My apologies to all those who have been waiting with baited breath (yeah right) for regular posts frmo Bhutan. I do have internet access but it, like my free time, is intermittent. I can tell you all that we landed safely and have been very well taken care of during our orientation here in Thimphu.
Although this blog will still be maintained, I can see now how optimistic I was to think I could post with any regularity. I invite all my friends who would like to to also keep in touch with me via email. I also would like to know what is going on with all of you. Write me a letter about your day and I will write you one back. Contact me at njbann@gmail.com
Thanks and Tashi Delek!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
On the wisdom of Serbs.
I once had a Serbian landlord named Vlad. Vlad was very good at his job, and very enthusiastic, if not difficult to understand at times. I once saw him painting the walls in the hallway at 6:30 am. He never stopped, and never seemed to run out of energy even if sometimes it looked like he needed to. Vlad was a pretty bouncy guy. I'd say "Vlad, you seem busy. How are you?" And he would invariably reply, "I'm on springs!" This statement would be accompanied by a grin and an illustrative bouncing motion.
To this day I've no idea what "I'm on springs" means. It's probably some Serbian idiom that just doesn't translate well. But was he nervous? Excited? Were there tiny springs in his slippers that I couldn't see? I have no idea what this phrase means, nor will I probably ever. But I think it's a very clear way of describing how I have felt over the last two days.
I fly out tomorrow morning so the last forty-eight hours or so has been me on springs; shopping, sorting, searching, and stacking. (Well, not that much stacking but it sounds good all together like that.) Of course I'm paranoid about forgetting something but at this point I think I just have to have faith that I at least have enough stuff to keep me alive. I fly to Toronto tomorrow moring, and am heading across the ocean after two nights there.
My apologies to everyone I wasn't able to see one last time; the past few days and weeks have been stupidly busy. But now, I do need to think about getting some sleep. If only I could get off these damn springs.
To this day I've no idea what "I'm on springs" means. It's probably some Serbian idiom that just doesn't translate well. But was he nervous? Excited? Were there tiny springs in his slippers that I couldn't see? I have no idea what this phrase means, nor will I probably ever. But I think it's a very clear way of describing how I have felt over the last two days.
I fly out tomorrow morning so the last forty-eight hours or so has been me on springs; shopping, sorting, searching, and stacking. (Well, not that much stacking but it sounds good all together like that.) Of course I'm paranoid about forgetting something but at this point I think I just have to have faith that I at least have enough stuff to keep me alive. I fly to Toronto tomorrow moring, and am heading across the ocean after two nights there.
My apologies to everyone I wasn't able to see one last time; the past few days and weeks have been stupidly busy. But now, I do need to think about getting some sleep. If only I could get off these damn springs.
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