Name: Iva Aguero
Home Country: Argentina
Job/Industry: Co-founder of philandiva.com
Maritial status: Engaged
Other countries you have lived: China, Indonesia
What brought you to Malaysia?
I first arrived in Malaysia in 1991 with my family. I spent most of my childhood in Kuala Lumpur and graduated from high school here before returning to Argentina for university. I returned to Kuala Lumpur in 2010 to pursue a career in advertising.
How easily did you adapt to living in a new country?
I have found that Malaysia is a very easy country to adapt to. Kuala Lumpur has the exciting beginnings of a budding cosmopolitan city while still remaining small enough to have a warm sense of community.
How long will you stay?
It is always hard to pry yourself away from Malaysia. For the moment my fiancé and I will only be staying a few months while we work on our website (www.philandiva.com), after which we will continue to travel on our sailboat.
What do you like to do at the weekend?
No weekend is complete for me without the obligatory visit to Changkat Bukit Bintang, either for a drink, dinner, or both. KL’s climate is ideal for one of my family’s favourite weekend activities; the asado (Argentine barbeque). And lastly, perhaps my favourite weekend activity and also one that we often take for granted here is swimming!
What would you like to change about Malaysia?
At the top of my list would be public transport and traffic issues, but I would also love to reduce the number of shopping malls in Malaysia! I am sometimes disappointed when, on beautiful sunny weekends, masses of people queue up to see the latest phone launch inside a shopping mall instead of visiting their neighbourhood park. Lastly, I also would love to see Malaysia swap some malls and cinemas for a few more theatres and concert halls.
What do you miss most about your home country?
Though KL’s year-long heat has many advantages, I do miss watching the seasons change in Argentina. I lived in Buenos Aires where winter is not too cold, so I sometimes miss the chill of a crisp breeze and being able to wear boots, jackets, and scarves!
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