Cultural adaptation of Malay participants in youth exchange program in the ship for southeast ASEAN and Japanese youth program (SSEAYP) in Malaysia [Kajian adaptasi budaya peserta Malaysia program kapal belia asia tenggara dan jepun (SSEAYP) di Malaysia]

The ship for southeast asian and japanese youth program (sseayp) which began in 1974,is an annual program sponsored by the japanese government and supported by the member countries of asean. the program brings together about 300 youths from asean countries and japan providing them with unique opportunity to interact on board the ship nippon maru and at different ports-of-call for 50 over days. the study focused on ex-participating youths of this program from malaysia. they are youth age between 18 to 35 years,who are malay and muslims. this study group consisted of 13 participants who have spent aboard this ship program successfully. the purpose of this study is to investigate the challenges faced by malay participants and to understand the cultural adaptation process of malay participants in the ship for southeast asian and japanese youth program (sseayp) using w-curve model by gullahorn and gullahorn (1963). the research methodology that is used in this study consisted of autoethnography and focus group discussions. the study found that the main challenge faced by the most malay participants in this program is the issue of halal food,religions practices and social challenge. © 2017,universiti kebangsaan malaysia press. all rights reserved.