Song to say goodbye

My nice goodbye gift from AIESEC TUC, a great memory

The other day I had my goodbye party here. I noticed that throughout my blog I've written very little about everyday life and the usual ramblings of how I spend my days in a different country. I guess that's because I got used to all this in my previous stays abroad. So what has been going on here besides my travels and the ideas and thoughts that crossed my mind?

One of my original flatmates already left and went back to Korea and in turn four new interns came - one from the Netherlands and three from Canada. So there has been quite a change in the culture of my housemates - but then again we are all Aiesecers and it's not only an organisation, it's a lifestyle - that's why I guess we also get along well, even though the various types couldn't be more different. We had a full house over here as we had 6 people in a 3-room house, but sharing a room is fine for the last weeks. Work is quite slow right now as it is exam and holiday period in many schools here. That's why we enjoy the fewer workshops even more.

Going out at Skybar - great view of the Petronas towers
Waikiki bar

And on the upside: less work equals more travel. I spent my last full weekend with a trip to the Cameron Highlands, a nice getaway from the troubles of a metropole. The weather was cool and I enjoyed the views over the tea plantages, ate strawberries directly from the farm, visited a flower farm, a bee farm, held a lizzard and a scorpion in my hand, did some hiking that included an unintended backward salto that was luckily stopped by a bush and enjoyed the backpacker life for a last time as I staid in a hostel on my own.


The final travel destination was then Melaka - a colonial city South of KL, that is part of the cultural heritage. Had a great time with the other interns exploring the small city while the heat slowly took us down and we headed back at night soaked in sweat.

Melaka

Blue Mosque in Shah Alam

My goodbye party took place on the same day as my 25th birthday. I noticed that while I don't mind spending Christmas or other celebrations away from home, it was feeling weird to be not with my friends on my birthday. However, the many congrats received over today's communciation channels like Skype, Facebook, Xing oh and the cellphone as well as the surprise cakes - one that was ate at the internhouse and one that landed in my face - made totally up for it and I happily started the next quarter-century of my life.

A part of this cake landed in my face - or rather my face landed in it,
the rest I ate, because no one wants to waste such a delicious treat

Thanks everyone - I had a great time in Malaysia with AIESEC TUC and the interns!

Even tough I only spent about 2 months here in KL, I got used to the place and the people. Living together does really connect you and the little habits of your mates do grow on you. Random acts or sounds that may have annoyed you once, become a routine, you get used to your peers and you'll miss them when you are gone. As this is not my first goodbye I came to realize that goodbyes are often not final. This is after all a small world and as I am not a part of a rare species - I am not the only one who get's around. Lightning always strikes twice and for sure our paths will cross more than once. Thanks for the fun times, the random moments, the trips, the collaboration and support and the good nights smoking sheesha, eating roti and drinking mango smoothies.

I am not an openly emotional person. Although I often experience an internal rollercoaster, I am not one to show this of. I don't like saying goodbye. That is also why I prefer the French or German phrase for parting which is "Auf Wiedersehen" or "Au revoir", which simply means "Till I see you again".

So it's not goodbye Malaysia, it's not goodbye new friends at TUC, it's not goodbye my housemates - it's simply "See you later".


current music: Maksim - The gypsy maid