Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.
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Sydney doesn't compare at all on the food front, but to be fair it's hard to compete with Malaysia. It's one of the most food-oriented countries I know of, and while that's a characteristic of many Asian cultures, here it's particularly emphasised. To provide food for someone is considered the ultimate display of affection - in contrast, it's not nearly as common for people to demonstrate affection through verbal or physical means, and when I first learned just how often Westerners say "I love you" to each other I genuinely thought it was unnecessary and over-the-top. But, treating them with food is non-negotiable. You can't go two minutes into a social situation without some uncle/aunty (in informal settings, virtually every older man/woman is endearingly referred to as an uncle/aunty regardless of their relation to you) concernedly asking you if you have eaten yet.
Street food is genuinely amazing, and a general rule is that virtually every good food haunt is going to be run out of a ridiculously dilapidated shophouse or a hawker stall. People are very selective and critical when evaluating what they like, and the impossibility of finding any truly authentic Malaysian food when overseas is a big sticking point for many Malaysians who emigrate. Including me.
You're doing yourself and Malaysia credit to speak in this way. I'm not a food or water guy, but I appreciate the offering of these things (even to those you don't like) as important.
I'm thinking in my western way that I want to push offering a safe haven to those around me I like.
And in the rare case, those I don't.
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