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Old 05-08-2012, 03:03 AM   #1
arielky
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Greetings from Malaysia
Hi, my name is Ariel Ky, and I'm new here in this community. I've been kind of lonely; the only real friends that I've made while living in this beach hut at Cherating Beach on the east coast of Malaysia have been a small tribe of spider monkeys who visit me every day.

I'm living in a tourist spot; it's not a friendly place for anyone who isn't actually a tourist spending money. However, it's cheap to live here. I'm only paying about $3 a day for my beach hut. And it's the one of the most beautiful places on earth with several ecosystems contained in a small area.

We're on the South China Sea, so there is open water, beach and shoreline. I like to walk on the beach and watch the small shells moving in the water. After a storm, I enjoy beachcombing, and then I build sea altars and carry out ceremonies to honor the earth and the sea.

This small beach town is bordered by open sea on one side and a good-sized river on the other. The firefly cruises at night on the river are amazing. There is a volcanic hill at one of the end of the beach covered with lush tropical jungle; the only trees I can recognize are mango trees and coconut palms.

On the side of the beach huts, there is a short access road that has a marshy area on one side. I've seen toads, frogs, snakes and monitor lizards near the marsh. At the end of this row of beach huts, there is an open air Chinese restaurant that looks out on the beach. To the front and left of the restaurant, there is a peat bog.

On the other side of the resort, there is an open field of lush green grass and flowering bushes where an old white horse used to stand, flicking flies off with his dirty long tail that almost reached the ground. I haven't seen him for about three weeks, though. I fed him a carrot and his teeth were so worn down that he had to work hard to crunch it so that he could eat it. However, he still had a lot of vitality left, as I last saw him galloping down the front road. I don't think he's dead, but where has he gone?

So all I do all day long, and sometimes into the night, is write. I've been here for about two months now, and some of that time I've literally been a starving writer. Nobody can believe that an older American woman could be as poor as I have been. I teach a little bit online, which has been my only paltry income. A couple of weeks ago, I sent out an SOS to my friends and family, offering a weekly newsletter for the next three months at $50. Fortunately, I got some subscribers, and a couple of friends sent me $250 each. And a webmaster friend offered to give me a website, which I'm working on now.

I do have a teaching position lined up at a university in Kuala Lumpur, but it won't start until August because it will take that long to process the work visa. I was teaching in Saudi Arabia, but hated it there. When I can bring myself to write about that experience, I think I can sell the article somewhere. I've been an ESL teacher the past 24 years (mixed in with a few years in corporate offices while my son was in grade school). Six years ago, going on seven, I set out to work my way around the world as an ESL teacher.

However, I failed to anticipate that I would get to be too old to get jobs. Now that I'm 58, it's quite difficult. I must find another way to support myself. I've always wanted to support myself as a writer, and this time I'm not giving up.
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Old 05-08-2012, 03:12 AM   #2
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Ariel. You'll meet lots of friendly folk here. And I hope you see that horse again.
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Old 05-08-2012, 04:38 AM   #3
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Old 05-08-2012, 04:43 AM   #4
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Old 05-08-2012, 04:47 AM   #5
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Old 05-08-2012, 04:52 AM   #6
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Old 05-08-2012, 11:37 AM   #7
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Hello there Ariel, and welcome to AW. I can sympathise with you, as I'm also 56 already and finding jobs gets indeed harder and harder. Up to three years ago, I always found a job at the beginning of the school year (September 1st in Belgium) but then it become 21st September, the next year 25th October and this one 21st October. And I got the last job thanks to my sister, who works at the same school. One of the administrators stayed at home (we call it pensionitis) and she could persuade the head to take me on. So I'm hoping this will be my salvation, as the job will most likely stay open and with a bit of luck, I can remain working until I'm 65 and have to go on pension.
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Old 05-08-2012, 02:29 PM   #8
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Old 05-08-2012, 03:01 PM   #9
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Please do what Reg suggests!

-and read about AW basics here in the Newbie Guide! Many questions about using this software can be found in the FAQ's menu in the handy blue bar at the 'top' of this page. Also handy for first-time users is the common acronym list. This helps you identify those mystifying abbreviations.

*Critiques* So many new members ask about having work critiqued! They should first read the 50 Post rule. But when it comes to actually posting writing in the Share Your Work (SYW) area, this thread addresses many first time questions, while this one covers
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Old 05-08-2012, 04:38 PM   #10
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Ariel Ky,

Welcome to the community.

Let me just say...when I read your self-introduction it felt like I was reading the beginning of a novel. Not because of the length, but because of the quality of expression.

If that same quality carries over to your novels then you will be successful. I look forward to reading your work!
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Old 05-08-2012, 04:49 PM   #11
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Old 05-08-2012, 05:23 PM   #12
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Hello and welcome!
$3 a day for a hut next to the beach... Save me a hut, I'm sold.
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Old 05-08-2012, 05:27 PM   #13
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Welcome and good luck with your writing.
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Old 05-08-2012, 05:29 PM   #14
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Welcome, Ariel!I agree with Pete...sounds like you've got some great reserves to draw on for stories! And a unique setting to match! good luck with your writing...I recommend checking out the 'paying markets' link on AW. It's a good motivator to keep writing.
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Old 05-08-2012, 05:33 PM   #15
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Wow! What a story! Good luck making it through until the fall and best wishes with your writing endeavors. Never give up!
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Old 05-08-2012, 07:19 PM   #16
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Welcome!
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Old 05-08-2012, 07:49 PM   #17
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Glad you're here. Enjoy.
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Old 05-08-2012, 08:54 PM   #18
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Old 05-09-2012, 09:04 PM   #19
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Hi Ariel,

Welcome from another TEFL traveler. Well I've been back in the States for a couple of years now with my wife. We'll be back and forth, but I spent about 5 years living in different countries and teaching English. It was a lot of fun although of course not great for saving a lot haha. Best wishes with your newsletters and making it until your next job starts. Enjoy the beach hut and writing. I remember when I was in a small town in El Salvador and I read more than I ever have...very relaxing!

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Old 05-09-2012, 09:22 PM   #20
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Hello and welcome to the cooler . I enjoyed reading your intro. Me thinks you'll fit right in
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Old 05-09-2012, 09:25 PM   #21
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Old 05-09-2012, 09:29 PM   #22
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Welcome to AW! I love Malaysia, by the way. It's beautiful
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Old 05-11-2012, 06:02 AM   #23
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Wow! 21 responses. This is really a writing community.

I've been discouraged because I took the test again for write.com (I failed it the first time.) But I got 20 out of 20 this time, and a nice compliment on how I'd done a good job of making black cupboard knobs interesting. So I was happy for a little bit. Then I followed the directions to register with mturk, only to learn that Americans living in other countries aren't allowed to work for them because of taxes. I'm not sure that I've got the ability to ride this kind of emotional roller coaster. I suppose that's why it's so important to have a community to support you.
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Old 05-11-2012, 06:03 AM   #24
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It's also kind of discouraging that I took the time to work on my profile on this website, but none of my changes "took".
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Old 05-11-2012, 06:14 AM   #25
arielky
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Your Poem
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tepelus View Post
Hello, and welcome!
Tepelus, that's a great poem in your signature. I love the word Cast, and the imagery the poem evokes. Did you write that?
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