The Week in Review

I left Ottawa September 28, so I have been away almost a month. Sometimes it feels like I left yesterday, and other times it feels like I have been here longer than 3+ weeks. Suppose that is always the way with new places and experiences.

Internet has finally arrived at my apartment. So happy I no longer have to trek up to the cafe, with my computer and power cord. The guy who installed the wifi is a Lao, who lived in Montreal and did internet stuff there. He has come back to Laos and opened his own company-very successful, as you can imagine. All the hotels and high end guest houses use him. The power was out several times this week, but only for short periods of time, so not really a problem.

This was really a turning point week in regards to my work at Big Brother Mouse: there was not one day when I felt I was “marking time”, or looking around for something to do. Each day was very, very busy and full. I have several projects on the go, and then staff ask me specific questions about something they are working on: that is, I think the greatest change-they trust me and are comfortable enough to ask me questions.

As the kids at BBM (and they are kids-most late teens or early twenties) relate to me with greater ease, I am less lonely. But, I miss my girls more than I thought I would. Part of the purpose of this trip was to see if I was ready to take an overseas assignment for a year-and the answer is no, absolutely not. I miss knowing what is going on in their lives on a daily basis. I miss hearing their voices, and I miss being in the same room with them. I thought that, perhaps with the girls at 19 and 24, it was time for me to move on, and it is, but I will have to move on closer to them. I realize we may not always be in the same geographical location-many, many parents are far away from their kids. So, I have decided that while I have the opportunity to be in the same city with them, I would be foolish not to do so.
Don’t think I quite appreciated just how close we are. Odd, because relatively recently both girls have traveled out of country for a period of months, but I miss them more now..seems to be different when I am the one on the journey. Not sure why that is. But, good to know that I should not look for Rooftops postings, at least not for a while longer.

I miss my friends and my new apartment too. I have a good life in Ottawa, and while I’m getting everything out of this that I possibly can, I do look forward to coming home.

Sunday here, and the assistant manager of the builidng is taking me for a tour of Luang Prabang on his motorbike-yes, I will wear a helmet, and he is a very careful driver. This has been in the planning stages since I moved into Mekong Estates, and I kept canceling, due to commitments at BBM. When Houm Pan (guy) found out I did not work on Sunday, he quickly proposed a Sunday morning tour. I am going to ask him to take me to the falang grocery store-I am out of cheese and almost out of spaghetti, so will try to use this tour to stock up on groceries-the falang store is on the other side of town, and rather a long walk.

Book party on Monday ,and we have to leave at 7:30 a.m. Will have to buy a new alarm clock today, just to make sure I’m up in time. I never sleep past 7,but would not want to miss the departure,or keep them all waiting.

Did I tell you about my alarm clock? Before I left home, I searched and searched for an alarm clock that did not need batteries. Finally found an old style wind up clock, with an alarm at Zellers. Thought this was a wonderful idea-no need to worry about taking extra batteries, or buying batteries out here. Well, upon arrival, I set the thing up, and wound it up. Next morning, I discovered it was off on the time by about 1/2 hour (it was early). Figured I had made an error in setting the time, so reset the clock. Next morning I checked the time on the clock against my watch before I got up...good thing-the clock was a full 45 minutes early. To make a long story short, the clock does not keep time, at all. It looses hours or gains hours, on no particular schedule, without notice. A totally useless investment. It looks kinda cute, but good looks are secondary to the function of a useful timepiece. I have not wound the stupid thing for days, but every so often,the second hand will start zooming around the face of the clock. Many Lao believe spirits, called phi, inhabit many earthly things-particularly rice. I think my clock has a phi-hopefully, it is a good phi and not an evil phi. At home, I would have chucked the thing in the trash days ago. However, I have no intention of ditching the thing...will leave it just where it is, even when I pack up to come home.

Coming week includes trying to have my Visa extended...should be interesting. Do hope I don’t have to send my passport away anywhere.

Weather here still very, very hot.I know I can’t complain about the heat-I have been so instructed. So,instead I will complain about the humidity. It is truly fierce. So days you can walk as much as a block before you start to sweat-lots. Others, I’m sweating before the door to the apartment is locked. Brought a bunch of bandanas-and am very thankful for them. I wear them on my head, and use them to mop my brow. I think I still have hair-have not worn it down once since arrival-it is always either pinned up, or in a pony tail, or plastered to my head under my bandana/sweat absorber. Lovely picture to leave you with, I know.

Laundry is very cheap here. Clothes go out very sweaty and nasty, and come back all fresh and sweet smelling-and ironed. A medium sized bag, say three undies, two bras, three trousers, three tops and three bandanas costs about $3.00. Perhaps I will ship my laundry back to Loas once I’m home.

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