Pros and Cons of Studying Locally

When I first started working, I met with and mixed with a lot of friends who studied overseas. One thing that really bugged me then was how when we in a big group together, they would go, “I remember when I was studying in London / Melbourne / Boston / Sydney / Baghdad…” or “KLCC is nothing, that shopping center in London is SO much better…”

Yeah right. Then they would ask me, “So where did you study? RMIT? Sheffield?” And I would reply, “No, locally…” Then they say “Oh…” while giving me that-“Oh, dear me, this poor Jakun…”-look.

Yeah, well, I’m damn proud to have studied in Malaysia. But before I go into a 2-page rant about it, let me just give you some of the advantages to have studied in Malaysia, plus a few disadvantages (yes, I’ll have to admit it’s not all a bed of roses).

Top Ten Advantages of Studying Locally:

• No need to learn to speak the local language – you already know it!
• Who needs winter and autumn clothes? Your existing clothes can be worn in all 4 Malaysian seasons: Hot, Bloody Hot, Raining Like Cats & Dogs and Haze.
• You can find roti canai and wantan mee any time of the day, anywhere you want.
• During your semester breaks you can find good temporary employment at McDonalds/Kedai Ubat Tong Huat/roadside VCD stall/Kamdar without worrying about work permits.
• Can act as tour guide to your foreign student friends during weekend holiday trips: “Don’t worry, I can bring you all shopping at the world famous Phoenix Plaza shopping centre!”
• Why bother if you’ve never gone to Hyde Park/Trafalgar Square/Petticoat Junction/Harrod’s? Our very own SS2 Pasar malam on Monday nights is the best in the world!
• My tuition fees : RM1700 PER YEAR. Room Rental : RM450 PER MONTH. Go figure.
• No bomb scares, no terrorists, no transport workers union strike, no blizzards, no hurricanes, etc...
• You can eat maggi mee everyday if you want.
• Our fine tertiary education system is superbly poised to prepare you for a career in online journalistic publishing (i.e. blogging)

Top Five Disadvantages of Studying Locally:

• Your parents come and visit all the time. Worse still if you’re still staying with them.
• Public toilets have no toilet paper. Not even the holder.
• Some local colleges’ names are so uncool (“Kolej Olympia”? "Institut Goon" ?!!)
• You have to eat maggi mee everyday if you are broke.
• Lack of job opportunities make lead you to become a third-rate blogger.