EAST OR WEST, HOME STILL THE BEST

IWAS in the United States for five years from 1991 and was so amazed by the country’s advancement that I felt as if I was in the future. The architectural design of one of the subway stations in Washington DC was so futuristic that I felt like I was waiting for my spaceship ride in a Star Trek movie.

There was, however, one horrifying experience which I will never forget. A homeless man shouted and ran after me when I did not respond to his persistent demand for money. I managed to escape by getting into a waiting taxi. He kicked the taxi’s door and cursed me.

In 2001, I visited the US again to attend a conference in Washington DC. The country had advanced even more but my feelings did not change much.

In 2003, I lived in Ulm, Germany, for two years. It was peaceful and pleasant compared with the US. I didn’t feel discriminated against and people were polite and friendly. Once, I lost my backpack with my house key and valuables inside, and, surprisingly, someone took it to the lost-andfound office. I returned for a three-month visit in 2012 and Germany was as wonderful as it was seven years ago.

Recently, a good friend of mine who had worked in Germany for more than 12 years informed me that the situation had changed. Germans had become prejudiced against foreigners, especially due to the country’s open-door refugee policy. The Germans claimed that refugees had brought many problems to the country. There were several incidents when foreign professionals like my friend were screamed at and told to go home. He was seriously thinking of going home.

I went to Japan five times to attend seminars and conferences. The Japanese are the tidiest and most polite people I have ever met. I asked a man for directions in Sapporo and instead of explaining how to get there, he took me to the place, which was 1km out of his way. It was difficult to find a rubbish bin in the city, but you could hardly find any litter either.

Portugal is another European country that I visited and lived in. The country appears less advanced than Germany, but people are friendlier and more helpful. Portuguese and Bahasa Malaysia share words such as jendela, mentega, keju and limau that made communication simpler which explains why Malaysians and Portuguese get along easily. As the Malay proverb goes, “bahasa jiwa bangsa” (language is the soul of a nation). We share a similar jiwa.

On one occasion, a homeless guy asked me for spare change and I refused with a polite hand gesture. To my surprise, he responded with a smile and thanked me for visiting and contributing to Portugal’s tourism industry. I decided to give him some change.

Notwithstanding the attraction of other countries, Malaysia is still more wonderful than any place I have been. Nothing can beat our food — the variety and flavour, and the cultural elements attached to every dish.

Our teh tarik is unique and cannot be found anywhere else. It is available for as little as 90 sen at a mamak stall or for a pricey RM9 at a five-star hotel.

Eid is celebrated for 30 days and Chinese New Year for 15. At the weekends, people hit the road to visit friends and family at open houses that serve a variety of food, buffet-style.

Our islands and beaches are spectacular and it is summer all year long. Yes, be it East, West, and everwhere else, home is the best.