Who am I (2)?

After 3 years, I finally made it, and joined the ranks of the Chartered Accountants. And later this was followed by membership of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. And I think I'll stop amassing letters now - the total annual subscription fees to three professional bodies is killing me!

Well over time, the number of professional bodies have gone up...  After doing my time as a fully paid up member, and after demonstrating that I was keeping up to date with my continuing professional education, I was elected Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which I gather just means I get to use another set of initials - FCA, instead of the ACA we all start out with.

I noted that I didn't have to take any more examinations in order to get registered with the Malaysian Institute of Chartered Accountants, so I put in my papers, and after a brief induction meeting, I am now also a Chartered Accountant member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

I think if you put them all out, my full name and professional qualifications look like this:

Darren N T Koh, LLB(Hons), Barrister, FCA, CTA, CA(M)

A bit much, I'd say.   Definitely time to stop amassing these letters after my name!

I have worked in London, then Hong Kong, then for a short while in Kobe (with a great company, Procter & Gamble), and then with the United Nations Compensation Commission.

However, the lifetime of the Commission was limited, and after the two years that I set aside for the UN I started looking around for another job.

Amazingly (?) I ended up back with Procter & Gamble, this time in Singapore.  Not bad - one of the few boomerangs that P&G ever took back.  No doubt due to the lobbying of my once- and present boss!

Well after 3 years in Singapore, the powers that be in P&G's HQ in Cincinnati, decided that I should assume a global role, and therefore decided to relocate me to the USA.  And so, this rolling stone, which had thought of settling down again, is now on the move once more...

In the meantime, my accent has gone from Malaysian to English, to something-somewhat-reminiscent-of-something-heard-somewhere...  I just call it a mongrel accent.  Now with this stint in America, I wonder how that would change!

During my stay in Singapore, I've managed to take time to get a Diploma in Holistic Massage from the UK's International Therapy Examination Council , a certificate in reflexology from the Rwo-Shr school of reflexology and a certificate in Indian Head Massage from Australian School of Awareness.   I don't charge for treatments - it's a hobby of mine.  Now, just form an orderly queue, and we'll start your treatment today...