Biodata (Post #6)

My name is Chan Hwee Cher. I am currently a 3rd year Life Sciences undergraduate at the National University of Singapore. This degree provided me with opportunities to develop laboratory competency and learn research techniques. However, I did not restrict myself to research in the life sciences or teaching. I decided to further my studies in Physiotherapy in Australia after I graduated in May 2009.

Besides studying, I joined various Co-Curricular Activities to enrich my university life.I was appointed by NUS Singapore Anti-Narcotic Association as Public Relations Manager during 2007/08 and as Secretary during 2008/09. As a member of the main committee, I organized various activities such as seminars, bazaars, and exhibitions. From these activities, I gained leadership skills, organizing skills, and interpersonal communication skills. I do believe these experiences will benefit me in my future career.

During vacation, I worked as a sales executive where I learned to serve customers and some of the basic daily operations of a company. During the summer of 2008, I worked as a Food Host in an amusement park located in Ohio, USA. Due to my impressive performance, I was promoted as a Team Leader. I learned to deal with administrative matters, liaise with suppliers, and work peacefully with people from different background.

Next, I also enjoy playing sports since I was young. Among all the sports I played, archery is my favorite. My proudest achievement would be being selected as the district representative and winning second runner up in the Johor State Archery Tournament 2004.

Speak Their Language #Post 5

In general, people who speak a variety of languages are regarded as great communicators as they are able to break down language barriers. As they have ‘the gift of the gab’, they are never shut out from a relationship. To learn a language is the beginning of a road in learning the country, the culture and the people.

It is a general custom to learn some useful foreign language phrases and expressions when we are going on a trip to a foreign country especially when English is not the common language. This is particularly helpful when dining out at a restaurant, asking for directions and even on a shopping trip. From my past experiences, if you are shopping in Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown and you happened to be a non-Cantonese speaker (which is apparently the local dialect of Kuala Lumpur), then most likely you be regarded as a foreigner and will be charged double the actual price. Thus, speaking their language may save you from these undesirable troubles.

I would also like to share with you some of my experiences where I fully utilize my ability to speak several languages.

It all started two years ago when I was staying in Prince George Park Residences. One afternoon, while I was washing my dishes in my cluster kitchen, a Malay cleaner came and began to clean the kitchen. To break the ice, I thought she might like to be greeted in her own mother tongue; I greeted her with relatively simple Malay. We began with self- introduction and some tips on living in Singapore. Then, I excused myself as my phone rang. When I was back, my previous unwashed dishes, to my surprised were all done. She did not begrudge the trouble of helping me with the dishes, which I am grateful to her. Since that day, we became close friends and often talked about our families back in Malaysia.

Besides that, I wish to explain another incident which happened last December during my trip to Penang Island, Malaysia. On our second day, we visited Penang Hill which is the highest point in Penang Island. As we were waiting for the train, I observed a Caucasian couple who were in theirs fifties were talking to each other in French. I greeted them with "Bonjour, comment allez vous aujourd’hui?", which means “Good day, how are you today?”. They expressed their surprised to meet someone who can speak fluent French in Malaysia and not even a French. We continue our conversations about places in Malaysia and they felt like they were back at home..

Lastly, all the appreciation and benefits that I gained when I speak their language are the main forces for me to learn up a new foreign language. I cannot forget their astonished faces when I greeted them in their native language and dialect.

Evaluating Intercultural Behavior #4 Post

For this week’s post, I would like to share with you some of my experiences about intercultural behavior. During last summer, I joined an oversea exchange program called Work & Travel in USA. In this program, we were allowed to take on challenges of working abroad, experience new lifestyles and have the opportunity to travel in USA at the end of the program.

I decided to work as a food host in Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio as I love cooking and enjoy unlimited rides of roller coaster. For three months, I was placed in a cafeteria which sold Mexican food. I was in charged of preparing Macho Nachos, a famous local food that basically looks like a nachos salad bowl. It consisted of nachos chips, minced beef, lettuce, cheese, onion, tomato, black olive, jalapeno (hot pepper) and served with salsa and sour cream. Our food was prepared with fresh ingredients and customer was allowed to make special order that suited his/hers needs. I would prepare the food when customers placed their orders at the cashier

An event occurred during my third day of working in that cafeteria. A little boy ordered a Macho Nachos with jalapeno on the side. As that was my first day working on my own without any assistance from my other colleagues, I carefully spread every ingredient on the top of the nachos chips as told by my colleague at the cashier. Then, I placed some jalapenos exactly on the right side corner. To my surprise, my colleague who came and collected the order questioned me why was there jalapenos on the Macho Nachos. With a righteous voice, I explained to her that I did place the jalapenos on the side according to her order. She laughed loudly and explained to me that when an order required a specific ingredient on the side, it meant that particular ingredient should be placed in a small plastic container and handed to customer separately. I was so embarrassed about my ignorance and thankful that she had corrected me so that I would not repeat the same mistake.

This event actually enlightens me that different field of culture require different interpretation of words. We should be more alert and cautious to prevent any unwanted misunderstanding and embarrassment.