A lecturer with passion

Lokaalit-sarja haastattelee Kaakkois-Aasiassa asuvia elämän synnyistä syvistä. Sarjan kolmannessa osassa haastatellaan yliopistomme iranilaista yrittäjyyden opettajaa, Hashemia.

Lokaalit-series interviews people living in South-East Asia about the Life. This time we interview our Iranian teacher of Entrepreneurship, Hashem.

How would you introduce yourself?

Well, I would like to start from my weaknesses. I am a little bit sensitive person, but I’m trying to work on it. Sometimes I get really stubborn; this, I guess, is inherited from my father.

When I feel with my heart, that something is true I want to act on it. I’m also hard-working, I have goals in my life, without them life would be meaningless. I’m persistent: If I want something, I might be slow, but eventually I’ll be there. Quite independent. Very patient.

I studied in one of the best schools in my country, Iran, and after finishing high school, took the national examination –Konkour-  and got into one of the top five universities back home called Isfahan University of Technology (IUT). I did my bachelor’s degree there and majored in statistics. Then I started my own company and at the same time worked as a deputy manager in a bank.

How did you end up in Kuala Lumpur and what are you doing here?

I moved in 2007. I always wanted to live and work in another country. By the time that I decided to leave Iran, I had three options which were India, Malaysia, and Sweden. I eventually picked Malaysia. 

Surprisingly, I could not speak English when I came to Malaysia, but I knew that I would speak English fluently one day. When the plane landed in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, I was really excited.

If you just forget the taxi drivers in Malaysia, everything else is somehow nice and new. If people ask me “whether I like Malaysia or not?” my answer is very simple: If I didn’t like this country I wouldn’t stay here for five years.

As I came to KL I studied 10 months of English Course in a college called KBU. After finishing my English course, I applied for master’s in two universities and got the approval from Multimedia University. After finishing my master’s, I started a company in education industry where I was the business development director. To follow my goals and passion, I decided to apply for teaching positions in a university or college in Malaysia. Eventually, I was admitted and started working as a lecturer in Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.

How it feels to teach in a university in KL? How are the students?

A multinational environment with students from more than 160 countries around the world is basically a great experience and exposure to people from different cultures and backgrounds. I’m learning from my students about their countries, cultures, and the ways businesses are conducted in their countries. Teaching is quite fun. It’s my passion so it’s quite awesome.

How do you like KL overall?

Except for taxi drivers and public transportation, I love KL. Food is good here and there is variety of choices. Basically you can see whole Asia in Malaysia. I believe that it is because of the multicultural environment of this country.

What are your favorite places here in KL? What about in Malaysia?

Lookout Point, you can see the whole KL from there. And Lankgkawi, of course.

What do you like to do in KL when you have leisure time?

I usually go and try a new restaurant. About local restaurants, one of my favorites is Madam Kwan Restaurant. I also hang out with my friends whenever I have time. I like reading a lot - all kinds of books. I also like watching movies, Godfather is the best of them. I love Beautiful Mind, too.

Do you have some favorite Malaysian dish / food?

Chechen and beef rendang are my favorites. Watermelon here is awesome, I love it very much. I got really sweet teeth and I love chocolate very much.

Do you have life philosophy / vision etc. and if so, would you like to tell, what it is?

Definitely I have. I want to work in education field, that’s why I’m here. I want to contribute to the society where I live in and where I belong to. I hate racism. To me everyone represents him/herself by his mind and heart.

What do you think; is the change inevitable when you are traveling?

I have one recommendation to people younger than me: Travel as much as you can. Even if you don’t have enough money, try to borrow some and at least visit two or three countries around the world. You benefit from travelling definitely. Knowing the cultures, the people, and etc. will help you to grow faster, get more mature, and broaden your horizon.

What kind of greetings you’d like to send to our readers?

I wish them all the best in their life and career path. I hope their life is filled with happiness, success, wealth and health. Never get disappointed and remember that: “a quitter never wins and a winner never quits.” Be a winner, be curious, and change your strategies whenever you find it hard or difficult to reach to your goals. In your life remember one simple thing:

Everyone has a special gift and the only challenge is to find that gift.

An American teacher in Vietnam

Lokaalit-sarja haastattelee Kaakkois-Aasiassa asuvia elämän synnyistä syvistä. Sarjan toisessa osassa haastatellaan yhdysvaltalaista opettajaa Marya, joka on työskennellyt Hanoissa, Vietnamissa yhdeksän kuukautta.

Lokaalit-series interviews people living in South-East Asia about the Life. The series continues with an interview of Mary from USA, who has been working as a teacher in Hanoi, Vietnam for 9 months.

How would you introduce yourself?

I’m a single adult traveler who is looking for both work and travel experiences outside USA.

Where are you specifically from?

My own family is raised in Texas but I was self raised in Minnesota.

How did you end up in Vietnam and where are you living in there?

I’m living in Hanoi. I was looking for career change and I accidentally met a woman who had been teaching over 15 years overseas. She mentored me about that then. Living overseas was also one of the things in my bucket list.

How do you like Vietnam, how about South-East Asia?

What I like the best in Vietnam are the people, and what I dislike the most is the weather. I have not enjoyed of winter there. There are no modern convenices and no heating in buildings which makes the winter quite poor.

What are your favorite places in Vietnam and in South-East Asia?

I’ve been traveling in Cambodia and southern Vietnam. Angkor Wat in Cambodia is fabulous - If you come to South-East Asia just once, you have to see it. There are no particular favorites in Vietnam - I enjoy visiting the provinces instead of the cities in there.

What tips would you give to travelers going to Vietnam?

Remember it is a communist country and that it’s a Third World country. Do not expect anything to operate in western precision and do not expect people to understand English.

What do you like to do when you have leisure time?

Riding bicycle, it is my chief mode of transportation. I am gradually increasing the perimeter of places I know. I enjoy cycling because speed is moderate and thus you can be more observant of the surroundings. Cycling in Hanoi is safe because everyone driving cars or motorcycles has been cycling before and thus they are more considerate.

What is the best way for a curious traveler to approach Vietnamese people?

Many people there really want to practice English, so usually they approach you. Vietnamese are actively seeking contact where they can practice their English.

What about food - what is your favorite Vietnamese food?

Fruits. They have so much more tropical fruits there than there is in the USA…and they are always fresh. You can also get them anywhere. Papaya is my favorite.

Do you have life philosophy and if so, would you like to tell, what it is?

Embrace the change because nothing ever stays the same. If you ignore the change, by the time change is ahead of you, you feel upset. For example I didn’t learn about computers when they came and now they are everywhere.

What kind of greetings you’d like to send to our readers?

In order to grow as members of the World, I think it is important to visit other places and understand how fortunate we are in the country we were raised in.

Straight from the KLite: Tips and Philosophy from a Local

Lokaalit-sarja haastattelee Kaakkois-Aasiassa asuvia elämän synnyistä syvistä. Sarjan avaa malesialainen Dhinesh ajatuksineen.

Lokaalit-series interviews people living in South-East Asia about the life. The series begins with the interview of Malaysian Dinesh.

Dhinesh and I at Berjaya Times Square.

How would you introduce yourself?

I am a very friendly person, opposed to other Malaysians that are quite rude. I’d like to be a traveler also. For hobbies I read, write, cook, play online games and collect books. Favorite past times is though to be with friends and meeting new people.

Where are you originally from?

I’m from Penang (northern Malaysia). I go there once a year.

When did you move to KL (Kuala Lumpur) and why?

I moved to Klang nine years ago. To finnish my schools and such. I moved to KL very recently.

How do you like KL?

If you know how to adapt KL, it’s fine. But in general it is dirty and people are rude and selfish - they don’t mind anyone else expect themselves.

Positive thing is that this nation is growing, there is also diversity of people and cultures. The best thing in KL when you think about Malaysia, is food - where most delicacies from all over Malaysia gathers.

What are your favorite places here?

KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Center), where the night view is just fantastic! Also shopping centres and especially bookshops. Favourite bookshop is Japanese bookshop Kinokuniya at KLCC.

What would you recommend from KL to foreigner?

Putting aside those negative things here, you’ll find it really easy to spend your time here. Definitely cheap shopping spree - especially if you’re coming from Europe. I'd also recommend fantastic night view from any high rise building, not as good as New York, though.

What are the best places for traveler to visit in Malaysia?

Depends on everyone’s favorite places. For example tropical islands: upnorth Penang, Pangkor and Borneo island which is close to the nature. The most overestimated place in Malaysia is KL. Sometimes people think that KL is like New York…that is way overestimated of a thought.

What do you like to do when you have leisure time?

Seeing friends, reading novels. Playing online games in the middle of the night next to a window and watching the city lights.

What is the easiest way for a curious traveler to approach locals?

Start with a simple smile and ignore all the rudeness some locals might show.

What is the best place in KL to get to know local food?

The streets. Mamak stalls where you can get authentic Malaysian foods.

What is your favourite food / dish?

One that I cook, but in general Chinese curry noodles, Malay's sambal belacan, and for Indian food briyani rice.

Do you have life philosophy and if so, would you like to tell, what it is?

My philosophy is to take everything easily and turn those bad things into good things. When we smile often, even if we face problems, we can overcome them.

Is the change inevitable when you are traveling and is it inevitable in life overall?

You can’t avoid changes, they are everywhere. But it is individual’s own responsibility to turn changes into good ones. Don’t be afraid of changes as they come no matter what. Control the changes yourself and don’t let them to control you.

What kind of greetings you’d like to send to our readers?

I’d like to say Hello in Finnish…if you come to Malaysia do contact me, I’d like to meet more Finnish people. Don’t be afraid of Malaysia, ignore the negative Malaysia and try to enjoy the positive sides as much as you can.