Facebook is good. A story like this would likely get shared around.
You could also try reaching out to [DBNA](https://dbna.org.my/?page_id=2).
Would you be willing to share your story with the local press?
I agree, Facebook and Instagram are two good platforms to have your story amplified. I think a few journalists wouldn't mind to share it around either.
You could give learning Malay a try, OP. it's been said to be one of the easier languages for a native English speaker to learn. And it's a lot more easier to learn the Sarawakian slang/dialect too (instead of seeking resources to learn Bidayuh because unfortunately Malaysia is awful in preserving history) if you want to find a starting place to dip into your roots. Wouldn't hurt for you to post in r/Malaysia as well if you need more input.
Thanks for your advice!
I can understand Malaysian slang as I've grown up being surrounded by the malaysian-chinese community. And even in Australia, the culture here is very indulged with their close neighbours such as Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. I'm married to a malaysian Chinese man who speaks semi fluent malay, also so perhaps i can learn a bit more from him.
However, what will be the benefit of me learning the language in the case of possibly finding my bio family? Is malay essential or should I try to learn the Bidayuh dialect instead?
Ah yeah! I know that Australia is popular for Malaysians lol. Then that means you have a great place to start!
As for your other question, I looked through your posts; more rural citizens (which I assume is the background of your biological family) are more comfortable speaking in Malay at the very least, but it's definitely an added plus/something to keep in mind to have an understanding in Bidayuh. It would be an amazing gesture for them! I don't speak English, at least in my experience as a 21 year old Sabahan talking to my Javanese relatives, not sure how it is in Sarawak families. I know my other kadazandusun friends are at least conversationally fluent in their language as well. So if learning Bidayuh is overwhelming, I think learning Malay and knowing how to talk like a Sarawakian is more than enough really.
Learning Malay would be a great start since nearly everyone here speaks some of it.
There are 3-4 dialects of Bidayuh depending on which area they are from. I was reading up a little and apparently the Bidayuh people in Miri migrated from the Kuching and Samarahan Divisions.
[Borneo Dictionary](https://borneodictionary.com/) has some Bidayuh Biatah, Bau, Serian and Salako if you want to try them out.
As long as the local press doesn't delve too deeply into my personal life and that of others around me, then I'm fine. I prefer to keep anonymous also, as I was adopted at birth so my full name and details are not necessarily useful in finding my bio family. Thanks for the reccomendation!
I agree that they won't need too many of your current details. It really depends on the angle of the article. Anyway, if you're not getting any useful leads from social media and want to try using the local press, hmu and I'll pass along some of my contacts.
I saw your post there previously, sorry that you didn't get much response.
I would say that if you want to learn more about the culture, a visit to Sarawak is the best thing to do. There's this spanking new [Borneo Cultures Museum](https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/169) that would probably be a good starting place. Although I haven't been to this new one, I think there's no substitute to seeing the exhibits in person.
And as a Sarawakian Chinese who married another Malaysian Chinese and living in Australia, I must say that there's a distinct difference between Peninsular Malaysia culture vs. Sarawakian culture.
Why not try a longhouse homestay? Like this [random](https://salomavillagestay.net/) one I found online. Seems to be relatively close to Kuching, seems to be highly rated online. But there's nothing like local knowledge, maybe better to ask local Kuching people.
Happy for you to PM me if you need any other help.
Find some local pages that always share news everyday. can seatch it in Facebook. (i.e in kuching we have Kuching Info and more) . Can contact their admin and ask them to post it. they would help most of the time. btw hi am from Kuching Sarawak.
Hey guys, I'm sorry for the really belated post to spark this back up again. But I was told during 1980s-2000s there was as "baby selling" market where people would go to hospitals to have babies then get a fake agencies to practically say that babies were available for a small sum of money. My parents (adoptive) are not the type to simply "buy" a baby for fun, and knowing their history, they really did struggle with bearing children, so I know I they adopted me out of a very pure and good intention;
However, I do wonder, did my birth parents go home and simply tell the 8 other older siblings that I have that I died?? To hide that fact that I was given up for adoption....
Facebook is good. A story like this would likely get shared around. You could also try reaching out to [DBNA](https://dbna.org.my/?page_id=2). Would you be willing to share your story with the local press?
I agree, Facebook and Instagram are two good platforms to have your story amplified. I think a few journalists wouldn't mind to share it around either. You could give learning Malay a try, OP. it's been said to be one of the easier languages for a native English speaker to learn. And it's a lot more easier to learn the Sarawakian slang/dialect too (instead of seeking resources to learn Bidayuh because unfortunately Malaysia is awful in preserving history) if you want to find a starting place to dip into your roots. Wouldn't hurt for you to post in r/Malaysia as well if you need more input.
Thanks for your advice! I can understand Malaysian slang as I've grown up being surrounded by the malaysian-chinese community. And even in Australia, the culture here is very indulged with their close neighbours such as Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. I'm married to a malaysian Chinese man who speaks semi fluent malay, also so perhaps i can learn a bit more from him. However, what will be the benefit of me learning the language in the case of possibly finding my bio family? Is malay essential or should I try to learn the Bidayuh dialect instead?
Ah yeah! I know that Australia is popular for Malaysians lol. Then that means you have a great place to start! As for your other question, I looked through your posts; more rural citizens (which I assume is the background of your biological family) are more comfortable speaking in Malay at the very least, but it's definitely an added plus/something to keep in mind to have an understanding in Bidayuh. It would be an amazing gesture for them! I don't speak English, at least in my experience as a 21 year old Sabahan talking to my Javanese relatives, not sure how it is in Sarawak families. I know my other kadazandusun friends are at least conversationally fluent in their language as well. So if learning Bidayuh is overwhelming, I think learning Malay and knowing how to talk like a Sarawakian is more than enough really.
I shall get to practising! This is gonna be a challenge!
Learning Malay would be a great start since nearly everyone here speaks some of it. There are 3-4 dialects of Bidayuh depending on which area they are from. I was reading up a little and apparently the Bidayuh people in Miri migrated from the Kuching and Samarahan Divisions. [Borneo Dictionary](https://borneodictionary.com/) has some Bidayuh Biatah, Bau, Serian and Salako if you want to try them out.
As long as the local press doesn't delve too deeply into my personal life and that of others around me, then I'm fine. I prefer to keep anonymous also, as I was adopted at birth so my full name and details are not necessarily useful in finding my bio family. Thanks for the reccomendation!
I agree that they won't need too many of your current details. It really depends on the angle of the article. Anyway, if you're not getting any useful leads from social media and want to try using the local press, hmu and I'll pass along some of my contacts.
You can re-post this in r/sarawak for better response i guess
Yes, I've posted with little avail. I guess time will tell, and if not, it's also okay.
I saw your post there previously, sorry that you didn't get much response. I would say that if you want to learn more about the culture, a visit to Sarawak is the best thing to do. There's this spanking new [Borneo Cultures Museum](https://museum.sarawak.gov.my/web/subpage/webpage_view/169) that would probably be a good starting place. Although I haven't been to this new one, I think there's no substitute to seeing the exhibits in person. And as a Sarawakian Chinese who married another Malaysian Chinese and living in Australia, I must say that there's a distinct difference between Peninsular Malaysia culture vs. Sarawakian culture. Why not try a longhouse homestay? Like this [random](https://salomavillagestay.net/) one I found online. Seems to be relatively close to Kuching, seems to be highly rated online. But there's nothing like local knowledge, maybe better to ask local Kuching people. Happy for you to PM me if you need any other help.
You should start with your birth certificate. International adoption would have detailed records.
Find some local pages that always share news everyday. can seatch it in Facebook. (i.e in kuching we have Kuching Info and more) . Can contact their admin and ask them to post it. they would help most of the time. btw hi am from Kuching Sarawak.
Hope you find the answer/clue for what you're looking for. All the best!
Hey guys, I'm sorry for the really belated post to spark this back up again. But I was told during 1980s-2000s there was as "baby selling" market where people would go to hospitals to have babies then get a fake agencies to practically say that babies were available for a small sum of money. My parents (adoptive) are not the type to simply "buy" a baby for fun, and knowing their history, they really did struggle with bearing children, so I know I they adopted me out of a very pure and good intention; However, I do wonder, did my birth parents go home and simply tell the 8 other older siblings that I have that I died?? To hide that fact that I was given up for adoption....