Name: Monica Tindall
Home country: Australia
Designation/Industry/Company: Worldwide Editor of The Yum List, theyumlist.blogspot.com
Marital Status: Married
Other countries you have lived in: Venezuela, Singapore, Australia
What brought you to Malaysia and how long have you been here?
I came for work and have been here for nine years. I’ve been saying, “just one more year” for the past eight!
What were your impressions of Malaysia before you came?
Many years ago when I lived in Singapore, Malaysia was always spoken of as a land where you had to be careful. For me, Malaysia had an air of mystery and adventure; I thought of it as being filled with lush jungle and wild animals. Now that I live here I see Kuala Lumpur as a very modern city, with all of the conveniences you’d find in other parts of the world.
How easily did you adapt to living in a new country?
Coming from Venezuela, Malaysia was a big change. Malaysia is a lot safer than South America, but lacks the energy and excitement about life I was used to. It took about a year to find the arts and music scene, and friends with a similar passion for life.
What three things do you wish you could change about Malaysia?
Education; traffic; and people’s appreciation (or lack of) for the environment.
How long do you think you will stay?
Just one more year…
Name three typical weekend activities that you enjoy.
Eating, vacationing, and “spa”ing
Do you frequent any restaurants offering food of your homeland?
Not really. There are so many places to try that I don’t often revisit a spot unless it is REALLY fantastic.
Are most of your friends Malaysians or expats?
A bit of both. Most get-togethers are very international. There are times when there might be 10 or more friends and each comes from a different country.
What do you miss most about your home country?
Besides my family, I miss the great outdoors and pedestrian-friendly paths, which make it easy to walk everywhere.
What is your favourite Malaysian food?
Assam laksa – I have an addiction to the ginger flower used in the broth.
What one memory will you always treasure when you come to leave Malaysia?
Going on foodie adventures with local buddies
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