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A friend said in a recent email "I'm sure there must be some trying days" and it reminded me that I once chastised Owen for his "rose colored glasses" news posts when we were in China. So here are some reality checks in case you think it sounds all too easy :)
The 10 Most Trying Things - in no particular order.
1. Ironing. Go and stand under a fan to dry off between shirts. Give up when the sweat starts to drip onto the ironing board as I iron.
2. Mosquitoes. It's a pain sleeping under a mosquito net - just get all tucked in then remember something you forgot to do or get.
3. Sweating (forget the "wafting" nonsense). I'm getting used to the sudden sweating (and I mean dripping) without warning - at least it happens to the locals too. Less used to the difficulty walking anywhere - too hot during the day and no bus service round town. Nobody walks anywhere, locals hop on their motorbikes to go 100 meters down the road. I generally go to the market/supermarket first thing or last thing and avoid the middle of the day. Taxis are plentiful and cheap enough but I feel a bit silly getting a taxi to go a short distance. At least it's never cold.
4. That beautiful fresh feeling getting out of the shower - that lasts until you douse yourself with the obligatory insect repellant.
5. Roads. The chaos and absence of road rules goes without saying in a country like this. I can even put up with the broken pavements, but having to take to the roadway because every inch of footpath is consumed by food stalls, shop overflows, building materials and parked motorbikes is a bit much.
6. Food. I'm now okay with eating sliced crunchy green mangos skin and all (delicious actually), I've just about got used to chomping through shrimp skins (if they're small enough) but draw the line at eating the heads. I must admit I have to savour the nice, big, fat prawns so mine is the only spot at table with a pile of heads, skins and tails at the end of a meal.
7. The TV. Can't quite get into the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese soapies. Nor the movies dubbed into English but with all the characters read by the one person. Especially not the tennis with the sound about a second and a half behind the vision. To cap it off a number of English language channels were dropped recently, including CNN, BBC and a news channel out of Singapore which we used to get.
8. Super fine dust that blows in and coats Everything!
9. Missing family. After living overseas for a year very early on we've wanted to do it again, but found there was never an ideal time for it. Eventually we decided we'd just have to go - otherwise we'd be too old. Being away from the family and missing the time with the grandchildren is hard. We look forward immensely to visits.
10. Did I mention the sweat? Dripping down my back, running into my eyes, soaking into my clothes.
- comments
Darryl ah ha I knew there must be a few problems there! Here in London we are all moaning that the weather is miserable at the moment but at least I don't have to sleep under a mosquito net and the only sweat I get is if I did about 100000000 press ups and that is very unlikely! I'll fan over a bit of cool air - here it comes!
Zig Hi Avenel,I do sympathize with you as I experienced a few of those things while we were in Vietnam, but we were only there for two weeks!! The sweating, mosquitoes (they love me), the roads and the food I could probably tolerate, but missing family would be the thing I couldn't cope with. It's getting cooler here so try and enjoy the heat while you can.Cheers, Zig
Frank and Lyn I keep telling Lyn why I am not fond of travel to countries such as Vietnam. I will make sure she reads this! As for Zig's comment - "enjoy the heat while you can" -I think maybe that's not what you are doing. Can you imagine how I would get on with a diet such as the one you have described? I have enough trouble in a local restaurant. Was at a very posh one recently (birthday present) and there were only two dishes on the menu I could safely tackle. How do the locals manage to eat the heads of the prawns without stabbing their mouths? Good to hear from you Avenel and to know that Owen does paint a picture through half closed eyes.Cheers from a non-sweating Frank
Maree Oh Avenel, I found myself nodding my head and thinking "how brave you are"! I'v written to the Belmont Council here to complain about all the mosquitos along the river. Do you think that could be something you could try!!! I guess you just have to say "its not forever"! We just dont appreciate how well off we are, here in Perth. Keep up the wonderful Blog Avenel, its fantastic..
avenel Thanks for the comments! Darryl, I don't think you fanned hard enough. I must say I certainly would rather be too hot than too cold. Frank, the small shrimps just get chomped straight through - the large prawn heads get slurped enthusiastically and discarded. All trivial complaints really, and to be expected, so I'm not complaining.