Malaysia, Here I Come

This is a love story.

It’s a tale as old as time.

I met a girl, we fell in love, and we’re going to see the world.

Here’s the girl:

Her name is Su and she’s a treasure.

Su and I grew up on opposite ends of the earth. Literally. She’s spent most of her life in Malaysia, and came to the U.S. four years ago to pursue a PhD. We met at Ohio State, and found that despite our disparate backgrounds, we were basically made for each other.

Su is everything I could ask for in a life partner. She’s smart, beautiful, and unfailingly kind. I love her so much I married her twice.

Of course, I knew that marrying a Malaysian girl would eventually bring me to Malaysia, and I can now officially announce we’ll be moving there in January.

It’s exciting! But it’s a lot to process.

I visited Malaysia last December and had a ball. We enjoyed a traditional Malay wedding (see above), I went all over the country and met my wife’s wonderful family. I look forward to some amazing adventures experiencing a new country and culture.

That said… it’s a lot to process.

Malaysia is very far away and very different from the United States. I’ll have to relearn simple things like driving, eating, and shopping, all while grappling with a language that’s not my own.

I think I can handle most of that. I’m well-traveled and adaptable, and I have some experience living abroad. But I’ve also lived in Ohio for most of my life, and I’ve been settled in Columbus for fifteen years.

It’s going to be a big transition.

For the moment, I think I’m equal parts excited and terrified. I’m eager to step outside my comfort zone, but nervous about what I might find. I’m thrilled to start a new adventure with my wife, but sad to leave friends and family behind.

At the end of the day, I know my wife faced the same challenges four years ago when she moved to the United States. She came here with a goal of broadening her horizons, and she’s leaving with a husband and a PhD. Not bad at all.

So I’ve started this website as a means of sharing my journey. I’ll update regularly with stories, pictures and impressions from my travels, and I hope you enjoy following me throughout.

Feel free to leave comments, ask questions, and keep me company while I jet off to the other side of the world.

I don’t know what to expect, but it should be interesting.

Stay tuned…