So far so good, work is coming along smoothly, weather is starting to get better, I'm due for a raise, and within the next 2 weeks I should get my work permit for Malaysia and can plan the relocation.
China is not as bad as the news make it sound, if you're living a normal life it's quite convenient. And VPNs are everywhere, so it's not like you're cut off from social media or whatever if you know where to look. My main issue is that even if you speak decent Chinese, you don't make more than casual acquaintances, hardly real friends unless with other foreigners, and I'm done being stuck in a bubble. Malaysia is largely English speaking thanks to its colonial past, and people are way more welcoming. I've been staying there on and off for a few months working from home, and already have closer connections to people there than I made in 6 years in China. So I now got approved for 100% work from home and can do it from abroad while still getting paid from China, I'll just have to register with the local authorities and pay my taxes there, so I need the work permit first.
I hope you post about life in Malaysia. I'm fascinated to hear what it's like. I'm sorry China isn't terribly sociable.
Sure, I'll do that then! Actually just did a 4 week round trip in February to see where we want to settle down, and we've decided on Kuching. Really beautiful place.
To my surprise even to myself I applied for a new job with more money and am being interviewed. I'm in a union so it's likely I'll get it. I surprised myself for even applying, but despite the fact I like the role I'm in now, I don't like the way it's structured, the cliquey behaviour of the other staff towards me, and how I'm the only one expected to do other people's work routinely as well as my own. If I don't end up accepting the new job I'm going to do workload grievances until things at my current position are corrected.
Also my dog needed very expensive dental surgery week before last so I'm super broke which is really hard. And my SO is a petty shit who ruins my every day somehow pretty much always. And I work two jobs so I have extremely little free time and am always exhausted.
Good things: new Nick Cave album coming out, beautiful snow for the last two days (I like a good spring snowy period), going to see my friend for coffee this weekend, and maybe I'll take myself on a date to the local greenhouse since it's free and read poetry for an hour and escape a little.
I sprained my ankle 6 days ago and I still can't walk on it. I'm paranoid it will never get better
The last couple of weeks have been pretty full-on at work, but this week is fairly straightforward so far - and looks ok over the next few days too.
Had a good weekend as well: some gardening, repaired the microwave instead of having to chuck it out and get another - which I was pleased with - and got out for an enjoyably bucolic walk. Also played chess with my SO - which is the first time for years - and have agreed to play backgammon in the near future. I have only ever played that a couple of times before and it did not grab me then. Maybe my SO will convert me though.
Pretty good. Nothing broke over the weekend at work so no phone call.
Got some firewall patching to do tonight for customers. Not expecting anything to go wrong tho.