Back in Yangon

Well, I've been largely silent on this blog for the last little while... not that I haven't had anything to say, but I'm been too busy doing things to write about it. I've been on three continents, working 2 jobs, etc, etc! Whenever I got near a computer, I also got a little bit depressed because my wonderful external hard drive died. Even though I had the best high-tech classroom at my summer school, the computer had surges and killed my hard drive... a week later it died too!

The hard drive never recovered but I did end up paying Best Buy $160 to back up the data on it... it took a lot of stress, missing my files, rewriting my lessons and around 5 tries (driving each time to the next town over, Amherst. The first time they only copied the stuff I told them was the priority, the second time they missed two folders together worth 15GB, the 3rd and 4th time the power went out in the middle due to a lightning storm, and the 5th time was the night before I flew out of the country, and it still had 50% to go at closing time so a friend and I (my fabulous, patient TA!) sat and watched their big screen tv while it finished). As it was, I didn't get the last DVDs done. To give you an idea of how small a town it was: it was the biggest backup they'd ever done (80GB), and I really stressed the poor workers. What a joke, but at least I got it back. I am now going to scourge Asian to find a fantastic guy to fix it :)

Yangon is the same as ever. All my clothes and shoes went mouldy. I probably should've thrown them away, but instead painstakingly washed and resorted all. I wish someone would organize another one of those boot/trunk sales because I need to sell stuff--both mine and Kate's! (Kate passed through on her way back to Australia, and heads off to Finland next month). It's been raining for ages, and must say I'll be glad when October rolls around and it stops altogether!

As for school, the typical happened... my psychology textbooks won't arrive for another two months. Of course, I expected this and worried about preparation, buying all this stuff in the states, but fate didn't want that. The suitcase that I put all the heaviest stuff into (thus the psych texts) was inconveniently left behind in the car that dropped me off at the airport. I'm still trying to track it down! Also left my uni books in there too... ooops. Haven't even gone online to check up on what's happneing this semester either. I will not stress!!

I'm certainly being tested however, for other than losing suitcase, losing hard drive, losing psych texts, my calling card decided not to work and my fees are due next week. Credit card seems to be having lots of trouble! I also had a new one sent to me in the states, but they sent it to Queenstown instead. My free mouse for my new computer also never arrived! :(

On the positive side, I had a fantastic time at my friend Sarah's wedding in Tacoma. Got to Seattle and to the hotel in the nick of time. It was disappointing that many people from Beloit didn't come... you guys are bums and should call Sarah and apologize!!!!!! We missed you Christy, but completely understand! The wedding was quite lovely. She's part Native American and had a special blanket sharing ceremony which was fascinating and touching. The wedding was held in the Tacoma zoo which was very unusual. The couple had pictures with the female tiger behind--what a neat idea! Afterwards, headed back to the hotel and caught a shuttle just in the nick of time again to go to the airport. Had to pay $350 for my seat (I'dwaitlisted it but never gotten a place), but concluded it was worth it compared to stress, hotels, etc, etc. Long flight home, got changed airline in Taipei due to delays. EVA air is a great airline!

Well, I've been rambling heaps--can you tell I'm trying to procrastinate from my work? I've got to teach a psych class tomorrow with no resources. Yikes. Must go!