Birthday, Burma and the Painted Veil

Hi you gems

Since writing the last blog posting, I have enjoyed fantastic birthday celebrations at the Ritz (seen here and note the purple and green flowers behind us!!), the Terrace at the Meridian and then 11 friends, my sister ( here) and I went to Darcy’s in St Albans which was wonderful. Thank you to all you amazingly generous friends who I really do not deserve, as you put up with so much!! One of my year 8's made this amazing birthday cake complete with purple icing and one made brilliant chocolate flap jacks too. I was so touched and they were so kind!

In case any of you do not know, I DID go to Burma for 10 days and on the plane out I had the huge pleasure of seeing THE PAINTED VEIL which you must all see. Edward Norton and Naomi Watts were superb and they directed it too. Burma was absolutely brilliant but not quiet perfect because I did not see Thuzar, as she was out of the capital. Nevertheless it was a real bonus to see Kyi Kyi( here) who had not received any emails and did not even realise I was in the country until her sister phoned her to say I was sitting opposite her(!), so that was wonderful to see her. As she is working for World Vision on human trafficking that is great and her passion for justice means she is perfect for the job. She has a new contentment which is a joy to witness.

Twelve hours after arriving at Rangoon’s ( Yangon) new airport( and being collected by the amazing guest house I stay at for $10 a night including breakfast) I was sitting at a tea stall and got treated to tea by 2 complete strangers! I got the tailor to make me two new tops and we were both in tears again as I left.I also saw one of my old students with her brother from last time who is Karen and works for a local airline. As we are both Christians we ended up praying together which was special and then, as I wanted to experience the bus system, she put me on the right bus for downtown Rangoon which was fun!

I caught up with people I met last time, walked almost everywhere I could, navigated for taxi drivers (!!), and took about 280 photographs in 10 days as everywhere I went I just got into conversations. On the first Sunday I had been to the YMCA as they teach English lessons to Burmese students and any foreigners go and help. I ended up meeting with my group 3 times and the next day we all met for coffee and chatted away for about 3 hours. They also took me to a village which had significant features from the whole country so that was good. I also ended up meeting one of their mums in an area outside the capital and her mum wore a purple and green longyi!! We were in tears as I left and it happens every time.

I had stayed for church on that Sunday and was feeling very jet lagged, so was going to rest in the afternoon but clearly felt God compelled me to go to the afternoon service. So slightly begrudgingly I walked back to a service ( in my amazing PrimeMark £2 shoes which I wore everyday) of about 200 Burmese and only 5 foreigners including myself ( which is an ideal ratio for me!!). Twenty minutes in, this Burmese person sat next to me. Afterwards she said that she just knew she was supposed to sit next to me and we got on brilliantly and I saw her about 4 times. She teaches Burmese so…and by the end of the week I felt I knew her really well and already loved her lots. How amazing!

I remember seeing in the Myanmar Times that the oldest and most well known hotel in Rangoon called the Strand had a half price evening on a Friday which was my last night in the capital. Consequently the friend above and I went. Here is me in my new Chin longyi enjoying that evening and I got the friend to ask in Burmese if it really was half price before I ordered a 2nd glass of wine!! However I was already smiling into my first glass as I knew the answer was yes!! We also got savoury foods too. How spoilt! I have been after a Chin longyi for 4 years with my colours as I know I am going to go there in the not too distant future, although you have to get permission from the authorities. I know I will.

One day I was praying about what I should do that afternoon and when I looked at the map of Rangoon, the bishop’s court jumped out at me which is where the Archbishop of Rangoon lives. I went to get a taxi, got into a conversation with a Buddhist monk who invited me back to the monastery and I thought either this is a red herring or divine appointment!! Within 5 minutes six of us were talking about football sitting on the floor of the monastery and I blotted my copy book by thinking the A C Milan manager was Jose Marrino ( oh dear!!). I then scuttled off to see the Archbishop having no appointment, no idea who he was, thinking a cuppa might be given at 4pm but no and we chatted about his life, Soul Survivor, the Archbishop of Cantrebury, conversion, prayer requests and then he very kindly agreed to be photographed 6 times as they were quiet dark. He then suggested I could change them on the computer to which I said: “Archbishop you are a man of the cloth and you mean I could cheat!!” and we both ended up having a laugh about it. I think I might go on tea and cake rota at the Lambeth Conference which he is attending and say “hey remember I visited you and no tea!!” He really was delightful, despite no tea or cake!!!

Every day was fantastic despite the torrential rain on 2 days. I also saw a family I had seen last time and we ended up enjoying chocolate birthday cake and coffee out of some wonderful green caterpillar cups. Bliss!!

My A.S. students had their exam last week and it was a fair paper so thanks to all those who prayed for them. It will be hard, knowing that at least 15 of them could have got A’s with 9 months teaching instead of 3 so if we get 5 A’s that will be a bonus. How frustrating and by mid August I know I will have to face that and it annoys me!

I bought the new book about Aung San Suu Kyi called A Perfect Hostage by Justin Whittle (?) as I could not wait for it to come out in paper back. I had seen it in Doha and wanted to have it as holiday reading but I could not take it into the country so thought I better be good and wait! As I might have some Burmese coffee now as it all seems appropriate. I am planning to return in October but a friend is getting married there in November so have this hair brained idea of doing both and one will be for a weekend, as I cannot get time off!!! Completely mad but fun!

I told the Head all about the job thing and spared her no details, even about consuming the large glass of wine and the chocolate when I knew I had got the job. I had not intended to tell her, but somehow it all came out, so now I am at the TOP of her wacky staff pile!!

So all you gems, former students and any other sad people still reading my blog, this comes with much love. Hope you students did some work for your university exams but I doubt it ( yes I KNOW it is a very tedious old joke!!). I might have the great pleasure of seeing you for tea and cake over summer but remember if you make a better cake choice than me, we do a swop!! I lost weigh in Burma as the humidity was high but Mark's Vanilla Madegascan cream has put it all on again!

Lots of love as always, Fliss

PS photos not clear on blog but are on computer! See Facebook for last years!