Flying Solo

With a few exceptions, last week was not a particularly good one. Class was fine. The students were great. Then it all went quickly downhill. Po's secretary ended up in the hospital with several other members of her family. (Guilt, guilt, guilt after the Nong Khai fiasco.) Po himself was ill. I went to the French Doctors' Office with a swollen left foot, sure something was broken. The good news: No break. The bad news: Strained tendon. I was given anti-inflammatory capsules and cream and told nothing would work unless I elevated it above the level of my heart. (Good old RICE.) I throw it up the wall for a bit each night when I go to bed and that does help. When I asked the doctor if I could still jump rope for cardio, he laughed. I took that as a no. I have mosquito bites where no mosquito should be allowed to leave a calling card. The intermittent rain does encourage them. I am redoubling my DEET. (I still think they probably like the stuff, which is not fair for as much trouble and mess as it is. Yeah. Yeah. I know. Life's not fair.)

It seems whenever things takes an unsavory turn, expanding one's comfort zone is helpful. Saturday morning I ventured forth, determine to negotiate a tuk tuk journey by myself. The driver said 20,000k into Vientiane. I said the village to Vientiane, shopping, then back. He said 60,000k. I nodded. I clambered in and we were off, each with a smile. (I wasn't even very good at selling Girl Scout Cookies, so there's your benchmark.) We arrived at Nam Phou (the Water Fountain), I used the ATM and shopped for groceries, we returned. I paid. Flush with success, I decided to press my luck. It turns out there's a hair salon next door to my guesthouse. Time for a haircut. Resolute, I entered what is essentially a gussied-up garage to be greeted by an extremely thin young man with streaked hair in a bun, bike pants, an overly long black t-shirt and pink lipstick. His high school English was remarkably good. (I wish my high school Lao were the same.) He said he wanted to streak his hair my color. I was putty in his hands. He trimmed me up short for 1500k, two-fifty including tip, I foraged for feu (noodles) at my favorite spot down the block and decided to call it a day while everything was still going smoothly. Missions small, but accomplished. Good day.