Our farewell party

My children hosted our going away party. It was awesome. I really miss them a lot. I look forward to the day they come to visit us in Malaysia. At the party, there were tears, laughter, dancing, a beautiful cake and great conversations. The best feature was having everyone there, together, interacting in harmony. What a day! I'll never forget it! Thanks guys!

This was the karaoke session.

Stars were born that evening!

Celine & Francois jumped through employment hoops to manage enough time off to drive seven plus hours and be at our party. My dad and Liette drove five plus hours to join us as well. It meant so much to me having them there. U guys rock!
Chanty & Rick let us stay with them for our last two months in Canada. We raided their fridge, drank their drinks, kept them up late, cluttered their garage with plastic bins and played Rock Band, and they let us do it! That was seriously great. We miss them a ton along with our good "deck chats".

My good chum, good pal and awesome brother-in-law Rick, a real mans man!


We were blessed with a beautiful cake as well.
It was the most unique cake I have ever seen and it tasted awesome. Thank you guys.



This is the "Wanna Be" mafioso family I left behind. They threatened to
Fit me with a pair of cement galoches if I left,
I said "Bring It" and I split!
On a safety note,
Amy and I purchased a smoke alarm for our condo,
it's the best one on the market!

Our Friends

We met Jim and Shelley at the Sheraton during our first week in Eden and we have become good friends. We love hanging out with them. They're fun and we get along naturally, we can be ourselves. Jim knows everything about IT, it's awesome. Amy and Shelley are like twins when it comes to the way they think, sometimes it's scary man.

We took a trip to Kuala Lumpur with them and another very helpful friend, Steve Wise.

This is Steve and that cute English teacher, she happened to be there that day so I kinda chatted her up a little, she is quite smart and really funny. I think she likes me a bit.

Talking about friends, we really miss Brian and Kim. This is the last picture we took on Canadian soil. They drove us to the Sheraton at Pearson and we spent our last moments with them. I'm looking forward to a good hug from my Halo pal and Kimmer.

Teaching in Paradise/ Missing my Loved Ones

I never believed the day would come when I would return to the front of a classroom, well it happened and I'm loving it. My employer here is Taylor's College. I teach Business Leadership to pre-university angels, yes angels. I have zero discipline problems, in fact the only problem I have is to get my students to talk in class, you know, ask questions. They are so quiet, humble, shy and eager to learn. It seems surreal at times. I love planning because I know that I will be able to teach my whole lesson, everyday, no exceptions.

This is where my planning happens, and it's serious business! The picture on the right is my "V", I miss them. This experience would be perfect if they were all here to enjoy this with me.

I work with this very cute English teacher as well, this is her at her desk. She wears this awesome perfume, it makes me weak in the knees.

I think I'm gonna ask her out soon, what a doll!

Taylor's is great place to work. The staff, both locals and expats are fine people. Anytime I need help, I just ask and it's done. My department head is Rowena. She is so helpful, funny and full of zest for life. We have been out on the town with her and her husband. They're a very nice couple. We have been sent on an all expenses paid trip to Rompkin. Team Building was the theme. We had a blast! Paintball, Karaoke, a little dancing, team performances, good food and horseback riding, well actually it was horseback sitting because the guide led the horse while I sat there like a five year old boy. I hope nobody saw me.

This is Taylor's and that cute English teacher, what a cutie!

Sometimes I forget things because I'm so excited, so I write them in my new Palm Pilot!

The Art of Walking in Subang Jaya

If you walk without looking down, all the time, you will end up in a four foot deep open sewer here in Subang Jaya, and it has happened to expats in the past, especially ones who enjoy a few too many treats during "happy hour". We have open sewers along the roads and sidewalks, wide open and deep. If you aren't looking down when you walk, chances are, you are going down. You're also dodging cars, mopeds and jigsaw style sidewalks. Walking along a strip mall here is very good exercise because one is constantly dodging holes, crevices, stairs, and uneven joints.

Urban and city planners from the West would cringe in Subang Jaya because the potential for personal injury is high. Some areas are under construction and the sewers have been covered over. Kuala Lumpur is nice and safe, in most areas.

Wherever there is a MacDonald's, Starbucks, Burger King or any other Western coffee shop or restaurant, the area in front is covered and safe. It's the only time one can walk and look up.

Leaving Canada...Now that was tough!

I sold my house, my car, my tools, and my poker ships (ouch!), I packed a few vestiges of my life, including treasured mementos into 15 plastic tubs, stored them at a good friends house, and began the flight to Malaysia. It took sixteen plus hours. My arms were like sloppy rubber bands when we landed. Plus, I carried Amy on my back because she was too tired to fly. Next time I’m taking a real plane, never mind the whole “let’s save on flight costs”.

The tough part wasn't the flight over here, it was who I left behind. Not so much "what" I left behind, but my family and friends. My country, Wasaga Beach and the landscape I will envy from time to time, but the people/family...I miss them all the time.

My First Blog - Malaysia, my New World!

Welcome to my blog and welcome to my new world. I'm an optimist, so you won't find any whining or complaining here. This experience is awesome. I departed Canada, my home and native land, with my soulmate & sweetheart, AMY!

Ooops,that's not her.... Hold on......there she is

So, as I said, I left in search of peace, a new experience, a job I love and some adventure. I found them all...and then some! We arrived in this warm and welcoming country on June 27th, 2009 and the honeymoon has not ended yet. It may well come to an end, but so far, no end in sight. The honeymoon is actually my teaching experience. The students, all grade 12 level, are like angels. Seriously! They're always respectful, they want to learn, they love to laugh and get this, they always say "Thank you sir" at the end of every lesson, every day, now that's amazing eh!