Things I learned yesterday:
It is possible to change money without any form of ID or paperwork in this country.
It is not possible to then pay USD into a USD account without proving that it is yours.
Apparently possession means nothing here, origin is everything.
Interesting.
Especially given that one shows ones status by one's possessions not by one's origin, at least to my eyes.
There are definitely inconsistencies in this society.
Tuesday 4 December 2012
Wednesday 21 November 2012
On trees
Tonight, when walking down my street to my abode I stumbled across two separate trucks with a fully grown tree, roots and all, on the back of each.
What's that all about then, do you think?
What's that all about then, do you think?
Monday 12 November 2012
I should be a.......
...fraid?
No. I just, for a whole variety of reasons, took an online "What job is right for me?" test.
Guess what came out top?
It wasn't teacher, surprisingly (I may or may not be being sarcastic there).
Actually the two most suited jobs to me (based on my answer to fifteen questions, and not taking into account qualifications or what I've been wasting time doing for the last 15 years) are
1. Environmental scientist (!!!!)
2. Writer.
Interesting............
No. I just, for a whole variety of reasons, took an online "What job is right for me?" test.
Guess what came out top?
It wasn't teacher, surprisingly (I may or may not be being sarcastic there).
Actually the two most suited jobs to me (based on my answer to fifteen questions, and not taking into account qualifications or what I've been wasting time doing for the last 15 years) are
1. Environmental scientist (!!!!)
2. Writer.
Interesting............
Monday 5 November 2012
dancing in foreign lands
So, I went to my first ballet lesson in 20 years today. It was an interesting experience, not least of all because the class was conducted mainly in thiscountryese and the teacher and all of the other students made a concerted effort to translate things into English.
The thing with dancing is that you don't actually need to understand the language that it's being taught in, because it's completely physical. At one point I tried to explain that I understood here (in my head) but not here (in my legs). There is a vague memory of all these movements and positions, but my body has forgotten them. But hey, it's been twenty years and I've been through a bit of a physical trial since I last attempted a jump and plié.
It was enjoyable, especially when the endorphins kicked in. But mainly it was an exercise in discipline. For many reasons. I'm not sure I would try this in my own country largely due to self-consciousness. But here I'm already a curious abomination when I enter the class, so what comes after is uphill. I have serious physical limitations, but there is that seriously determined core within me to make me keep at it. And being the much larger western lass gives me a lot of leeway in terms of teacher expectation. Which means I basically come out winning.
It's also fascinating in terms of staging. I'm currently, for my sins, undergoing a TYLEC* pilot at my place of employment and we looked at staging last week in terms of language teaching. Ballet, or indeed any kind of dance class has a very careful staging necessity - if you want to be able to perform the dance you need to warm up the requisite parts, learn the basic moves, elaborate these moves and then eventually put it all together. Which is exactly what staging is all about. The parallel between this and language learning is uncanny and something I suspect I should share with my tutors.
All fun and educational in many ways. I'm still on the endorphin rush, but suspect I'll be in pain in the morning. Regardless, I'm going back next week. Western Abomination of a Physical Wreck has a mission...
*Teaching Young Learner Extension/English (not sure which) Course
The thing with dancing is that you don't actually need to understand the language that it's being taught in, because it's completely physical. At one point I tried to explain that I understood here (in my head) but not here (in my legs). There is a vague memory of all these movements and positions, but my body has forgotten them. But hey, it's been twenty years and I've been through a bit of a physical trial since I last attempted a jump and plié.
It was enjoyable, especially when the endorphins kicked in. But mainly it was an exercise in discipline. For many reasons. I'm not sure I would try this in my own country largely due to self-consciousness. But here I'm already a curious abomination when I enter the class, so what comes after is uphill. I have serious physical limitations, but there is that seriously determined core within me to make me keep at it. And being the much larger western lass gives me a lot of leeway in terms of teacher expectation. Which means I basically come out winning.
It's also fascinating in terms of staging. I'm currently, for my sins, undergoing a TYLEC* pilot at my place of employment and we looked at staging last week in terms of language teaching. Ballet, or indeed any kind of dance class has a very careful staging necessity - if you want to be able to perform the dance you need to warm up the requisite parts, learn the basic moves, elaborate these moves and then eventually put it all together. Which is exactly what staging is all about. The parallel between this and language learning is uncanny and something I suspect I should share with my tutors.
All fun and educational in many ways. I'm still on the endorphin rush, but suspect I'll be in pain in the morning. Regardless, I'm going back next week. Western Abomination of a Physical Wreck has a mission...
*Teaching Young Learner Extension/English (not sure which) Course
Friday 12 October 2012
pressies!
All birthday presents are good - the bizarre ones, the thoughtful ones, the eccentric and the surprisingly generous. I did quite well on all the above this year, thanks to my lovely bunch of friends and family.
Then there are the late ones, which have a special charm all of their very own, particularly when they are in the form of long triangular chocolate bars presented to you on a Friday afternoon.*
Much joyful sugar consumption followed.
Little pleasures, unexpected, always make for a happy me.
*that's mid-week for me.
Then there are the late ones, which have a special charm all of their very own, particularly when they are in the form of long triangular chocolate bars presented to you on a Friday afternoon.*
Much joyful sugar consumption followed.
Little pleasures, unexpected, always make for a happy me.
*that's mid-week for me.
Wednesday 3 October 2012
Tremors
Ok, my flat just moved. Not for very long, only about 10 seconds, but it definitely moved.
Looking out the window nobody seems remotely fazed by this.
My first instinct, as I was sat on the sofa having coffee, was to wonder if I should get dressed immediately or not. There was no repetition of the tremor so I looked it up on google instead. Lo and behold I found this which I'd missed entirely.
Interesting start to the day.
Looking out the window nobody seems remotely fazed by this.
My first instinct, as I was sat on the sofa having coffee, was to wonder if I should get dressed immediately or not. There was no repetition of the tremor so I looked it up on google instead. Lo and behold I found this which I'd missed entirely.
Interesting start to the day.
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Random food
I really should put more photos on this blog. I just forget to take my camera out and my mobile can barely send text messages let alone take pictures.
Things I have eaten in the last 72 hours:
Sashimi. This is my most recent consumption, and was surprisingly good, at a little, almost invisible Japanese restaurant on Xuan Dieu. Very tasty and with that lightness that quality Japanese food leaves you with.
Ostrich. I don't think I had ever eaten ostrich before. It was a nice textured meat, but hard to determine the actual flavour as it had been blitzed out by vast quantities of chilli. Ow.
Cricket (singular). I think probably the first time I've ever deliberately eaten an insect*. It was a bit grassy with an aftertaste reminiscent of the essence of bug I had with my Banh Cuon a few months ago and slightly bitter, but the accompanying rice wine got rid of that. One was enough.
Thai green curry and coconut rice - very good but the edge of my hunger had been taken off by the Thai spring rolls (also pretty yummy).
So, I've been cuisine-leaping around SE Asia. Always fun.
*I'm sure I've consumed more than my fair share of ants that have flown into my mouth or wandered into my food without me noticing
Things I have eaten in the last 72 hours:
Sashimi. This is my most recent consumption, and was surprisingly good, at a little, almost invisible Japanese restaurant on Xuan Dieu. Very tasty and with that lightness that quality Japanese food leaves you with.
Ostrich. I don't think I had ever eaten ostrich before. It was a nice textured meat, but hard to determine the actual flavour as it had been blitzed out by vast quantities of chilli. Ow.
Cricket (singular). I think probably the first time I've ever deliberately eaten an insect*. It was a bit grassy with an aftertaste reminiscent of the essence of bug I had with my Banh Cuon a few months ago and slightly bitter, but the accompanying rice wine got rid of that. One was enough.
Thai green curry and coconut rice - very good but the edge of my hunger had been taken off by the Thai spring rolls (also pretty yummy).
So, I've been cuisine-leaping around SE Asia. Always fun.
*I'm sure I've consumed more than my fair share of ants that have flown into my mouth or wandered into my food without me noticing
Friday 21 September 2012
Anh co côt bía bao nhieu?
My xe om, Tuan, was rat-arsed this evening when he came to collect me from work. This was deduced by the rosy complexion (visible in the dark) and the fug of beer-y air that wafted over with him as he sprung from his seat into action.
The result of this was two-fold.
1. The ride home was much more exhilarating than normal and complete in record time.*
2. He was extremely conversational (for him).
We managed to somehow have a (very minimal) conversation about football in his native language. This was concluded at the end of the trip with him announcing that Liverpool were playing Man U tomorrow. You can tell me the result, I told him (in English, don't be too amazed).
I determinedly didn't encourage this sudden communicative tendency during the ride home as he turned round every time he said something and I was too busy clinging onto the back of the bike to think of the required verbs. Lucky you don't really get the chance to exceed 40km/hour in this city...
btw The question at the top may or may not be completely wrong and there are several wiggly-lines and the like missing.
*he's normally overly cautious and takes no risks whatsoever - he looks after me - and normally doesn't come if he's too drunk, hence occasional taxi requirements.
The result of this was two-fold.
1. The ride home was much more exhilarating than normal and complete in record time.*
2. He was extremely conversational (for him).
We managed to somehow have a (very minimal) conversation about football in his native language. This was concluded at the end of the trip with him announcing that Liverpool were playing Man U tomorrow. You can tell me the result, I told him (in English, don't be too amazed).
I determinedly didn't encourage this sudden communicative tendency during the ride home as he turned round every time he said something and I was too busy clinging onto the back of the bike to think of the required verbs. Lucky you don't really get the chance to exceed 40km/hour in this city...
btw The question at the top may or may not be completely wrong and there are several wiggly-lines and the like missing.
*he's normally overly cautious and takes no risks whatsoever - he looks after me - and normally doesn't come if he's too drunk, hence occasional taxi requirements.
Thursday 20 September 2012
On helmets
Helmets are ever so useful things. They protect your head for a start. Here they come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit all manner of fashion requirements, hairdos and sometimes even safety-conscious issues.
I wear, on average, 7 different helmets a week. This varies depending on the quantity of xe oms I use. Generally speaking their qualities range from being cheap sports-cap-alikes to ex-army helmets (excellent in the instance of blitz, not so good at staying on your head when zipping about at 40km per hour). Occasionally I'll find myself able to comfortably wear a pony-tail, because there's a little space for it at the back.
I often have to hold them on with one hand, which kind of negates wearing it in the first place. I doubt when I come flying off into on-coming death I'll remember to keep my hand on my head...
I realised today just how native (ha!) I'm becoming when I was on the xe om for a good 5 minutes before the driver realised (before me) that I'd actually forgotten to put my helmet on. To be fair, he only gave it to me as we were about to go through a police-controlled area.
That's vaguely worrying. Or perhaps just indicative of how useful I see these adornments.
I'll buy my own soon, Mum, I promise.
I wear, on average, 7 different helmets a week. This varies depending on the quantity of xe oms I use. Generally speaking their qualities range from being cheap sports-cap-alikes to ex-army helmets (excellent in the instance of blitz, not so good at staying on your head when zipping about at 40km per hour). Occasionally I'll find myself able to comfortably wear a pony-tail, because there's a little space for it at the back.
I often have to hold them on with one hand, which kind of negates wearing it in the first place. I doubt when I come flying off into on-coming death I'll remember to keep my hand on my head...
I realised today just how native (ha!) I'm becoming when I was on the xe om for a good 5 minutes before the driver realised (before me) that I'd actually forgotten to put my helmet on. To be fair, he only gave it to me as we were about to go through a police-controlled area.
That's vaguely worrying. Or perhaps just indicative of how useful I see these adornments.
I'll buy my own soon, Mum, I promise.
Friday 14 September 2012
Breeze
Something quite pleasant happened to me on the way home from work tonight.
I felt chilly.
Not due to the vague fear that my xe-ôm had had one too many côt bía before coming to collect me, but, in fact, due to the wind.
It would appear that we are approaching autumn, the evening temperature is dropping and my element is in the air. Refreshing.
This was an improvement on yesterday's trip home in which the taxi driver decided to quiz me about why I wasn't married yet and informed me that I was getting on a bit if I wanted to have children. I told him my opinions on the subject and he left me in peace. We did have the conversation half in English and half in Thislandese, which made it more bearable - particularly as neither one of us was better than the other.
Both of these trips were better than one I had last week when I had to bring out the teacherness and tell the driver off for taking me the wrong way. He was under the impression we were going somewhere else, before I put him back on track. On leaving his cab I paid what I thought suitable and told him to listen in future (add stern voice and derisive look). I may have made him feel bad....
I felt chilly.
Not due to the vague fear that my xe-ôm had had one too many côt bía before coming to collect me, but, in fact, due to the wind.
It would appear that we are approaching autumn, the evening temperature is dropping and my element is in the air. Refreshing.
This was an improvement on yesterday's trip home in which the taxi driver decided to quiz me about why I wasn't married yet and informed me that I was getting on a bit if I wanted to have children. I told him my opinions on the subject and he left me in peace. We did have the conversation half in English and half in Thislandese, which made it more bearable - particularly as neither one of us was better than the other.
Both of these trips were better than one I had last week when I had to bring out the teacherness and tell the driver off for taking me the wrong way. He was under the impression we were going somewhere else, before I put him back on track. On leaving his cab I paid what I thought suitable and told him to listen in future (add stern voice and derisive look). I may have made him feel bad....
Tuesday 11 September 2012
Saturday 8 September 2012
Banalities of the Tropical Life
Ok, I don't have Cholera. I had no default reaction to receiving that news - yes it's good, but still bizarre that I should have to wait for such tidings of joy.
What I do have is a morethanlikely repeat of amoebic dysentery. That's what those good folk who give me drugs say, anyway.
What I actually have is house arrest and its consequent boredom. I can't comfortably stray far from home. I tried to yesterday under those "I have responsibilities" and "I don't want to stay at home going insane anymore" impulses that compel us into work before sick leave is up - it wasn't pleasant.
So now I am flat-bound, with that irksome guilt that comes from having the worst immune system of all the expats I know here.
When I leave this country I hope to be 'ard as nails to any oncoming bug. Achieving some sort of immunity, soonish please, would be a good start.
I've been amusing myself with reading and taken a few shots of my wonderful living room view which reminds me that I'm in exciting and foreign climes and can't touch them because I'm stuck indoors.
Pretty, though:
What I do have is a morethanlikely repeat of amoebic dysentery. That's what those good folk who give me drugs say, anyway.
What I actually have is house arrest and its consequent boredom. I can't comfortably stray far from home. I tried to yesterday under those "I have responsibilities" and "I don't want to stay at home going insane anymore" impulses that compel us into work before sick leave is up - it wasn't pleasant.
So now I am flat-bound, with that irksome guilt that comes from having the worst immune system of all the expats I know here.
When I leave this country I hope to be 'ard as nails to any oncoming bug. Achieving some sort of immunity, soonish please, would be a good start.
I've been amusing myself with reading and taken a few shots of my wonderful living room view which reminds me that I'm in exciting and foreign climes and can't touch them because I'm stuck indoors.
Pretty, though:
 |
If I could get the Flickr stream to work you could embiggen them. But I can't.
I have to say, much as I love wp, I'm quite enjoying using blogger, it's just taking me a little while to figure out.
*bleurgh*
Friday 7 September 2012
Time travel?
My trips to the doctors' get more ridiculous each time.
I'd been delicate in the abdomen region* for about a week and felt distinctly worse yesterday so decided, okay - best go and get it checked out.
So, off I went.
After poking and prodding and deciding to put me in a unit (terrifying words), he also added that he was going to test for Cholera.
My response was fairly deadpan. I believe I grimaced slightly and said, "Good, another medieval disease to add to the collection." He reminded me where I was living and ordered me to phone work and not go in for 5 days.
I'm drinking the closest approximation to Lucozade that could be found, feeling vaguely sorry for myself and awaiting test results.
I mean really... cholera...
*that's as much detail as I'm willing to share and suspect you're willing to read.
I'd been delicate in the abdomen region* for about a week and felt distinctly worse yesterday so decided, okay - best go and get it checked out.
So, off I went.
After poking and prodding and deciding to put me in a unit (terrifying words), he also added that he was going to test for Cholera.
My response was fairly deadpan. I believe I grimaced slightly and said, "Good, another medieval disease to add to the collection." He reminded me where I was living and ordered me to phone work and not go in for 5 days.
I'm drinking the closest approximation to Lucozade that could be found, feeling vaguely sorry for myself and awaiting test results.
I mean really... cholera...
*that's as much detail as I'm willing to share and suspect you're willing to read.
Tuesday 4 September 2012
Food, bikes, buffalo and lingering wistfulness
Well, I'm definitely back in this country. I'm loathe to mention it as my other blog has been apparently frozen, at least for my own access, hence the shift over to here. But you know where I am, so we'll leave it at that. All hail democracy and free-living...
Last week I had a pleasant couple of days jaunting about on the back of a friend's motorbike. Made more pleasant by the fact that this person is someone I seldom see (hardly know in fact, but still think deserves the term friend albeit en potencia) but enjoy his enthusiasm for the land that I'm swiftly falling out of love with. He doesn't live here anymore, I do - I think therein lies the secret.
Day one was a late lunch-feast of Bun Thang, a soup with pretty much everything in, noodles (bun) included. This was followed by a very realistic day in the life of a motorbike rider and went a bit like this...
Flat back tyre discovered and bike wheeled around the corner to the nearest xe-fixer-upper.
Hand gestures, swift movements, phone-call to local to sort out the deal, xe-guy zipping off to get the cheap inner-tube specifically not requested, zipping back, fixing it, showing us the state of the tyre, taking the money and waving us off.
A trip to the people who rent the bikes and a fairly circular conversation later it was decided that the best course of action was to take the bike to the renter's mechanic and replace the back tyre. Off we went.
Sitting on little blue stools sipping câphé dá watching a craftsman at his work isn't that unpleasant a way to pass half an hour or so when you've got nothing else to do. And really it was insightful as to what I'd be letting myself in for if I did take that step into the Honda Wave(y) ocean.
The afternoon was then ours again so we went for a ride around the Lake (you know - the big one, of occidental denomination) soaking up the general Ness of this place and stopping for a fabulous drink of an alien gnarly fruit, ginger, sugar and ice which was quite addictive. Sau dá is possibly the name.
Then I got to play. I climbed onto the front seat of a motorbike for only the second time in my life (and this year) and had a go.
The first time I tried to ride a moto it was a Nuovo - a fully automatic, heavy beast of a machine which caused me great grievance at how it seemed so keen to conform with the laws of gravity, much to my surprise. It was not, all in all, a very successful event.
This time, however, I had some element of control (gears!), could put my feet on the floor when necessary, and not only hold it up, but also steer it. Yay. I was quite pleased with myself when I handed control back to the rightful driver after completing several laps around a volley-ball match in both directions and getting into 3rd gear.
The following day, my instruction was less successful - mainly because it took place in a little village just on the way back from Ceramicadia* where little kids decided to entertain themselves by jumping in my path (they know no fear!) and pretending to be Policemen, but also because I think I lost the knack overnight. Next time...
But the rest of the day was great. Getting out of The Big Smoke* helped. Seeing water buffalo for the first time in this country was also something special. They were just there on the side of the road, covered in mud from their recent wallow in the nearby pond, munching away contentedly, oblivious to the traffic trundling past. Peaceful beasts and similar to the inhabitants of this land in their manner and ability to simply watch, chew and be still until something is demanded of them.
I ate far too much street food last week. Most of it was good but I think the attack of it on my digestive system was too much. Foodly goodness in lands where I don't get sick so often is something I miss. The cuisine here is fantastic, but would be improved tenfold with some minor attention to detail.
And the lingering wistfulness. I do miss Europe. I miss people. I miss comprehension, freedom, and peace; walking, fresh air and sea breeze; privacy and space. I love the stimulation of being here, because every single day has a multitude of challenges and sensory wonders, but I think, like others, I'll appreciate it a lot more when my residence is elsewhere.
*Not Actual Name
Last week I had a pleasant couple of days jaunting about on the back of a friend's motorbike. Made more pleasant by the fact that this person is someone I seldom see (hardly know in fact, but still think deserves the term friend albeit en potencia) but enjoy his enthusiasm for the land that I'm swiftly falling out of love with. He doesn't live here anymore, I do - I think therein lies the secret.
Day one was a late lunch-feast of Bun Thang, a soup with pretty much everything in, noodles (bun) included. This was followed by a very realistic day in the life of a motorbike rider and went a bit like this...
Flat back tyre discovered and bike wheeled around the corner to the nearest xe-fixer-upper.
Hand gestures, swift movements, phone-call to local to sort out the deal, xe-guy zipping off to get the cheap inner-tube specifically not requested, zipping back, fixing it, showing us the state of the tyre, taking the money and waving us off.
A trip to the people who rent the bikes and a fairly circular conversation later it was decided that the best course of action was to take the bike to the renter's mechanic and replace the back tyre. Off we went.
Sitting on little blue stools sipping câphé dá watching a craftsman at his work isn't that unpleasant a way to pass half an hour or so when you've got nothing else to do. And really it was insightful as to what I'd be letting myself in for if I did take that step into the Honda Wave(y) ocean.
The afternoon was then ours again so we went for a ride around the Lake (you know - the big one, of occidental denomination) soaking up the general Ness of this place and stopping for a fabulous drink of an alien gnarly fruit, ginger, sugar and ice which was quite addictive. Sau dá is possibly the name.
Then I got to play. I climbed onto the front seat of a motorbike for only the second time in my life (and this year) and had a go.
The first time I tried to ride a moto it was a Nuovo - a fully automatic, heavy beast of a machine which caused me great grievance at how it seemed so keen to conform with the laws of gravity, much to my surprise. It was not, all in all, a very successful event.
This time, however, I had some element of control (gears!), could put my feet on the floor when necessary, and not only hold it up, but also steer it. Yay. I was quite pleased with myself when I handed control back to the rightful driver after completing several laps around a volley-ball match in both directions and getting into 3rd gear.
The following day, my instruction was less successful - mainly because it took place in a little village just on the way back from Ceramicadia* where little kids decided to entertain themselves by jumping in my path (they know no fear!) and pretending to be Policemen, but also because I think I lost the knack overnight. Next time...
But the rest of the day was great. Getting out of The Big Smoke* helped. Seeing water buffalo for the first time in this country was also something special. They were just there on the side of the road, covered in mud from their recent wallow in the nearby pond, munching away contentedly, oblivious to the traffic trundling past. Peaceful beasts and similar to the inhabitants of this land in their manner and ability to simply watch, chew and be still until something is demanded of them.
I ate far too much street food last week. Most of it was good but I think the attack of it on my digestive system was too much. Foodly goodness in lands where I don't get sick so often is something I miss. The cuisine here is fantastic, but would be improved tenfold with some minor attention to detail.
And the lingering wistfulness. I do miss Europe. I miss people. I miss comprehension, freedom, and peace; walking, fresh air and sea breeze; privacy and space. I love the stimulation of being here, because every single day has a multitude of challenges and sensory wonders, but I think, like others, I'll appreciate it a lot more when my residence is elsewhere.
*Not Actual Name
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