M’sian Student Wants to Go on Working Holiday to USA But Parents Fear She’ll Be Bullied for Being Asian

Many of us have always wanted to travel abroad, especially to Western countries to experience not just the authentic food but life in general there. A Malaysian student recently expressed her desire to go on a working holiday in the USA, but it’s probably a dream of hers that may never come true.

In case you’re not aware, a working holiday, sometimes also called a gap year is an extended trip abroad that allows you to stay longer than a tourist visa, and gives you the right to earn money through short-term employment. In the Facebook group Xuan Play, the girl anonymously expressed her intentions of going to America for a working holiday program offered by her university, which her parents are not fond of. 

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“Asian in a Western country? Not a good idea”

The parents believe that America is a dangerous place but her safety is not the only priority they have in mind.

“They fear that I might get bullied for being an Asian there. The fact that Americans can carry a weapon freely makes them worried even more,” she explained.

Now, remember that we used to report about Malaysian victims who were scammed and sent to Cambodia and Thailand where they were manipulated into forced labour? This is 1 of the concerns that her parents took into account too, which prompted them to believe that she may face a similar fate if they allow her to travel abroad for a working holiday.

“I’ve told them about my friends & seniors who returned home safely from their working holiday, but it didn’t work.”

“Be a good daughter or YOLO?”

It’s perfectly common to have dreams or desires to do things on our own as a grown-up, and not to walk the road that was paved for us by our parents. In this case, the girl is stuck between being an obedient daughter, or living her own life because “You Only Live Once” (YOLO).

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She admitted to having thoughts about ditching her dreams for a working holiday to just stay here and take good care of her parents, but at the same time, she fears of missing out.

“I fear about missing this opportunity. Working holiday in the USA is not an opportunity that always comes to you,” she said.

Of course, America is not the only place where you can seek the opportunity for a working holiday. Regardless of the destination, as a parent, do you see yourself allowing your son or daughter to work holiday abroad?

Also read: Content Creator from China Says We Can Survive in Malaysia By Just Speaking Chinese