I have been in Asia for over 5 months now and decided to start a travel blog. I have had too many stories, experiences and just jaw dropping things happen to me while in Asia & felt the need to share

So here's to my friends, family and perfect strangers who can enjoy reading about a life of a girl from South Carolina who wants to get out and see the world; from the poor barrios in Nicaragua, to the high pace life in Madrid, to volunteering in Asia.

Now, let's start.

I have learned a lot of things about myself/Asian culture since moving to Malaysia.

Let's see....

Before Asia:

(1) I was terrified of cockroaches

(2) Cats have long tails

(3) I had a balanced diet

(4) Littering is a BIG no no! RUDE...

(5) I was a normal member of society

(6) I was a polite and clean eater

(7) It is essential to be polite to waiters (we all know what they can do if not)

Now:

(1) I'm use to seeing them everywhere & don't scream anymore (yay me!)

(2) Cats have short tails...creepy, I promise.

**I have little friends that come sit with me in the middle of lunch and dinner...little cat friends....at first this was nasty & unsanitary, but now I will always and forever look for cats under my chair.

(3) My meals consist of rice, chicken & noodles

**Do you realize how many kinds of noodles there are?? Lo mein, mee, pad thai, mee with chicken, mee with pork, mee with beef, mee with soup, NOODLES GALORE.....

(4) I watch kids throw cans and candy out windows, buses and boats...it's quite disturbing.

(5) I get stared at every time I step out of my house...

**I use to complain about people not cerenating me, staring at me, calling me ORANG PUTI (white person!)....oh but now, I look forward to it. :/ Whenever someone yells ORANG PUTI, I now yell back ORANG HITAM (black person!). Which is entirely another debate, because Asians are light skinned, not black....well, to say the least, racism still lives, at least in Asia.

(6) I eat with my fingers, spit out chicken bones and rarely even care anymore

**I better watch out when I go back home...I'll ward off all good and potential friends and boyfriends.

(7) Here, to call a waiter and get their attention you make kissing noises and yell across the restaurant...it's perfectly normal.

Although this list could go on I won't bore you with more (no hot water, squatty potties, no air-con, tehehe) inconveniences and cultural differences. I will say that I haven't loved every minute of my experience but I am growing and learning more about myself than any other time in my life. I'm learning to be content with what I have, where I am, who my friends are, and appreciate where I come from a whole lot more. The refugee children that I teach makes every day worth starting. So although there is discomfort and boredom, I wouldn't exchange it for an easier life...not now. I'm growing. I'm loving. i'm learning.