2024年2月22日 星期四 Thursday 2/22/2024
追逐了三年之久的愿望终于得以实现，这个逐步实现的过程仿佛一杯热茶在冰冷的日子里缓缓散发出的温暖，逐渐温暖了我整个身心。新冠疫情带来一缕金边让人们对”上班”的观念发生了根本性的改变，越来越多的人开始远程工作，这也为我和PJG能够实现这个梦想奠定了基础。
Thursday 2/22/2024
After three years of pursuit, a long-cherished wish has finally been fulfilled. The process of realization is like a cup of hot tea gradually spreading warmth on a cold day, warming my whole heart and soul. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a silver lining, fundamentally changing people’s concept of “going to work,” with more and more people starting to work remotely. This shift laid the foundation for PJG and me to realize our dream.
在2022年底我找到的这份新工作中，两位经理对我表达了极大的支持。当我提出想要去马来西亚工作三个月的想法时，她们立刻表示支持。虽然我知道自己是一位非常有价值的员工，她们希望让我的开心，但我还是感到非常幸运。PJG进行了大量的搜索、规划和预订工作，终于我们在2024年2月18日启程前往马来西亚槟城。
At the end of 2022, in my new job, two managers expressed great support for me. When I proposed the idea of working in Malaysia for three months, they immediately showed their support. Although I know I am a very valuable employee and they wanted to make me happy, I still feel very fortunate. PJG did a lot of searching, planning, and booking work, and finally, we set off for Penang, Malaysia, on February 18, 2024.
这趟航班有很多空的座位，两杯红酒庆祝这次工作行的开始 – This flight had many empty seats; two glasses of red wine to celebrate the start of this work trip.
从旧金山飞往新加坡需耗时约17个半小时，虽然这听起来是一段漫长的旅程，但通过观看几部电影和小憩一会儿，时间似乎也就迅速流逝了。抵达新加坡机场后，我们需要领取行李，因此首先要过海关。这里的海关手续非常便捷，全由机器完成，包括扫描护照和拍摄照片，整个过程高效迅速。领取行李之后，我们重新办理了下一班去槟城航班的登机手续并再次过关，过程同样是由机器操作。我们对新加坡机场的高效率印象深刻，尤其是在我们发现竟然没有行李检查时。然而，没想到的是，行李检查实际上安排在登机口处，工作人员已经在那里等待了。
Flying from San Francisco to Singapore takes about 17 and a half hours, which sounds like a long journey, but time seems to fly by quickly with a few movies and some rest. After arriving at Singapore airport, we needed to collect our luggage, so we had to go through customs first. The customs process here is very convenient, completely automated, including scanning passports and taking photos, making the whole process efficient and quick. After collecting our luggage, we checked in for our next flight to Penang and went through customs again, which was also machine-operated. We were impressed by the efficiency of Singapore airport, especially when we found out that there was no body or baggage scans. However, unexpectedly, the baggage check was actually one at each boarding gate.
在机场吃了两碗面做早饭 – Had two bowls of noodles at the airport for breakfast.
No, my body is not that long.
一个蝴蝶花园，有很多蝴蝶，里面有特意为它们准备的菠萝 – There’s a butterfly garden with many butterflies, with pineapples specially prepared for them.
经过大约一个小时的飞行，我俩从新加坡抵达了绿油油的槟城。过海关出乎意料地简单，工作人员甚至没有要求查验我们按规定应在抵达马来西亚前48小时内完成的MDAC表格。录下指纹，盖章，畅通无阻地步入了马来西亚。
到达后，PJG的一个朋友的一个本地朋友开车来接了我俩，他是一位非常热情与友好的老哥。槟城的交通拥堵似乎也是一个大问题，从机场到Straits Quay区域，大概花了50多分钟。我俩租的一个公寓就在海边，能在阳台上看海是选择这个公寓的一个主要原因。
简单整理了一番后，短暂休息了一小时，我俩从睡梦中被闹钟叫醒，坚决不能让旅途的劳顿占据我们的夜晚。去楼下的爱尔兰酒吧，点了两杯冰啤酒，那种清凉透过喉咙直抵心扉，对这段40多个小时旅程最好的收尾。
After about an hour of flying, we arrived in the lush greenery of Penang from Singapore. Passing through immigration unexpectedly proved very simple; the staff didn’t even ask to check the MDAC form we were supposed to complete within 48 hours before arriving in Malaysia. After fingerprinting and stamping, we entered Malaysia smoothly.
Upon arrival, a local friend of PJG’s came to pick us up. He was a very warm and friendly guy. Traffic congestion in Penang seems to be a major issue; it took us over 50 minutes to reach the Straits Quay area from the airport. The apartment we rented is by the seaside, and the ability to see the sea from the balcony was one of the main reasons for choosing it.
After a quick tidy-up and a short rest, we were awakened from our nap by the alarm clock, determined not to let the fatigue of the journey dominate our night. We went downstairs to an Irish pub and ordered two glasses of ice-cold beer. The refreshing sensation as it passed through our throats straight to our hearts was the perfect end to this journey of over 40 hours.
2024年2月22日，我俩终于踏上了马来西亚槟城的土地，开启了在这里为期三个月的工作和生活之旅。我期待着探索槟城的各个角落，品尝这里丰富的美食，体验这里独特的文化和生活方式。总之就是享受生活。
On February 22, 2024, we finally set foot in the land of Penang, Malaysia, embarking on a three-month journey of work and life here. I look forward to exploring every corner of Penang, tasting its rich cuisine, and experiencing its unique culture and way of life.
In short, I’m looking forward to enjoying life.
新加坡机场挺漂亮啊！
越走越顺了，在马来西亚能体验三个月，真是没有浪费这份工作，太美好了！
I’m glad you had an uneventful flight, missing a day going there will mean on the way back, you will have to live through one day for 48 hours!
Singapore airport was designed to make the travelers feel welcome while you waited for connecting flights.
James, where did you meet this local friend that met you at the airport?
He is a friend of someone that worked for me at zSpace who is Malaysian and used to work at Cisco and spent time in Penang.