I used to balk at orientation pamphlets for international students which warn of re-adaptation to the country of origin. Thinking that it was impossible for 4 months of living in a foreign place to erase the elements that I've been exposed to for the past 20 years (after all, I'm born and bred in SEA), I was struck by the brashness and lesser intellect of my fellow countrymen. Initially.

As the days passed, however, I realized that my perception was flawed. To quote Denny Crane of Boston Legal,

"This country works Alan. You Democrats don't want to admit it. Oh, I'm not saying there aren't kinks! Foam chips off the occasional space craft, we start the odd war on false pretenses, but by and large...America works! That's why I'm completely nuts about it."

Oh I wouldn't go so far as to say that Malaysia works, but by and large the community certainly does, in its rudimentary yet charming little ways.