TCK living in Malaysia


Selamat Pagi! Apa Khabar? Nama saya Abbi 🙂 Okay, okay, I’ll stop. I know most of you don’t understand what I just said. If you do, you are AMAZING! Comment down below what you think I said. Now, as you may have seen from the title, today’s topic is MALAYSIA. That little language intro was Malay, the language of the Malaysians.

I’ve gotten this question asked many a time– How is it like to be a Third-Cultured Kid in Malaysia? In this post I’m going to try to answer it best I can. First off, you’ve got to know where in the world it is. I remember once hearing someone say, “Malaysia? Oh is it in California?” Seriously? No judging, but I found it more hilarious than annoying. XD

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of Borneo. It’s famous for its tropical rainforests, beautiful beaches, and. . . GOOD FOOD. There is only one season–SUMMER–which makes it hard for this autumn loving girl.  I’ve seen all the sides of the sun by now.

Nonetheless, living overseas in Malaysia for over 12 years has been a great experience. It has had its challenges–uncertainty and frequent transitions/moves–but we’ve managed to pull through.

Malaysia’s ethnicity is a mix of Chinese, Indian and Malay. So, a ton of culture. Their food reflects that, too. Malaysia food is–HANDS DOWN–the best food. EVER. Mostly because it’s a happy mix of INDIAN<3, Malay, and Chinese dishes.

Roti tissue is a thin, papery version of the traditional Roti Canai. It is wrapped into a cone and is topped with syrup and sugar. Sounds unhealthy, but oh so good. With moderation, that is. 😉
Nasi Lemak is a famous Malay breakfast dish. It consists of coconut rice, sambal (spicy sauce), ikan bilis (tiny dried fish), cucumbers, peanuts, a hard-boiled egg, and sometimes fried chicken. IT’S AMAZZIIINNGGG!!

In addition, the price is cheap. Actually, everything here is cheap and affordable compared to other countries. You can get this dish for as low as RM 1 which is 25c (a quarter!) The low prices are especially a benefit for a 7 people family like mine. 

Malaysia holds some of my favorite foods and… one of my least favorite. I’m looking at you Durian. (Durian is a spiky fruit. One could describe the taste as onion, garlicy, cheesecake. You either love it, as most Malaysians do, or hate it. ) I’m of the minority. 

The beaches here, if you find the right ones, are breathtaking. The sunsets add to the effect.

Penang Beach

For me living in Malaysia never really seemed like anything out of the ordinary. It was always just, what I thought, a normal fact about me. For you Americans, it felt as normal as living in Michigan or Texas, or wherever you live. But when I meet other teens who have never been outside of their home country, never dreamed of experiencing what I experience. . . It fills me with awe and a feeling of gratitude. Gratefulness for Him who placed me here for such a time as this. For my parents who provide for our family and make our home possible. I know I will always look back on my experiences and memories here with amazement. No matter where I end up living in the future, Malaysia will always hold a piece of my heart.

Thanks for reading! I would love to hear your insight, comments, or questions. 🙂 Comment down below what you think I said in my Malay language intro.


0 responses to “TCK living in Malaysia”

  1. Great read Abbi! I loved it! I’ve never been to Malaysia, but I have been to Timor Leste and Singapore, so I’ve tried very similar food. I love sambal! We have it a lot at home. But we call it ai manas, which is in Tetum. I’m not a huge fan of durian either though 😊

  2. Great read Abbi! I loved it! I’ve never been to Malaysia, but I have been to Timor Leste and Singapore, so I’ve tried very similar food. I love sambal! We have it a lot at home. But we call it ai manas, which is in Tetum. I’m not a huge fan of durian either though 😊

  3. Well done Abbi! I liked this part, “It’s famous for its tropical rainforests, beautiful beaches, and. . . GOOD FOOD. There is only one season–SUMMER–which makes it hard for this autumn loving girl. I’ve seen all the sides of the sun by now.” Also I would add or explain what a TCK is. Since people in the states might not know.

  4. Well done Abbi! I liked this part, “It’s famous for its tropical rainforests, beautiful beaches, and. . . GOOD FOOD. There is only one season–SUMMER–which makes it hard for this autumn loving girl. I’ve seen all the sides of the sun by now.” Also I would add or explain what a TCK is. Since people in the states might not know.

  5. Well done Abbi! I liked this part, “It’s famous for its tropical rainforests, beautiful beaches, and. . . GOOD FOOD. There is only one season–SUMMER–which makes it hard for this autumn loving girl. I’ve seen all the sides of the sun by now.” Also I would add or explain what a TCK is. Since people in the states might not know.

  6. Abbi-great memories of Malaysia. I remember the first time we had Roti Tissue there. It was awesome. Gma J

  7. Your great grandmother, Jean, often said, “Bloom where you are planted” or “Brighten the corner where you are”. It looks like you are doing both. Looking forward to your visit to the US. Your great aunt Judy

  8. Yes, I also think you said “Good morning! How are you? My name is Abbi.”
    Great post Abby! Yes, hands down the food in South East Asia is the best and while constant uncertainty is a downside, getting to live in such a wonderful place is truly a gift from Him.
    -Aubrey

  9. Dear Abbi,

    So great to read this today!

    I will try my Malay in order to be thought “AMAZING” by my granddaughter. You said: “Good morning. How are you? My name is Abbi.”

    I love you and am so looking forward to seeing you in about 11 days now (counting them!)

    Grammy

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