Penang -part1-

Trip to Penang, taught me lots of things. I would like to write the language lessons I learnt. I went to Mount Miriam Hospital at Penang. It had been the first time for me, yet the ninth times for my aunty visiting Mount Miriam Hospital to have chemotherapy there. So I spent most of my time at hospital, took care of my aunty, and processed all the administration things. I did it by my self. Most of doctors, nurses and administration staffs at Mount Miriam are Indian and Chinese. They use English as a formal and daily language. But there are also some nurses who speak Malay.

My aunty’s doctor, named Dr Rakesh Kumar, is a handsome Indian man. He doesn’t speak Malay. So when my aunty consults with the doctor, she uses interpreter nurses. Most of patients are from Indonesia, that’s why the hospital hires the interpreter nurses to translate from English to Indonesia.

First time I met Dr Rakesh, I was so impressed by his charming and friendliness. He asked “Do you speak English?” I answered “Yes”. “Oh, it’s good that you speak English,” he said. Then he asked me many things about the condition of my aunty. I was a little bit nervous. You know that Indian people speak English with their Indian accent, I rarely hear their accent. I always learn listening to British or America. But now I realize that every people in this world have their own accent so I have to accustomed my ear with all accent.

I had been in English Village for a month, but I don’t think I increased my English that much. The challenging to speak English with foreign is so much bigger than what I did with my friends at English village. Yet so far, I can understand what they say and they seem to understand what I say too. Isn’t it a good beginning?

It feels like people in Singapore and Malay underestimate our capability. They amaze Indonesians who speak English. I don’t blame them for it because as we know that most Indonesians come to Malaysia and Singapore in order to look for the job. To generalize things is the nature of some people. I myself prefer using English to Malay. If you visit Malaysia or Singapore, I suggest you to speak English whenever you speak with them who can understand Bahasa Indonesia. So they won’t think Indonesians are all stupid. In addition, I sometimes confuse with Malay vocabulary. For example, at my aunty’s room there’s direction “Sila tekan butang jika bantuan diperlukan.” I smirked, what is butang? LOL.

Another things that made me laugh was when I was on plane, they said “matikan telepon bimbip.” Oh I see, so the telepon bimbip means handphone. But my phone doesn’t sount bim bip bim bip like that. Haha. There are also many other words that will absolutely make you laugh.

I think that if you want to increase your ability in speaking especially, going abroad is one of the good ideas. Actually, five days at Penang is not enough for me to practice speaking English. However, at least I accustomed to listen to Indian-English and Chinese-English accents. I wish I visit England someday.