This 'n That: Finishing My First Quarter

This post is a bit scattered; just little thoughts here and there about things that have happened, observations and a few contemplations as I end my first quarter of school and begin my second. I know it's been a while... Balancing all my activities in Yangon, teaching and being a student in my online course is quite the juggling act.

There is something nice about wrapping up one unit of the school year - I feel more settled into my schedule and I know what the ebb and flow of the rest of the academic year will be like.

I wanted to publish this post during Fall Break when I was visiting Hua Hin and Bangkok (internet is SO much faster in Thailand!), but the Thai government has blocked Blogger (and a number of other sites...), so that killed my plan. The situation is certainly fine for tourists, but it's scary to think about limiting information and freedom of expression...

Back to Yangon - some pictures of downtown. I recently went along on a walking tour of downtown. It was entertaining and very informative. I recommend it when you visit!

City Hall - this is across the street from the Free City Walk meeting point.

Mahabandool Park

Monument at Mahabandool Park (I used panaroma mode on my iphone to get pic!)

I also experienced my first hash. Some of you may know what this is, but to try to sum it up briefly it's a group of runners who meet to do a different course every week. A few take the lead and mark the course, but it is supposed to be an adventure to find your way. When everyone arrives to the end point, they have a party. Their tag line is that they are "a drinking club with a running problem." 

As you may know, I am not a runner. But, the group offers a walking route, that is shorter than the run, so that all participants still arrive at the end point around the same time. It was quite the adventure! We met the other walkers under an overpass by the train tracks with flashlights in hand and sneakers on. Then, we had to search for our route - the markers for our "trail" were shredded paper. The challenge is that there are false and real markers, so it takes a bit of trial and error to make your way. It was fun to be out at night and really interesting to explore all around my neighborhood.

You can learn more about the local group here.

Finding our way in the dark.

Walkers on the hash.

The Social Committee at school organizes many opportunities for teachers to hang out, explore the city and relax after our hard work. One event last month was a visit to House of Memories to sample some traditional Myanmar food and check out the historic house and current home of many pictures of General Aung San and his daughter Aung San Suu Kyi.

Some teachers in front of House of Memories. 

This drink got ordered on accident (I swear!) so we didn't want to waste it...

Part of the museum-ish aspect of the restaurant.

Monsoon season is close to finished...but we've had a few big rains, proving we are not into the dry season just yet. What would constitute a disaster in the US, is just another day here.

View from the cab - we could feel the water pushing on the car's floor. 

This is a road, and a fairly main one, not a river.

Another social club excursion was a 6:30 am tour of the open air market behind the apartments, complete with typical mohinga breakfast! Mohinga is a fish-based broth with rice noodles, served with boiled egg, fresh cilantro and lime. It is gluten and dairy free, I just get mine with no egg. It may sound like a strange morning dish, but I like it. Different breads and samosas are also part of the Myanmar morning offerings. 

The brave early risers on the way to the market. 

Mohinga at a traditional Myanmar tea house. 

Some stats: Dengue incidents in folks I know = 2 of my students + 1 of my colleagues

It's difficult to always avoid mosquitoes, though the city doesn't have a lot of bugs. Still, I bought a net for my bed as another little layer of protection. 

And I feel like a princess sleeping in here!

My blog focuses on my adventures outside of work and school (2 months down of my 9 month online teaching course), but I do spend a lot of time in the classroom and eyes-fixed on the computer screen. I love seeing the blue out the windows above my desk, though. This is what I look at every weekday. 

Palm trees and blue skies!

I'll leave you with a shot of Sule Pagoda just before sunset. 

What I'm reading: The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham (I am one month behind on book club...this was last month's selection. Still, I've enjoyed it and it has turned out to be a lot about yoga!).

And I've started Lena' Dunham's Not That Kind of Girl (Yay for updating the kindle in Thailand!).

What I'm listening to: Spoon - They Want My Soul, The Rural Alberta Advantage - Melded with Gold, Jenny Lewis - The Voyager, Caroline Smith - Half About Being a Woman, ODESZA - In Return...updated the music library with decent internet also!