Lessons learned from rocky 1 to rocky 3

Facts I noticed so far about life here:

-> I am tall ... seriously, really tall for local standards. I didn't mange to find a fitting pair of shoes so far - apart from Converse (yes, I am expanding my collection of Chuck Taylors by a green pair)

-> Technically I should be considered a Western expat, but as I don't seem to look like European in most people's assumptions I am recognized as African by locals and other Western expats, which is weird because due to my upbringing Western expats look familiar to me but the feeling is clearly not reciprocal - maybe you don't get this, but it's an - "people are surprised when I tell them my home country and I'm constantly treated like a foreigner in my own home town" - thing.

-> Some things are really cheap. You can get a great meal including beverage for less than 10 ringit (2 euro), but other things are really expensive in relation to that - like basically all clothes in global chain stores - prices are the same as in Austria after conversion.

-> It's hot when it doesn't rain - so you wish for rain, but if it rains it really rains and it's unconvenient, so you wish it wouldn't rain - yes, it's a bit of a catch 22 (oh, and sometimes it's even hot after the rain ...).

-> It's multicultural, a mix of Malay, Indian and Chinese, but from what I've heard, some are considerd more equal and also this country isn't spared by discrimination.

-> I am sick of street vendors and sick of being screamed at by anyone who wants to sell or offer any service to me. If I want something I'll come - this is not so hard to get isn't it?

-> The local people I hang out with (Aiesecers) lead quite a different life than the average Austrian student and are in general hospital and friendly.

-> I am old - or at least I feel like it around here, because people look younger than they do and college students are younger than the average Austrian students.

-> I am a coffee and diet coke addict.

-> I am a huuuuge fan of walking, which is considered as strange by locals as they mainly use their car to get from one point to the other. So I've found myself wandering alone on the sidewalks when the streets were full with cars.

(In case you are wondering about my post titles: somehow as I started with the blog in 2007, I had the idea to name each blog with the name of one of my songs in my iTunes library that would fit best.)


current music: Anthony & the Johnsons - Cripple and the Starfish