I'm Not Malay

Everywhere I go in KL, the locals always speak to me in Malay (the national language and race of Malaysia). It's clear to see that I don't resemble Malaysia's next most common races: Indian and Chinese.

I think that I often get mistaken as a liberal Malay woman. Liberal in the sense that I don't cover my hair, I wear fashionable clothes, and I often walk around with my Laptop bag. Oh yeah an I do drink occasionally.

A typical Malay. . .I'm generalizing here by what I see on a daily basis. . .wears a head cover, also known as a tudong, traditional clothing, and is typically not a business woman. . .and for the ones who aren't in traditional clothing, they're wearing long sleeved shirts and pants. Drinking is illegal and against their religion as well.

Let's go down the check list to see how close I am to passing as a Malay...=)

hmmm. . .Hair uncovered, arms showing, attire - nope.

The picture above was taken in front of the entrance to the mosque in Bangsar.

When I'm spoken to in Malay, I kindly say that "I don't speak Malay" or "I'm not Malay". Sometimes it shocks people and they ask where I'm from and I say "the US". It crazy how many think US is full of blond-haired blue eyed people, and the other race would be black.

Most Malaysians haven't traveled to the US. Mainly because it's very expensive to travel there and most prefer or choose to travel to Europe, or nearer countries like Australia and New Zealand.

You typically don't see many Americans here either. Although I'm not really sure what the reason is, it may be the perception that it's a completely Islamic country.