maddrew - reinvent & unleash

In no particular order:

1. Sinus cured ( most of the time of the year ).

I sneezed a lot when I lived in Malaysia. Almost everyday when I woke up in the morning, the tickle in the nose was the sure way to make everyone get up with the loud sneeze. Then I started the day with runny nose and constant sneezing. They really gave me huge headaches. It’s only during summer I sneeze nowadays, and still not as bad as in Malaysia. I suspect it’s the pollen floating around when flowers start to bloom in the spring. But I’m cool with it.

2. No cockroaches

It is great to hear that there are no big brown cockroaches flying everywhere in this cold country. In Malaysia, I had to deal with these pests almost everytime the rain stops and they start to come out from the sewers. Good riddance. I always remember Tina and Lisa running from the kitchen with a flying cockroach chasing them.

3. No bright sun most of the year

Having lived in a all year round sunny nation, I am sick of the heat, humidity and the headache that entails. Here in England, the weather is unpredictable but one thing is, which is you will not catch the sun shining brightly as often.

4. Well connected / efficient public transport

I take the London Underground tube to all the places I want to go. It’s fast, frequent and you feel like a hamster running along a plastic coloured tube. Busses are plenty and there are 24 hour services to most areas which is good when I go out late at night. In Klang, I once waited an hour or more just to get to town.

5. Prolific art and history preservation, celebration and promotion

In England, especially London, I am surrounded by gothic buildings, magnificient Victorian structures and many more period buildings. It’s like walking into history and initiatives to celebrate art is in abundance. Entertainment in the city is fabulous, day or night. Spoilt for choice in this “candy shop”. Natasha, you’ll love them as much as I do.

6. Get to wear cool clothes

In the hot weather of Malaysia, there is only one form of clothing, t shirts and jeans, or shorts if you want to show off your hairy legs. I love it when the weather gets cold then I can put on my black fit H&M jacket.

7. Consumerism at its best

Here, things are cheap relative to the salary, even lower income earners. 3 weeks’ salary can get you a good laptop, a week’s can get you an IPOD, or trip to the stores. The last time I checked, I needed 6 months savings in Malaysia to get a good laptop.

8. Pragmatic society and government

The UK government is not perfect but there is a sense of striving to achieve something greater or coming up with ideas to improve society. They generally do not succumb to absurd urges that only benefit their own groups, unlike Malaysia. They question authority and mindsets and challenge the relevance, not sweep the fear of the unknown under the carpet.  It is this quality I have faith that the future is bright and anyone who works hard, can achieve what they want.

9. Beautiful people everywhere

Everywhere you look, there are gorgeous women in fashionable clothes, men that look like celebrities. I get the feeling of being in a catwalk show, every second. Chee Ming would love to sit with me doing some people watching like we used to behind glass windows when we were in college.

10. Diversity

So far, I’ve met a Jamaican, Israeli, Hungarian, Canadian, Irish, Scottish, Austrian, American, Indonesian, Belgium, Swiss, French, Brazillian, Hong Kongese, Polish, Bangladeshi, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Australian, Filipino, Welsh and counting.

~ by maddrew on June 13, 2008.