So, I have almost been in Malaysia for one week. I haven't had too much time to explore and have been working too much. I have found a fruit called a rambutan (a relative of the lychee) that is sweet and just fun to hold. I've been trying not to embarass myself with chopsticks, but I think I am getting the hang of them.
On Saturday we had a huge patient group workshop of about 110 plus people. It was very successful and I had the opportunity to meet many patients that I only knew as names. That was very rewarding. I designed a map for patients to come and sign and put a sticker where they are from. Patients liked it and we plan on taking it when we go to do some rural meetings to show them where the other patients are in the country.
Malaysia is a melting pot of many cultures--Malay, Indian
and Chinese. As a British colony , the Chinese came to build the railroad and the Indian to do the rubber tapping. Because they have natural resources, I think Malaysia is much better off than a lot of the other nearby countries. It is very modern and clean in Kuala Lumpur.
I wondered how 3 very different races live in such harmony, given other parts of the world have tensions amongst "their own" people. It appears the rascism here is not within these 3 groups-but to the outsiders wanting a better life. They are mostly Bangladeshi and Indonesian with a sparse group of Africans (Nigerians and Somali). Everyone tells me that crime has increased once they arrived, especially the Indonesians) and there is now some ethnic tension.
I can't gauge how safe it is here. I know there is a warning against travelling to Eastern Malaysia because of terrorist activities and kidnappings. Everyone says a woman should never walk alone, its very dangerous. Being double the size of the average man here, I feel I have a little advantage :)
So, when I first arrived I was in the mood for an ice cold beer. Then I realized, all the shopkeepers are muslims and it is against their religion to carry, sell, and consume alcohol. So, I want a beer-just one. My mission to find one continues. I hear there is a Chinese shop somewhere that may have one :) I'll let you know how that goes.
I spent an evening touring around an art market and that was wonderful. One of our patients is an artist there and he introduced me to some amazing pastelists and painters. I will return tomorrow and some of them have agreed to give me some lessons. I'm really excited. I saw a Malaysian kite stall which was incredible. Many colors and each kite hand cut and painted. 
I decided to stop working so much so this weekend I am taking a short flight to Penang province for their 2nd annual World Music Festival. Should be fun!
On Saturday we had a huge patient group workshop of about 110 plus people. It was very successful and I had the opportunity to meet many patients that I only knew as names. That was very rewarding. I designed a map for patients to come and sign and put a sticker where they are from. Patients liked it and we plan on taking it when we go to do some rural meetings to show them where the other patients are in the country.
Malaysia is a melting pot of many cultures--Malay, Indian
and Chinese. As a British colony , the Chinese came to build the railroad and the Indian to do the rubber tapping. Because they have natural resources, I think Malaysia is much better off than a lot of the other nearby countries. It is very modern and clean in Kuala Lumpur.I wondered how 3 very different races live in such harmony, given other parts of the world have tensions amongst "their own" people. It appears the rascism here is not within these 3 groups-but to the outsiders wanting a better life. They are mostly Bangladeshi and Indonesian with a sparse group of Africans (Nigerians and Somali). Everyone tells me that crime has increased once they arrived, especially the Indonesians) and there is now some ethnic tension.
I can't gauge how safe it is here. I know there is a warning against travelling to Eastern Malaysia because of terrorist activities and kidnappings. Everyone says a woman should never walk alone, its very dangerous. Being double the size of the average man here, I feel I have a little advantage :)
So, when I first arrived I was in the mood for an ice cold beer. Then I realized, all the shopkeepers are muslims and it is against their religion to carry, sell, and consume alcohol. So, I want a beer-just one. My mission to find one continues. I hear there is a Chinese shop somewhere that may have one :) I'll let you know how that goes.
I spent an evening touring around an art market and that was wonderful. One of our patients is an artist there and he introduced me to some amazing pastelists and painters. I will return tomorrow and some of them have agreed to give me some lessons. I'm really excited. I saw a Malaysian kite stall which was incredible. Many colors and each kite hand cut and painted. I decided to stop working so much so this weekend I am taking a short flight to Penang province for their 2nd annual World Music Festival. Should be fun!
