Nozar arrives in Miri!

As many of you know, Nozar has taken a job with Shell. This a real dream job for Nozar with great benefits he just couldn't pass up. Depending on how you look at it, the fact that the job is in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia could be a good or bad thing. Among those folks we’ve told, we have had some positive responses, lots of negative ones, and a few people who can’t identify Malaysia on the map. My favoite aunt, for example, refers to it as outer Mongolia. In our family, we know this as code name for - I'm going really far away. That part is accurate. Where we'll be living is on the island of Borneo. Here it is on the map… 

 
Nozar, who I believe still has the genes of a nomad, couldn’t wait to get to Miri. I, on the other hand, love adventure and new experiences but always enjoy returning to the comforts of home. It remains to be decided if I will relocate fully to Miri or split my time between Houston and Malaysia – either way I believe I’m in for the ride of my life.

Durian Fruit - Has the texture of custard.

On December 1st, Nozar departed from Houston and, after 30 hours of travel, arrived safely in Miri. In typical Nozar style he stopped by a street vendor on the way to the hotel and ate a durian fruit. For those who don’t know, or who Nozar hasn’t forced this fruit on in Houston, it is a very stinky fruit. It is like no smell on earth - it simply cannot be accurately described. The fruit vendor cuts it with a knife and one must essentially eat it right there - street side, as it is so smelly it's illegal in Malaysia to take into a hotel. Ha!

So, for only five days, things are moving along for Nozar very nicely. He’s safe and has opened a local bank account, purchased a phone, taken a tour of the city, spent a day at work, and viewed a few possible places for us to live. I think most American’s, who haven’t traveled much will be surprised at the quality of our “home” there. Although he has gotten all of these things done, I should point out that it’s a slower pace of life in Miri and things like, say.... getting the newly purchased phone activated, takes a mere two weeks. Whah, whah, whahhh. I think Nozar is realizing that “negotiating” is a skill he will have to take off the shelf to get things done in a timely manner there.

As for me, I have my tickets in hand, well…on the computer anyway, and will be flying to meet Nozar in Singapore this month. We'll have a quick 4 day vaca and then on to Miri. It’ll just be a three week trip to begin with, then back to America to decide what's next with our life here.

In the mean time Felix and I will be holding each other tight, until we see Nozar again. I’ll keep you all posted, via the blog, and will post lots of "real" pics soon. Stay tuned and wish us luck!

Tamara and Felix