Maung. It IS a funny name and I've gotten used to being asked about my name. Whenever I am asked my full name and I answered, I find it amusing when they roll my surname on their tongues...like tasting the finest caviar or something of that sort. They try to figure out the origin of the name and suffice to say, not many of them gets it right the first time.
Unless they have been to Burma or Myanmar (as it is called these days).
I have been born and bred here in Malaysia but my name dictates that I will forever be more Myanmarese than Malaysian....cultural-wise. I mean, here in Malaysia, I am literally classified as 'OTHERS' or Lain-Lain. I am not going to go into this politically but socially, it's quite a dent in my confidence in the government.
Hence, my striving for equality and a raceless society. What does it matter what one's race is???
So, what? We are all human beings with a right to find happiness and justice. Why should I be forced to tick the 'Lain-Lain' box whenever there is a form to fill? What does it matter? Do I matter more if I ticked Chinese? Well, apparently not, these days. :-) Not here in this country.
Anyway, where was I? Yangon and the root of my culture.
The other day, my sister received a promo email from AirAsia about their cheap flights to Yangon and she quipped, 'Our next destination?" :-)
Yes, WHY NOT? Might as well, eh?
Like WOW WOW WOW!
And maybe I will get the chance to ask my fellow cultural-roots-sharing living beings why they do this.
By the way, I am still not 100% SURE how to pronounce my surname. Most people pronounce it Mah-Oong. While my parents and all relatives pronounce it 'Mong'. I think I like 'Mong' better....although it comes with the danger of being called a Monk.
Considering my current spiritual exploration, that doesn't really sound like a bad idea at all. :-)
Unless they have been to Burma or Myanmar (as it is called these days).
I have been born and bred here in Malaysia but my name dictates that I will forever be more Myanmarese than Malaysian....cultural-wise. I mean, here in Malaysia, I am literally classified as 'OTHERS' or Lain-Lain. I am not going to go into this politically but socially, it's quite a dent in my confidence in the government.
Hence, my striving for equality and a raceless society. What does it matter what one's race is???
So, what? We are all human beings with a right to find happiness and justice. Why should I be forced to tick the 'Lain-Lain' box whenever there is a form to fill? What does it matter? Do I matter more if I ticked Chinese? Well, apparently not, these days. :-) Not here in this country.
Anyway, where was I? Yangon and the root of my culture.
The other day, my sister received a promo email from AirAsia about their cheap flights to Yangon and she quipped, 'Our next destination?" :-)
Yes, WHY NOT? Might as well, eh?
And maybe I will get the chance to ask my fellow cultural-roots-sharing living beings why they do this.
By the way, I am still not 100% SURE how to pronounce my surname. Most people pronounce it Mah-Oong. While my parents and all relatives pronounce it 'Mong'. I think I like 'Mong' better....although it comes with the danger of being called a Monk.
Considering my current spiritual exploration, that doesn't really sound like a bad idea at all. :-)