An Update from Brockport, New York.

Christmas 2016

    It's been exactly 3 years since Kevin and I left Penang to live in the US and a lot has happened. Since moving here we have purchased a new home that has a pool and plenty of room. We also added 2 new additions to the family, Cato and Lucky, Cattle Dog brother and sister.

Lucky and Cato

 

Perhaps the biggest nes since we have moved is with Kevin. He has been attending the State University of New York Genesee Community College since January of 2015. He has earned a spot on either the Dean's List or the President's List for every semester. He is due to graduate in May of this year and has been accepted to Rochester Institute of Technology, one of the top ranking Universities in the country. Because of his academic achievements he has basically been given a free ride! Not bad for someone who was not given a chance for an education in Malaysia!

Kevin continues to enjoy the cold and snowy winters and gardening and the pool in the summer. Since we live in the suburbs of Rochester, NY we get to enjoy the wildlife and scenery of the area.

Niagara Falls

 Letchworth State Park

 

Kevin and Lucky in the Pool.

This winter.

Kevin and Cato

Since last January Kevin's niece Yuki has been living with us while she is studying at the same college as Kevin. After her graduation she plans to transfer to a 4 year university to study art.
As for me I continue to enjoy retirement, our dogs, our Chameleon, Ulysses, my marine fish tank and our Quaker parrot Blue.

Blue

I'll try to update this blog on occasion if there are any new developments. Thank you to everyone who visits this blog and enjoy your travels!

Settling in Back Home

It has been about seven months since I left Penang to move back home to the US, so I thought I should write a note here. We have settled in to our new home in Upstate New York State in the US, a country like setting just outside of Rochester.We have a big house with quite a bit of land, including a pool, decks, gardens and 2 puppies. I didn't realize how much I missed having a yard, a garden and a dog! Autumn is here and the leaves are beginning to change color giving us beautiful views wherever you go. It's so nice to have 4 distinct seasons again. After this past winter here I realized that I would rather have a few months of very cold snowy weather than have 12 months of extreme heat and humidity. With winter approaching we are looking forward to the coziness and comfort of our fireplace.

I have discovered that the cost of living where we now live is actually cheaper than in Penang. Food, gasoline, housing, clothing, alcohol and consumer goods are all cheaper. Even though Penang had a variety of good South Asian food, I missed European and American food, such as Greek, Italian and Mexican. I do miss Curry Mee, but we have found quite a variety of authentic Chinese, Korean, Indian, Thai and Japanese food here. There are a number of Asian grocery stores here that have everything found in Malaysia, including durian! So if we don't eat out we can make it ourselves. One aspect of back home that I missed was the variety of consumer goods. There are many, many more brands to chose from here and the prices are a fraction of the cost in Penang. Our car cost a mere fraction of what it would have in Malaysia too.

Last month I had emergency gall bladder surgery for a problem that was misdiagnosed in Penang and it was all paid for by my Medicare. I was constantly worried about getting sick and needing surgery in Malaysia, especially with my money tied up in a fixed deposit under MM2H. Sure medical costs are more expensive here, but the quality is excellent and I am covered by Medicare. Kevin is settling in and is a bit overwhelmed by the educational choices offered to him here.He also likes the cold and snow.

I feel as though we made the right choice by moving. It's not perfect, but if you don't like things you can complain, criticize the government without reprisal and vote to make yourself heard. I do not regret for one minute the 7 years I lived in Penang. It just wasn't for me.  I do miss the people there and also chatting over lunch at the local food court, but I am sure I will return to visit Penang on occasion. Most likely I will not be posting here any more, but if anyone is interested in following my adventures you can read my other blog, Steveso Thinks. Thank you.

Goodbye Penang, Malaysia

By the time this post is read I shall have already left Malaysia and headed back home to the US. I will have left extreme heat for extreme cold, but with hopes of spring being right around the corner.

For those who have been following my departure from Malaysia, I can say that at the time of my departure I still have not received my sinking fund deposit. The attorney said he will transfer the money to my US account, but I am not holding my breath. I have received emails from the Management Committee blaming anyone and everyone for not receiving information regarding the sinking fund. Typical. They blamed everybody, but offered no solution. Utterly useless.

It is too bad that a number of incompetent, corrupt, lazy and greedy people have clouded the wonderful memories I have of Malaysia and in particular, Penang. The memories of the bad will soon be replaced by all of the good. I will be returning to Penang, to visit friends and family, but I will not be returning to live under MM2H. It has gotten just too expensive for me. I am afraid that in the very near future only the super rich will be able to afford this concrete jungle, which I can still remember as a tropical rain forest retreat.

To all of my followers I say thank you and to all of my Malaysian friends and all Malaysians I say thank you and I will miss you all. Good bye, good fortune and good health.