Selamat Tinngal, Malaysia!

I had Thosai Masla – one of my favorite Indian dishes, it’s something I order nearly every time I go to an Indian eatry along with coconut curry and dhal. I’d make sure I have one or two heapings of Thosai Masla before I leave for the states on the 24^th. I also had this fantastic cheesecake at secret recipe, a Malaysian chain restaurant.

I’m in the middle of my laundry (once again), and cleaning while I’m writing this blog, preparing for my trip to Cambodia in two days.

Overall, my internship in Malaysia was great. I was able to exceed my expectations of reaching 75 participants in two months alone. Most interviews were done in focus groups, which from my experience here is better than one-on-one interviews because it allows people to think liberally and share experiences with one other. This also allows them to discuss certain themes and come up with solutions that they believe would work. Indeed, it is time consuming, but worthwhile.

Highlight: Monsopiad Cultural Village

The Monspoiad Cultural Village is founded in memory of the Kadazan headhunter Monspoiad (The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, 2009) who was killed by his friends. This village is a must stop if you are in the Kuala Kinabalu area, the capital of Sabah state. The entrance fee is a tad pricey for foreigners (65 RM) but worthwhile – the cultural information shared by its knowledgeable guide is valuable and interesting.

I asked the guide how the Kadazans view people with disabilities and how they labeled them. I was given a simple response – there are no labels for a person with disabilities among the Kadazans, and PWD are simply accepted by them. I would say that it is indeed a very difficult concept elsewhere – I wish I would be able to ask more questions, but I didn’t want to keep my group waiting for hours as it was hot and humid outside.

Sabah

I spent two days in Sabah to meet with parents of the deaf, teachers of the deaf and deaf people. I reached 15 participants in only two days – much appreciation goes to the people who recruited them for me (think: snowball sampling). Other than my work in Sabah, I had the chance to dine out at several places – the chili is AWESOME and a must try! Note to self: blend a handful of chilies (the small ones) with onions, five cloves of garlic, and add vinegar and lime to taste.

Since my stay in Sabah was very brief – I was unable to see the real side of Sabah and I will be sure to make time to return one day. It has one of the best diving sites in the world, great hiking trails, beaches and snorkeling sites.

Rich World Hypocrisy

Cartoon by Polyp (January, 2010)

http://www.newint.org/columns/bbw/2010/01/01/429-rich-world-hypocrisy/

Penang

After viewing Adi’s (the well-known deaf batik artist) work at the Westin Resort (he is also employed at the Westin as a head graphic designer), we headed for Penang so I would be able to do some research-related work. Back to Adi, his work is fantastic. Batik art is difficult and time consuming, especially because of the waxing procedure.

We spent three-four hours on road to reach Georgetown to meet deaf people. We had some Indian food (roti canai and dhal) upon our arrival in Georgetown, and met with deaf people to go over some stuff before we left for Selangor area.

It is off to Sabah, a state south of Malaysia on the Boreno Island tomorrow. Mind-boggling, isn’t it.

Perlis/Langkawi

We stopped by at Kuala Perlis to catch a ferry to Langkawi after visiting a deaf association/restaurant run by deaf/hearing people in the area. At the deaf association, we enjoyed bottles of local soda while the presidents (Perlis/MFD) went over their businesses. The office is situated next to several other outlets for OKU (people with disabilities). The heat is extreme – and very humid. I forgot to mention this – Perlis is a small state in the Northwestern tip of Malaysia, bordering with Thailand.

Langkawi is a well-known island in Malaysia, usually overflown with tourists like err.. me. Boats, both traditional and modern ones were everywhere, the sea reef-blue, lush greenery and white-sanded beaches are visible from afar, mass availability of fresh seafood (err…) and fruits were obvious to one’s eye, and shops/markets remain open till wee hours. You would say this is a tourist-haven. What else would a tourist want? I would rather to be resting in front of a rice-paddy or atop of a mountain but being in Langkawi with locals made it an exceptional experience. Fresh seafood was served, and I am embarrassed to share this: I did not give in. Well, I did only for a tiny bite of a local fish. It was moist and I could imagine delicious for many. We also went on a sunset boat ride and toured the coasts of Langkawi. For the second time in my life, I watched the sun set, the first one being in Santorini, Greece with two other lovebirds, and the second one here in on the waters. I wonder if I would be able to find the time to watch the sun set back in the states.

Kedah

We went to Kedah to observe newly trained people from the MFD headquarters’ presentation on motivation at a school of the deaf in Kedah. They hosted a daylong workshop to motivate students – mostly related to their education. I stepped in the presentation and shared that I am a university student, and that deaf people are able to attain higher education.

During my stay in Kedah, I stayed with a family (friends of Sazali’s wife) in one of the villages of Kedah. We dined “village-style”, slept “village-style”, and bathed “village-style” in middle of a rubber farm. I learned how people process rubber and that rubber actually come from trees. That I never knew. One of the hosts we stayed with is a well-known deaf batik artist in Malaysia. He invited us to go to Langkawi to see his work – and the paintings he did at Westin resort, one of the upscale resorts on the island. Off we went to Perlis/Langkawi then!

Kedah ~ Perlis ~ Pulau Langkawi ~ Penang

I traveled to four states in Northern Malaysia in four days alone.

Whew.

My hosts are exhausted and resting at their respective places at this moment as expected. One has a bad headache and the other one simply exhausted from driving me across Malaysia in two months alone. Malaysia is not a tiny spot on the map and it could take us approximately 8 hours to reach our destinations because of winding roads, mountainous terrains, traffic, etc. Yet, I am grateful for them because this research will not be a success without them.

I am now in between of my laundry, coffee break and working on this entry at my apartment in Puchong, which is only minutes walk from my worksite. This apartment has a kitchen, washing machine, living room, three bedrooms, and two full bathrooms owned by the MFD for their guests/interns/visiting workers/MFD affiliate board members/etc.

Yes, I am very exhausted and relieved that I have plenty of coffee to keep me going – in fact, I forgot to mention that Malaysia has the best instant coffee around! I just could not get enough of it. The aroma and taste is simply what one could call perfection. Note to self: buy several bags of Nescafe Rich 3 in 1 coffee.

I only have 6 working days ahead of me. It’s off to Sabah tomorrow for three days to meet teachers of the deaf, and deaf people before I return to Puchong to wrap everything up before I head for Cambodia (a graduation gift from my parents) with my partner.

Rue @ Work!

Mindfulness

When I was younger, I always say, “I go wherever the wind takes me” and it had been proven true to date – and I remember a teacher/friend who asked me a rhetorical question in response to my above statement, “What if your sail dropped its anchor, and what would you do with yourself?” Well, after approximately ten years, I still do not have an answer to this question and do not think I would ever come up with one (don’t question my ability to think rationally and logically). There are places we never pictured ourselves in, yet, we find ourselves in these places as time passes by.

I would like to quote Buddha:

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Faith & Trust in People

I hauled a cab after an interview in Kuala Lumpur with a couple of people from the Dharma of the Deaf. I could have taken a bus with someone from the DD but I had my luggage with me at the time. Anyway, while in the cab heading towards Bandar Puchong Jaya (where my apt is located in), it became apparent that the driver did not know how to reach my address, and he asked me to give him directions. Given that people from the MFD usually drive me everywhere, I am unable to give him exact directions. It was pouring outside – the driver constantly gestured (pointing his hand towards the sky) for God’s help (I figure its because of our communication barrier and the rain) – he then asked me to sit in the front (I was in the back at the time) and gestured for me to give him directions. To my best ability and judgment, I decided to move to the front, offered him a cigarette, and after several roundabouts, traffic, flooding, etc., we eventually arrived at my address. The faith and trust we have in people! I am even more surprised by the fact he had his faith in a deaf person (and a tourist!) to guide him especially when attitudes and approaches towards deaf people here is not exactly transformative like elsewhere.

Teluk Chempedak

While in Kuatan (Pahang State) for the ten-year anniversary banquet, deaf people frequently sign, “Let’s meet at TC!” “TC!” and “Let’s talk more in TC!” This beach obviously is a hot spot where both locals and tourists gather to relax, chat, steal a bite, or play on the beach. After my interview in TC (of course!), I decided to look around and took some photos of the China Sea – all by myself! Rarely goes by a minute that I spend some time alone. Generally, people frequent in collective groups here, and hospitality is very important to Malaysians so if I am left behind (by request), other people will ask my hosts where I am and why they left me alone at such places.

Kuala Terengganu and Books

I am in Kuala Terengganu currently because there was a grand opening of a communication center at the POPT (Terengganu Association of the Deaf) yesterday. People from different DPOs and NGOs were invited to this event along with other representatives from the Department of Welfare. It was a simple and beautifully decorated affair. PUSKOM (communication center) now has several locations in Malaysia serving the deaf communities run by deaf people. Interpreting services, career development services for the deaf (more of accessibility) and awareness are three of several features at the PUSKOM. After the opening, we were invited to hang out with the deaf Terengganu community for a barbecue dinner. Fish, prawns, squids, and… chicken (for me) were cooked under a couple pits of fire – overall, it was a nice night. POPT is located maybe 3-5 minutes walk from the beach – so you could feel the cool breeze during nighttime if you are able to ignore the flies/mosquitoes that would pester you.

Books! I've read more books here than I ever did in the last two years. In the last two years, I had the time to read maybe one or two book(s) of my choice every now and then. Strangely, I find more time to read while traveling – given that I am on the go constantly here. Maybe it is because I don’t watch TV here. Paulo Coelho, famous for his book called the Alchemist, is simply a fantastic author.

10th Year Anniversary Banquet

I traveled approximately 260 km west of the Selangor area to attend an anniversary banquet hosted by the Pahang Association of the Deaf. To my surprise, around 450 people attended the banquet from different states of Malaysia. There were two attendees from Singapore as well. Exceptional food was served (omitting the err…fish but I’m more than certain it was exceptional anyway) along with delicious selections of dessert. Naturally, I especially enjoyed the chocolate cake.

Throughout the dinner, presentations were given by the president of the MFD and Pahang Association of the Deaf along with several other “important” people, and numerous door prizes were given out. In all, the best thing about this event was meeting people and of course, hilarious beauty contests that included both male and female contests.

This and That

KFC: I went to the world’s first KFC run by deaf people in the Kuala Lumpur area! Be sure to stop by at this establishment and support local deaf workers.

Research in Melaka: I went to Melaka, also known as Malacca, with Sazali and Zu to present on my research and recruit participants. Having said that, I was able to reach six participants – all women! Most of deaf people were out and about because there were other scheduled events/meetings out of the state, and it was great to learn from these participants who were able to attend my presentation – their needs were completely different from other participants I met to date. After meeting them, I am more enthusiastic about my further research activities in other states, and especially when I analyze the data.

Central Melaka: Starting in the 16^th century, Melaka faced a series of external takeovers; yet, it flourished into a charming town -- colorful tuk-tuks were decorated with roses and parked around the centre, locals selling different items (mostly souvenirs), stalls selling cold juice and light meals, Malays in traditional costumes danced to the music, and a canal snaked its way through the town. You will also find an abundance of flowers and trees while driving towards the town center and that won me over.

Durio Zibethinus: an oval and spiny tropical fruit, native to Malaysia.

Andrew Zimmerman, the host of Bizarre Foods, could literally eat anything! I watch his shows with admiration because there are numerous of food I could not be able to try – usually meat or these little critters. Yet, I set an objective to taste a durian because it is native to Malaysia, and secretly, I wanted to outdo Zimmerman by being able to eat durians and I did! Truth be told, I was worried about my OWN reaction once I am given the chance to taste a durian because I did not want to offend anyone with a bleeeecccchhhh-like expression and it was nothing like that. The stench was not that foul like described elsewhere, and it was creamy and somewhat sweet.

Be sure to try it.

BIM Dictionary - 2nd Ed.

An article from the Globe and Mail

In Angola, health does not follow wealth

Research & Working with Coco

To conduct a research of a good quality in a place unfamiliar to the researcher, it is indeed important for him/her to spend a certain amount of time in that area/country/region to become familiar with the localities, language, culture, and political climate if he/she is to work independently. Since I will remain in Malaysia for a short time, I am fortunate to find a facilitator to work with me to go past the language barrier, and I am able to inquire him/her about the political climate/culture/trends unfamiliar to me. I can communicate using basic BIM, but it is difficult to communicate with some people because some people use a mix of KTM (proportional to SEE) and BIM in some regions. With that being said, I have reached 32 participants for my research to date, and will continue to reach other participants from other states. Also, my research activities will be able to move forward more efficiently from now and on because the Ministry of Education (Malaysia) sent a letter of approval for my research and gave me the permission to interview teachers of the deaf among other participants.

Most importantly, I am more than grateful for the MFD’s extensive [and reliable!] network with the schools, communities, etc.

Other than the research activities I have had done to date, being an intervenor/interpreter of the deaf-blind is indeed a remarkable experience – I’ve known Coco since I was little, but I never had the opportunity to work alongside her for a whole week and half. Truth be told, it was mentally exhausting, but it gave me the chance to gain knowledge and skills if I am ever to work with one in the near future.

Coco is now in Nepal studying Buddhism and taking a breather before she continues her journey in India.

Retreat

After a hectic week, we decided to go to a farm managed by Sazali’s family just outside of the city. It was GOOD to be back in the nature - time stood still for the first time since I arrived Malaysia. Coco and I sat under a gazebo made by tin and wood. Plants and trees surrounded us, kids swam in a man-made pool (a portable dam allowed the stream to raise its levels periodically), and men fished at a pond just across the stream. Coffee, fresh fish, noodles and noodle soup were served for lunch. Naturally, I avoided fish, but the hosts were kind enough to prepare yummy and fish-free noodles for me.

Batu Caves

Coco and I went to the Batu Caves, a well-visited spot for tourists and Hindu devotees alike. From afar, a grand staircase is visible, with 272 steps to the caves. Limestone dropped and shaped the cave walls, monkey jumped about and bats (three types) flying over people’s heads, and shrines/temples stood upright with colorful figurines or deities. The Batu Caves was discovered in 1891 by the American explorer William Hornaby. Ten years later, “local Indian dignitaries convinced the British colonial authorities that the caves were ideal places in which to worship. Soon ever-increasing number of devotees were visiting the caves to pray at the shrine established here to Lord Muruga; later the temple complex was expanded to include a shrine to the elephant-headed deity Ganesh” (The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei, 2009).

Coco’s Seminar on Deaf-Blindness

Coco had a seminar on deaf-blindness last week. Like mentioned earlier, there are nearly no programs for the deaf-blind in Malaysia. Someone suggested via this blog site for us to check with the Perkins International to find out how this organization serve the deaf-blind population in Malaysia – it turns out that the Perkins International works with a school of the blind (St. Nicholas) in the Penang state by training deaf-blind people to gain independent living skills. In this case, the Perkins Intl serves approximately 6,500 deaf-blind people in some countries of the SE Asia and Asia region annually [please double-check for the accuracy of this information if needed]. However, the MFD is unaware of any education program of/for the deaf-blind and there are no programs serving the deaf-blind run by deaf people. With that being said, approximately 40 people, including some government representatives attended Coco’s seminar on deaf-blindness. At her seminar, she gave a monologue on her experiences as a deaf-blind individual and shared few communication techniques, and showed the audience some devices for the deaf-blind people. I attended her seminar as an interpreter, and I am more than certain that it was an eye-opening experience for some individuals at the seminar to watch us communicate via tactile.

The Terengganu School of the Deaf

While at Kuala Terengganu, we took some time to visit a school of the deaf, and the layout of this school was unbelievably superb. Colorful signs decorated the roofs of walkways connecting buildings, the signs displayed different pictures/words/numbers/signs so the students would be able to learn/review what they learned while walking to the cafeteria, dorms, et al. Classrooms were cheerful and colorful. Frankly, the layout of this school is one of the best out of all schools of the deaf I had seen to date. We also met with cheerful boys at dorms (quoting Coco: I was definitely out of my element while I interacted with the boys – usually, I am uneasy around children). After our tour at this school, we headed back for Puchong.

Kuala Besut and Kuala Terengganu

To reach Kuala Terengganu, our next stop as we headed for Puchong, Sazali drove us on a breathtaking coastal route, which overlooked the China Sea. The winds swayed the palm trees that lined the deserted beaches; locals minded their own businesses at the markets and stalls. We stopped at Kuala Besut and watched fishermen at work before we stayed at a nearby resort (run by local people, thank goodness) for late lunch. After lunch, we dropped by at a beach for a stroll under the hot and fierce sun. No one swam and so didn’t we. Instead, people sat under palm trees and picnicked, or rested inside the nooks of caves overlooking the sea. After our beachside break, we arrived Kuala Terengganu and met with the president of the MFD at Terengganu and his wife (The MFD has 14 regional affiliations) for dinner before hitting the sack.

I was unable to reach any participants because people were out and about at the time, and it was suggested for me to return later in the month when they open up their one-stop communication center. I doubt I would be able to return due to other scheduled visits.

Kota Bharu

Sazali and Zu took us to the capital of Kelantan, Kota Bharu, which sits on the Northeastern tip of Malaysia to attend an AGM run by the MFD affiliation office so we would be able to present on our work in Malaysia. We left Kuala Lumpur late in the evening, and headed up north via a bumpy “snake” route winding between the Cameron Highlands and the foothills of Taman Negara. I am more than certain that the sights were awesome and unfortunately, we went through this pass during nighttime.

It was a long drive, and we were exhausted that we showed up few hours late for the meeting. However, many people attended the meeting (maybe 50+) to vote for new executive board members to run the office. By the looks of it, the meeting was productive and a new group of members was selected to run the necessary positions. Coco and I was able to share on our work in Malaysia, Coco talked about deaf-blindness, and I presented on my research activities in Malaysia. I was able to find several interested participants afterwards – and we headed straight for the beach after my interview with a couple of other people. We dined on crab, fruit, and drank coconut water. It was definitely a nice change from being in the city for so long – kids were flying their kites, parents looking over their shoulders for their children, and snake charmers attracted a fairly large group in order to promote their product. Stalls stood and sold corn among some other stuff. The atmosphere was very laidback, more of my style. We then stopped by at a nearby shop to purchase local caftans (a loose dress), and Malaysian-style batiks (piece of cloth [dresses or shirts] with colored designs by dye – having first applied wax to the parts to be left dyed [MAC dictionary, 2010]).

Diversifying Participants in Malaysia

Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/asia/malaysia/

To date I've observed and reached participants for my research from Kota Bharu, Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur, Puchong and Georgetown (Penang) areas. Prior to the most recent meeting with the stakeholders, I will travel to other states this month: Malacca (sp.), Kedan, Penang, Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak to reach other potential participants. In this case, it is important to diversify the stakeholders to understand their fundamental root and needs because the needs may vary within different locations.

MA in International Development @ Gallaudet University

Congratulations, Arlinda and Coco! I’m more than certain you’d have fun and learn SO much from this program.

To pursue a MA degree in ID from GU will allow students GAIN skills and knowledge related to development work, especially if one is truly interested in working with PWD. Go to http://edf.gallaudet.edu/internationaldevelopment-MA.xml if you are interested in learning more about this program.

In my opinion, it is complicated to achieve an effective and sustainable development because there are numerous factors (cultural context, political climate, economics, et al) one has to consider before enforcing development. Many communities in developing countries are vulnerable, and problems may escalate (worsen) if an uneducated development worker is onboard. If you need examples of this, open your eyes and you'd see evidences of this happening in this BIG OLD world.. For starters, let's check Africa out... Oh! What about Jamaica, Nepal, India, Thailand, and sadly, the list goes on.

Simply put: Educate yourself.

Having said that, I'd like to share a quote I saw at a school of the deaf in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia:

Everyone think of changing this world but no one think of changing himself – Tolstoy.

Coco’s visit in Malaysia

A childhood friend of mine, Christine Roschaert (Coco) will arrive on the 24^th for a week and half to provide workshops and seminars on deaf-blindness. The MFD is excited about her visit that they sponsored her flight ticket from Cambodia to Malaysia, and will host her during her stay here.

Deafblind children in Malaysia are sent to a school for the blind in Penang, and interpreters are not trained to work with deafblind people. With that being said, I truly believe Coco’s visit will open people’s eyes and allow people gain a newfound awareness/respect of working with deafblind people.

At the meeting today, we planned an itinerary for her stay here. She will give a workshop this Sunday in Johor, a state south of Kuala Lumpur. The MFD will also prepare a formal seminar on deafblind next Tuesday, and they will invite important people and the press to publicize her seminar.

The Kuala Lumpur Society Of Parents and Guardians of Deaf Children

I visited this society last Saturday and met with parents and guardians of deaf children. This society was founded ten years ago, and provided tutorial and elective classes for deaf children along with other leisure/support programs. The parents wanted to bolster their children's education by placing their children in these classes. In this case, there are diverse classes from religion, martial arts to math classes every Saturday between 9 or 10 am until 3 or 4 pm. The parents I met at this society were wonderful, and I will be sure to return before I leave for the United States.

By the way, I’ve decided to spend my two-week break this May in North Vietnam – as always, much appreciation and gratitude goes to my lovely ma and pa!

Jalan Petaling & Chinatown

Jalan Petaling is located in Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant Chinatown, boasting a bustling outdoor marketplace lined with stalls selling food to fake designer products. You will also find hawkers in every corner of the marketplace. Alleyways intersecting the Jalan Petaling are lined with old shops, traditional medicine shops to kepdai kopis (coffee shops) selling coffee and noodles for el cheapo. You will also find a large Indian temple, Sri Maha Mariamman Temple close by; however, it's in the midst of renovations.

BIM Training

I attended a BIM training as an observer, and to provide feedback if needed. In the past, I taught Level 1 ASL classes, so the workers at the MFD thought I could give some feedback if there is any because the SL instructors at the MFD have not received any formal training. A good number of people attended the training to become future BIM instructors. Since BIM is new, some students still use KTM to this day, and it is apparent it is difficult for some of them to go through the transition from using KTM to BIM.

I didn’t have any feedback to offer except suggesting proper attire for the BIM instructors (solid-colored shirts) – like mentioned earlier, the BIM teacher is fantastic and he is in this profession for approximately 10 years. He uses techniques from the Vista series, and comes up with creative visual solutions to teach certain signs. Sign language is a visual language; therefore, it makes more sense to carry out the importance of visibility while teaching signs or such.

At this training, I was able to reach four participants for my first-ever focus group interview. With that being said, it is important to attend different functions to reach interested participants.

BIM

BIM, known as Malaysian Sign Language in English, is a recent form of communication among people in deaf communities. Since Parsons’ visit in the 70s, deaf Malaysians and people who work with the deaf community use KTM (could be compared to SEE in the states) and deaf Malaysians felt that using KTM complicates their communication to a certain extent that they wanted to re-introduce BIM to their country. People have been working on BIM books for the last few years – trying to spread word on the importance of BIM use.

In this case, I decided to attend a BIM class to learn how to use BIM so I would be able to communicate with ease, given the fact that I work with deaf Malaysians. Some signs I learned are similar to those in ASL. The teacher I had was great because of his flamboyant personality – students love him, and unfortunately I will not be able to take his classes on a regular basis because it conflicts with my interview appointments.

Flood @ the MFD

There was a flood at the administration office for the THIRD time to date. After a heavy downpour early in the evening, one of the ceiling block collapsed, and water leaked all over Zu (an interpreter) and the director of the MFD’s computers, desks, carpets, and elsewhere! We stayed in late that night figuring out a way to dry the carpet in the lobby, an area interlocking the offices. Naturally, we ended up eating pizza and left the dirty work to the professional carpet shampooers.

Note: Malaysians are big on food, and in one local magazine, it stated that a majority of Malaysians choose to spend money on dining and entertainment over fashion and such.

People of Malaysia

Malaysia has three major ethnic groups: 1) the Malay, 2) the Chinese, and 3) South Asians (especially Indians). The largest ethnic group of Malaysia is the Malay; ironically, the Chinese dominate the Malaysian economy. Each group practice different religions, Islam for the Malay, and Christianity, Buddhism or Hinduism are common practices of people from other ethnic groups in Malaysia.

Generally speaking, family units (both nuclear and extended family members) are very important to Malaysians. To this day, I cannot remember who’s who. All the mentioned nieces, aunts, uncles, tok-ma, tok-pa, or for that matter, cousins -- the list goes on, really. Malaysian family units in general live within each other or live within the same proximity of one other.

Currently, the Malaysian government is promoting ‘ONE MALAYSIA’ to create an emphasis that all Malaysians are Malaysians despite their faith or culture. Naturally, people are free to practice certain religion or tradition of their choice, but they need to respect one other.

Time and Tide Wait for No Man

Port Weld

On our way back to Kuala Lumpur, we stopped by at a fishing village, well known for its prawns. At the port of this village, we were able to observe fishermen haul their catch of the day. Under the shacks, children were playing around, the elderly minded their own business, and fish lined on metal sheets under the hot and ferocious sun. Just outside of the village, stood a stall selling coconuts with two flimsy chairs under an umbrella. Viva la Life.

MFD Board Meeting

When I landed Kuala Lumpur, Sazali, the president of the MFD, and Zu, an interpreter and fellow worker of the MFD took me to Penang, a state five hours north of Kuala Lumpur to attend the MFD board meeting. The fresh fruit we had on way to Penang was unbelievably delicious as expected – we had mangos, dragon fruits, and much more.

Penang is well known for its fish head curry. When I had a dinner at one café tucked in between of an alley in Georgetown (a city in Penang) – I saw a huge fish head and could not believe my eyes. This is something I will not try, given that I love food. However, I was told that it’s really good, so if you are in the area and love fish, be sure to give it a try.

The MFD hosts its board meetings biannually (or thrice a year -- pardon my feeble memory) so regional presidents and representatives from other states can assemble and discuss various agendas they have on hand. Nearly 95% of the board members are males, and I was told later on that women were encouraged to participate in the regional chapters of the MFD but due to their household obligations, they chose not to. By attending this meeting as an observer gave me an opportunity to meet people from other states, gaining network for my research.

Prioritizing Needs in Malaysia

Gallaudet University (GU) intends to collaborate with the University of Science Malaysia (USM) and the Malaysian Federation for the Deaf (MFD) to establish a pilot outreach center to improve the quality of life of the deaf population. In this case, I will conduct a needs assessment to identify deaf Malaysians’ needs, and examine the fundamental root of their needs. Hopefully, this needs assessment will allow the stakeholders implement effective and sustainable programs at the outreach center.

In the past, programs are implemented without the deaf community’s involvement in prioritizing their own needs [generalization]. By conducting a needs assessment, programs will be designed with the deaf community rather than for them.

To conduct this needs assessment, I will use three approaches to gather data: 1) focus group interview, 2) one-to-one interview, and 3) survey. For those who are not familiar with the focus group technique, this technique is more of a holistic approach to data collection--the set up of my focus group interview(s) would allow the participants discuss their responses and rank their needs. In this case, by allowing the participants rank their needs, they will be able to participate in/contribute towards the research activities.

Like mentioned in the disclaimer, I feel it is inappropriate to share my research activities in Malaysia. Instead of outlining details on my research activities, I will share my experiences at the MFD.

Disclaimer:

The deletion of my past entries was intentional.

1. I decided to change the content of my blog so my entries will be more “friendly” for the viewers in general.

2. Due to the nature of my work in Malaysia, I will not share my data collection activities to respect the participants’ privacy; however, I will share my experiences or activities at/within the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD).