Toughing out the week

To be quite honest this past week was rather un-enjoyable - there are a slew of other words I could use, but I will likely one day use this blog to procure another job and so I will just say it wasn't a wonderful week.

I re-signed yet another six month contract with this company on Tuesday, for which they've promised a full flight "home". I tried to argue that I may not want to go "home" and that maybe I'll find a job in South America or Germany or something, but he was afraid I'd use it to go on an extended holiday. In the end I conceded before he changed his mind altogether. Besides, at that point I will not have been home in two years and even if I do decide to come back and work for another company in Vietnam/Asia, a one way ticket is much cheaper than a RT.

Anyway, with the re-signing came an overwhelming feeling of dread, which I still cannot explain even if the feeling has well passed. I guess I'm really just missing the comforts and familiarity of people back home that I've known for years and years and to whom I don't have to explain why I just need some time apart. I guess life-guarding for ten years really didn't help me spend nine hours a day at work, and then four hours an evening socialising with the same ten people. Though, in all fairness, most people have a work life and social life that never meet.

But here we are at the end of one and beginning of another week. It's my work Saturday, for which I'm convinced whoever invented working on Saturdays not only hated having a life outside of work, I also think they had an incredible amount of money because when you're working you're not spending! On my way in this morning I discovered my first flat tire here. It was a really, honestly all sarcasm aside, beautiful moment sitting on the side of a busy road in the cool morning air while the guy who's set up there every day fixed my flat. I never take time to sit outside in the morning - who does? But maybe I should.

Other than that, nothing too special going on. I'm going to Hoi An next weekend with no one from work. Not only looking forward to the beauty I've only heard of and seen in photos, the thousands of tailors, and the seclusion of beach life, but especially to actually coming to miss the things that were driving me crazy last week.

Hope you're all well and gearing up for Autumn. Oh how terribly I miss boots and scarves. Lots of love, L

Professional blogger, at your service...

I've been blogging for my company since June or so. Big Boss oscillates between wanting the blogs to be controversial, funny, or informative. I've kept it to myself for the most part because, adhering to his request to be controversial, I may upset some friends and family with a few of my remarks. Also, there's actual controversy with the company which is a few years old but keeps us all wondering what will happen when we apply to other (publishing) companies.

In order to retain some of my anonymity, I came up with the great idea to use aliases which we can share with prospective employers or not. Thus far I'm the only one that's stuck with the idea and requested my alias be added to previous posts. I chose Le Lorrain Andrews after 17th century Baroque painter Claude Lorrain. Some are funnier than others, others are more controversial than some, if you come across them, keep in mind that it's done for readership, to stir a little controversy, and to keep people coming back for more. I don't necessarily believe everything I write in there AND I've always enjoyed a rousing round of Devil's Advocate, right mom? ;)

A Few Thoughts from Parkstone International

I bought a bike!

Yesterday I watched someone else drive off with my baby, we were just approaching our one-year anniversary. But, I have a new love now, and she's all mine.

She's not as beautiful as my old one, and we've got to get used to each other, but I think this is the start of a beautiful relationship.

Henry Rollins Strikes Again

Seriously love this guy. He's always got something beautiful/insightful to say.

Building a home?

I'm reading 'Art Deco' before it goes to first print and I came across this, which I hope to remember if I ever get around to building/renovating my own space:

“Demand that the bathroom, fully sunlit, be one of the largest rooms in the apartment, the old living room for example. With full-length windows, opening, if possible, onto a terrace for sunbathing, a porcelain washbasin, a bath-tub, showers, and gym equipment. In the adjacent room: a walk-in wardrobe for dressing and undressing. Do not undress in your bedroom. It is not very clean and it creates a distressing disorder. Demand one big room in place of all the living rooms. If you can, put the kitchen under the roof, to avoid odours. Demand a garage for cars, bicycles, and motorbikes from your owner, one per apartment. Ask for the servants’ quarters to be on the same floor. Do not pen your servants in under the roofs.” - Le Corbusier

Meanwhile, I just finished my first real book. The first one a six year old could have done, the second one big boss took over, and finally I got my own. The subject matter is erotic art in Berlin. Big boss kept checking on me because he thinks Americans are prude, but I think it went well. I hope he looks at it before he goes to France for two weeks so I can move on to the next step. If it's approved with few changes I'll get to do Amsterdam and Paris as well. I have to admit, however, I am a little weary and desensitised to looking at the business end of men and women and especially exaggerated orgies. All in a day's work.

Love!

What Happens When You Live Abroad

I don't know when I'm going to make it back to the States. Some days I'm not even sure I ever want to. The longer I'm gone, the smaller and further away it seems. I'm missing weddings, birthdays, babies - but none of it feels like enough to give this up.

If you're ever wondering what's really going though my head, check out this article and skim through some of the comments. I always thought all ex-pats had something at the core in common, this is just further proof.

Love.

Bronchitis and Freelancing

Bad news: Picked up bronchitis and have been out of commission since last Saturday. The doctor's ordered me not to go to work and everything. Pretty sure Big Boss is none too pleased with this, especially when he realises I've got firm plans to go to Thailand or Malaysia for a week in July... Time will tell. Also bad news, I'm going to have to sit out on this month's dOSe party - which is always so much fun. Sad times. Maybe we'll make it to Intercon Brunch this weekend, which would make up for all the other bad news.

Good news: Picked up a freelance editing gig for an American here who wrote a children's book. I'm having tons of fun working it in between naps, watching The Wire, and showering my fever away. It's my first proper freelance gig and she took my first quote with no negotiation (it would be unprofessional to further brag). I'm not going to make tons off of this project, but it'll give me extra cred and experience. And the character (a sixth grade smartie pants out to save the world from pollution) is a little riot. We could have been friends.

The writer is Jersey born and raised and moved to California when she was 25. She's been out here three years and is heading back for good at the end of the month. She's a free spirit and great to talk to, probably because we can relate to each other. I wish I'd met her sooner. If this book becomes anything, she plans to write more to the series, maybe she'll ask me to edit for her again. Michael said it would be funny if I was editing the next Harry Potter. Having read the Harry Potter series three times now, I highly doubt it, but that would be pretty amazing.

Love to all

Scrolling message across the screen

You know when you're watching television and a storm is coming from some far off place and a warning scrolls across the bottom of the screen? I find it very disconcerting that, that also happens here, but I have no idea what it's saying. "Lauren, come claim your 1,000,000,000 dong [which is about $47,000]! You have ten minutes or we give it to someone else." Oh, crap.

Russian Bar, I Feel Love

I know it's been ages and ages and I keep saying I'm going to update and I never do. But I will and I'll send a mass email out when that happens.

Until then get an inside view of nightlife here in Saigon - it's a video of the last night at the city's most popular after-hours bar. If you stick around until around 2:40 you'll catch a glimpse of Dan (the one in the cast, a story of which will be posted in my March backlog) and I.

Love to all <3 and a special shout out to Miss CMB for her birthday

Mama Said There'd Be Rain Like This

I tutor in the evenings after work 2-3 times a week. Sometimes I'm tired and don't feel like going and other times it's raining so badly (and I still have to go) that I feel the need to blog about it so here goes:

Emotions of Driving in a Saigon Rainstorm

Happy: I forgot to take my yoga clothes out of my bag, so I'll have something (albeit covered in yesterday's sweat) to change into. Also, there is 3/4 less traffic because why travel in the rain (on a motorbike, no less) when you don't have to? I realised there would be a lot less to contend with when driving through the street market - less motorbikes, less slow pedestrians, and wait.... NO BICYCLES AT ALL! (I've recently decided that I'm anti-bicyclists, at least here.)

Nostalgic: I was wearing this dress for my first major rainstorm in this city - it got soaked through that time, too. The children are running, laughing, and playing even though it seems as though the sky is falling.

Surprised: The mini floods are quite warm when they're splashed on your bare leg. (But definitely angry that I'm being splashed at all.)

Nervous: It's getting awfully windy out here... almost there, almost there!

Wistful: I wish I could go home and cuddle up with my book (The Beach), crank up the aircon, and wear sweatpants. (Yes, I know it all sounds counterproductive and is going to contribute to the ruining of the earth, but sometimes a girl just needs to cuddle up in sweats).

Proud: I was recently complimented on my driving skills and the rain appears to be making no difference in that department. I've also worked out all of the roads with the least flooding, so I'm not drowning up to my ankles.

Overjoyed: The bumpiest road with the most potholes in the existence of time has been paved! I'm no longer at risk of losing my front tire, or whole bike in one of them! Way to go Government; thanks for the awesome surprise!

Unamused: The rain. Has stopped. As I pull up to the gate where I tutor. Go figure.