I’M GOING TO MALAYSIA, Y’ALL.
So what is 2018 going to look like for me? On January 1st (24 days from now) at 4:00 PM, I’ll catch a flight from Cincinnati. 31.5 hours later, I’ll land in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s capital city. From there… your guess is as good as mine!
OK, so I have some idea of what I’ll be doing. I know that until November 1st, I’ll serve as an English teaching assistant to middle-school aged Malaysian students. I received a Fulbright ETA grant, which covers my flight and housing expenses, as well as provides me with a living stipend each month. Am I excited? YES! Am I nervous? Also yes.
I have no clue with whom or where I’ll be living and working yet–that’s one of the most exciting/nerve-wracking parts. There are 100 Fulbright ETAs (English Teaching Assistants) selected for 2018, and my first two weeks will be spent with them in Kuala Lumpur for orientation–a crash course in Bahasa Malaysia (the official language), lessons in Malaysian culture and etiquette, and English teaching courses. Only after a few days in Kuala Lumpur will I receive my school placement and roommate assignment. Then, I’ll have a week-long regional orientation with other ETAs who are placed near me. Finally, I’ll move into my apartment/house/teacher dormitory in what will likely be a small, low-income, rural community and begin teaching!
I’ll use this blog as a place to post pictures and write about my adventures in the coming months. In the next few days, I’ll post a FAQ page with some of the common questions I’ve gotten from friends and relatives about what exactly I’m going to be doing. Until then, selamat tinggal!
DISCLAIMER: For those of you who know me well, you know that I start a lot of projects… and never finish them. The study abroad blog from my semester in Rome had a whopping total of four posts. I started cleaning my room 20 years ago and never finished that, either. So no promises on this whole Malaysia blog thing. In any case, enjoy it while it lasts!
written while listening to:
Breathe – Télépopmusik
The Ephemeral Bluebell – Bibio
Ghostwriter – RJD2
A Walk – Tycho
Output – Blue States
Do YoU Ka NoW WhAt The LAY cliMAte IS?
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hI cOrRiE! The Malaysian climate is tropical, meaning it is about 75-90 degrees during the day year round. It is very humid here. Winter is rainier than the summer, but otherwise the weather stays about the same throughout the four seasons.
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I am in your mom’s class and do you like bacon
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I am a vegetarian, Kole. So while I might like bacon, I do not eat it.
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Hey Liz! It’s Natalie again. I was wondering if you could post a picture of you and your roommate Veronica on your Facebook or send it to our mom. I hope you’re having a great time in Malaysia. Lots of love from Ohio!
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Hi Natalie! I just added some pictures to my Facebook. Ask our mom to show it to you in class this week. And thank you! Love from Malaysia to you all. ❤
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Have you encountered any rainbow-coloured leeches? What colours are hijabs usually?
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I have not encountered rainbow-colored leeches, unfortunately. I’ve seen many different colors and patterns of hijabs since I’ve been here. In the school where I taught an English camp, the Muslim girls wore white or light blue hijabs as part of their uniform.
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have you held a monkey yet and will you.
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I have not held any monkeys, although one did eat out of my hand. I might hold one eventually…
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do leeches crawl?
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can i have a monkey? please
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Shipping is too expensive, sorry.
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They do, I guess. They also wriggle.
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Are the monkeys cuter in person? Also, is the place you staying at nice? Is the music nice?
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I think they are much cuter in person! The Dorsett Hotel in Kuala Lumpur was super nice and bougie, with a delicious and varied breakfast every morning. I’m not sure what my house will be like yet, but I move in on Thursday!
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Oh, and I’ve mostly heard American music since I’ve been here. That’s what is most popular and what you’ll hear on the radio. A lot of the songs are weird covers, though. We heard a street musician playing Sweet Home Alabama the other night!
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Hello, Elizabeth! I have watched Spirited Away for the first time, and I now get your reference!
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Hi Matthew! Spirited Away is a great movie–I’m glad you watched it. 🙂
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