Good Day
New readers welcome to the sixths edition, sorry that you missed the earlier ones.
So, it’s been awhile. I apologize both for not writing and for now perhaps writing more than you care to read.
Four days ago I was here at the center when, following devos it was announced that there would be an extra stop that day. This extra stop was to be at the time I was going to be dropped off at the bus station to go to Ubon for the weekend. This news out, it was decided that I must depart immediately so as to get to the bus station before the first teaching spot, rather than after.
Unbeknownst to me, once I was on the bus the plan of Joe calling ahead to say what time I would arrive was thwarted due to a cell provider being down. So I waited at the Ubon bus station for my ride for forty five minutes before using a pay phone to contact my ride. By the time I made contact, my ride was on its way.
Three days ago, the day after my arrival in Ubon, a missionary family with Pioneers (4), the Myers (5), the Goshorns (4), Jon and Becky (other short term visitors), Ei and her friend, and myself piled into two vehicles and drove to Ei’s friend’s village. We went because this friends’ family had invited us to lunch and the first day of rocket festival activities
When we got there they gave the girls pillows, they tied belts around the guys’ waists and gave the guys flower necklaces (that were too small to fit over our heads). Then about a dozen women all matching and fancy danced for us. We then when then had a great meal.
After the meal we went out to the dancing in the street. They clearly wanted us to join in. I checked with those in the know to make sure I wasn’t doing anything I shouldn’t, and then joined in. I got baby powder put on my face by some friendly drunk (most of the guys had baby powder on their faces). After I joined, Jon joined, then Lynn. I was the only one who got the baby powder! I also got offered several drinks by my fellow dancers. We watched several floats go by (trucks with a huge rocket and a lot of decorations in the back). The rockets were probably 30 or so feet long including their stake thing.
There were several random things at this party; I will only mention a few of the highlights. About fifty percent of the guys were dressed as women (makeup, balloons, dresses). Also, I got punched by a guy who was angry and drunk long before I accidentally got too close. As soon as he punched me a bunch of other guys drug him away to calm him down. I was then reassured by several guys that if I stayed with them, they’d keep me out of trouble. I was also told that just as there are stars in the night sky, at a celebration like this there are always guys like the guy who hit me.
Sunday afternoon there was a time of worship for a bunch of westerners in the area. I hadn’t realized how much in just a few weeks I had missed singing with others in English.
In the evening I worked on a puzzle with the Myers kids (and also at times Amy and Bethany). At times it was difficult to keep even with the destruction wrought by my “helpers.†I worked to get all the pieces face up; apparently there is a reason to turn them upside down. I separated out the edge pieces; they felt all the pieces needed put into a nice tight pile. I sorted out sky pieces; the pieces all needed loaded into a dump truck. Additionally this puzzle was one of the ones where almost any piece can be attached to the others, it is just a question of should they be attached. My helpers were quite content to rest after settling the issue of can the pieces connect. All in all a good puzzle experience, though if I were to duplicate it, I would go into it better rested.
Yesterday Skip Tobin spent time with Jon and I filling us in on his life, listening to our lives, answering our questions about culture, and showing us around Ubon. It was good. I learned a good deal. I’m afraid though that the summarizability of it for this email’s purposes is severely limited.
In the evening I went out for a walk. God spared me from a pack of dogs that decided I shouldn’t be walking through the street. They held their distance (but not their barking) when I did what both Bethany and Abby had told me to do: hold your fist in the air and look like you have a rock to throw at them. A half dozen angry dogs at night in a narrow street will make your heart beat faster, so long as your heart doesn’t stop.
I’m now back in the village awaiting tomorrow’s adventures.
Peace
Micah
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