great massages and other lao wonders

hello hello,

time has most certainly been moving quickly these days -- leaving aside the fact that i've been delinquent in maintaining this blog thus losing much of my potential readership and ensuring that i will forget many of the details of the past six months -- i am trying to make some amends

because i have fallen in love with at least one aspect of the law (the affinity for lists) this entry will be relatively concise...

today during what was potentially the best massage of my life i got to reflecting upon my time in Lao and how it has changed (and not changed me) ... to summarize:

changed:

1. danger certainly has a new meaning -- in this country i have driven a motor bike daily, jumped out of tree houses on unsupervised ziplines over the forest canopy and taken a speed boat that the rough guide considers 'life risking'

2. language -- broken english has become one of my vices (add that to shortening my words and i'm virtually incomprehensible)

3. patience- - this blog may not make it seem like it, but i'm definitely more patient than before -- case in point: when someone almost hits me on the road these days i just laugh.. no yelling, no cussing, just laughing (this might also fall under danger, come to think of it)

4. sticky rice -- i knew i loved it before i ate it, and i will miss it

5. humility -- dont get me wrong, i still think i'm right about most things -- but my job has also taught me that on a fair amount of subjects, i dont have a clue

unchanged:

1. i still cant look someone in the eye who is picking their ear with a key and also maintaining a conversation with me

2. i still cant stop laughing when they try to crack every bone in your body during massages (even during the excellent ones)

3. i love me some bread and yoghurt -- never caught on to that noodle soup all the time thing

4. my wit-- assuming you agree with me that i once possessed some, being around people from around the world who do not find me funny has not stopped the wise cracks (ps, i wouldnt say that now is the time for a crack about how people at home are also not amused -- let me have it, at least till i get back!)

On that note, I'm going to go to bed -- t-9 days left of work and counting. Rest assured that a 'serious' entry is on its way!

much love,

c