I arrived back from Kutching (Sarawak) last Tuesday evening. Dr. B had told me that I would be living with another intern who had already started working at his office 2 weeks ago. She's from Germany, my age (10 days younger to be exact) and very nice. She'd never been to KL before, so after chatting we deicided to go out to Chinatown for some late night shopping (they only close at midnight!). Not heeding the warnings by well-wishers, we stayed out quite late and 2 girls (especially with C being blond) can also attract negative attention. We made it home eventually, after having to duck into hotels pretending to be guests and walk a longer route back to our appartment to mislead a overenthusiastic shadow (guess what language he spoke: French! I hadn't really expected that!).
The attitude to work here is pretty intense, going home early means around 7pm, generally one gets out at around 8.30pm or so. One hour lunch break (very strict about the times) and work begins at 8.15am.
My boss and his co-worker are both Indian, so we DID NOT HAVE ANY TOILET PAPER at the office! I'm not quite sure how the Muslim girls who work here as well handle the situation, but I've not seen them smuggling any paper past me. Whilst we're on the subject of cross-cultural issues: the other day I squashed a bug walking along my arm and earned a reproachful: "that could have been your grandmother!" from my boss (happens to believe in reincarnation)! Hmm, I wonder if he feels that way about mosquitos too... Better watch out for the odd insect, I could never forgive myself for accidentially treading on the pope, or so. :)
You'll never believe it, but if it were not for the humidity, I could wear a pullover quite happily (outside, not in an air-cond office builiding). So much for the swealtering heat of the tropics.