SSU Travels the World

When they tell us to do a blog on one particular subject that we have observed while traveling, it sounds easy enough, and then when we try to think of a subject to write about nothing comes to mind.  But then you realize that there is so much to write about!!! Asia is so different, even from country to country, region to region.  Looking at the two countries that we have been to so far, the Philippines and Malaysia, the difference in culture, lifestyle, language, so many things are different. But there is definitely one thing that I have noticed that they have in common and that is in every home that I have been to, they are so hospitable.  I have had people giving up their rooms for Katie and I, change their plans to do what we have planned, give us western food when we are missing it, and I think that the most generous act that my families have done was just to share about their faith, their lives and their culture. So far on my trip I have had three host families; one in the Philippines and two in Malaysia. They have been so different and wonderful but  there was one that was totally new to me – Keningau Malaysia.  For a girl that was born and raised on the East Coast of Canada to experience a village like Keningau was a true blessing for me because I got to experience what it was like to live in a “100% Muslim Village”. When we got divided into our home families we were told that most of us would be in groups but when our names were called Katie and I were all alone and at first I was a little nervous about this but I think that we have had the best experience out of the entire group. It wasn’t like I was afraid of where I was it was just I had no experience with living in such an environment. But I have learned so much but just scratched the surface of what it is like to live in a Muslim environment. Their close knit village had some similarities to SSU which I found surprising. For instance, the community has a cleaning day where every family has to take part in cleaning the soccer fields, public buildings and roads, and/or their own property. And if they miss or do not part take then the family gets a small fine; it’s like the SSU cleaning days on Monday.  Another thing that makes it a lot like SSU is just the sense of community that I felt and the unity in their faith. With the knowledge I have learned about their faith and how it applies to their family and community life I would like to compare it to other Muslim communities and see if they follow the same set up or see how they are different.  This has been a cultural experience that I will never forget and am truly blessed that I got to be a part of it.