Antarabudaya malaysia : Students turn padi farmers

KANGAR: A group of foreign students trudged eagerly through the muddy padi field in Kampung Sungai Bakong here to experience the traditional way of planting through the “Mai Turun ke Bendang” (Let’s Go Down to the Padi Field) event.

The participants of the Antarabudaya Malay­sia (Malaysia Intercultural) student exchange programme, who are here for between three months and a year, were also aptly clad in Perlis padi farmers’ attires.

The students are not only learning the local culture and way of life, they have also picked up Bahasa Malaysia.

Growing with joy: Two foreign exchange students planting padi in Kampung Sungai Bakong yesterday.

Meveen Patzelt, 19, from Germany, is one of them.

She said she did not find it tough although it was her first such experience.

Daniela Reiter, 15, said she was fascinated with the local culture.

Antarabudaya Malaysia board chairman Yahya Mat Hassan said each year, 300 students were involved in the student exchange programme, with 200 Malaysians taking part in the programme overseas and 100 foreign students coming here.

Established 54 years ago, the Antarabudaya Malaysia programme is under the auspices of the American Field Service (AFS), which was introduced 10 years earlier.

Earlier, the Perlis Mentri Besar’s wife Datin Seri Asiah Asmuni launched the event.