A Kindle-written Message from Your Tomorrow _________ November 25, 2015

Still working to grasp the time thing: that when I write an email today, you're getting it yesterday; that my morning is your yesterday afternoon and evening…

 Two students have gifted me with a beautiful purple traditional longyi and blouse.  It's hard to meet and get to know people even for a brief few days—and then that's it. And it's amazing how much you do get to know someone in so short a time. One of the conversational role plays we did, though, had them interviewing each other for an article, and topics they came up with covered fashion tastes, favorite movies, sports, favorite music, family, so you do get a sense of someone (and add to that the earlier sharing of their scariest, most beautiful, and most exciting experiences).  When I shared I liked classical music, Aung Min Thu and one girl both lit up and said they liked classical music too (in addition to the heavy metal rock and hip-hop Aung Min Thu had earlier shared).

We also spent one session practicing the conditional with the question what would they do if they won the lottery, and with sharing what kind of animal they would be if they were one, and why.  The animal the girl who liked classical music chose was a bird. Aung Min Thu's was the eagle; Mg Htet Aung's was a lion; other choices were a dragon, wolf, cats, and butterfly.

One discussion was on favorite movies. (Korean movies were extremely popular.) Another was on heroes – General Aung San and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi were mentioned by more than one. Several of the students had seen the film The Lady on dvd – as I'd assumed, it hadn't played in the theaters. 

local street with food stall and water pots (and TV satellite dish)

Regarding the larger situation in the country: while in some ways change may be beginning, in significant ways there is none. In addition, now there's massive displacement of farmers for incoming foreign development and construction, and the new wealth is mostly going to the top.  There are also hard to miss changes like cheaper and newer cars—but not good roads so more congestion and longer to get places; more cellphones—but not adequate coverage; more computers—but an internet that is overloaded and hard to access.

This has all been written ln my kindle so sorry if a bit unedited and disjointed. But it's a first for me in being able to use a tiny touchpad keyboard (even though it's taken me ages to get this typed.) And I actuaaly texted nh first message today on my Thai phone, which you can now buy affordable SIM cards for (down from $300 a few years ago.)

Let me know of you would like to stay on my emails mailing list, as I don't want to burden or bore anyone with extra email

nuns on alms round on Yangon street