Season's Greetings from Joanna (2003)

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it."
George Moore

Dear Family & Friends,

I’ve been back in Malaysia for a whole year and have thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I am so thankful for all the people who have welcomed me back with open arms, despite my seven year sojourn abroad.
Family, friends, faith, fitness, finances, fun, food – I’ve had it all in 2003!

Allow me to share some highlights with you:-

• Celebrated Daddy’s 60th birthday with a 10 course dinner, 200 guests and a raucous karaoke ‘n dance party! The entertainers gave us a 30% discount because they only managed to sing four songs before the Yeoh family took over!
• Joined a gym to keep fit and started an addiction to “Body Pump” classes. Lifting weights for a solid hour, three times a week is good fun. Of course, the “eye candy” helps ;-)
• Established my friendship network quickly by contacting 1 old friend & making 2 new friends daily.
• Dyed my hair chestnut brown, interspersed with bleached blonde streaks…super cool!
• Risked life & limb attempting to climb Mt Kinabalu, the tallest peak in Southeast Asia. The scenery as well as flora & fauna were breathtaking; especially the bonsai forest growing at 2800 metres.
• Stayed one night in a rustic Sabahan longhouse fighting off mosquitos, mad cocks crowing at 3am, kerosene lamps swinging from the rafters whilst the village headman settled into air-conditioned comfort in his modern longhouse next door!
• Climbed aboard a yacht to sail round Langkawi Island…in high heels!
• Tried archery for the first time. Fired 6 arrows: 3 hit bullseye, 2 bounced off the ceiling and 1went missing.
• Visited Bangkok for 3 days and managed to tear a ligament in my foot. Treated with painkillers injected directly into my heel…ouch!
• Spent a wonderful week in Singapore where I caught up with old friends, shopped, watched Tosca & shopped some more.
• Sang “Sweet Child o Mine” by Guns & Roses dressed in a red wig, neon green dress, black feather boa & platform shoes during annual PwC dinner. Won a prize.
• Work has been fantastic! I was offered 4 jobs in the first 6 months of my return, despite being attached to PwC. Finally accepted a position as Vice President of Human Resources with Genting, one of the largest public listed companies in Malaysia. It’s a great opportunity to put into practice all the change and people management skills acquired in the last few years.

It’s been an amazing year, and I’m grateful for finally being able to see and appreciate the things that make Malaysia so special. Glorious food available round the clock, shops open till 10pm, lower income tax rates, family & friends a phone call away – these are things I must remember not to take for granted. And that’s not all. Sparkling new developments such as KL Twin Towers, the city rail network, urban highways & yuppie hangouts are definitely improvements in my book. I look forward to welcoming you to Malaysia soon.

Have a wonderful 2004 and may God bless you richly!