Global Perspectives: A SLP's Journey Working Abroad Blog Series #1 (Location: Malaysia)
This the first blog post of this series! This series’ purpose is to give you, wherever you are in your SLP/SLP2b career, a glimpse of a SLP’s experience working abroad. Whether you are contemplating making that jump in your own life or just curious, I am sure you will find nuggets of gold within these posts.
This first one is all about Penny, a SLP from the U.S.A. who moved to Malaysia. If you want to learn more about her journey, ups/down, and everything in between, keep on reading. Enjoy and thank you Penny for your insight!
What is your name, pronouns, and your job/professional title?
Penny Gumbel (she/her); Senior SLP and Feeding Therapist
Tell me about yourself. Where did you initially move from (before you worked abroad) and what graduate school did you attend? Why did you become a SLP?
I was raised near Atlanta GA [Georgia, USA]. I got my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Furman University and my Master of Communication Sciences & Disorders from the Medical University of SC.
What city and country do you currently work in, what setting do you work in (e.g., international school, clinic, university, research, etc.), and what age range do you currently work with? How long have you been working abroad?
I work at a private clinic and Early Intervention (EI) school in Kuala Lumpur (KL) Malaysia. The majority of my clients are 1-5 years old, though I can see older kids as well. I’ve been working in KL for the last year.
Where did you apply for this SLP international job and how was the application process?
I found the job posting on Facebook and then reached out to the owner. I sent them my resume and then completed an online interview. I knew I wanted the job because I agreed with the team’s philosophy of neuro-affirming therapy for autistic kids.
What did the process look like for you to move abroad (e.g., obtaining visas/work permits or sponsorships, finding a place to live, moving, SLP licensure, etc.)?
It took three months to get a Malaysian Employment Pass and then another month to move to KL. The hardest part about moving was coordinating the immigration paperwork, flights, and quarantine for my two dogs. Once in KL I I had to get my Employment Pass put in my passport so I couldn’t start working for over 2 weeks. I found a realtor who specializes in helping expats find apartments & condos. The majority of homes here are in high rise buildings. SLP licensure was easy, since you don’t need a license to practice in KL. I did join the local SLP group, MASH.
What motivated you to pursue work opportunities abroad as an SLP?
Traveling is my hobby. While living in KL I’ve been able to visits lots of Southeast Asian countries. So far I’ve been to Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Hong Kong. I already have the rest of my 2023 trips planned to Sri Lanka, South Korea, Maldives and New Zealand.
How does the pay rate, cost of living, and quality of life compare to living in your home country?
Compared to US standards the pay is extremely low, but with that money I can live a very high quality of life in Malaysia. I live in a luxury condo in a great neighborhood. Many expats have helpers that clean and cook for them or provide full day childcare if they have kids. I don’t have a helper, instead I travel to new cities and countries 1-2x/month and explore Asia.
What specific challenges do you face working abroad as a SLP?
Most Malaysians speak English, but there is still a lot of local vocabulary to learn. As a SLP I’ve had to learn the phonemic characteristics of Malay, Mandarin, Korean and more as most of my clients learn 2-3 languages. As a feeding therapist I have to take local and religious practices into consideration. Malaysia is a Muslim country which impacts food choices and even how the food is eaten.
What are your favorite things about working abroad as a SLP?
I love my coworkers, they’re all so welcoming! I’ve enjoyed learning about Malaysian culture and definitely trying all the local food.
What are the most significant differences between practicing as a SLP in your home country versus abroad?
In addition to knowing a child’s food allergies I need to know religious dietary restrictions and cultural food preferences. Malaysia is populated with Malay, Chinese and Indian citizens each with different mealtime practices.
How does your experience working abroad influence your perspectives on diversity and cultural sensitivity in speech-language pathology?
I still give standardized tests, but very little emphasis is placed on the scoring results. I’ve researched the phonemic repertoires of a handful of languages. I’ve also learned so many new foods, most of which I end up trying myself.
What advice would you give to other SLPs who are considering working abroad for the first time?
To work in another country you need to have an open mind and be flexible. You can’t say “That’s not how we do it where I’m from”, but rather you need to explore the history & culture of how things are done in your new country.
If applicable, how do you handle homesickness or any potential challenges related to being far away from family and friends?
I use FaceTime, Marcopolo and texting to keep in touch with family and friends. I’m become a master at convert in time zones! I’ve also found a great group of expat friends. We share our stories and it helps knowing others are having similar experiences.
Which other cities/countries have you worked in as an SLP? Tell us about those experiences (for those that have worked in multiple locations).
Before moving to Malaysia I was a travel SLP. I worked in Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Kansas, Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota and North Carolina. I’ve worked in NICU, inpatient peds, outpatient peds, EI and schools.
Any other information, stories, and experiences that you would like to share?
The one thing I wish I had researched more was pay & cost of living in Malaysia. My salary averages higher than many locals’ pay, but I make significantly less than I did in the US. I have enough money to live comfortably and travel around Asia, but it wouldn’t have been possible if I still had student loans or any other types of debt.
Can SLPs contact you for more information? How can they contact you?
Email: PennyG.slp@gmail.com
Instagram: @travelthera_p
