Expat Family: Ipoh is the Ideal Place for Us

For German couple Adreas and Katharina Brunner, and their children Julia and Thomas, settling down in Ipoh was mostly a rough experience for them at the beginning, coupled with culture shock and communication problems.

Thankfully, the Brunners not only took the bull by the horns but also grabbed every opportunity to make the best of what Ipoh has to offer.

(Photo souce: Tourism Malaysia)

Tell us about your background?

Katharina (Wife): I was born in Poland during the war, and later lived in Austria, South Africa and Munich before settling down in Bavaria.

Adreas (Husband): I was grown up in Bavaria and that was where we met each other.

Cameron Highlands (Photo souce: Tourism Malaysia)

How was it like settling into Ipoh for your family? Was it difficult?

Katharina: When I first moved here with the children, we could hardly speak any English. It was a very difficult period of adjustment for us, and because Thomas was only six months old then, I was mostly homebound. The first six weeks in Ipoh, we lived in an apartment. I didn’t have a car to move around in, Thomas kept getting sick, and I was miserable! Iwanted to go home to Bavaria many times. It took me several months to get used to life here. Then seven months into my stay in Ipoh, I met another German friend, Claudia, through my daughter Julia I school. She was literally my lifesaver and started getting me involved with animal NGO work in Ipoh, and from there, I developed some “roots” and a belonging to the community.

Andreas: I must say that my adjustment to life in Ipoh was more work-related with different challenges compared to Katharina. When I first came, it took me a while to get used to a different work culture and differing attitudes to what I was used to in Germany. In Germany, if I handed out a task, I did not have to follow up. But over here, I had to! I had to learn to give and take, but at the same time, be firm with implementing necessary changes at my workplace.

(Photo souce: Tourism Malaysia)

How did your children take to the move to Ipoh?

Katharina: Julia could not speak any English when we first moved here but after only six months at Tenby International School, she became very fluent in English. She is now in Year 9. Thomas, who in 3 years old, started attending a local playschool last year at 18 months old. He has many friends and loves his school.

Julia: It was a bit difficult at first because I couldn’t speak English. But now, I love school ad life in Ipoh. I try to be active in the school and enjoy net ball and dance. The best thing I like about school is the close relationships that I share with my teachers over here compared to Germany.

Tenby International School (Photo souce: Tenby)

What do you enjoy doing during your free time?

Andreas: I love playing golf and tennis. Katharina and Julia are certainly much more happening in the social arena than myself!

Katharina: I had always admired Latin dancing, and I have been able to take up Latin dance lessons at My Dance Studio a few months ago. I have also started horse riding lessons, which I thoroughly enjoy. The best thing about Ipoh is the easy access to a variety of activities and things to learn and do at a very affordable price. I am also actively involved in the work of Noah’s Ark Ipoh, helping with fostering and also looking for homes for our animals under our adoption programme. We have two Chihuahua females, Susi and Floke, which we brought from Germany, and have adopted two dogs and two cats here. We are also active fosterers of rescue animals. So yeah, all this keeps me busy!

Ipoh Dancesport Championship (Photo souce: Ipoh Echo)

What do you like most about Ipoh?

Katharina: The weather! I love the warm weather all year round.

Julia: I love the food! Anything cooked sweet and sour, and I also love India food.

Andreas: Lifestyle. I was used to live in the countryside in German and so prefer a slower paced lifestyle to a busy and hectic city life. Ipoh is conducive for work and family life.

Ipoh City (Photo souce: Mafengwo)

What advice would you have for newly arrived foreigners coming to live in Ipoh for the first time?

Andreas: Stay calm. Be open minded and be prepared to change your mindset.

Katharina: It is very important to find local support among expat and local moms. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. I have also found a local group of moms through Facebook recently and we meet up occasionally for fellowship and sharing of common interests.

Ipoh Old Town (Photo souce: Sin Chew Daily)

(News Source: Ipoh Valley of Dreams [Issue: Jun-Aug 2015])

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