This week, three different countries celebrated their respective independence days—India and South Korea on the 15th of August, followed by Indonesia on the 17th of August! In the month of independence, what better way to showcase the spirit of freedom and courage than through the people themselves? We got the chance to do just that with our own MoneyMatch team members! Srayi representing India, Sujin representing South Korea, and Faris representing Indonesia.
Read on as we ask them fun questions about MoneyMatch, Malaysia and their home countries!
Where are you from and what do you do here in MoneyMatch?
Srayi: Kolkata, India. I’m in Retail Growth.
Sujin: Seoul, South Korea. Retail Growth.
Faris: I’m from Indonesia and I’m a Marketing intern.
What do you like about working at MoneyMatch?
Srayi: The freedom to explore on your own and learn through experiences by interacting with different individuals.
Sujin: I feel excited about the change of experience, from only a user to a member of the staff. The second thing I like is getting to communicate with other users from my country.
Faris: The people here are very helpful and they make MoneyMatch a fun place to work. Plus, MoneyMatch has weekly futsal!
When did you first come to Malaysia and what made you decide to do so?
Srayi: I came here 3 years back to explore new places and experience the change & challenges.
Sujin: June 2019, I came here to work. At that time I needed to expand my limits and challenge myself.
Faris: I came to Malaysia in 2018, and it has been four years now. I decided to go to Malaysia for my degree because Malaysia is close to Indonesia and more affordable in terms of living costs and tuition fees compared to Australia and Singapore.
Name one thing you found challenging to adjust to and one thing you like about Malaysia.
Srayi: Understanding the diversity in Malaysia. The team here is very supportive and even through challenges, there are opportunities to do your job freely.
Sujin: It is quite challenging without winter. I did not expect I would miss the winter season until I’ve lived in Malaysia for quite some time. What I most like about Malaysia is definitely the food.
Faris: I would say I’m adjusting well. But the challenge I encountered when I first arrived was understanding what Malaysians were saying. Even though Bahasa Melayu and Bahasa Indonesia are pretty similar, you guys talk too fast for me (hehe). One thing I like about Malaysia is probably char kuey teow.
What is something you would like to do in Malaysia that you haven’t done yet?
Srayi: I would like to spend a day in a village in Malaysia with a Malaysian family, and deeply experience the rich culture and traditions of Malaysians.
Sujin: Driving a motorbike. Without my own transportation it is quite difficult, not like Seoul.
Faris: I would like to attend a Malaysian wedding ceremony. I’m curious about what Malaysian people serve in a wedding ceremony.
What do you love and miss from your hometown?
Srayi: I love everything and miss family and food the most.
Sujin: Still daydreaming about snow capped mountains. I miss the winter season and hiking in the mountains, especially in the very cold days with hot coffee in thermos.
Faris: I miss food, parents, and friends. In that order.
Can you tell me one fun fact about the history of your country?
Srayi: The popular board game ‘Snake & Ladder’ traces its roots back to India. In the historic era this game was used to teach morals and lessons about karma in a way that young children would understand and remember.
Sujin: In the Joseon dynasty, King Jungjo was famous for his humorous character and passion for study. In Seoul’s Changdeokgung palace, there is a big pond and inside of it is a floating artificial island. Jung-Jo used to gather his subjects around the pond named Buyoung-Ji, and held tests from time to time. Usually, it’s to write a poem with a certain theme. Whoever failed the test within a limited time, will be punished to row a boat to the island, and will need to stay there for a while. Jungjo will be saying goodbye or hello to them whenever he passes by.
Faris: Two hours before the reading of the text of the proclamation was carried out, Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, was still fast asleep. He was infected with Malaria. But he did read the proclamation text to proclaim Indonesia’s independence anyway.
What does your country’s independence day mean to you?
Srayi: It means immense pride to be born in a country that has such brave souls who have sacrificed everything for the freedom of their countrymen. Each of the brave stories inspire me to be more courageous & selfless.
Sujin: If there was no sacrifice and so much effort to get back our country’s rights by our ancestors, there would be no k-culture or k-power. If you lose your own culture, then you’ll be left with nothing.
Faris: For me, independence is freedom. Free from oppression, foreign domination, and free to determine our destiny.
We hope you enjoyed the interview and feel inspired by their stories. Stay tuned for more features on #ThePeopleofMoneyMatch!