Out for a ride

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all are well, and having a lovely January. After a lovely holiday in Thailand (a holiday, in which we did actually do quite a bit of work, but it was all for good causes), we’ve returned back to Myanmar. The transition from holiday to work takes some adjustment, yet it was good to get back in the classroom and to teaching. Now that I’ve been doing this for a few months, I feel happy with my decision to become a teacher, and while it is a difficult job, it’s quite engaging and fulfilling, and I really do love being a team with my students as we learn together.

One of my students was absent this week, due to the fact that he had a circumcision! In Chinese culture I guess this is the age to do it, and it is apparently quite common for boys to have this done around this age. Poor boy came in to get his homework, and confessed that he didn’t want to be around the other children because he was afraid they might bump him in a sensitive place. Very frank talk about it. I was rather surprised.

Today (Saturday) Todd and I took a trip on our bikes around Yangon (see pictures above). We rode by the elementary school (picture of me on bike with building in the background, the top floor is an open air cafeteria where I have lunch duty twice a week, and often look out at the road). Then we went and visited a friend living in another place on Inya lake so we could see what it was like. On our way back from there, we were suddenly whistled at, and told to walk our bikes on the opposite side of the road. As we walked the bikes we saw signs for the organization of “the lady”, which for those of you who know anything about Myanmar’s recent history, I think you know who I mean. Simply by cruising around we had stumbled across where she lives under house arrest. We couldn’t see much, but what we saw surprised us with how run down it was. Once we were past it we were allowed to bike again. Much sobered, we continued on our way. Lunchtime was a feast of Myanmar food, lots of little dishes, with fresh veggies as well. Then we did a little shopping for raviolis and pizza at a small gourmet store located in a beautiful home in a residential area. Who would ever think you could find freshly made pesto and ciabatta? But you can. Then we cruised by the Shwedagon pagoda and came home to rest. It was an interesting trip, and I’m getting used to biking in a city, although at times I do find it a bit nerve-wracking with the busses and speedy cars. Still, I’d rather be biking here than in Bangkok! (or, for that matter, San Francisco).

I’ve been having some email challenges, and haven't been able to access for some time, so my apologies if anyone has tried to reach me. Hopefully I’ll be able to check this weekend, but perhaps not, and it may take a while for me to respond.

Take care everyone!

Love, Meghan