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04/06/2007 Back in Italy after a Crazy Month |
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I’m now getting the chance to write an update of the many and mixed events of the past 6 weeks in Laos, now that I’m making a descent through a perfectly clear sky into Rome, looking down on picturesque Italian countryside. I’m looking forward to being back in Italy for the next few weeks as I resume my Masters course with this next summer block of classes.
 Grant Hillier & a District Governor
Malaria
The first was getting malaria – or so it seemed according to symptoms and local pathology diagnosis. But then treatment didn’t seem to resolve it and a Thai hospital couldn’t detect anything significant through their pathology lab from subsequent tests, so I was left not really sure what I had. I also asked for a test which would show whether last year’s sickness really was dengue fever or not, and the test indicated it wasn’t dengue! So attracting mystery illnesses seems to be my forte. Anyway, this latest mysteria illness (let’s call it ‘para-malaria’) resolved itself without causing too many further problems, thankfully.
Motorbike Accident
The second happened about a week after the ‘para-malaria’ had gone away – a motorbike accident with my brand new motorbike. During the time I was sick, I was not so bad that I needed to stay at home in bed, but I was not really able to work too productively. I seemed to have little energy to put into anything for any longer than a few minutes. So I figured that was an ideal time to do something interesting that I’d been unable to find time to do for a while: buy myself a motorbike.
The Suzuki step-through scooter that I bought is very similar to the Hondas and Suzukis of ADRA Laos that I’d been driving for the past year. So the newness of the bike isn’t a relevant factor in the cause of accident. I’ve simply noted it to try to maximise the sympathy value from my story! ;) OK, everything is OK now (including my repaired motorbike), so don’t worry.
The bike was just over 2 weeks old when, while I was driving along normally, someone turned across in front of me and I had no choice but to run into them. The lady was driving quite slowly right over on the side of the road until just when I was about to pass, when she proceeded to turn across right in front of me, without looking or indicating. I got a few bruises and some gravel rash, and have been limping on a sore left foot for the past 3 weeks. I went straight back to work the next day, but spent a fair bit of time that first week cleaning and dressing wounds, and following up with the family of the other motorcycle involved.
Unfortunately I picked out a policeman’s wife, and so somehow the whole affair became my responsibility to pay not only for medical and motorbike repair expenses but also lost wages, a baci ceremony (to placate evil spirits and bring good luck again), etc. I was happy to take some responsibility; although, apart from driving a bit slower, there wasn’t much I could have done to avoid the accident. So I just ended up paying the requested sum. I guess I have learned to be more cautious and alert when riding a motorcycle.
There were also two kids on the other motorbike. None had helmets but they’re all OK. Some minor cuts to head and face (including 3 stitches for the mother) could have been simply avoided on their part, though, by wearing helmets as required by the law.
One funny thing happened while meeting with the policeman husband at the police station to finalise negotiations. One of the staff from ADRA came with me to help translate, etc, and she also drove the ADRA van for me. While parking she accidentally scraped the corner of the policeman’s car which was parked out the front! So we all laughed, joking that we’d all become family. The insurance representative prepared separate accident report statements with all the same signatories at the bottom (one each for the parties involved in each accident, the insurance representative & witness).
Shifting House
And then just to keep me from starting to think life was all under control again, within a week of my gravel rash having healed over, along came another inconvenience. I found out that I had to move house, and within a week! Actually, the landlord (who has been excellent – I’m sorry to have to leave) had made a deal to rent all the apartments in the building to one business tenant, starting July. But since I am in Europe until July 12, that mean I had to move out yesterday (the day I left Laos for Europe). I was travelling in the field all last week, so wasn’t able to start packing until yesterday morning. Anyway, I managed to move all my stuff in the ADRA van to the country director’s house. I’ll stay there until I find something else. We’re also looking to move the office location, so there may be some blessing in disguise with having to move house now – not to mention the rent saving while I’m away in Europe.
ADRA Laos
 Xiang thong temple declared smoke free
Church
In terms of church life in Laos, we were blessed at church to have Peter Gregory (one of the speakers from AYC 07) come and speak for us three times on Sabbath about a month ago. His messages were inspirational. Just being able to hang out with him for the weekend along with some of the other expat youth from church was a real blessing. We hope he can come back again some time in the future.
Last Sabbath we had a baptism at church, which was also quite nice. A group of us have been coming early to church for a FAST class – a curriculum centred on memorising Scripture – which has been a challenge and a blessing.
Europe – Masters & PhD Studies
Now I’m here in Italy for round two of the Masters Course that I attended last year. I’m only now finalising my enrolment now, though. It’s good to see my friends from the MSA again, and be back in Italy. I will be here for a month, before going to France for the first 10 days or so in July. Both my PhD supervisors will be there, so it will be very good to see them and hopefully also progress a little on my thesis revisions while there. I also hope to get to enjoy a little more of Italy, but haven’t made any itinerary plans yet apart from being in Florence for most of June and having a ticket to leave Paris July 11 to go back to Laos. Any suggestions for where and how I should spend my time are most welcome!
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