Ryan arrives in Modern Southeast Asia

Lim Ze Xian Ryan Dennis was born to a Peranakan father and a Eurasian mother in 1994. He has always been addressed as “Ryan”, except in Chinese language classes where he was addressed by his Chinese name. “Ryan” is definitely his preferred name.

Ryan majors in global affairs. He is particularly interested in international security, and the ways in which national and regional cuisines and foods are used in the construction of group identities.

Ryan is more generally interested in serious barbecue, mixed martial arts, video games, and Spaghetti Western films.

One quirk about Southeast Asia that interests him is the way in which people from different Southeast Asian countries are broadly categorised as “friendly” or “not particularly friendly”. Where does this friendliness (or lack thereof) come from? Does it stem from cultural practices and beliefs, or effective government campaigns? Singapore for example is a place that would generally be considered “not particularly friendly”. While abroad with Singaporean friends in friendlier countries, Ryan has noticed how some Singaporeans even feel uncomfortable and disoriented when confronted with the exceptional friendliness of others.