I remembered and encounter in which I displayed cultural insensitivity. It happened when I was in primary 5. My Muslim teacher, Ms Helimmi, treated my friend and me to nasi lemak. However, she had forgotten to take cutleries for us. Ms Helimmi apologized for her carelessness and taught us to use our hands to eat like how Muslims do. As that was my first time eating with my hands, I felt rather uncomfortable but did so anyway since there was no choice. I ate with my left hand thinking that it was alright. When Ms Helimmi noticed and corrected me to eat with my right hand instead, I brushed it off saying that it was alright since I was already halfway through with my food.
In retrospect, I think my action was unintentional because I was really ignorant about the Muslim culture as well as the cultural differences between them and the Chinese. It was kind of Ms Helimmi to not reprimand me then. Now that I’m older, I realized that Muslims do not eat with their left hand because they use that hand to cleanse their private body parts. I learnt from my Muslim friends that their right hands are also used for ‘cleaner activities’ like hand-shaking and accepting gifts. Another interesting fact I learnt is that on the Day of Judgment (which leads to annihilation of all living species), Muslims will bear their righteous deeds with their right hands and receive their sins with their left.
From such experiences, I realized that it is important that we know and are sensitive to the different cultural behaviors of other races and religions in this multi-racial country. Racial harmony is the key to peace and stability, thus we have to be careful not to be offensive but instead practice cultural tolerance to sustain this harmony that we have now.
Hi Sam!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this interesting story.
I'm not sure if this is Muslim's culture (since i'm not one), but i have been taught to eat with hands since child. If you go to KFC in Indonesia, the set meal includes rice and they don't provide a spoon (and obviously no fork/chopstick), so you have to eat the rice by using hands. =b
About whether the left hand is used for "dirty activities", that really depends on the person. But when a person does, the "weaker hand" should be used.
Generally, a right-handed person should use the right hand when giving/receiving anything to show respect, and left-handed person should use the left hand. This is to show that we take the action seriously by using our "stronger hand". In the case of our "stronger hand" is unable to perform the act, it is acceptable to use the weaker hand but accompanied with an apology, for example, "maaf, kiri" ("sorry, left").That said, it could be that what i practice differs slightly with theirs. So perhaps take my comments as an alternative view. =)
And you are right that we have to maintain racial harmony in a multi-racial community. Perhaps when encountering similar situation, we should ask the reason why instead of brushing off the suggestion.
Cheers :D
Hi Samantha,
ReplyDeleteThat is a very interesting story that you have shared with us. Personally, I have yet to try eating rice using my bare hands and I would certainly feel uncomfortable when I am told to do so.
I would have probably used my left hand to eat as well if given no choice. This is because my master hand is my right hand and I like to keep my master hand free so as to reach out for and to manipulate objects such as handphones and napkins.
You did well by not reacting negatively (showing your displeasure) when you were asked to eat with your hands. However you could have done better by voicing out that you are uncomfortable with your teacher's suggestions in a nice and polite manner.
Some of us are not that good at picking up non verbal cues and your teacher might interpret you being comfortable to eat with your hands and might invite you to try the same thing the next time also.
It is true that tolerance is required in intercultural interaction, however I would think that it is important to voice out your opinions so as to let the other party understand our feelings to better communicate with each other.
Cheers,
Kai Liang
Hey Yohan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your practices and thoughts, they are very interesting too! I realized what you practice is also somewhat similar to the Muslim's. You were right to point out that I should find out the reasons behind the difference in practices and I am sure I will do so now if I do encounter any more interesting practices.
Cheers,
Samantha
Hey Kai Liang,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that I could have voiced out my opinions to my teacher but I guess I was rather timid at that age to disobey a teacher's instructions but you are absolutely right that we cannot always tolerate blindly as this would be unhealthy for the mind in the long run to be forcing yourself to constantly do something you are uncomfortable with.
Cheers,
Samantha