LIFE ON FOREIGN shoes can present immense challenges even for those who claim a heritage from an adopted home. That seems to be the verdict looking at the experiences of some of the foreign students in our midst. With a strong Indian connection, Jasmine P.V. is not an exception. A national of Malaysia, Jasmine’s dad hails from Kannur, Kerala, while her mother, although born and brought up in Malaysia traces her roots to Ernakulam. She went to school in Klang, an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia where her father, an entrepreneur with a slew of business interests, and mother, a tutor at the Smart Reader Worldwide Training Program have made their home. Jasmine grew up in a relatively large family but never at any point of time lacked the comforts a child craves.

Even then, she had a rebellious streak in her that ensued that her siblings - three sisters and two brothers - have had to live with after shocks of her exploits long after she passed out from her former school. She did her elementary schooling from a Convent School in Klang and stayed on to complete her higher education. Malaysia, as she explains, follows a system of education patterned along the lines of the British although knowledge of Malay, the national language is a prerequisite to a qualification for the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia, the equivalent of British ‘A’ level and India’s Pre University examinations boards. “Growing up in Klang was fun and I count myself lucky that I had very good friends who did not have
a bad influence on me,” she says. Still, she had to grapple with the watchful eyes of her parents that added more responsibilities on her young shoulders. “I guess it mellowed me a bit but their demands did not stop me from being the prankster in school, always up to some mischief or the other,” recalls Jasmine. Firmly in control of her life having crossed the bridge, she can now comprehend what her parents were trying to instill in her. There was a time she was contemplating joining the teaching profession, perhaps influenced by her doting mother.

Then she thought of settling for sports with an eye on swimming before one of her teachers prevailed upon her to consider a mathematics oriented discipline. On being offered a seat at Garden City College where she had applied for her undergraduates studies, she jumped to the offer complacent in the knowledge that her choice of India would give her the space for
independent living while preparing for the leap into the emerging world of actuarial science. “I have always had a fascination for mathematics and statistics. With a base in science, I would like to work closer home in Singapore as I pursue my further studies,” she explains adding that the course has not quite picked up in India but has great demand in Malaysia.

Today, Jasmine believes that her degree, when it finally comes will form the basis of her future pursuits. “I just can’t believe how time has gone by,” she exclaims. “I didn’t have the best start I had hoped for academically but I have kind of made up for it. I look forward to pass out of college on a high.” Living in India, she has made a lot of friends, plays an active role at the fashion parades organized during Garden Internationale, and when time permits makes a dash for Manipal to be with her former school mates.

One of the things Jasmine believes studying away from home has ingrained in her is being
appreciative of her mother land and the role played by her parents. “We often take all these for granted but I have realized the importance of both in the life,” she acknowledges. It’s for this reason that Jasmine finds it surprising to see many of her peers taking for granted the sacrifices their parents make to give them a future. “I just pray I will be able to contribute to my family, once I am done with my studies,” she reflects.

To keep the family roots alive, she makes it a point to visit her grandparents and other relatives in Kerala, although the distance and language barrier has been a
dampener.
So why does she think Malaysia is truly Asia? “It is truly representative of Asia,” she insists. “Although India is a multi cultural society, you can’t find ‘Malaysia’ in India but certainly you can see India’ and virtually every other Asian country - Malays, Chinese and others represented in Malaysia. The influences of these cultures are evident through celebrations such as Deepavali and Onam that are observed with equal fervour just like India.”