Where will you retire?

[malcontent]

Yeah, that was the area I used to hang out at during the weekends. It was backpacker's paradise as well, even though the beach isn't anything to write home about. For being upper east coast of malaysia, Cherating was probably the most relaxed of the entire east coast on dress codes. No wonder your wife didn't like it! LOL

That was it — Cherating. I just stumbled onto it after driving around and exploring various places along the coast. This was before you could find everything on the internet.

I don’t think it was the manner of dressing (or lack thereof) that turned her off, rather it was the dirt paths, the shacks and chickens running around loose. She grew up in that kind of environment, so the novelty is lost on her.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I wouldn't want to live there or even spend a whole vacation there, but, as noted, it was the novelty considering where you were.

[ProvenPracticalFlexible]

I found that Italian is the one few western cuisines in KL that was actually authentic… some even with an Italian guy doing the cooking! Most other western food in KL was either not great quality or not authentic. For example, I recall having some of the worst excuses for Mexican food that I’ve ever eaten in my life there! Other than Italian, I found it best to stick with the chains, like Chili’s for example. Nando’s is pretty decent too.

But when it comes to local food and Asian food in general, that is where Malaysia really shines, even more than Singapore. Malay, Chinese and Indian food is generally fantastic. But also, Thai and Viet food is generally much more authentic and better quality than in Singapore.

I'd agree that it used to be quite bad, but over the last about 5 years, I'd say the other foreign kitchens have improved too. There are now ( well last time checked it was Feb 2020 ) excellent French Restaurants in the mid price to fine dining, but half the price of Singaporean counter parts, same with Spanish Tapas places in KLCC area. It used to be fancy sounding menus but not able to execute to the level of expectations, but that has definitely changed.

[malcontent]

Oooh, I just found out Malaysia has a Taco Bell in operation… their old slogan was “make a run for the border” —

Taco Bell Cyberjaya:

https://goo.gl/maps/Eu3UZw53ZYwGkFQw5

[Lisafuller]

Very true, I’ve noticed this as well. My personal favorite is a guy named Mark Wiens, he does food tours all with the world but is based in Thailand.

I’m also a subscriber of Mark’s, watching his Thai tea video convinced me I could make Thai tea on my own, and now I often do.

You can buy Cha Tra Mue via NTUC online, along with Mae Ploy Thai curry and tom yum pastes. Such items were never available in the past… I’ve recently been enjoying authentic home cooked Thai curry almost every week!

Mark has an interesting background, growing up as a mixed Asian child of an American expat in Africa, and now based in Bangkok married to a Thai lady. He has to be one of the most well travelled and adventurous foodies out there. Almost nothing he won’t eat. I think his signature facial expression after biting into the food is his claim to fame. But just once I would love to see him bite into something and show a most disgusted face and spit it out!

Love watching him, he’s more adventurous than I’ll ever be, I live vicariously through him.

[PNGMK]

Great to hear from Rob and see this thread revived.

As I am no longer in full time corporate work this comes up a bit in conversation. Where do we go?

My wife wants to rotate our daughter back into the US system fairly soon and that plays into it a bit.

I would like to try living in a few places. Mexico, PR, Costa Rica come to mind. Also maybe other parts of Asia. But with Covid19 it is unrealistic to plan.

Right now we are conserving cash and sitting and thinking about it.

[malcontent]

Great to hear from Rob and see this thread revived.

As I am no longer in full time corporate work this comes up a bit in conversation. Where do we go?

My wife wants to rotate our daughter back into the US system fairly soon and that plays into it a bit.

I would like to try living in a few places. Mexico, PR, Costa Rica come to mind. Also maybe other parts of Asia. But with Covid19 it is unrealistic to plan.

Right now we are conserving cash and sitting and thinking about it.

I wouldn’t worry too much about transition to the US system prior to college. My daughter has two more years in the local system pre-U and will then transition to a university in the US.

The post-secondary education system in the US is extremely flexible and forgiving. Just having an O-Level pass is enough to get into a 2 year community college (a good and cheap way to get adjusted). The academics are so much easier, her grades will be stellar!

From there she can easily transfer to a fantastic university for the final 2 years. For me, I didn’t even complete the full 2 years of community college and transferred to the best university in the region where I lived. My grades were not even that good, but I know the tricks - I dropped courses that I wasn’t doing well in to make it look better

[PNGMK]

I wouldn't want to live there or even spend a whole vacation there, but, as noted, it was the novelty considering where you were.

I've been up there (Kuantan) on an offshore project for OI about the same time and my recollections are similar.

[PNGMK]

Great to hear from Rob and see this thread revived.

As I am no longer in full time corporate work this comes up a bit in conversation. Where do we go?

My wife wants to rotate our daughter back into the US system fairly soon and that plays into it a bit.

I would like to try living in a few places. Mexico, PR, Costa Rica come to mind. Also maybe other parts of Asia. But with Covid19 it is unrealistic to plan.

Right now we are conserving cash and sitting and thinking about it.

I wouldn’t worry too much about transition to the US system prior to college. My daughter has two more years in the local system pre-U and will then transition to a university in the US.

The post-secondary education system in the US is extremely flexible and forgiving. Just having an O-Level pass is enough to get into a 2 year community college (a good and cheap way to get adjusted). The academics are so much easier, her grades will be stellar!

From there she can easily transfer to a fantastic university for the final 2 years. For me, I didn’t even complete the full 2 years of community college and transferred to the best university in the region where I lived. My grades were not even that good, but I know the tricks - I dropped courses that I wasn’t doing well in to make it look better

I remember you telling me that O levels are good enough for comm college. My wife doesn't believe it and she teaches at an American school here!

[malcontent]

I remember you telling me that O levels are good enough for comm college. My wife doesn't believe it and she teaches at an American school here!

I’m not surprised. Many locals here don’t know this can be done either, but I can tell you 100% that my wife did it — after O-Levels in Singapore she went straight to university in the US. Many of her friends did as well. The best thing to do is contact admissions at your target school and ask.

Typically, the less selective schools accept O-Level alone. For example, University of California schools require A-Level, whereas California State University schools do not. Top schools like Duke University in NC are definitely going to require A-levels.

See page 5 in the following and read the blurb under each school carefully, some “count” O-Level but still require A-level, others “admit” based on O-Level (they only list out some examples) —

https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/ ... ure-us.pdf

[MOCHS]

I remember you telling me that O levels are good enough for comm college. My wife doesn't believe it and she teaches at an American school here!

after O-Levels in Singapore she went straight to university in the US.

I can confirm that too. My friend dropped out of JC and enrolled in a uni in Wisconsin with just her O Level cert. That was back in the late 90s and early 2000s.

[Swn4]

I and a C/T (civics tutorial group) mate from Hwa Chong got admitted to Cornell in JC1 and another C/T mate got admitted to MIT in JC2. However this was in the mid 80s and admissions departments tightened up requirements after that.
Personally, I think O levels were enough academically but it is not easy socially when you are younger than everyone else.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[malcontent]

There are junior colleges in the US, they are synonymous with community colleges, which are 2 year institutions that issue an Associates Degree after you complete the course. This generally counts toward the first two years of your a bachelor degree if you continue your education from there.

Likewise, you will generally be awarded university credit for courses taken in JC here, provided they are equivalent enough courses (but usually not enough to cover a full two years worth of credits). If you take some odd ball courses in JC that aren’t offered by that university, then you might be out of luck. But you can always attempt to appeal if you can find a course that is close enough. They do have some latitude.

[Lisafuller]

Great to hear from Rob and see this thread revived.

As I am no longer in full time corporate work this comes up a bit in conversation. Where do we go?

My wife wants to rotate our daughter back into the US system fairly soon and that plays into it a bit.

I would like to try living in a few places. Mexico, PR, Costa Rica come to mind. Also maybe other parts of Asia. But with Covid19 it is unrealistic to plan.

Right now we are conserving cash and sitting and thinking about it.

I wouldn’t worry too much about transition to the US system prior to college. My daughter has two more years in the local system pre-U and will then transition to a university in the US.

The post-secondary education system in the US is extremely flexible and forgiving. Just having an O-Level pass is enough to get into a 2 year community college (a good and cheap way to get adjusted). The academics are so much easier, her grades will be stellar!

From there she can easily transfer to a fantastic university for the final 2 years. For me, I didn’t even complete the full 2 years of community college and transferred to the best university in the region where I lived. My grades were not even that good, but I know the tricks - I dropped courses that I wasn’t doing well in to make it look better

Smart. Going to a CC for the first year can be a great way to save money, take some introductory courses, and then bypass the competition by applying as a transfer student. Every year, even colleges as exclusive as Harvard accept a few CC transfers.

[Lisafuller]

I remember you telling me that O levels are good enough for comm college. My wife doesn't believe it and she teaches at an American school here!

I’m not surprised. Many locals here don’t know this can be done either, but I can tell you 100% that my wife did it — after O-Levels in Singapore she went straight to university in the US. Many of her friends did as well. The best thing to do is contact admissions at your target school and ask.

Typically, the less selective schools accept O-Level alone. For example, University of California schools require A-Level, whereas California State University schools do not. Top schools like Duke University in NC are definitely going to require A-levels.

See page 5 in the following and read the blurb under each school carefully, some “count” O-Level but still require A-level, others “admit” based on O-Level (they only list out some examples) —

https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/ ... ure-us.pdf

True, some schools will take O level results but the better, more competitive ones do not accept just O level results. If the student is hoping to gain admission into a more exclusive school, A level results would certainly be helpful.