nearly there

Gidday,

I think I know what I WANT to study, and that's a business degree or diploma online. I don't want anything too specific, because that just limits you to doing that job your whole life. I want something nice and flexible, and can be adapted to many jobs and situations around the world. When we go home to NZ, I want to get work quickly, and not spend months looking. I need a usable qualification for that, and I like business so there you go.

We went to Ipoh yesterday to see some friends and have Caleb's back looked at by them. They are both Chiropractors, and they helped him a lot. Mez gave me the once over as well, and told me all about my bent back! He kricked my neck, gave my spine a crack and generally straightened me up. Boy that felt good. He reckons I need 10 sessions to correct my twisted hips, which makes one leg shorter than the other. I don't mind!

As far as leaving Sitiawan and heading elsewhere, we really want to go, but are realistic, and need to consolidate our situation first. I have to go to the UK this year, and earning ringgit makes that a very intimidating thing financially! After that, I'll begin my degree in business, and I'm trying to get Dee to either finish her one or start another. I'm not sure I even have the school grades to qualify to enter the course! If not, I might have to wait until I go home and do some night classes to get better grades, but thats a 'worst-case' scenario. Going to Dubai or Bahrain would be nice, certainly nicer than Sitiawan, but its a big move, and we don't really want to put all our eggs into one basket. I still like my original plan of making money here, buying property to rent in NZ, and finally moving back home to live in a nice place in the suburbs!

All I have to do is make all the students in the district come to my centre and pay top dollar! Not too much to ask is it? Making Foo Chow people pay top money for top quality??? Hmmm...

My plan might take longer than I thought...

education is a must?

Gidday,

Back to work today, and I'm busy again. That's good, cos I don't want to get bored...

We had a great time again in KL, but more tiring this time. Went up to Genting Highlands for some fun, and it was, until my daughter and the maid got lost for an hour and a half... almost ready to call the cops when I finally found them. I had been wandering around the whole place in shoes that aren't meant for walking in, so the last couple of days I've had extremely sore legs and shins...

So, been thinking about what I am good at, and what I should study, if anything. I still have the belief that too much paper education actually slows you down and limits your ability to look for the best solution... but there is a need inside me to prove I can get a degree, and I want to give my wife and kids a great lifestyle and in Asia, street-smarts are not valued. I am in a conundrum. I firmly believe that anyone can make it, so long as a few basic requirements are in place:
1. The government allows people to have a go equally, and meritocracy is the name of the game.
2. You can read, write, think outside the square and read between the lines.
3. No-one forces you to do or study something you are either no good at, or hate.
4. People should believe in hard work, not names or status.

We all have heard of the richest, most famous so-and-so who made it without any university degree etc. I still reckon I can too, and indeed my 'exit strategy' has no need for a degree, but in order to get the start I believe I can get, I seem to not have enough gumption or 'nous'. So I am willing to go to university to learn all I need to give me the push I need. Is that a waste of money or a good investment? Only time will tell. I don't gamble, and this is a gamble as far as I can see, because could I put that money into a new business or is it better spent investing in property or on a degree? I understand all sides, and pressure to do one thing or another is always there; but I know I can't do what some people DO do with their money, simply because I don't have the financial education...

If any of you have read 'rich dad, poor dad' you'll know what I'm feeling. I am working on my financial education every day, but being married with kids, you can't gamble with the families food money, and if you make a mistake the kids might not get to eat! So my level of risk taking is low. This makes me want a 'safe, secure job', and in this day and age there is no such thing...

What a predicament. Any suggestions?

we're off again...

We're off again to KL this weekend, simply to say goodbye to some great friends who are off to work in Bahrain. We're a bit jealous because the pay is great (i imagine) and Bahrain is somewhere we would like to visit. Our friends will be there for at least 2 years, and we've only just got to know them!
We'll be spending a night in the Genting highlands with the kids, then going into KL and staying with our friends at their place. Will be another awesome weekend i imagine, and we're getting used to KL now and really enjoying our time there...
I feel a bit useless at the moment. We don't have many classes going, and aren't earning much money. I am looking at doing an online Business degree from home, which would both give me a new sense of accomplishment, as well as increase my earnings potential, not to mention make getting a PR in Malaysia a damn sight easier (although it seems impossible anyway).

Have a great weekend everyone, and stay safe!

sigh...so disgusting...

Having breakfast at the local 'kopi' shop, feeding Caleb when the Chinese man sitting at the table next to us decides to have a good cough. Didn't cover his mouth and seemed to aim it straight at my son! I almost stuck my chopstick into his ear. Filthy man. Is it any wonder all the worlds diseases come from China or asian countries??? Are they mentally and physically incapable of good manners, or decent hygiene?
The drains outside the shop this morning stank like the local rubbish dump, the haze is returning and it's just horrible... then you see nice patriotic (dorky and naive) songs on tv with young malaysians singing how proud they are of their country. And the place smells like a sewer... one minute they are all nationalistic and rah rah rah about malaysia, the next they are chucking their rubbish out the window, behaving no better than the stray dogs and are scared of losing 'face'?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
I don't get asian mentality, and don't know if I will... sigh... so difficult.!

plans, plans, plans

Well, I'm sick and tired of Sitiawan. The most obvious thing I noticed about going to KL was the change in both Dee and I. I mean, we were just stunned by the obviousness of our situation. We suddenly realised where the hell we were, and we want out. So now we are making serious plans to get away from everything here; the weather, the maids, the LOW PAY, the slow if not stagnant market for business and the feeling of being trapped.
We're looking at either Dubai, Bahrain or Taiwan.

Phew!

Well, we had a great time in KL. The hotel we stayed at was brilliant, and the area was perfect. We stayed at the Royal Bintang Damansara, in the new shopping district 'The Curve', and was ideal. It's not near the CBD, so there isn't the usual traffic, and all the amenities you could ask for were there. I loved it.
We spent over RM2000 during our 3 days there, on the hotel, food, shopping and the biggest night out we've had in years! Our friends Jeremy, Farah, Brad and Aida were there to keep us company, and frankly, they MADE the journey. The kids had a great time, and there's a playground in IKEA which was awesome. I ate Mexican and Dee had Japanese, although she didn't end up having her favourite Thai or Dim Sum like she wanted. That was kinda my fault, cos I made us go to TGI Friday's for the kids...
I miss KL already... I used to hate that city, but that was cos we kept either getting lost, having no-one to see, staying in shitty hotels or being stuck in the CBD. NOW, I like it. There is a reason for us to go there now apart from work.
Well, back to work, and the grind. Will be looking for somewhere to work in KL so we can move down there. We're too young to be stuck in this 'old man's town'. We don't want to retire yet!

civilisation, here we come!

off to KL, and not a moment too soon! Starting to get 'small-town-syndrome' again! God I hate small towns! When you have grown up in a BIG town like Auckland, any small town is hard to get used to, if you can at all! We've done a good job so far, but it's high time to get 'BUSY' !
Even though we're taking the kids, we'll have fun. That sounds bad, but we want some 'adult' time! Anyone who's either had or has young kids will know what i'm talking about. We love our kids to death, but we could strangle them too sometimes! Hehehehe.
I'll update you when I get back. Civilisation, here we come!!!!!!