WTNY 8-26-2007 07:51
Kim is an American expat living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Kim's work as an international school teacher helps her realize her desire to live in a country other than the United States, the land of her birth. Teaching at an international school in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, brings more than just professional satisfaction. With her husband, she's also learning more about other cultures--without sacrificing too many modern comforts. Read on for some tips about expat living in the cosmopolitan yet traditional city of Kuala Lumpur.
Kim Cofino
February 08 2007
-Where were you born?
New York, USA
-In which country and city are you living now?
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
-Are you living alone or with your family?
With my husband
-How long have you been living in Malaysia?
2 years
-What is your age?
29
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Malaysia?
When I did my study abroad in Florence, Italy in university, I realized I wanted to live abroad "when I grew up." After finishing my undergraduate degree I heard about teaching in international schools and realized that would be an excellent way to live and work abroad. My first international posting was in Munich, Germany, where I lived with my husband for five years. After all those years of cold, northern European weather, we decided we wanted to live somewhere warm and sunny, so when we were offered this job in KL, we jumped at the chance.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
As with most international schools, the school here obtained my work visa. The only thing I had to do was provide proof of my teaching credentials and years of experience.
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
Again, this is something that is handled by the school.
-How do you make your living in Malaysia? Do you have any type of income generated?
Working in international schools is a fantastic way to live, work and travel abroad. There are international schools in all capital cities and many in other smaller cities as well. Here in KL there are at least 5 large international schools (over 700 students per school). These schools service the expat community with the language of instruction being English. There are also often international schools in different languages as well. For example: KL also has French, German, and Japanese schools.
If you are a teacher, or are interested in becoming a teacher, the easiest way to find a job abroad is to attend a job fair. There are about 10 fairs held annually, the largest are run by Search Associates and International School Services. The fairs are held all around the world starting in January. Most schools prefer teachers with international experience, but not all. Once you register with the recruitment company (usually around October/November) you will need to send copies of your credentials, references, teaching philosophy and resumé. After you have been accepted as an appropriate candidate you can register (or be invited to, depending on which company you choose) a job fair. Usually decisions at the job fair are made quickly as they only last 3-4 days. For example, at the last fair we attended we had planned to move to Dubai. We had 9 offers in Dubai, but on the evening of the first day we were offered this job in KL. After 6 months of thinking we were going to Dubai, we decided we liked the jungle better and accepted the following day.
-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
In KL it is not necessary to speak Bahasa. Everyone speaks English and more often than not the three ethnic groups that make up Malaysia (Malay, Chinese and Indian) speak to each other in English.
An important aspect to remember when moving to Malaysia is that this is a Muslim country. Even though the country observes holidays for all ethnicities, the culture is predominantly Muslim. You may want to be aware of some basic customs like: it is rude to point with your first finger, so Malaysians use their thumb instead; when giving or receiving anything it is rude to do so with your left hand - either use both hands or your right hand only; when visiting mosques be sure to dress appropriately; and above all, have respect for the three, very different, cultures that make up this diverse country.
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
As a teacher, I have two months vacation every summer, which is usually enough time for me to spend back in the States. I enjoy living in Malaysia because there is so much to do and so many of the comforts of home. Most expats in KL live in beautiful condos with pools, tennis courts and restaurants (they're more like hotels than homes), we have every kind of restaurant you can imagine in the city--so far the only thing I haven't found is Ethiopian food. We have large malls that sell pretty much anything you could want, and we get the majority of movies that are released in the States usually within a few weeks. To be honest, living in KL is pretty easy.
-Do you have other plans for the future?
We have just been hired at a new school in Bangkok, Thailand, so even though we love Malaysia, we're gearing up for a new move.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We are renting a 2-bedroom condo in the neighborhood where we work. It is a fairly expensive neighborhood with lots of amenities. We pay RM2,700/month which is quite low for the area.
-What is the cost of living in Malaysia?
Cost of living is similar to that in the US if you are living like an expat (eating at western restaurants, shopping at western stores, buying western groceries). If you are happy to eat at local food stalls and don't plan to do much shopping, you can live very cheaply here. The difference in cost (between western and local) can be quite large; for example we can eat a large meal at one of the local food stalls for RM 25 (for both of us) or at a western restaurant for RM 100 (no alcoholic beverages). You have a huge variety of places to choose from, though, so you can manage to live in whatever style suits you best.
-What do you think about the Malaysians?
The locals are extremely friendly, welcoming and helpful. We had an extremely easy transition to Malaysia and will be sad to leave. For the most part, locals are very open to foreigners and it is easy to get to know people if you want.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Malaysia?
Malaysia is a wonderful country to live in - we have stunning beaches, a lively capital city, great historic towns, and wonderful weather. Living in KL is extremely comfortable with a very high quality of life. The downsides of living in Malaysia for me is the pollution, the lackadaisical attitude towards recycling and trash pickup, and general noisiness of constant construction.
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Malaysia?
A word of advice for anyone planning to move to KL: look carefully at homes before you decide on a location, both condos and houses can vary widely in quality, style, and furnishings, even in the same location and make sure you consider traffic congestion for your commute.
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Malaysia?
My blog chronicles the daily life of an expat living in Malaysia: Follow That Elephant.