Salutations from Malaysia!
Your favorite expat here, writing on a balmy winter day in Kuala Lumpur.
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. This was my first Christmas away from my family and the homesickness is real.
Anyway… It’s been a while since I checked in. What’s been going on these last few months? Well…
I cut down a tree with a machete…
Relaxed on a beach on the South China Sea…
I FINALLY found a good burger place…
Let’s see… Anything else?
Oh yeah…
I became a father!
Behold: Adam Hoffman – King of the Babies.
Becoming a dad in a foreign country was not easy. Facing a new experience and an unfamiliar system, I had to learn to let go. “Trust the process,” I told myself. “Malaysians know how to deliver kids.”
And so it went. Adam was born in a government hospital. (Total cost: $0.) It was a big, bustling complex with over 600 beds and basically no parking. I spent four days prowling the maternity ward, and while the facilities might seem a bit dated by American standards, the medical staff was top-notch.
On the big day I sat with my wife while she rode out contractions in the delivery room. (Good times.) When our son finally arrived, the doctors and nurses did an expert job and everyone went home healthy.
It was a crazy couple of days, but the end result was this little miracle:
His mother and I couldn’t be happier.
Having a child has already changed me. I’ve sacrificed sleep, silence, and self-determination, but I don’t mind one bit. Adam is a beautiful baby and everything he does makes me smile.
This is just the opening salvo in a lifelong journey, but fresh on the heels of a stressful international move, I feel relaxed and ready to be a dad.
On a sad note, I lost my cat of 15 years shortly before Adam was born. Clay followed me halfway around the world and she was an absolute champ about it.
She was an amazing companion, and she really helped me feel at home when my whole life changed. It’s hard to articulate the sadness of that goodbye, but Adam was quick to step in and fill some of the void.
Godspeed kitty.
It’s been an eventful year.
As 2019 draws to a close, I look back on a life in transition and marvel at how far I’ve come. I’m ready now for a new decade, in a new country, with a new baby, and I can’t help but be excited for the future.
Thanks for catching up, and stay tuned for more updates on this bouncing bundle of boy.
Happy New Year 😊
Yes, Eric, I was so very sad to hear about Clay. He definitely helped guide you to your new life and then went on his way to a new life in kitty heaven.
And now you have Adam! He is a beautiful baby, and I can’t wait to enjoy watching him grow through your eyes and all the photos and blog!
Happy New Year and hope your Christmas was fun. Hi to Su! –Love, Aunt Renee
Happy to see a new blog post!! We definitely missed you on Christmas.!!
Just re-read your blog about Adam joining you abroad. So glad we finally got to meet him. He is absolutely perfect !!! He reminds me of a “miniature you” by the look on his face and how he moves those arms and legs.
Now you and Su have the joy of watching him grow, experience life and learn about “his” world. Look forward to watching from abroad. Love, Mom