Hey everyone!!!
Life has been a little bit of a roller coaster of good and bad. The days are long and the nights are short. This month will be slower for my team and I but it was much needed after being busy 24/7 in Thailand. This month will allow us to grow independently and as a community. Since it is more relaxed this month we have the ability to get to understand and really jump into the area and people around us.
Malaysia is a beautiful country that amazes me everyday! When my team and I first showed up we really didn’t know what to expect because we had heard so many different views. I had heard that this country was dangerous, not safe and that crime rates were high, but to be honest I really wasn’t to intimidated. I was only nervous because I really didn’t know much about Malaysia besides other peoples views. I decided that I wasn’t going to let those views impact my feelings. I wanted to make sure i kept an open mind about the country and then decide after I experienced it. After exploring around the little city of Changlun I quickly realized that its peaceful but hidden. The people here are so nice but slightly intimidated by us. This is not a tourist town at all so we stand out a lot. Now that I have been here for about 2 weeks I’ve really been trying to understand this town because it’s unique and unlike any place I have ever been. One thing I noticed is that on the surface is super calming and peaceful, but underneath the surface its hectic and forgotten. The people live their lives everyday in a city that is surrounded by huge prospering city’s and i feel like this one gets brushed under the rug. Its sad seeing how these people live but its also intriguing learning how they go about their days. The people here spend their mornings setting up their shops everyday and standing in the heat trying to sell their products so they can provide for their families and then spending every night taking it all down to start all over the next day. Its hard work that they hide so well. The locals always have big smiles on their faces and make sure to always say hello to us. One thing that I also noticed is that most of the area speaks very good english. They are very intelligent people that get overlooked a lot because of assumptions. I truly hope the best for this little city because even though it is small it has a lot to offer.
On another note today is Thanksgiving and for me it doesn’t feel like it all. I woke up this morning to my wonderful teammate Hannah yelling happy thanksgiving to all of us. It felt a little weird hearing it because its 91 degrees here in Malaysia and all the people closest people to me are miles away. I was reminded earlier today that Thanksgiving is a beautiful day not just for the celebration and the food, but a day to reflect on all the things that I am grateful for. I’ll admit its not easy being away from home on a family oriented holiday but it’s also not the worst thing. Today I get to spend thanksgiving dinner with my teammates and wonderful hosts here. We will have a night of love and fellowship while eating a delicious Malaysian meal! There is so much the world has to offer and by stepping out of my comfort zone and experiencing this beautiful holiday here in Malaysia its something so peaceful and relaxing and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
A quick little update on how I am doing financially for my trip. So I am not fully funded yet but I am only $1,547 short of my deadline which is in January. I am so so grateful for all the support and love all of yall have shown me through prayer and financially. Even though its still the beginning of this journey its already taught me so much and allowed me to see people and the world in ways that have changed me for the long run!
heres the link to my blog – tatyanablair.theworldrace.org
With love,
Tatyana
