This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Jessica Khine, a 63-year-old retiree living in Penang, Malaysia. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I was born in Yangon, although I grew up, studied, and later worked in different parts of the world, including the UK, Japan, and back home in Myanmar.
I was always drawn to new experiences and opportunities. My work in investment banking and asset management brought me to Singapore for almost five years. After being laid off, I found myself in Bali with my then-husband and our seven-year-old daughter, running a small boutique hotel.
After four years of island life, I returned to the finance world, taking roles in Japan and later in Myanmar.
We decided to send our daughter to a boarding school in Johor, Malaysia.
Jessica Khine.
Moving to Malaysia
By the time I got laid off again in late 2018, it just made sense for us to move to Malaysia. I was able to stay with my daughter on a guardian visa, but my husband at that time was always on a tourist visa. When I heard about the Malaysian My Second Home visa, I thought, why not go for it?
We applied for the visa in 2019 and got it within three months. Since it’s under the old scheme, it’s valid for ten years.
Soon after, the pandemic hit, and my then-husband returned to Bali to care for his ailing father. With the long separation and travel restrictions, our marriage dissolved.
I was still living in Johor at that point, but after a while, I started to feel it wasn’t quite the right fit for me.
An old friend told me he could see me living in Penang instead — it’s way up on Malaysia’s northwest coast, about 430 miles from Johor. I’d been there for vacation before, and I was intrigued, so I decided to give it a shot.
After viewing about 40 apartments, I finally found a place I loved in Tanjong Bungah, a suburb on Penang Island.
Jessica Khine.
It’s a 4,760-square-foot rental apartment with a beautiful wraparound balcony where I can watch the sunrise. I moved in December 2022 and have been living here since.
Life as an empty nester in Penang
My daughter is now studying at a university in London, so I’m an empty nester.
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My lifeline is three Zumba classes a week, taught by a local instructor. There are about 15 of us regulars, and it’s become a little community.
I also attend a movie club at a local bookstore, which screens independent and arthouse films three nights a week. There’s a research institute nearby that hosts wonderful talks and book launches that I enjoy attending.
Jessica Khine.
For me, Penang offers everything I need — good healthcare, cultural life, and places of worship. There are excellent hospitals here, and temples where I can worship as a Buddhist.
I also bought a Hokkien-English dictionary, which I’ve been reading obsessively. Hokkien is a Chinese dialect commonly spoken by locals here in Penang.
I’m a lifelong learner, and that’s probably why I love the bookstore, the movie club, and meeting new people. When I think about the balance of culture and the richness of everyday life here, I realize how spoiled I am by the access to so many different things.
I’m getting older now and have settled into a nice routine. The Malaysian people are friendly, my Singaporean friends are nearby, and I still keep in touch with friends around the world. I’m blessed.
Penang feels like home. I’m happy here — and I’ll be honored if I’m allowed to continue to stay.
Do you have a story to share about relocating to a new city? Contact this reporter at [email protected].
