Malay and Orang Asli students (indigenous people who are like Native Americans in the U.S.A.) usually eat with their hands, unless they are eating something like soup or noodles, for which they use utensils. You might think that eating with your hands is messy, but there is a special technique that Malays have perfected. Instead of just grabbing food with your hands and stuffing it into your mouth, you hold your fingers together and position them in the shape of a shovel, scoop up the rice, and then use your thumb to push the food into your mouth.
At first, I was really bad at eating with my hands. “Miss, eat faster!” my students told me. Over time, I have improved, and today, I am proud to say that I can keep up with my hungry students. Have you ever eaten with your hands? If not, you should try it!
Chinese-Malaysians will eat with chopsticks. I knew how to use chopsticks before I came to Malaysia, so it is fun to impress my Chinese students with my chopsticks skills. If you’ve never eaten with chopsticks, you should try that too! It can be difficult at first, but with practice, you can improve.
By now, I have adjusted to the breakfasts of rice, chicken, and vegetables. I usually have teh o ais (iced tea) because it is so hot in Malaysia, and my school cafeteria does not have air conditioning. I even find myself craving nasi kerabu (kerabu, or a type of salad, rice), a special meal with blue rice that the cafeteria prepares for the teachers on Fridays! The dish also includes chicken or fish, fried coconut flakes, chopped iceberg lettuce, fish chips, and a salted egg.
