


1. Describe family life, where you live, county, housing?
2. How do children play, what games are popular?
3. What is school like (who goes, how long, what is studied or
emphasized, what is normal)?
4. How are marriages arranged (prearranged marriages, dating customs?
5. What is the ceremony like and where does the couple live afterwards?
6. What is customary food and your favorite meal
7. How is it served
8  How is it eaten
9. What are some family customs or rituals (reaching adolescence, etc.)?
10. Are there any other interesting things that are done your culture?
11. What is the legal driving age?
12. How many people in the average family?

Thank you very much!            Tiffany

Answer
Hi Tiffany,

1) I am currently living in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. I am born in Perak and grown up in Penang, and now, I am taking my MBA in Kuala Lumpur. Well, I chose to explain the life in Kuala Lumpur as this is the capital of my country. We are staying in a service apartment.

2) Nowadays, children are playing computer games, play station and even Iphone games! Everything is about technology. Angry birds is the popular game here no matter among children or adult.

3)a)As primary school, we have standard one to standard six for kids from aged 7 to 12; Study about languages like Malay, English and Chinese for students in Chinese school, as well as math,science,moral,art,sports,computer skills and etc.

3)b)Secondary school, we have form one to form five for students from aged 13 to 19. We have form six for those who wish to further their studies in local university. We have only two ways to enter local universities: First, take two years form six (lower six and upper six); second, if you are lucky or get an excellent result in form five examination, the SPM, then can have short cut, go into Matrikulasi (something like A-level) to study only one year.

4) There are still some arranged marriages but minority. Majority of us have the right to choose for our partner.

5) The culture of chinese in Kuala Lumpur, most of us will stay at houses we have bought before marriage and continue the life as before marriage, continue with works. The ceremony has two sessions which are morning and night session.

6) The custom food here are based on 3 main races. For chinese, we have different types of food for different events, such as dumpling for dragon boat day, mooncake for mid autumn day, steamboat for Chinese New Year.. My favourite meals are curry mee, char kuey teow (fry noodle) and many.

7) You can google the food like Dumpling, Mooncake for images.

8) We will have a praying ceremony in the morning of the event, then we eat the food after praying like eating normal food.

9) Erm, for this, I think we have different customs for different family. For my family, reach home before 11pm for girls before aged 18. I will add up to you if I can think of others as can't think of so much in short time.

10) Our wedding ceremony and every chinese events are all very interesting.

11) Aged 18

12) The trend of these few years, 2-3 children.

I hope my answers would help you Tiffany. Anything do send me a follow-up question.


Thank you.