The Malaysian Odyssey
Kuala Lumpur is a place where my heart feels as full as the Chilling Waterfalls in Selangor, with irreplaceable moments of a lifetime on exchange with The Global Student program – on the New Colombo Plan Scholarship.
There is something special about being different in a place. Maybe it is the uniqueness of the experience that makes a person more interesting. Unfortunately, in the current job market, having red hair is not enough of a standout characteristic to be in pole position for a noteworthy job.
From what I hear on the grapevine, recruiters care about the experiences that have shaped the individual and the places where one has learned the skills to pull themselves up by the bootstraps that truly set them apart from the rest of the pack.
Malaysia was the odyssey. I had been yearning for the experience to put the tools I had learned from university to the test. My biggest professional challenge to date was when I wrote a story about my time inside the amphitheatre of the Bukit Jalil Stadium for one of the biggest derbies in Asia - Malaysia and Indonesia.
I would love to say it caused as much a stir as Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah, but it actually struck a chord. The reason was, if you are unaware of Malaysia culturally and historically apart from the distinct Petronas towers towering over the Kuala Lumpur skyline, is that East Malaysia of North Borneo, now called Sabah or Sarawak, is also a part of Malaysia.
What I came to discover is that Malaysia is a religious and cultural hotpot simmering with three ethnicities: Malay, Chinese and Indian. It is in these intense moments where the nation holds its breath, riding every challenge pinning its hope on Tan Cheng Hoe’s men on a berth in a first World Cup for the Harimau Malaya in Qatar in 2022. I had the sense that football inside the stadium highlighted a united modern Malaysia, supported by the unifying powers of sport.
When you speak to Malaysians, the way the locals describe their country is through the expression “Boleh”, meaning anything can happen in Malaysia, including the unthinkable.
The reason my time in Malaysia was unthinkable was down to working with my boss and now lifelong mentor Nordin Abdullah with Glenreagh, a public relations company based in the heart of KL Sentral.
The highest compliment that anyone can give to a coach or a manager is that they had the ability to educate and teach you something. Every day under Nordin’s tutelage felt as though we were in the fountain of Lake Symphony in KLCC with his fountain of knowledge.
Nordin always provided me the opportunities to succeed, filling my mind with the secret herbs and spices of ideas, aspirations and keys to doors that you could not open without his help.
Whether it was writing stories, seeing and understanding his work and clients, eating satay chicken in Kuantan or fencing with his son Saif. Each day felt like I was starting a new chapter of a discovery book with Nordin - there was always a lesson for me during the experience and one that continues to live with me now. I like to think that I always see the potential in everyone I meet, as you may never know where a friendship or connection may lead to.
The most difficult challenge I have found in Australia with the pandemic, is the ability to meet people as a result of the increased awareness of social distancing. It feels like our sense of community and real world friendships have been lost for the time being and replaced with an individualism of a heads down society. This is probably why I appreciate the experience in Malaysia so much more.
The twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week I spent with Marlon Thain, for me, highlighted not just the spontaneity of an internship, but how important and special it is to sometimes meet people who are a polar opposite to yourself with varying skill sets, who can bring out something within you. I believe then and as I do now, the more diverse the people you meet in life, the more you learn about yourself.
A great part of working under Nordin was working with Marlon Thain who was also on the New Colombo Plan scholarship. In the beginning, Marlon and I may have been antipodes, but we were kindred spirits in the way that we were curious to put ourselves out there to meet new people in networking events, even designing business cards in the process.
We saw every opportunity as an adventure that was unexplored, whether it was wisecracking with the High Commissioner, Andrew Goledzinowski, and the Education Minister at the time, Dan Tehan, discussing the future of the Commonwealth Games and Olympics Games with the former IOC and Commonwealth Games President, Tunku Imran, or rolling with the punches and scoring media passes to the One Championship at Axiata Stadium. We even did a Kim Kardashian and broke the internet in Malaysia with a viral video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/S0e21wsGX7M (see clip on the right)
I will never forget the people who I learnt so much from on that trip of a lifetime, but there were three moments which stood out the most for me. Firstly, having the opportunity to be the Master of ceremonies (MC) at Malaysian Cricket’s night of nights for England and the Pakistan Women’s team, with the opportunity to interview the team captains on stage.
Secondly, being able to spend time with former West Ham legend and FA Cup winner, David Cross, who was such a joy speaking about his FA Cup triumph as a division two side back in 1980.
Lastly, learning the tricks of the trade with a trailblazer not just in Malaysia, but also the rest of Asia with the first lady of the English Premier League, Michelle Lee, of Astro Sport. She is a firm believer that the path to your dream is never easy and life is never a straight road - be prepared and believe in yourself.
As they say happiness is not a destination, it is a journey and an experience with Jan Drew’s team at The Global Student - you will be Glad You Knew.