Culture Shock at minimal scale

Been back with my old peeps at JIS for a while now and its sorta interesting how things are. I've really noticed how social interaction here differs from that of INTI in terms of conversation, cliques and the people you talk and walk with. Its been like crossing over to different cultures within a short space of time and it almost feels like i'm living in both places as seperate people..... incdicating bipolarism? =S

At JIS, people are alot more touchy touchy with their interactions, i've gotten abt a zillion more hugs at JIS than INTI and from both sexes anywayz. People grab your hand while they walk (well the girls).... and people look for all sorts of skin contact... from hand shakes, to pats on the backs to hugs. Then we've got the cliques which exists everywhere i guess... i mean everyone hangs in a group but in JIS i dun think anyone really cares who hangs with who... i prob imagine people would have gotten over those kindergarden debacles where Timmy won't sit with me at lunch. People don't really care whose walking with who or whose talknig to who unless its someone really annoying (i need not mention names) or people who are the object of other people's desires (something which has gotten me in trouble countless times..)
People are all smiles and waves but sometimes you wonder if this perfect picture really translates into happy people. Studying there for over 5 years reveals all the drama behind the laughters but people can mask them very well to the general public (a title i guess i sorta been dropped to....)
Lastly, joke and insult to your heart's desire because most people won't tak things all that seriously, i can tell people they're absolute twats but i don't necessarily think they'll take it personally. An equally degrading response would prob follow which i dun take personally as well. Its just friendly JIS conversation. Of course theres going to be a limit but most of us know very well where that is.

In INTI we've got the other end of the spectrum (not with everything but with some stuff). People, less touchy touchy , more grabby, hitty, pokey....... u get the idea. We'll i guess people in INTI are a little more judgemental..and a tad bit touchy....theres a fine line about what you say with people and i've gotten into trouble with things i say just because i thought they'd take it like JIS ppl. Of course, the big thing i notice is the degree of shallowness that exists not only in INTI but the Malaysian youth generation. Standards... way higher.... so that prob doesnt bode well with the women.
However, INTI people are more real with expressions, meaning that if a person is angry, he'll show he's angry, if he's feeling happy, he'll show he's happy. Of course this exists to a certain extent, but generally its a little easier to read people (something you develop after years at JIS)

Though both gorups, culturally diverse, i overlook these facts and in no way do i ever compare them when i meet people. So this is my disclaimer,i do not intend to insult or provoke anyone but i love my friends in spite of the attributes they possess.

I know when i move on to the states, i gotta deal with a whole new set of people so tis interesting to see how thigns play out.
and GJ..... not a word from you =P.... no blowing words of out proportion and no when i say touchy touchy i do not mean it in the sexual sense..... behaive!

Labels: Philosophical Rantings, Updates

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Exclamation_popcorn reflected on life at 6:54 PM