Help me understand Malaysian culture
Nothing I read before coming to Malaysia has really prepared me for what I am finding here. I met a traveler who told me that Malaysia had very unfriendly people. I thought he was exaggerating, but my experience is the same. If I walk up to a restaurant I want to eat at, they just stare at me blankly, as if to say "what the f- do you want?" If they want my business would they not welcome me like in most other countries?
Am I just misreading the culture, doing the wrong thing, or what? Any tips would be appreciated. Is saying something in Malay important?
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There are some racial issues here for sure...
A lot of times I have found people can be embarrassed because English is spoken a lot here, and if theirs is not good they might be really embarrassed to speak to you. I get that from quite a few of the hawkers I go to, even though they are by my house and I go in all the time. Some people are too shy ;) Even when I speak in (terrible) Malay - I often don't get a chance to finish my sentence before they abruptly walk away and send someone over that speaks better English.
However, there are def. racial tensions here and customer service can be a little trying in some places. Only the other day myself and a friend got shooed out of a restaurant because it was really busy (although there were 2 tables left), just a blunt we're full and a hand gesture. I think that's just a cultural difference.
Overall, take it in your stride, it could be cultural, it could be rude or it could just be someone is too shy to speak to you because they are not confident in English or just embarrassed around westoners! Just smile and carry on :))
Of course being able to say a few things in the local language is nice and often brings a smile :)
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