REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
The community-based services in CSI module for SABD are to expose students to the real community living in the real life situation. The students are to work together as a team for architectural, culture and environmental enhancing activities in the communities of different socio-economic status and social groups. In this semester, the students are free to participate in any one of the following projects PPR Seri Berembang“In search of Learning Space”, Experiential Market @ REX KL and Kebun-kebun bangsar.
I had chosen Experimental Market @ REX KL as my community service project because I realised that people are slowly forgotten their root and pay less intreset of Chinese culture in Chinatown. Through this assignment it gave me an opportunity to raise up the awarness of chinese culture to the public. Chinatown; as the most significant street that symbolize our chinese culture is slowly fallen due to the ignorance of chinese culture and became a station that only sell souvenirs that overrun by foreign workers. The core value of Experimental Market @ REX KL is to raise up the forgotten root of chinese culture to people.
However, there are some difficulties to acheive the goal. Before the event, we need to approach several vendors in chinatown to the event to make sure the event can be run successfully. Unfortunately, in the stage of approaching vendors, we face some challenges as when communicating with the vendors. Some of them only understand some simple chinese or cantonese. Next, the vendors are key toward success as their tradition and sories behind their business will be shared in our assingment. After listening to their stories, we get an simple idea on how were these traders when through all the difficulties and get success in this stage. Morover, there were a number of famous cultural shops run by the locals, such as Kim Lian Kee, Bee Cheng Hiang and Mon Kee Confectionary and Pak Tai Photo Studio. These shop were stand in Chinatown for decades that maintain the chinese culture in Chinatown.
The event Experimental Market @ REX KL is to raise up the awarness of the chinese culture in Chinatown. In the event, I had involved in cross-stitch workshop and Mon Kee Confectionary traditional packaging workshop. During the cross-stitch workshop, I have knew different customers, we share our first impression of Chinatown when its still maitain in a good condition. We felt that Chinatown’s identity should be preserved. Morover, I have an opportunity to know different people around the globe, we share our tradition and culture of our own country. Through the conversation, I have learn the culture and tradition of different countries.
In a nutshell, Experimental Market @ REX KL is a success event. I feel appreciate that each contribution that have done by my teammate, because without them this event will not be able to run smoothlly. Throughout this event, I hope that it brings a positive influences to Chinatown and Rex KL.
