Visit to Penang in June 2024

"Many of you" may not apply anymore in Malaysia and particularly Penang. So many have cleared out. Im out of Penang for now but was 11 years there and would be happy to answer any questions.

@cvco Hey cvco,  So sorry but I missed your kind reply while I was travelling but thank you for offering to respond to some questions, if I may, I would really like to ask how easy (or not) it would be to link with local people.  During my many years as a working expat, I found it not only enjoyable but necessary (but then I had to as it was a major part of my job.)  I wonder whether it may be more difficullt as a retired expat as compared with previously.  I am sure I will have more questions once I have been able to spend some time in-country :-) ............... Kind regards,

Cyman,

I never had trouble meeting and becoming friends with locals once I got over their seemingly over-friendliness and forwardness which is just their style. I wasnt used to sudden personal questions or invitations for immediate drinks or lunches, something that wouldnt happen in my USA. What is maybe more interesting is that in 24 years I never had any expat friends. I knew one, heard of another and that was it.

How and where would you meet anyone? Usually while waiting for a train or, more frequently, while sitting in a mamak stall eating. They would come right up, sit down and start talking. Of course it seems odd but this is Malaysia. Between episodes like this, plus my business and interactions with govt and other businesses, I met literally thousands over time. Meeting new people was so routine I would be surprised and even hurt if a week passed and I didnt meet 20 new people of all races.

Malaysians are amazing with highly developed social skills, far more advanced than my own and I can honestly say that despite my many troubles there was never a dull moment with them. Perhaps it seems daunting at first to try to figure out where and how you fit in with locals but be assured that if you relax and go with the flow it will all work out in the end. I dont think it matters if you are young or retired, it matters more if you are willing to enhance your own openness and receptiveness to their various curiosities. Sometimes I think that the person who will get along best in the country is one who wouldnt mind being abducted by aliens and intimately examined because there will be times thats more or less exactly what happened.