06/24/12 Monday

Selamat Tengah Hari!!

::quick info::

Since I decided to write a blog to document my experiences here in South Asia, I think itwould be a great idea to fill you in on some details. 1) I am using a flipcam to record my videos. 2) I have a diary to physically record my blog posts before typing them. 3) Make sure you NEVER travel without a refillable water bottle!!! Saves you ton of money and is quite convenient. 4) Make sure you have an additional camera to take pictures just in case your recorder does not take pictures or your phone camera is useless. 5) Learn to recognize the legal tender (money) that is accepted in the country. Money is simply beautiful in other countries. Not only are they colorful, but they also come in different sizes, shapes, and coins are valuable ($1 pieces, $5 pieces, etc.). 6) REPRESENT YOUR PROGRAM!! I have a USF Education Abroad shirt that I wear when travelling. It is nice!

USF Education Abroad!!

::back to your scheduled blog entry::

Today is the first official day for the USF-USM Special Program. But before then, I asked a few students prior to leaving the U.S. what were their expectations of this trip and I think now is a perfect time to roll that beautiful bean footage. (if you are unfamiliar with the bean footage line, you can take a sneak peek here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eyDD2Rz_ag )

What are your expectations?:

Now back to the orientation:

Our schedule as follows:

9am

• Welcoming remarks by Deputy Registrar Academic & International Affairs- Mdm Ajindar Kuar
• Introduction about Penang- Prof. Dato’ Anwar Fazal

10am

• Introduction to USM by USM Buddies (USM students who were our guides sort of)

Today was interesting start to say the lease. We had a crash course on how to survive while staying in Penang, Malaysia and how this interesting island is involved in public health. Our orientation was held in the International Office at USM’s main campus. We had the pleasure to be welcomed by Mdm Ajindar Kaur, world renowned Dr. Anwar Dato’ Fazal, and the USM Buddies.

Here are the major points I pulled from today’s orientation (Most came from Dr. Anwar Dato’ Fazal’s lecture):

“Little people doing little things in little places can change the world”

- Dr. Anwar Dato’ Fazal

• All Malaysian greetings have “peace” in them.
• Penang is settled nicely in between South Asia (India), Southeast Asia (Indonesia), and East Asia (China) which is optimal for trade.
• Penang is the street food, religion, and diversity capital of the world. (Mulitveristy I believed they called it)
• Fish and Chips capital of the world.
• Breastfeeding Capital of the World.
• Home to Global Civic Action: CAP/ ALIRAN/ SAM/ IBFAN/ WABA/ TWN/ Citizens International – APNUC
• Strong belief in People, Power, & Passion – The Power of 5
• Power of 5: One, Many, Information, “halo” -universal values/global norms, and success
• They have the Logan Legacy & Sun Yat Sen Legacy
• Georgetown is a world heritage site.
• Home to the Right Livelihood College and the Alternative Nobel Prize.
• The best night market ever is located in Penang.
• Pineapples use to be the most regal fruit. Fruit of the royalty.
• There are banana wars here – household competition to which bananas will be brought home from the market since there are many types of bananas.
• Penang is home to the best laksa, cendol, durian and thecertain types of banana.
• It takes a generation to past before an idea that was once considered to be stupid, become the “it thing.” For example, International Mother Earth Day was considered a joke when it first began. Now it is recognized as an international day that is celebrated throughout the world to support environmental health.

• Back in the day, flights were 5 times as expensive as they are now, but you had “X” amount of miles to use in one year. You literally would buy trips around the world.
• ITEMS are usually the subjects of WAR: spices; salt; oilt; and soon to be water.
• USM was one of the first universities to lead in the Healthy Campus Initiative. they banned styrofoam, also known as “the white coffin.” http://thewhitecoffin.usm.my/
• If you use things incremental,  you begin to lose the bigger picture. How long is a toilet paper roll?… How many resources are being depleted to make that toilet paper?…
• There are colleges/degrees dedicated to your POO: http://www.worldtoilet.org/wto/index.php/our-works/world-toilet-college
• The most obvious issue in the world is sanitation. Google this book:

 And we are finished!:

 We Can – We Must – We Will

Krystal