Hello, and welcome to my home in Kuala Terengganu! This spot didn’t always feel like home, but after a few months and after many lovely experiences, I’m glad I moved in! Please take a moment to reminisce with me over the experiences that helped me turn from tourist to resident.
I had never been to Asia before, but I entered the continent with a smile, an open mind and a bag full of supplies and sea turtle research papers. My first few days were dizzying! While my mind was excited to experience my surroundings and meet new people, my body took a few extra days to acclimate (adjust) to Malaysia. Once my body had “landed,” I was off and running: exploring the campus, finalizing paperwork and meeting new people. It was a wonderful but tiring experience. I soon learned that when running around in the hot Malaysian sun it is essential to drink plenty of water to rehydrate in between adventures.
After completing my paperwork, I was whisked off to Chagar Hutang, the sea turtle sanctuary on Pulau Redang (Pulau: island), where I would collect my data. On the island, I was able to survey the site, examine the available equipment and make connections with the staff that work at Chagar Hutang.
