Oh how well I know the Malaysian bathrooms! At least you have a shower – many I’ve used (staying with locals) have had squat toilets and the mandi-style tiled square tubs, with a dipper for bathing (if you’ve been in Malaysia for a while, I’m sure you’ll know what I mean…).
Hello from a half Malay – my mum is Malay (Minangkabua, from Negeri Sembilan – though expat in Australia since her 20s) and my dad’s a Kiwi (from Christchurch, though also expat in Australia since his teens). I think their marriage in the mid-1960s was a rather radical move at the time! Because of my mixed cultural background, I’ve had a foot in both these worlds all my life. Interesting to hear from a US expat in Malaysia (though the Brits certainly let their stamp on the place…). I think living in Penang would allow for a very rich expat experience – I’ve holidayed there a few times and really enjoyed it, but most of my time in Malaysia of late has been staying with my (vast) family clan on the mainland, between Selangor and Negeri. And staying with family means the full Muslim Malay extended family experience – including visits to kampung to catch up with my old aunt (who speaks no English, and my Bahasa is still very inadequate). My Malay cousins keep pressing me to visit soon – maybe even move there (though I don’t think the latter is on the cards any time soon…). But I’m probably well overdue for a visit. Anyway, nice to meet you here on Medium, and hello from across the waters in Sydney, Australia!
