•I make popcorn in a teapot, because it is the largest container in our kitchen.
•I’ve been using my essential oil bug spray as deodorant for a few days now because I’m particular and the selection here is slim.
•I was served a confusing chicken burger at the night market last week which had a fried bun. Literally, the bread was breaded.
•The lime green paint we used to paint the downstairs classroom actually smells like lime. Willy wonka would be proud!
•Menu items are mostly suggestions. About half of the items are “finished”, as they say.
•There exist moths the size of birds. No joke.
•When we go out, people practice their English phrases on us. Typically, they’re random/don’t make sense, but when we reply, people burst out laughing from excitement.
•I see at least 30 lizards a day. Our contact warned us: “You must take out the trash, otherwise you will attract lizards. If they are in your kitchen, they might fall into your food without you noticing and poison you”. Take out the trash, yo.
•There is a clear line of sight from the kitchen sink to the toilet and vice versa. The question “what’s that smell!?” can really mean a lot of things.
•If you ask for a straw or ice at a restaurant (that has both), it’s likely your waiter will inform you that’s the wrong way to drink your drink….and therefore, not bring either item.
•All of our options for Internet involve loitering. At marry browns (fast food), at a place we buy curry roti, or on a curb outside of a bookshop. Classy.
•In a moment of either insanity or brilliance, I became intrigued with the ducks at the night market. Five minutes later, I was carrying a live duck home with me, racking my brain for a plan. The duck now has a homemade cage and lives on the roof as our pet until we eat him for dinner. Don’t worry, we learned how to kill our own fowl in Africa.
•If you forget to move the washing machine (WE HAVE A WASHING MACHINE>>>YAY!) duct, you will flood the kitchen. Whoops…
•Everything we do in public makes people laugh or stare. My friend said, “Soak it up. You won’t be an anonymous celebrity forever”.
•Sweating happens most of the time doing most things. We seem to always come just after the cool/rainy season, and thus, it’s almost always hot.
All in all, I’m loving Malaysia. It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, and our contacts just gush with encouragement, hope, and faith! Such a gift.
From Malaysia with love,
Nat
