After visiting Malaysia and having a few days to explore the city and various landmarks, I have gotten to learn more about the multicultural and multiethnic aspects that the country offers. From my observations, I noticed a large mix of Indians, Malays, and Chinese people just walking on the street. Additionally, having learned that Malaysia is a predominately Muslim country, I was able to spot the overwhelming influence that Islam has over the country. The mosques that we passed by were built with intricate details while having been built many years ago, meaning that the people care about the upkeep of these sacred buildings. When visiting the Univerisity of Malaya and speaking to some of the local students, we discussed how multiculturalism has affected Malaysian communities through culture, tradition, and food. Many of the local Malaysian dishes have taken inspiration from other cultures such as Chinese and Indian with different flavors and spices used. Additionally, we visited the US Embassy to meet with the US Commercial Service to learn more about international markets and trade between the US and Southeast Asia. The speakers explained how American companies have started to make their way toward Southeast Asia, such as Tesla, Shake Shack, and more, diving deeper into some of the strategies that they have employed. These strategies included having representatives within the countries they wish to expand to reside in these countries to act as middlemen and communicators between themselves and the US, which helps to limit language barriers and miscommunication. Additionally, the speakers emphasized the importance of learning the language of the country in which you wish to do business in because it also helps limit miscommunication, but also helps with building trusting relationships and respect with your international business partners.
