Live, Learn, and Love Malaysia :) : Rice Rice Baby :)

Hello Friends!

As I entered my second full day in Malaysia, I only began to realize the complexity of Malaysian Cuisine. In Malaysia, there are a vast abundance of food - like everywhere! The vast majority of Malaysia's population can roughly be divided amongst three major ethnic groups: Indigenous Malays, Chinese and Indians. Thus, Malaysian cuisine is a mixture of Malay, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, Portuguese, Thai and Arabian!

Nasi Lemak is a prized dish in Malaysia and happens to be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner - literally. Nasi Lemak is also known to Americans as rice! So basically, Malaysians eat rice at all times of the day, for just about every meal! Nasi Lemak can be served with pretty much any dish, but is most commonly used as a side dish to foods like chicken and beef. Since we have been here, WE HAVE HAD RICE AT EVERY MEAL!!!

Besides that, we also had time to explore more of Malaysia such as the library and a local Tesco (sort of like our Walmart's!) It was interesting to learn that you couldn't bring a backpack into the library and that when you entered certain rooms it was customary to leave your shoes behind at the door - things are so different! In addition, they have a section of their library that is open 24 hours with a massage chair that costs about 30 cents! (pick it up Gustavus). We also figured out the bus system because yesterday we got no where on the bus - but actually - we ended up circling the campus for a solid 30 minutes!

In true Malaysia fashion, we ended our day with non other than FOOD! USM thus far has been exciting (yet nerve-racking) and there is still so much to learn, explore and love! If there is one thing I have learned today, its that food brings Malaysians together!!

Sending Love from Malaysia,

Hales

*pictures from the day*