Better late than never

Procrastination is the biggest disease of all. It's unbelievable how easy it is to convince yourself that something you could do today, you could just as well do tomorrow. I mean, what's the rush?

For the past two years I’ve been living in Malaysia, a tropical country in Southeast Asia neighbouring Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. And from the beginning onwards I’ve been planning to start a blog where I would tell about my experiences and adventures, share my observations of life in a different culture, and occasionally bitch about being so damn far away from home.

But I guess I’ve been too busy living. I came to Malaysia to experience another part of the world – I was craving to see something new, to throw myself into an adventure of a lifetime. I felt like I needed to step out of my comfort zone formed by all the familiar places and faces, the network of family members and old friends, a comfy car, a nicely decorated studio apartment as well as other everyday commodities.

I couldn’t explain it. All was well at home. But after finishing my studies in Finland (BA in Communications and Media), my feet felt itchy; the wanderlust was kicking in again. I had previously been living as an exchange student in the UK and Iceland, which had both been amazing experiences, but this time I felt that I needed a bigger change; a distinctively different culture, a whole new environment.

So I chose Malaysia. People often ask me why I came here of all the places – and I usually answer: just because it was random enough. Not many of my friends had thought of coming to work in Malaysia at that time. Southeast Asia was still an unfamiliar territory for many, despite the few adventurous backpacking trips around the area, or family package holidays to the tourist beaches of Thailand.

My main aim was to learn about the world and myself, and to gain more work experience as well. I spent my first six months here pursuing an internship in an international news portal. The beginning, I have to say, was a real struggle; I went through the worst experience of my life after only three weeks in the country. A story I don’t wish to elaborate further here – let’s just say that later on it could definitely be priceless material for a book.

Most people thought I was insane to stay in Malaysia after the incident. I escaped the chaotic situation to the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong, to take a deep breath and give some room for my thoughts. Finally I decided I didn’t want this unfortunate episode to ruin my year and traumatize me about living abroad for the rest of my life. I wanted to give Malaysia another chance; after all, it is not a bad place.

So I started fresh: moved in a neat condominium with new flatmates close to my office in central Kuala Lumpur, and things started looking bright again. I began to make friends and feel like home in this fascinating melting pot of cultures, religions and colours. I observed the country’s abundant festivals, studied the history of the region, and almost accidentally learned to speak the Malay language.

What comes to the internship itself, it most certainly wasn’t the easiest – I had to learn several things the hard way, and deal with constant frustration. I really had to fight my way through the nearly impenetrable jungle of problems, which at times seemed unbearable. There were numerous desperate occasions when I wanted to pack my bags and leave - I thought I was just wasting my time.

But my patience paid off in the end: I used the difficulties I faced as my advantage, and got a lot in return. In late 2009, I was hired as a journalist and photographer by two Kuala Lumpur -based magazines, Expatriate Lifestyle and Time Out KL. For six months, I was also working as a part-time photographer and editorial executive for a Malaysia-based cancer NGO called MAKNA.

Now I’ve managed to kick-start my career in journalism, and couldn’t be happier about it. I’m also doing some freelance work for different European (mainly Finnish) publications, and constantly looking for new mediums to express myself. I’m eagerly waiting for the next challenge; Southeast Asia has become my second home, and I can’t wait to use all the exciting opportunities this area has to offer.

I thought it is finally about time to share some of my thoughts and experiences with you. So I welcome you all to my world. This is my story; a peek into a Finnish girl's life in the sweet, tropical Asia! Hope you enjoy it.