Name: Edwin E B Jenkins
Home country: UK
Designation / Company: Sales Director at the Laguna Langkawi Developments
Marital status/Number of children: Married with 9 month old son

What brought you to Malaysia and how long have you been here?
I came to Malaysia to work for the Laguna Langkawi in the role of Sales Director to head up the team selling our luxury 5 star apartments. I have been here for 3 months.

What were your impressions of Malaysia before you came?
My knowledge of Malaysia prior to arriving was limited to the Petronas Towers and watching the Malaysian Grand Prix on television. Life in Langkawi is great but I am told is very different to the mainland.

What are the three things you like most about living in Malaysia?
The sun, the sea and the low cost of living.

What are three things you dislike about living in Malaysia?
The slow pace of work – very different form working in London, smelly drains, lack of sports clubs on Langkawi.

Name three places you would take an overseas visitor.
Langkawi – The Cable Car for the view, The Datai hotel for the surroundings and luxury and on a mangrove tour / fishing.

Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy.
Golf, the beach and spending time with my family.

What’s your favourite restaurant and bar in Malaysia?
Bar – Raffi’s at Pentai Cenang and The Datai restaurant so far but I am testing them all!

Are most of your friends Malaysians or expats? Why?
Expats through work and the building we live in. We do have a number of Malaysian friends too though.

One problem is the Expats in Langkawiare generally retired and thus there are few young people living here to make friends with.

What do you miss most about your home country?
Besides friends and family. A nice weekend in the countryside watching National Hunt horse racing followed by a nice walk and a pint or two of bitter in a country pub.

———————————————————————————————————
 

Name: Charles James Wright
Home Country: USA
Company: Moet Hennessy Diageo Malaysia
Marital Status: Single, but not available
Other Countries you have lived in: Hong Kong, UK, Thailand, Singapore

What brought to Malaysia and how long have you been here?
A great opportunity to lead marketing for Johnnie Walker. One year in, still walking.

What were your impressions of Malaysia before you came here?
How have they changed?
I lived in Singapore for two years prior to my arrival here. I was made to believe that Malaysia and KL were far more “dangerous” than they are. My hometown (San Francisco) is still more dangerous.

If you had to pick a sound, a smell, a taste or a touch to describe Malaysia, what would it be?
The sweet, savoury, and sour taste of char kway teow.

What are some things you like most about living in Malaysia?
The food (no surprise there), the space (I was getting claustrophobic in Singapore) and job (I wouldn’t choose to work on another brand right now).

What are three things you dislike about living in Malaysia?
The traffic, occasionally ugly corruption, and the reliability of public transport.

Name three places you would take an overseas visitor.
Jalan Alor is an easy intro to local food, KLCC for the iconic view, and Zouk for a taste of local nightlife.

Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy.
Touch rugby, a good party and a movie at home with my girlfriend.

What’s your favourite restaurant and bar in Malaysia?
Tough choice. I really like Marche at The Curve – very healthy and a fresh open environment. Bar? I’m not allowed to choose a favourite!

Do you own property here? If so, where? If not, why?
Nope, I’m not considering a property investment until I have an inkling of where I’d like to settle down.

Are most of your friends Malaysian or expats? Why?
Mostly Malaysians, there are simply more of them in my age range and they help me to experience the country and culture better.

What do you miss about your home country?
Fresh salads and authentic Mexican food!

———————————————————————————————————

Name: Michael Boeker
Home Country: Germany
Other Countries you have lived in: Singapore & Germany

What brought to Malaysia and how long have you been here?
We incorporated Lenze in 2005 and since then I am here. I will be here at least for the next two years.

If you had to pick a sound, a smell, a taste or a touch to describe Malaysia, what would it be?
For a sound, certainly ‘Boleh’, for touch it would simply be:| Touch ‘N’ Go

What are three things you like most about living in Malaysia?
The flexibility of institutions, very easy to hang out, indoor golf and the taste of good laksa.

What are three things you dislike about living in Malaysia?
No lucky stick & filter are available. The lack of good German schnaps and no regular live broadcast of Bundles Liga.

Name three places you would take an overseas visitor.
I would take them to Changkat Bukit Bintang, Langkawi and other well known fun places.

Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy.
A good massage, unavoidably forced to socialise with friends, working out but most of the time is conflicted with point two.

What’s your favourite restaurant and bar in Malaysia?
Currently my favourites are El Meson and of course House Frankfurt.

Do you own property here? If so, where? If not, why?
I don’t have any property here. My reason is that I’m only here on a two year contract; however I do invest in the stock market.

Are most of your friends Malaysian or expats? Why?
It’s a mix of Expats and Malaysians. Most of them I met actually during work and through associations.

What do you miss about your home country?
The seasons and a variety of bread.

———————————————————————————————————

Name: Dr Geoff Tobin
Home Country: Wales
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: Retired Chemical Engineer
Other Countries you have lived in: England, Belgium, Australia, USA, South Africa

What brought to Malaysia and how long have you been here?
My wife is Malaysian and this is our favourite place. This time we have been here almost 3 years and I have been a regular visitor for 15 years

What were your impressions of Malaysia before you came here? How have they changed?
I have seen KL change significantly since my first visits and it’s now much easier to be an expat here with English spoken everywhere. Encouraging developments all over the place.

If you had to pick a sound, a smell, a taste or a touch to describe Malaysia, what would it be?
The taste of my mother-in-law’s home cooked food.

What are three things you like most about living in Malaysia?
I like the people, the food and the lack of a winter.

What are three things you dislike about living in Malaysia?
I dislike the driving style, the belief that it’s acceptable to ignore zebra crossings (driving and parking) and the sounds of people renovating their apartments.

Name three places you would take an overseas visitor.
I would suggest visitors travel to Sipadan (wow!), Redang and The Datai in Langkawi. I also enjoyed Club Med Cherating.

Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy.
Diving, Jogging, swimming and walking.

What’s your favourite restaurant and bar in Malaysia?
My wife and I are both vegetarians and our favourite restaurant in the world for many years is The Blue Boy Vegetarian restaurant in Jalan Tong Shin.

Do you own property here? If so, where? If not, why?
We have a home in Bangsar within walking distance of BSC.

Are most of your friends Malaysian or expats? Why?
Our friends are generally Malaysian plus the odd expat.

What do you miss about your home country?
I miss visiting Old Trafford to watch Manchester United, jogging in the daylight without having to worry about the heat and vegetarian sausages.

Source: The Expat August 2011 
This article has been edited for ExpatGomalaysia.com
Get your free subscription and free delivery of The Expat Magazine.