Malayia Service Learning Journey

We ended our Malaysia journey with a group Thai cooking class, and everything came full circle. It gave us a chance to reflect on the beginning of our journey....

We began our study abroad experience in Malaysia immersed immediately in the world of psychology, grounding the trip in both professional insight and cultural context. Our first site visit took place in Kuala Lumpur at People’s Psychological Solutions, where we entered as a cohort and were welcomed by two clinical practitioners who generously shared their experiences and perspectives. Through an open question and answer session, we explored both the parallels and distinctions between psychological practice in Malaysia and in the United States. The conversation naturally connected to our background in educational psychology and technology, helping us see how theory, practice, and systems intersect across global contexts.

The practitioners spoke candidly about a wide range of topics, including child psychology, the Malaysian school system, and the cultural factors that shape attitudes toward mental health and help seeking. We learned about suicide rates and risk reduction efforts, as well as how relatively young the field of organized mental health practice is in Malaysia. Hearing about the significant progress made over the past few decades toward mental health awareness and accessibility underscored how rapidly the field is evolving and how deeply culture shapes that evolution.

That morning flowed into a second site visit in the afternoon, which reinforced and expanded on what we had already learned. We met with a world-renowned psychologist who shared stories of his work both within Malaysia and internationally. His strong personality, sharp intellect, and deep wisdom made the session especially memorable. The setting itself was striking, with lizards housed in terrariums along the walls, adding an unexpected and uniquely personal touch to the space. As we listened, munched on provided snacks, and absorbed his reflections on psychology, culture, and practice, the day felt full and energizing. It was a rich and intellectually dense opening to our journey, setting the tone for a trip rooted in learning, reflection, and cross-cultural understanding.

Our visit to the Kuching Autism Association was one of the most grounding and affirming experiences of the trip. As students grounded in educational psychology and special education, we immediately recognized familiar structures, including the roles of BCBAs and RBTs, which closely mirrored practices in the United States. What stood out most, however, was the strong sense of community support surrounding the center and the intentional inclusion of resources we often struggle to secure back home, such as well designed sensory rooms that were clearly embedded into daily practice. Emotion boards, communication boards, and choice boards were used throughout the space, reinforcing that while language and culture may differ, the core needs of children remain universal. Observing these shared tools across contexts highlighted how deeply aligned global approaches to autism support truly are, even when delivered through different cultural lenses.

Later in the trip, we shared a memorable group experience at the Santubong Boat Club, where we set out on a river tour during an active monsoon. Visibility was limited and the rain was relentless, but that only added to the sense of adventure and shared humor among our group. We caught brief glimpses of wildlife, including an alligator and several birds, before returning thoroughly drenched. Despite seeing little, the experience was entirely one of a kind and became one of those moments we laughed about long after it ended.

Later in the trip, we shared a memorable group experience at the Santubong Boat Club, where we set out on a river tour during an active monsoon. Visibility was limited and the rain was relentless, but that only added to the sense of adventure and shared humor among our group. We caught brief glimpses of wildlife, including an alligator and several birds, before returning thoroughly drenched. Despite seeing little, the experience was entirely one of a kind and became one of those moments we laughed about long after it ended.

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That leads us back to our cooking class. It was a meaningful moment from our student abroad experience in Malaysia during a hands-on, three-hour cooking class that brought our cohort closer together. Set around a vibrant batik-covered table, each of us had our own cutting board and station as we diced, mixed, and prepared traditional Malaysian ingredients—from chilies and cucumbers to eggs and shallots. It was a rare opportunity to slow down, connect, and literally share the work of making something together. While a few of us left with mosquito bites, we all walked away with laughter, stories, and a deeper sense of camaraderie—something especially powerful coming near the tail end of our journey. This shared experience not only introduced us to the sensory depth of Malaysian cuisine but also tied beautifully into our service learning projects at the autism center and the two psychology centers, where cultural understanding and connection were central to our roles.