Offer Advice about Expat Relationships. Single, but in a long term relationship with a wonderful Malaysian Chinese lady, whose 11 year old son is as close to me as my own son. We'll be married next year. Meeting other people here is very easy, whether expats or Malaysians. Expats do have the usual clubs or associations eg American Women's Association, St George's Society etc , plus there are many private clubs sports and recreation clubs or golf clubs, with superb facilities, largely at prices way below those you would pay in Europe or the US.
On the nite life scene, Bangsar, a KL suburb teems with expats from Thursday to Saturday nights, at the many restaurants and bars. But if you really want to fully enjoy Malaysia, spend plenty of time with Malaysians, who are warm, exceptionally friendly and very hospitable. Join them at the night markets, at the open air food stalls where you can experience fabulous local food at incredibly cheap prices. Speak Malay or Chinese and you'll be even more accepted. With Malaysia's fabulous beaches, holiday and hill resorts, this is a heaven for children and adults.
I think the best advice I could give to anyone coming here with children is be prepared to have the time of your life. On the more serious side, like children's education, the international schools in KL and Penang are excellent. Local government schools teach in the Malay medium, so will probably be unsuitable. My LTR is virtually like being married, and as my partner's son attends a private school in the north of the country, we do have plenty of social time to ourselves.
We tend to mix more with Malaysian friends, and with other mixed race couples, not I hasten to add by design, it's just happened that way. I have been living here for nearly eleven years, the last six on local terms, so I have had ample time to build a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. The enrichment of being with a person from another culture is immeasurable, and for me, with my partner being Chinese, I have learned an enormous amount about being more tolerant, more patient, more discreet, to listen more, and have learned to appreciate the Chinese work ethic as a model for just about all other races.
The challenges? Well we still face some resistance from more traditional elements of both Chinese and European culture, but this is relatively rare. The best advice? Firstly be sensitive to local cultures, especially to the Malay Muslims, who are very unlike the world's negative picture of an Islamic society. Secondly, don't be judgemental, sure things are different here, but "vive la difference.
