CultureShock! Borneo

Heidi Munan

Description

CultureShock! Borneo gives you a fun-filled and thorough crash course on how to live and work in this slice of the East. Packed with useful and insightful tips, this book will guide you on how to deal with cultural barriers, relate with the various racial groups and fit into the intricate society. Learn how weddings, births and funerals are observed by the different ethnic groups and how you can participate meaningfully in them. Understand the strong family bonds in most Borneo families and how they affect all areas of life, starting with extremely complicated name system and forms of address. This book also covers practical matters such as finding a suitable home and understanding the work environment. CultureShock! Borneo is the essential guide that will benefit anyone who wants to survive and succeed in the exotic land of Borneo.

Sujets

• Isla de Borneo
• Borneo

Informations

• Publié par: Marshall Cavendish International
• Date de parution: 01 août 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9789814484497
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

This 4th edition published in 2009, reprinted 2012 by: Marshall Cavendish Corporation 99 White Plains Road Tarrytown NY 10591-9001 www.marshallcavendish.us
First published in 1988 by Times Editions Pte Ltd, reprinted 1989; 2nd edition published in 1991, reprinted 1995, 2003; 3rd edition published in 2006. 2009 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Request for permission should be addressed to the Publisher, Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited, 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196. Tel: [phone], fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]
The publisher makes no representation or warranties with respect to the contents of this book, and specifically disclaims any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose, and shall in no events be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
Other Marshall Cavendish Offices: Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd. 1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196 Marshall Cavendish Ltd. 5th Floor, 32-38 Saffron Hill, London EC1N 8FH, UK Marshall Cavendish International (Thailand) Co Ltd. 253 Asoke, 12th Flr, Sukhumvit 21 Road, Klongtoey Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Marshall Cavendish (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Times Subang, Lot 46, Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Batu Tiga, 40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Marshall Cavendish is a trademark of Times Publishing Limited
eISBN: 978 981 4484 49 7
Please contact the publisher for the Library of Congress catalogue number
Printed in Singapore by Times Printers Pte Ltd
Photo Credits: All black and white photos from Heidi Munan, Hedda Morrison and Dennis Lau, except pages 120-121 (Photolibrary). Colour photos from Photolibrary (pages a, h, i, j-k, l-m, n-o, p) and Art Directors/Trip (pages b-c, d-e, f-g). Cover photo: Corbis
All illustrations by TRIGG
ABOUT THE SERIES
Culture shock is a state of disorientation that can come over anyone who has been thrust into unknown surroundings, away from one s comfort zone. CultureShock! is a series of trusted and reputed guides which has, for decades, been helping expatriates and long-term visitors to cushion the impact of culture shock whenever they move to a new country.
Written by people who have lived in the country and experienced culture shock themselves, the authors share all the information necessary for anyone to cope with these feelings of disorientation more effectively. The guides are written in a style that is easy to read and covers a range of topics that will arm readers with enough advice, hints and tips to make their lives as normal as possible again.
Each book is structured in the same manner. It begins with the first impressions that visitors will have of that city or country. To understand a culture, one must first understand the people-where they came from, who they are, the values and traditions they live by, as well as their customs and etiquette. This is covered in the first half of the book.
Then on with the practical aspects-how to settle in with the greatest of ease. Authors walk readers through topics such as how to find accommodation, get the utilities and telecommunications up and running, enrol the children in school and keep in the pink of health. But that s not all. Once the essentials are out of the way, venture out and try the food, enjoy more of the culture and travel to other areas. Then be immersed in the language of the country before discovering more about the business side of things.
To round off, snippets of basic information are offered before readers are tested on customs and etiquette of the country. Useful words and phrases, a comprehensive resource guide and list of books for further research are also included for easy reference.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Map of Borneo
Chapter 1
First Impressions
Welcome to Borneo!
Chapter 2
An Overview
Names
Geography
History
Towns
Religion
Chapter 3
People
Lo, The Cute Native!
Other Inhabitants
The Longhouse
Family Cycle
Chapter 4
Fitting In
Them and Us
Bornean Social Circles
Names/Forms of Address
Come to the House!
How Wild is the Wild Man of Borneo?
Births, Weddings and Deaths
Ghosts and Company
Chapter 5
Settling Down
House-hunting
Servants
God s Creatures, Great and Small
What to Bring From Home
Phone Book
Driving
Public Transport
Services
Bills
Banks
Mail
Clothes
Health in the Tropics
Education
Chapter 6
Food and Entertaining
Markets
Major Foodstuffs
Who Cooks What?
Eating Out
Eating Out in Style
In More and More Style
You as Host
Mr Mrs Tan at Home
Drop In Any Time!
Food Restrictions
Chapter 7
Enjoying Your Stay
Translating Needs into Action
To Make a House a Home
Getting Into the Swim
Tangible Memories
The Green Hell of Borneo
Yes, We Accept Visa!
Rules for Longhouse Visitors
Cost of Longhouse Visits
Chapter 8
Do You Speak Bahasa?
Advice to the Newcomer: Learn Malay!
Local Dialects
English
The Chinese Have a Word For It
A Taste of Bahasa Melayu
Chapter 9
I Work Here!
The Confidant(e)
The Relay System
Proper Channels of Communication
Hospitality
Language
Once and For All!
Staff
Office Machinery
Business Golf
Do You Feed the Crocodiles?
Tread Softly, Friends
Other Work Matters
Working in the Ulu
Chapter 10
Fast Facts
Famous People
Almost A to Z
Culture Quiz
Do s and Don ts
Glossary
Resource Guide
Further Reading
About the Author
Index
FOREWORD
Travel is one of the boons of the 21st century. Never before has it been so easy, and safe, for people from all parts of the world to visit faraway countries, interact positively and learn from each other.
All travellers, however, carry invisible luggage in the form of their own culture and habits. They may find themselves disoriented in a new environment. Local customs may seem strange, even threatening, to the unprepared newcomer.
Heidi Munan s book CultureShock! Borneo introduces the newcomer to this hospitable island and to the details of life in East Malaysia and Brunei. While specifically designed for people who intend to spend more than a pleasant holiday here, it is of interest even to the serious-minded tourist who wants to understand more than the surface of a country he visits. It is too easy to be confused by the cultural, social and natural diversity of Borneo!
In reality, it is the diversity which makes our lives so interesting. Our multi-tribal festivals, customs and cuisine alone will warrant a weeklong stay at least!
Heidi Munan is making a sincere effort to lessen the impact of culture shock for the unwary visitor, to prepare the traveller for the unexpected aspects of the Borneo environment, and to create understanding and respect for a vibrant, alien culture.
Heidi has had her share of culture shocks, having arrived as a total stranger at a time when the only source of information about life in Sarawak was the local newspapers and a few official statistics! What she put into this book is all the stuff I wish somebody had told me when I first got here, many years ago , her readers gain the benefit of Heidi s many faux-pas, shocks and near-disasters. Having learnt to see both sides of the picture, Heidi now writes with some authority, but never without understanding and humor.
In fact, I sometimes am put to shame, considering that Heidi, in her quest to find out more on Sarawak s potpourri of culture and adat (local customs) knows so much more than we locals do! Being local, we tend to take many things for granted-our wonderful foods, the fascinating places to go, our people etc. Through Heidi s book, I too have learned to appreciate what travellers to our country would expect or look forward to experiencing, and what may surprise them, just as it happened to Heidi many years ago!
For the first-time traveller, I suggest this book as part of your survival kit alongside your maps, sun block, raincoat, sandals, Vicks and insect repellant! Have a wonderful experience in Sarawak!
Gracie Geikie
CEO, Sarawak Tourism Board

That the first sight of Borneo should have inspired a romantic disposition, I can well understand. When, on the 16th January 1852, I for the first time steamed past Tanjong Datu in the Hon.East India Company s war-steamer Pluto, I beheld with delight the country which was for so many years to be my home. -L V Helms, Pioneering in the Far East; Helms was the first manager of Borneo Company

WELCOME TO BORNEO!
As you step off the plane, you will notice one thing: the heat. In the major airports, it will not hit you until you leave the air-conditioned building, but it is there, and it is going to stay. You have to adapt.
Wear comfortable clothing (cotton is preferable) and use a hat or sunshade if you are going to be in the open. Long sleeves which keep the sun off your skin are cooler than no sleeves.
Go for a few short, gentle strolls in your neighbourhood. No need to rush-you ll only get hot-but look around, take in the sights and sounds and get a taste of your new home.
A Walk in Town
Random observations of foreigners taking their first walk in an East Malaysian town: everybody seems to loiter; there are an awful lot of men around on a workday morning; boys giggle at foreign women; it is hard to get orientated among all the lanes (especially in Kuching), and what happened to the tails of all those cats?
Animals in the Street
Last question first. Nothing happened to the tails of all those cats. By some genetical quirk, nine out of ten kittens are