UPDATE: April showers bring May flowers... and welcoming a new water dragon!

Hello all from Southeast Asia!

It has been a long and tedious process (in more ways than one), but finally have hit paydirt! Let's start off with some important announcements and recent developments on our side of the globe:

After a long and somewhat drawn out process due to administrative beauracracy, I have finally made it to IBM Malaysia as part of the Asia Pacific Accounting team! My responsibilities will involve management and review of the financial controls process associated with all transactions dealing with the clients around the Asia-Pacific region, and it will definitely be a challenge I look forward to surpassing over the next year. In addition, I also managed to network with some locals who all seem fairly friendly and helpful. I learn from them, and at the same time they look to me for a different perspective on how to manage business and social queues. This being my first week, they loaded our itineraries with orientation related tasks and general familiarity with the IBM culture. Coincidentally IBM Malaysia just celebrated their 50 anniversary in 2011, and for the next 50 years they hope to make alot more value added products and services to cater to their clientele. Wish me luck in being part of that team to make things happen!

So as most of you know, I am currenty pursuring my US CPA licensure, but as a unique case I am doing it from overseas, and the closest location to where I am now is Japan to offer the testing facilities required for certification policies. As this is the case, I need to fly to Japan every so oftern in order to fulfil the requirements of the licensure steps. My window of complete fulfillment on all four parts of the examination before I become certified is 18 months, and it started back in October 2011. That means I have until April 2013 to make good on the remaining three sections. I have one trip scheduled for the end of May, after Karen's birthday, and hoping that will be a success. Of course with my new found position with IBM, and the rigors of a demanding work schedule coming my way over the next year, it will definitely be something I have to take to task.

 

Finally, I know many of you were wondering before I left New England, about where life would take Karen and myself over the next two years or so. Well, to start off, it was a moment to reflect on those who we would miss hanging out with, seeing family, and reminiscing about the local flavors that would be in short supply while we were overseas, to mention just a few. Next we had to deal with the matter of future planning, in the grand scheme of things - especially starting a new life in a semi new country/culture. While we don't want to provide spoilers to coming attractions, it is important to stress the fact that none of you should worry too much about when we intended to start a family of our own, and to make sure you have some extra space in case we do come around to visit again in the near future... and for those with what I call 小朋友 in your households, I do hope that they are in the mood of sharing hehe.

So in a nutshell, I finally have a job in Malaysia, still studying and preparing for certification, and at the same time trying to manage everything around a new bundle of joy. Things are falling in to place, it's just a matter of us getting used to all the changes surrounding. All of our worldwide family and friends, as well as past colleagues are in our hearts, and we definitely hope to see all of them again sometime in the near future. Whatever life brings all of you in the coming months, just know that we never forget, and that we look forward to reconnecting.

A note from Karen: Sorry to have been so quiet lately but lots of things have been happening. The past few months I have been plaqued with fatigue and nausea (for good reason) and was really in a real apathetic mood.  I did not want to do anything or go anywhere because of the constant feeling of tiredness and the nausea. To make things worse, I developed an aversion to eggs and anything dairy related (and I do love my yogurt and cheese). However, now that second trimester is here, I've been feeling loads better with those dreaded symptoms gone. Won't say much now since Kent already spoke but we are eagerly awaiting our Baby Wong (aka Wonglet) to arrive in September.