Overseas Assignment Life Troubles ①

Hello, this is Junsa.
In a previous article, I introduced why I became a travel lover.
The origin of that was my "overseas assignment life."

▼ Click here for past related articles ▼

This time, I'd like to talk about my travels during that period...

But before that,

Although it was over 10 years ago, I will share the troubles I actually experienced during my first overseas assignment in Malaysia, and the lessons I learned from them.

I'm sure this will be useful for those planning an overseas assignment, business trip, or travel!

✅ Trouble ①: Black mold in the bathroom

About a week after I started my solo assignment life in a condominium.
I noticed that a stain? Or maybe a smudge? on the bathroom ceiling was getting bigger day by day.

"It's leaking water, and is this mold?"
"Won't it get even bigger!?"

I had a bad feeling, so I requested a repair.
However, what they did was...

"Just painting it white with paint"

No, no, no... That's not a fundamental solution!
But as a beginner to overseas life, I couldn't speak up strongly...

And sure enough, a few days later, the black stain started spreading from the same spot on the ceiling.

When I asked for a repair again, they tried to do the same thing, so this time I finally said,

"I think the cause is a water leak,
so please fix that first,
and then paint it white afterwards."

I conveyed this, and they handled it properly. As a result, there has been no recurrence since.

The condominium I lived in at that time had just been completed shortly before I arrived.
It was a building attached to a shopping mall, and the upper floors were residential spaces.

A brand-new room with few people living there yet.
It was my first time living alone abroad, it was on a high floor with a great view, and

"So this is what assignment life is like!"

It was an incident that happened just as I was getting excited.

💡 Lesson: As one of the criteria for choosing a condominium,
instead of "a brand-new room where no one has lived,"
choose "a room where someone has lived at least once in the past."

That way, the "bugs" have been worked out, and the initial defects that would have naturally occurred have been cleared.

✅ Trouble ②: Getting Dengue fever

One month into my assignment, just as I was getting used to life and settling down, I got a high fever and felt sluggish...

With my English skills, I barely knew any medical English terms, but I couldn't afford to worry about that, so I went to a local clinic.

As a result, the doctor said to me,
"Dengue."

At first, knowing I worked for an electronics company, I thought he was using a Japanese word he knew and saying "Denki" (electricity), so I smiled and replied,

"Oh, Denki, yes!"

When I translated the English medical certificate later,

"Dengue" meant Dengue fever.
(So embarrassing, sweat)
And the doctor told me to rest at home for a while.

I never thought I'd get Dengue fever one month into my assignment...
Even my senior colleagues said,

"I've heard of Japanese people getting it occasionally, but Junsa-san, aren't you the fastest one yet!?"

At the time, I knew as much as "Dengue fever is dangerous, so be careful," but I didn't pay attention to what the symptoms were.
In fact, the high fever went down quickly, and my physical condition was good. I followed the doctor's instructions and rested at home for a while.

However, during that recovery period, I had an unprecedented experience...

After a meal, when I was running my tongue between my teeth and gums, blood suddenly gushed out (there was absolutely no pain).

"What is this!" I was quite surprised by this first-time experience.

But that was to be expected.
When you have Dengue fever, your platelets decrease, making you prone to bleeding and making it difficult for blood to clot.In other words, if you don't rest, even if you just "fell down" or "bumped into something," it could develop into a major disaster like "internal bleeding and the blood won't stop!"

As for
”where I caught dengue fever,”
I believe I was bitten by a mosquito carrying the dengue virus while playing golf, a hobby I started after moving abroad.

This is because mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus are active in the morning and evening.

Also, the reason dengue fever is considered dangerous is that it can worsen into "dengue hemorrhagic fever."

If this happens, it can develop into a life-threatening illness, and it is said that the mortality rate is around 10%. Later, a local staff member at my workplace contracted "dengue hemorrhagic fever" and, unfortunately, passed away.

However, if you become too sensitive, you cannot live in such overseas countries.

"Focus on the key points and be careful"

I think this attitude is important.

💡 Lesson:
When going out in the morning and evening, be sure to use insect repellent spray.

Just knowing their active hours can greatly reduce the risk.
※It is said that mosquitoes present at night are okay.

Also, regarding insect repellent sprays and electric mosquito coils (like Vape, etc.), I recommend local products rather than Japanese ones. I am not sure if it is because the local mosquitoes are stronger, but in my experience, Japanese products are less effective, while local products are highly effective.

✅Summary and Message

This time, I introduced two real troubles I encountered while living in Malaysia.

Before I was assigned abroad, when I traveled overseas frequently, I would
“Something might happen!” “Something is about to happen!”
and I would intentionally go to places or try things in search of trouble or happenings, or make adventurous choices thinking,
“This will make a good story!”
But, after all, “illness and injury” are no good. They are nothing to laugh about.

Looking back, I don't think I could call myself a “travel lover” back then; I was the type who enjoyed “experiences and encounters different from others,” such as troubles and happenings.

But as I accumulated these experiences, my perspective gradually changed.
Now, I have come to love travel itself, and I seek “healing, tranquility, and deeply moving experiences.”

Thinking back, these many troubles might have been the catalyst that nurtured such a change in my values regarding travel.

I still have more trouble stories, so I will introduce them next time in
“Overseas Living Troubles ②”
along with lessons learned.

If any of you are planning to work abroad, relocate, or travel overseas, I would be happy if this article serves as even a small reference.

It would be a great encouragement if you could like and follow me!