I returned back to Singapore from Malaysia on the third day of Chinese New Year and was invited by my boyfriend's (a Singaporean) family to visit them. After some brushing-up and preparation of gifts I brought back from Malaysia, I was ready to go. However, I was halted abruptly by my boyfriend. "Where are the mandarin oranges?" he asked. I got puzzled and queried, "What mandarin oranges?"
Apparently, it is customary among the Singaporean Chinese population to bring two mandarin oranges to exchange with the host family when visiting during Chinese New Year, which signifies blessings of prosperity and wealth to the family. On the contrary, this is rarely practiced in Malaysia, specifically Sarawak. Mandarin oranges are merely used for display at home or are served to visiting guests during the celebration.
Fortunately, my boyfriend had some mandarin oranges with him and gave me two before we left. Imagine the awkwardness and embarrassment that would take place if he did not tell me about it! I am certainly much well prepared for the celebration this year round.
Through such incidences, it reminds us of our level of cultural ignorance, leading us to assume that other cultures have similar practices as our own culture. Such ignorance can possibly lead to adverse consequences due to misunderstandings. Hence, it is essential that we be culturally aware and sensitive to various cultural behaviours to avoid conflicts in interpersonal relations between different cultures.
P/S: I asked around my friends from different states of Malaysia. It is interesting to note that while most Sarawakian friends I know are unaware of this tradition, many of my West Malaysian friends do practice this.
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