Paulina - Expat in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We’ve had the chance to talk to Paulina, 32, an Indonesian expat who has moved to Malaysia with her family. Mrs. Paulina who has been living there for nine years, is a homemaker.
Read more about her experiences in the full interview below.
Q: Where are you from originally?
A: Indonesia.
Q: What made you move out of Indonesia?
A: Study and spouse.
Q: Where are you living now? How did you come to choose this new country of residence?
A: Kuala Lumpur. Husband expatriated by his company.
Q: How long have you been living in Malaysia?
A: Nine years.
Q: Are you living alone or with your family? If yes, how are they adjusting to the Expat Lifestyle?
A: Family. We like it here.
Q: Do you miss home and family sometimes? How do you cope with homesickness?
A: In the beginning was tough, but after 2 years, we start to explore and like it here a lot.
Q: What do you think about the locals?
A: Warm.
Q: Was it easy making friends and meeting people? Do you mainly socialise with other expats in Malaysia? How did you manage to find a social circle there?
A: Quite easy. Through church.
Q: How does the cost of living in Malaysia compare to your home?
A: KL is much cheaper than Sweden.
- Q: How much is a cup of coffee?
A: Sek30 (rm15) compare to RM2-3.
- Q: How much is a meal in an inexpensive restaurant?
A: Sek70 (rm35) for take away lunch. Here it’s RM6-10.
- Q: How much is a meal in an expensive restaurant?
A: Sek120 and more.
- Q: How much is a bottle of wine? How about a pack of cigarettes?
A: I don’t drink nor smoke.
Q: Do you have any tips for future expats when it comes to opening a bank account in Malaysia?
A: Bring your passport.
Q: How will you describe your experience with government paperwork such as applications for Visa and work permits? Why is that so?
A: You may need to go back and forth and don’t be shocked if they said the system is currently down.
Q: Would you say that healthcare in Malaysia is reliable? Any preferred clinics or advice for expats?
A: KL has pretty good private hospital. We found few reliable gyne, ped, dentists, etc.
Q: Did you secure a health insurance in Indonesia or Malaysia? What should be the essentials in the coverage for expats, in your opinion?
A: Medical, pension and international coverage is the most essential for expat.
Q: What was the most memorable about the packing and moving process to Malaysia? Which was the mover you chose and how was your experience with them?
A: We pack little luggage ourselves and the rest we bought it here.
Q: What is the biggest challenge that you have faced as a new expat?
A: Unfamiliarity and taking the time to blend into the culture.
Q: What do you think are the positive and negative sides of living in Malaysia?
A: Only can think of the positive: multi-cultural foods and friendship.
Q: What are the best things to do in the area? Any particular recommendations for future expats?
A: Klang valley has a lot of shopping malls. So it is the best thing to do during the weekend.
Q: Do you have plans to move to a different country or back home in the future?
A: Maybe back home in the future.
Q: What tips will you give to expats living in the country?
A: Don’t be afraid to try out something new/unusual. Like foods for example.
Q: Do you have favourite websites or blogs about Malaysia?