From Malaysia to the US: Bridging Cultures and Sharing it with the World

For most people, living and working in the United States sounds like a farfetched dream. However, for Logesh Kumaar, a Malaysian living in San Francisco, California, it is a dream come true. It has been more than a decade since he moved to The Golden City, and there is still a lot for him to explore and see.

“A big misconception people tend to have about working in the United States is the amount you earn. Yes, you can earn a lot, but you also have to pay a lot of taxes! And the US IRS tax is not an easy thing to understand!” he laughed.

During the day, Logesh works for a marketing agency in business operations, where he supports the marketing operations and works on project management.

But, outside of his official 9-5 job, he dedicates his time to his passion project alongside his American wife and two adorable sons.

Sharing their stories, one video at a time.

Chances are that if you are glued to social media, you would have probably stumbled upon one of their many funny but utterly relatable videos. That is because Logesh and his family are quite well-known on social media, where they share snippets of their life with the public through their own brand, the Kumaar Family.

“It started during the pandemic when we suddenly had a lot of time on our hands, and I told my wife, ‘Hey, I want to start shooting some videos.’”, he said.

Three years later, that decision led to more than 500,000 subscribers on YouTube and nearly 200,000 followers on TikTok.

The Kumaar Family’s videos have two main purposes: to put Malaysia on the map and to bridge the gap between people from different cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities. 

“I’ve always loved cooking Malaysian food and sharing about Malaysian culture with my friends here, and doing these videos can help us share our stories and cultures with the rest of the world.” he shared.

Logesh’s two sons, Zayden and Kyren, are 2.5 and 4 years old, respectively. Despite growing up in the US, Logesh also wants them to be able to experience their Malaysian roots. In their small Californian household, they try to incorporate little Malaysian cultures, such as sharing home-cooked food with their community.

“In the US, when people cook food and they have leftovers, they share the leftovers with their neighbours. But for Malaysians, we share the food first before we eat, because we want to share the best with other people.”

“And, of course, the no-shoes rule in the house is a must!” Logesh added with a laugh.

Embrace the challenges and get out of your comfort zone.

One of the best things that has happened to Logesh since he moved to the US (aside from marrying Rachel, of course), is the shift in his mindset about life.

“My definition of a successful life is one where you can find contentment and joy in what you do. Growing up in Malaysia, we are born with a certain mindset. We go to school, graduate from university, find a good job, buy a house or car, find a spouse, have a family.”

“But what he learned in the US was that it is all right to chase one’s passions. 

“You don’t have to follow what the world tells you to do, and that’s OK. You can try something, and even if you fail, you still learn something new.”

“I’m a through and through Malaysian.”

When he first moved out of Malaysia to come to the United States, Logesh thought that he was bidding farewell to Malaysia forever. 

“I thought that was it, like goodbye Malaysia, I’m going to embrace this new lifestyle, the new place to live.”

But, as the old saying goes. You can take the Malaysian out of Malaysia, but you can never take Malaysia out of the Malaysian.

“I realised that I’m a through and through Malaysian. There are so many things about Malaysia that we take for granted, and you start to appreciate it more when you’re away.”

Share your expertise, one story at a time.

TalentCorp’s MyHeart aims to provide a platform for Malaysians living abroad to share their stories and achievements, as well as to provide opportunities for skills and knowledge exchange among the Malaysian diaspora communities around the world.

When asked about what he feels about MyHeart and any advice he has for Malaysian diaspora, Logesh only had one thing to say.

“I encourage Malaysians to think about how we can be a part of the next generation and how we can help it grow.”

If you’re a Malaysian residing abroad like Logesh, join MyHeart to be part of a global community with Malaysians at its heart.