Glocal Lounge :
From Darussalam in Brunei to Waseda:
an exchange student from Brunei
School of International Liberal Studies
Adi Syohreni binti Abdul Hadi

On the water there are taxis called “Perahu Tambung” and these are still used as a major means of transport.

The village called “Kampong Ayer” consists of houses built on stilts over the river.

Trying something new

Adi Syohreni Adi Asmali is an exchange student from the University of Brunei located in Darussalam. Brunei is very small, being only about the size of the Mie-prefecture. It has a total population of around 370,000. The country was earlier a protectorate of Great Britain, and the legacy of this period is reflected in the fact that some 3,000 Bruneian students are currently studying in Britain. However, Adi Syohreni Adi Asmali, our exchange student, sees Japan as a place to gain a new perspective on the world that is different from that which is available to these other students.

Brunei is a relatively rich country that produces oil and natural gas, has a stable economy, and is maintains high wage levels. To our surprise, we have learnt that there are no taxes! Also, medicines and hospital treatment are almost free. After arriving in our city, Adi Syohreni Adi Asmali commented that “since the government in Brunei takes care of the people who have no jobs or who need help in other ways, there are no homeless people.” She added with some concern that she had been “concerned to see people who do not have food and shelter in Tokyo.”

Growing up by a river in a leafy green environment

Adi Syohreni Adi Asmali grew up in a stilt-house village built on the Brunei River. The village has the name “Kampong Ayer,” and it is also known as the “Venice of the East” because it is the largest village in Asia that is set on waterways. She remained there until she was seven years of age, and she can remember hearing the sound of the waves below the floor of her grandparents' house where she slept. This had a calming and cooling effect on her. In this water village, many people caught crabs and fish by using “bintur” and “rambat.” What was caught was usually cooked and served as meals for the family. Today, Adi Syohreni Adi Asmali enjoys water sports, especially kayaking and swimming, perhaps because her childhood environment was so dominated by water. She likes to spend her spare time enjoying the scenic beauty of the beach, kayaking in natural scenic areas with cooling crystal-clear water or with river rapids that make the sport more adventurous. In addition, she enjoys trekking in the breathtakingly beautiful regions of the equatorial tropics where the air is fresh. Her country still protects 80 per cent of its virgin forests and waterfalls.

In Japan, our visitor jogs instead of kayaking. One comment she made about this was that when she first arrived in Tokyo, she was “afraid of riding on the trains because we don't have trains in Brunei.” She went on to say, though, that “recently I have become used to riding on trains and now I can get off at a station where I have never been before and jog back from there. It is really fun to discover new things along the way.” But she added that “sometimes I get lost.”

The peace house

In Brunei, the official religion is Islam. During the major festival of Hari Raya, which begins after the end of Ramadan, people go to the mosque for prayers. After that, they visit their relatives' homes and have special meals. They enjoy all the associated festivities, and have an opportunity to wear their new clothes and shoes. The most exciting aspect of Hari Raya is that even non-Muslims are welcomed in every home during this time. As Adi Syohreni Adi Asmali tells us, “everyone opens their house and families give out money in a small green envelopes called ‘Angpau’ to any children who visit their homes.” Even the Royal Family's palace is open during the Hari Raya celebration, and our visitor informs us that this enables “people to meet the King and his family and even shake his hand.” It seems, then, that even the common people can communicate with or speak to the King during these visits without anybody controlling them. Adi Syohreni Adi Asmali goes on to add that “Brunei is governed by a loving monarch who cares most about the welfare of his citizens and the well-being of the country.” From customs such as these, we can see how peaceful and safe Brunei is and how lucky the Bruneians are!

Adi Syohreni Adi Asmali is studying for her master's degree and is hoping to continue on to receive a doctorate. Her dream for the future is to work in the fields of international relations or human welfare. She tells us that “although our country is not well known, nature is protected and we are simple and honest people. Darussalam surely reflects its meaning that it is the ‘Abode of Peace’.” Because she truly loves her country, we hope that our visitor will be able to work to make Brunei an even better place for all its people.