I’ve been Published in the KL American Magazine- “6 Tips for new Expats in KL”!!

My first official article has been published in this month’s KL American Magazine- woohoo!! Who cares that its a free publication and that they accidentally mis-spelled my last name (they added an “s” to Naber)……its my work and they loved it!! Cannot wait for what the future holds with more of these opportunities……TBD dear readers 🙂

As for the article, I thought I would go ahead and share it on my blog again….really its a compilation of a few different expat entries I wrote about over the past few months.

Enjoy and as always, let me know if you have any questions or have any feedback!

Until next time, safe & happy travels,

Kimbra

 6 Tips for New Expats in Kuala Lumpur

Welcome to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia- your new hometown! You may be asking yourself right about now: What did I get myself into? I too remember that moment but just try & remember to breathe, smile, and enjoy this wild & crazy ride! KL offers a wide variety of activities for expats so there is really no way to get bored. There is so much to do, places to explore, food to eat…. really the opportunities are endless! That being said, here are 6 of my top tips I have learned and would like to pass along to help you navigate as an Expat through your new hometown.

1. Venture out on your own and get involved! Expats from around the world are all in the same boat & are here for a certain length of time. Never say “no” to an invitation to do something, be respectful of your differences, smile & be outgoing at events, and above all enjoy yourself! Here is a list of organizations I have found thus far to be of help to me:

• The US Embassy
• American Association of Malaysia
• The Expat KL Group
• The Expatriate Lifestyle
• InterNations
• Hashing
• Church
• Ladies Expat Golfing Society (LEGS)

2. Patience is a virtue! Everything is different than it was back home. If you can remember that while going about your day, then you will lead a much fuller life here in KL. Stop the comparisons and embrace your new routines. From the length of time it will take for your goods to arrive from the states to navigating the stores for your necessities, figuring out currency conversion, speaking Malaysian-English, finding taxis/LRT stations (or buying a car), dealing with erratic internet availability, renting a house (and all that goes along with that), etc will all take an enormous amount of patience. Deep breathes my friends & as they say- “Stay calm and carry on”!

3. The cost & availability of goods here in KL is wildly different than the states. Surprisingly, there are many familiar brands but more not familiar brands. My advice is to try new things- especially the local fruits & vegetables! However, I know we all have our cravings so here is some advice- grab your “wants” when you can find them as they may not be back for months, or ever! Sticker price can also be a shocker. You will find that the cost of imported items can be insanely expensive due to Malaysia’s import taxes, especially on alcohol & cars. Instead of working yourself up over it all, just realize that it is what it is. On another note, bartering is widely popular here….even within shopping malls. There is always a “discount” available so don’t hesitate to put your “sales” cap on & try out your negotiation skills!

4. Dining out is an adventure! KL is known throughout the world as a food mecca of SE Asia. From local street side hawker stalls to high-end restaurants, you truly can get anything your heart desires. And I know it may look intimidating, but venture out and eat at those hawker stalls and night markets. I promise you will eat some of the best food you’ve ever tried for pennies on the dollar! Also make sure you carry coins, hand sanitizer & tissues at all times when eating out as you never know what the toilet situation will look like J.

5. Safety is a concern, especially for women. The great thing though is that almost every Malaysian that I have met has, in some capacity, warned me of their “bad seeds”. I’m mainly speaking of purse-snatching and smash & grabs in cars (murders & rapes are not common at all). Just be smart, be aware, lock your car & house doors, and don’t go anywhere by yourself late at night.

6 Don’t forget to be a tourist! It’s amazing how quickly your days can fly by with the endless amount of errands and busywork you can get caught up doing but try and do at least 1 tourist activity within KL per week. After all, you will need to entertain your visitors when they come out. Also remember that Malaysia is centrally located within the SE Asia region, which means that there are endless places to travel to for weekend getaways as well as for week long vacations. It truly is so enlightening to experience the various cultures around here…. and many within a quick 1 hour flight away. Remind yourself that you now live halfway across the world- so live it up while you can!!

For more tips on expat life, travel advice & more please visit my website: www.internationalnabers.com, follow me on twitter: @intlnabers & “like” me on FB: internationalnabers.

Happy & Safe travels!

Kimbra