Simplicity in Diversity; Malaysia

Hi all,

It’s 11:20pm here and I’m still trying to figure out whether its 11:20am there or 10:20am, either way its dark here and light where you are. We are at Serina and Efendy’s (pronounced Fendi) place which is just outside downtown Kuala Lumpur (KL). It’s a nice place, very clean, nice breezes and great views of the city. The flights were weird, for lack of a better term. The flight from NYC to Alaska had alot of babies and was very very noisey so we weren’t able to get that much sleep. The flight from Alaska to Taipei was the same. The length of the flying didn’t bother me until the flight from Taipei to KL, when I couldn’t recline my seat and the air temp was pretty hot. I WAY overpacked. Too many accessories for the flights, none of which I used. I’ll be trying to unload some of it before we go to the island.

KL is gorgeous. The airport is incredibly modern, clean, efficient, quiet, and everyone was very friendly. We took the express train to KL Sentral and met up with Serina and Efendy. Everything is very very green and there were some of the largest palm trees I have ever seen. The first thing out of Serina’s mouth, after the customary asking how we were, was “You guys are alot younger than we thought”. They never asked our age, but I would have assumed that they could have figured it out from our resumes. I asked Serina about it and she said that it wasn’t a problem, they just hadn’t paid attention to it until now. They are both really really nice people. Serina has a Bachelors in Business Management, a Masters in Teaching, and is starting on her Phd but is tied up at the moment with this Island Fest. Efendy has his bachelors and masters in economics and is working on his Phd as well.

Jen and I slept for a bit (she is still sleeping), Efendy is out playing golf (yes, golf under lights) and Serina and I are here chatting about thigns. We’re going to go out to dinner whenver Efendy gets home and Jen wakes up. Tomorrow Serina has a meeting in the morning and we’re going to meet her downtown afterwards and she’s going to show us around, and then tomorrow night at 11:30 we’re meeting up with Julian and Eian(? she’s a female, but I can’t really understand her name) who own a dive shop on Tioman. We will be taking the bus with them to Mersing through the night, will arrive in the town of Mersing around 5am then take a ferry to the island. Jet lag hasn’t set in for me… yet. Tomorrow will be busy for sure. Serina has wireless internet here in her apartment and apparently there is “a computer” on the island that has the internet so i’m keeping my fingers crossed. I do get cell phone service here in KL but I probably won’t on the Island.

Everything is still a bit of a haze right now. I know i’m tired and its dark out and I could sleep but i’m not letting myself. I’m very nervous about the teaching, especially after the “suprise age” comment earlier. Everything runs smoothly here, and we will have people with us the whole way but still, new place, new nerves. We did change over $200US which turned into $736RM, which is nice. Pics and video will be coming soon. Till then!