10. Everyone greets everyone as long as you are niche-related.
"Dobry den!" "Na shledanou!" You greet everyone you are somewhat related to: customer-salesperson, neighbours, cleaner-student,.... As long as there is eye contact and that person has a role in your life, you should not keep your lips pursed because that's just plain rude!
I almost "dobry den"-ed a guy in Watsons when I was back on summer holidays. XD
9. Shoes/sandals/pumps + socks? It doesn't matter!
Here, people take their socks seriously. Where else can you find people walking around with sandals and socks without being criticized? I myself have tried a peep toe with tights and that's as far as I would go. I think I'll leave the sandals-and-sock fashion for my labs sessions.
8. Everybody likes cheap stuff. Czechs included.
So you think angmohs are stylish and chill chill? Nah. Vietnamese stores with PRC goods? - definitely a good place to spot a huge crowd of bargain hunters. It's heartbreaking to see an empty rack where you are supposed to find your favorite snacks or even shoes. They always know when the sales start.....I'm left out because my Czech still suck!!! :(
7. Kids are not super pampered or given any knee protectors..
Firstly, I would say the kids here ARE FRIGGIN CUTE LIKE I WANNA KIDNAP ONE. Right. They have super scary playgrounds with cemented ground. I tried their spider net thing and monkey bar--which is like 4 meters above the ground (explains their love for x-games when they grow up). I thought I'll sprain my arm. And most kids go to school on bus or foot alone and that's fine.
6. Waiters expect tips.
I felt outraged once, by a waiter who kept my change for himself (stealthily) but as time passes, I came to realize that eating out means: a. You will have to put on a poker face when you walk out as the waiter curses you for being stingy b. Tipping moderately and get a small 'dekuji' from the waiter. My Czech teacher recommended 10kc (RM2) for a decent meal and 20kc (RM4) for pretty good service--tipping as a student that is.
5. People avoid speaking English.
"Do you speak English?" "No, I don't...sorry." O_o Then after moments of you struggling with your lousy Czech, they start using their perfectly fine English. I mean, angmoh, y u no confident?
4. They can't guess where I'm from!
Japan? Taiwan? China? Mongolia? RUSSIA? Wtf... I'm petite and have yellow skin...Using colored contacts lens suddenly make me Russian? Buy ALL the lenses!! LOL
3. They asked me (or secretly asked others) why I don't wear a hijab..
Someone needs a crash-course on how diverse and beautiful the Malaysian culture is! I'm a Malaysian Chinese, and that makes all the difference. If you know what I mean.. (refer to Hong Kong posts). I do love how confused they are when I start switching languages like *snap fingers*.
2. Oral examinations are f***ing difficult.
No loop holes. No place to hide. You don't encounter a question and save it for later. Once you blurt out something by mistake, you friggin made a mistake. And the examiners are humans too. If I'm in that spot, I'd already have an impression of the student based on the whole year of lectures. Halo effect, we call it. And worse, if the lecturer thinks you are capable, he/she will pry further-- going from the heart to the lungs and the brain and then kidneys. After the first year, I learnt how to pick up my jaw from the ground.
1. I hate flying.
Like URGHHHH!!! WHY?? Why is this country so unaccessible? Why must the flight stop somewhere when the whole trip back can be only 11 hours long... Why must the budget flights always be delayed. The trains and buses are fine excellent. I can easily travel to ANY European country of my choice like...right now. But flights drive me nuts.
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So that's my top ten so far! I kinda enjoy this place because I'm starting to understand how things work. And the people are quite nice. We Malaysians have a lot to learn from them. :)
