| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立暨南國際大學 === 東南亞研究所 === 102 === Hulu Perak locates in the north part of Malaysia, its land connects with Thailand. Due to such geographical proximity, the people of both sides interact and exchange very frequent and intense. Intermarriages across the border area are very prevalent. As if viewing as two separate countries, the cultures of Thailand and Malaysia are quite different, but, at the border area, the interaction and inter-influence between them can be found. They are not totally different after all. This thesis attempts to find out the cultural outlook from the cross-region and cross-culture families in the new villages in Hulu Perak. I will discuss the intermarriage families that formed by Malaysian Chinese males, and Thai females nationality.
According to the data collected, this cross-border intermarriages have emerged more than two decades ago. The majority Chinese people in the New Villages work as rubber tappers and agriculturists; hence they leave for work early in the morning every day, and thus their Thai spouses take care of housework and children. The results show that Thai spouse play a decisive role in the kitchen, they can choose to cook everyday meals, including Thai-style cooking. Their autonomy and discretion are quite high. The reason is that their Chinese family members can accept their cooking, many of them have become accustomed to the taste of Thai cuisine. In addition to the family diet, this thesis also discusses the Thai spouses’ confinement diet and sacrifices involved in family or community rituals. Within the Chinese community in Malaysia, there are many taboos about pregnancy or postpartum, such as prohibit to bath, shampoo, do housework, or walking around, etc., the diet as well. The results show that Thai spouses will comply with the Chinese customs, but in some cases, adding Thai seasoning is allowed. In terms of family worship, Thai spouses follow the Chinese way, but in community worship, they retain their own way, because Thai deities, temples and monks can be found in the villages. The Thai spouses’ diet habit learned from their socialization and the fusion of Thai and Malaysian Chinese culinary culture will be passed on to the next generation.
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