What Am I Thinking (2)? – Lines and Boundaries

I am happy. Isn't that enough?

We make chores out of everything, from trivial urges to consequential decisions. Being sociable/making friends, something that ought to be so ingrained in our human psyche can sometimes, unfortunately, be turned into a tedious and cumbersome chore. Coming abroad, I’ve seen Malaysians who avoid other Malaysians like plagues. Knocked into our heads, or at least some of us, is the idea that to milk the full international experience we must mix with people beyond the orbit of our comfort zone. Some took it to the extreme. And some never attempted to leave it.

So making friends have become a chore. It’s hardly the hellos, byes and meaningful conversations anymore. It has been blown to a cosmic explosion of one’s prowess in treading the minefields of human connections. To enhance one’s “worth,” some venture deep into the woods of people to shop for a diverse range of friends. Some do it subconsciously; some make it as a personal crusade. Along the way, unspoken tensions flare; rumours circulating and lines drawn. Yes….boundaries are created.

A diverse group of friends is certainly worthy of merit. But let’s not slave ourselves to it to the extent where the art of friendship-making seems so alien to us. This is a reminder to myself that I shall never racial/national/skin colour profile the choices of my friends. I shall mix with whoever I want; with any nationality that I like. I shall not be drawn into this whole debate of “Malaysian becoming too Singaporean” or “Malaysian-American wannabe” or “TOO Malaysian centric.”

My life isn’t centered around theatrical profligation.

I don’t draw lines and boundaries around my friends.

Last 5 posts by Jian Wei

• One Minute to Midnight - January 1st, 2011
• Prophecy - December 31st, 2010
• Footprints We Leave Behind - November 4th, 2010
• Budapest: Contradictions Aplenty - August 15th, 2010
• Istanbul Day 3: Masters of Our Universe - August 11th, 2010

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