Just some of the day in/day out gems of living overseas and in Bangladesh. I really shouldn't be writing ... but this whole blogging craze will be over soon ... right?
Another plus of living overseas is getting to taste all the sweet potato chip flavors. You think blue cheese and salsa Doritos are funky ... how about Nori Seaweed and Salmon Teriyaki Lay's. or just plain old chicken with 25% lower saturated fat (they still use trans fats here). They really do "taste like chicken" ... Carrie couldn't stomach them but a little BBQ sauce and mmmm.
We fill the ice cubes with bottled water. I could boil water but that puts another step between me and my cold frosty drinks. The preferred water of choice is MUM's and we are not even a 100% sure that is clean.
An engagement party for Jason meant that the apartment was decorated with Christmas lights. They hung down the stair well and littered the apartment. It was a nice touch in many ways but since we have not been home for Christmas in the last 6 years and we miss out on all the lights, it brought a strong nostalgia. We definitely have to get a tree this year.
Last night I took my daughter trick or treating for the very first time, I ate a miniature Reese's cup with the brown paper still on it. I only realized this after I had popped it in my my mouth and had gotten in a few good chews. Dilemma? Not at all. But I could have sworn that I unwrapped the foil and brown paper (with tasks like that you are practically an automaton) and felt I was being punished for breaking the diet I'd started after Bali (fried calamari). But when I told Evan he admitted that the one he'd just opened had had two brown papers too. So I guess I can fall on the either side of this one. Whether there were two layers or I my mind was just so intent on getting the chocolate fix that it skipped a crucial step in the unwrapping process, I may never know. In all the mix of peanut butter, chocolate, and waxy brown paper was still appetizing. At least my brain remembered to remove the foil ..... zzzzap! (cheesy onomatopoeia courtesy of 3rd grade writing instructor)
Bali for the October break helped to remind us of some of the benefits of teaching in Bangladesh. It's the only island in Indonesia where a majority of the inhabitants are Hindu and is shows from the very first taxi ride. People are overly friendly ... well that might be because tourism is the main income for most the population but it's still nice to see smiling faces everywhere you look. There are little offerings everywhere ... this drivers was for prosperity and health.
The hotel (timeshare) was a nice three story building in the Balinese style. We were on the ground floor and were going to try and move up to get a balcony but decided with Elizabeth the ground floor was easier to negotiate.
Even though the place was full it never seemed crowded. Other hotels on the beach had crowded beaches with chairs right next to each other. Ours was spaced out nicely. It was hot but the shade was perfect with nice breezes and pool and beach side food and drink service. For Elizabeth's first beach vacation it was a winner. Although she slept most of the time when were were outside she did play in the sand and pool a bit. We also hung out with Kelly and Justin, they were down the beach at another posh resort, that had more of the young jet set crowd. We contemplated the things that make a good beach, resort, and pool. We decided we are kind of beach resort snobs ... swim up bar? nice sandy bottom? clear or blue waters? lagoon pool? it seems we are still looking for the perfect resort but we decided we've got extremely close at times. After having everyone go bananas at the sight of E (this woman literally snatched her from my hands and had someone taking video of it ... after a minute I asked if the crazy lady would please give the baby back and it took a few more) and touching and grabbing for her. Carrie started putting her in the Baby Bjorn to baby block them. It was especially annoying when she was asleep. Though I will note that eating out with Elizabeth has become a new game of trade the baby. You eat, I entertain, I eat, you entertain. Additional thanks to Justin and Kelly for the extra hands ... you cut the holding time to a fourth. At one point early in the trip a waitress asked Carrie to hold her and she said no ... at the end of the trip a second waitress asked and was given Elizabeth after an affirming nod from myself. 100% FAN! Coming soon: the visit to the monkey forest!
Glitter ball was last weekend and the group went with the "Under the Sea" theme. I really wanted to perform and do a spoof of the Little Mermaid song with bits like "The ice caps are truly melting .. in Dhaka we are getting wet .. they say it's cause "global warming" but Bush says that is a mistake". Well it was all voted down and in a way it was nice not to have all the pressure of the performance ... everyone was much more relaxed. I will say that the costumes were kickin' and people went out of control ... we should have won best dressed but didn't ... it's all a political game anyhow.
A motley crew of underwater animals ..
I made Carrie a shell hat that looked more like ice cream and I was supposed to be a fly 70's Neptune or Poseidon (couldn't quite figure out my motivation) with a denim leisure suit.
Sanne's wire framed seahorse and Kelly as sea "weed" Justin's fly sail fish (we have the same tailor) and Leon and Elaine as shark boy and starfish girl Ian's insane puffer fish and Stella's sea hag
Sara's turtle and Issac's narwhal
Jason as the hammerhead ... and Tina's Clown fish
Lauren as a shipwreck and Stephanie as "waves" I guess this stuff is pretty self-explanatory ...........
Lee Ann as a jelly fish and a shy oyster (Tracy) (the 3 interns) Amorous dolphins on Beckly and tuna on Jimmy I pretty sure that's NOT Hitler dancing with Superwoman but anything is possible at the GlitterBall ... the Hashers did a shameless country song act about boobs and dongs (anything less and they would not be hashers) "we are two wild and crazy guys" Alice in wonderland Dave and Carol's group recreated the Sargent Pepper's album cover. Rick and Heidi danced to the chicken dance and one by one they all expired from bird flu ... very simple and clever.
I don't know if it was for Eid or Durga Puja but there's another celebratory gift rooster next door, just like last year, causing all kinds o' ruckus every morning. It seemed like I remember it being in the two week range before it suddenly and mysteriously silenced. I sometimes wonder where that rooster went (to live with friends out in the country?) ... maybe this its the same one coming back to visit. We'll we are leaving for Bali soon, so I expect the rooster to start packing for greener pastures so I can sleep in when I get back.
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