A new group email… A new outlook.

A new group email… A new outlook.

Hey everyone,

I’m in bed, in a clean bedroom at half past ten for the first time in… too long. And look, my theory that the state of my bedroom directly reflects my life is proved right, I’m already ticking off my to do list at a rate of knots…

I’ve just read over some of my recent blogs. It’s great to read about everything that’s been happening here. What I love most though is getting anything, even a word from you guys. I know it doesn’t take much effort to publish a note to hundreds of people, I know some of you better than others… I just hope to hear from people I haven’t heard from in a while. It’s such a pleasure when you so far from familiar things and people.

Saying that, things are becoming familiar here - which is inevitable. I’m nearly at my six month point, over half way through my time here. It’s very hard for me to believe. I just keeping getting more comfortable here, every week seems to bring so much; temptations, challenge, excitement, frustration, boredom, fatigue… a lot of fatigue. I had a moment just the other day on my bike, it was the flash of a memory of being in a strange city, that seemed never ending and unknowable. I realized after holding it in my mind wondering where it had happened that it was here, only months ago. The city seems so small to me now, so many of its corners explored and so many streets a day to day part of my life.

One thing that has characterized my life post Philippines holiday is a kind of procrastination that I think has been a by product of me learning to relax a little. It’s meant I have put so many things off and fallen out of touch with too many friends. A mistake I intend to rectify now my room is clean. . Learning to relax a little on holiday was no bad thing though. Many people thought it was strange for me to say that I was beginning to feel the start of an adventurous spirit. I was just getting this great release from being on holiday, especially with my friend. His great spirit is more than catching especially traveling round such a cool country as the Philippines. As predicted that feeling has stuck with me.

– I’d like to interrupt here to give a shout out (if that’s appropriate in a ‘note’) to my friend Rob who I went to the Phillis with. He’s been a big influence on me in my time here. He has helped me to live in the moment and enjoy the excitement, thrill and ‘comedy’ of this crazy life. He’s leaving soon and I’m really going to miss him –

Taking up where I left on the Philippine holiday story with one eye on the clock whilst trying to remind myself people have better things than to read other people’s extended diaries. I had just told you about the drunk, karaoke filled ferry ride and I was exhaustedly tapping on the keys of an internet café in a dusty port waiting to get to the island we intended to spend the rest of our holiday. Well, that did prove more difficult than imagined. We emerged from the café to find that a ferry would not cross the frustratingly small stretch of water. Much debate followed and a diverse crowd of tourists gathered becoming increasingly intent on, somehow, getting across to the island. All this was much to the amusement of the locals who had already set up camp and were ready to see through the night on the plastic chairs of the waiting room or the no more comfortable chairs of the broken static ferry. To cut a very long story short, we found ourselves in someone’s back garden and clambering onto a small boat, handing over cash to a guy who even in retrospect had an unnecessary shadiness about his character. It was a real moment looking round the boat at the Swedish, Japanese, Chinese… Once on the island safely it was a case of drinking and relaxing and just enjoying the island as much as possible (despite the rain). Much dancing with the shy and giggling bar girls that populated all the bars there and a ride around the island that entailed another Karaoke pit stop much to the pleasure of the crowd of onlookers that crowded around the gates of the crappy little café it was in. Too many memories to remember and all this in just over one week.

Hmm… Its really getting late now, I’ve got to go sleep. I’ve kinda written this whole thing backwards finishing just about where the last one left off. Oh well, I think it gives you an idea of where my head is at. I can see that a change is coming, yet another out look. A new influence in my life, moving me towards friendship and all that can come when people get to know each other really well. Saigon continues to excite and challenge, but all that it brings me only deepens my appreciation of what I already had when I got here: friends and family – the most precious things in the world. I will get back on top of things and reply to backlogged face book messages and emails. Sorry guys. Here’s to appreciating each other and cheesy group email sign offs!! Hooray!
James.