Gracy Bee

Life in transition

Posted on January 2nd, 2007 by GracyBee.
Categories: Everyday life.

It has 3 months since I have returned to Malaysia. I don’t consider Malaysia my home as yet, but rather another new place for me to explore, just like how l lead my life in Spore and England.

I only come back to Malaysia during school holidays for the last 20 years, and that would be around 3 mths in total in Malaysia per year, translated to 5 years in 20. Whenever I was in Malaysia, life was pretty routine, went to the same places, with people ferrying you around and such. Such a boring life that I admit, I was happy to leave when the holidays end.

^^^^^^

From the time I decided to come back, I know there will be huge challenges facing me. I also have some feedbacks from different Malaysians. Strangely enough, out of 10 people I have heard from, 5 of them (middle age) would say: Malaysia no good la this and that…and yet the other 5 (X & Y gen) says: Malaysia not bad la! Nonetheless, I harboured high hopes in adapting life in Malaysia. After all, I have done that all these while, so shouldn’t be a big problem.

I am pretty disappointed with what I see in my home town in Selangor. I mean, c’mon! I have left 20 years ago, I have expected to see new and improved township to be in line with the globalisation and development of the country. But no. Nearly 95% of the town is the same as I have seen before I leave for Spore in 1986.

Here’s what.

1. Nearly 95% of the buildings are still in existence. Only a few demolished to make way for new ones.
2. The still standing and in use ones are neglected and dirty. The empty ones are neglected and left to rot. (What a eye sore!)
3. More new buildings sprout out like mushrooms but still 80% empty.
4. The buildings meant for commercial purposes don’t have ‘loading bays’! How on earth can we load goods? There is also no sanitary facilities, how to dispose bulk items? how they collect garbage? (!!!!! )
5. Cars are pretty much an important necessity for transportation. Yet the new buildings built still lack car parks. For example, a firm in 1st storey of a 3 storey building, with 20 employees. No. of car parks available for their allocated area: 2. (what are they thinking when building? we still in 1960s era? they can’t be bothered?)
6. No land are left empty. As long as there is an empty land, shophouses are bound to be built. But what for leh?
7. The roads are all the sames. The only changes are the roads are re-routed and ‘one-wayed’ to accommodate the increasing traffics. Good idea to divert, and as a result, worsening the already oh-my-god traffic jams in certain areas.
8. The surroundings, as far as my memory stretched, are no cleaner and in fact getting dirtier at each passing year.
9. Public transport is still no better than before. For someone like me who has relied heavily on public transport, you can imagine my despair. Woah liao eh…..20 years already how come still like dat?!
10. There is still no clean water in the households. Huge water filters are in demand. OK…We are moving towards 2020, and still there is no clean water? Why they can spend millions to send astronauts to space but not enough budget to provide clean water and water rates increasing?? My response: … … …

I’m trying to build up my network here slowly and gradually. I have managed to know some. I was told that there are pretty much changes in other areas in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. So I guess the rate of development is unevenly distributed WHICH I think is not good. I told myself I need at least 6 mth to look around Malaysia, an unusually long time for me to adapt to new environment. Look like I need to increase the time frame.

This first 3 month period is pretty much a life in transition, having to get used to a life so different I have experienced before. I have planned so much what I want to do in Malaysia, but the progress of advancement is way too slow. The very 1st thing I need to do: to get a car, from my ultra tight budget.

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