The Low Down

Because of the distance and oceans that separate Melbourne from Malaysia, my family has lived a little bit isolated from the rest of our relatives. Our Christmases and birthdays have mostly been celebrated with just the five of us. The idea of family history - of my history, was foreign to me. It's something that I had never really thought about: that my parents might have been young once, and had brothers and sisters and a mother and father of their own. Or that how and where they grew up would be completely different to the way I did in Australia. Because to me, it's always just been us: Mum, Dad and my two younger sisters.

This was my third visit to Malaysia, and my first as an adult. For the first time, I have been able to appreciate my roots and my heritage. I visited my parents' home towns and got a feel of what life would have been like for them. I loved looking at old photographs and hearing stories about my parents as children. Like how in primary school, my Dad had come down with a fever and had been told to stay at home to rest - but he wanted to go to school so much that he cried and cried, and ran after the school bus. It explains a lot. ("Education was a privilege" my Dad would say as part of his lecture to me.) Maybe it will help me to understand my parents better; who they are as people and where they might be coming from when we clash.

I wanted to learn about Malaysian history so I insisted on visiting the Muzium Negara (National Museum) and asked a lot of questions. I tried to trace my genealogy and the different races in my blood. We visited the Baba Nyonya museum which revealed to me some of the unique heritage that I have on my dad's side.  

I enjoyed the company of my extended family, who took great care of us. The family resemblances still shock me because as I said before, I'm used to "family" just being the five of us. I am also beginning to appreciate how brave my parents were for moving so far away and the opportunities I now have because of it. I am proud of the life they have built and I know that one day, my children and their children will look back specifically at my parents and also be grateful for the sacrifices they made and the commitment they showed to their work and to raising us. Thank you.