The year is 2003, and I find myself working in an office just outside Kuala Lumpur during my university placement year.
I remember I managed to get an internship at Aircom International in their Redhill office just outside London. I was very excited to be working in their software development department and the new experience of living away from home for the first time.
I was beginning to settle in and build friendships when an email was circulated asking for any volunteers to travel to Malaysia to work on an off-site project for approximately six weeks.
I had never been to Asia and at the time I was very shy and reserved. I typed up a response volunteering and let it sit as a draft all day. I couldn’t bring myself to hit the send button. It wasn’t until I was ready to go home and switch off my computer that I just bit my lip and hit send. At that point, I forgot about the email and went about my evening as usual.
The next day, my team leader picked me up and took me to the manager’s office. They had received my email and decided to send me out to their Kuala Lumpur office to aid in the development project there.
To cut a long story short, after many vaccinations and meetings, I flew out on my own to Malaysia. My first ever trip abroad alone! I had no idea what to expect as I’d never been anywhere other than on a couple of European ski trips and once to the US with my family.
What followed was a year, yes, a year of amazing experiences, great friendships and a sequence of events that would forever change my life…
Update. I’ve decided I will write more about this defining moment in my life, so stay tuned for more.
