conversation

So I need to stop taking moto taxi drivers who I don't know. I mean, there hasn't been any trouble; they've always proven to be dependable. However, I caught two today who were totally awed that I spoke the language, and wanted to chat the whole way.

Don't get me wrong; I have nothing against chatting with moto taxi drivers. However, there are three problems. Well, one problem, three causes, really. Cause #1: traffic noise and wind whistling in my ears. Cause #2: full face motorcycle helmets that muffle the voice. And Cause #3: They are facing away from me, as I sit behind them on the motorbike seat. And the problem? I have trouble hearing them!

I struggle to understand Mr. sometimes when he's driving the moto and talking to me in English—how much more difficult to catch a foreign language thrown back over the shoulder as you weave through traffic!

Regardless, I managed to have a passable conversation with both drivers. Partly because they covered the standard questions every national asks me: How long have you been here? Who do you work with? Are you married? Do you have kids? That's standard fare.

I was on moto taxis so much today because starting from 11:00 I went straight from one meeting to another, only just arriving home at 8:30 tonight. Those meetings, too, were filled with conversation, although in settings more conducive to talking. Add to that the fact that Mr. was occupied from 7:30 am to 12 noon, and we did not see each other for a very long time! Oh, we caught glimpses of each other for a few minutes here and there as one or the other stopped back by the house in between meetings, but really. Busy day.

And my day started quite early, so I'm whipped. Yes, I did set the alarm for 5 am so that I could go jogging. Unfortunately, the kitty decided that 4 am was a better time to rise, and she sat on my stomach, kneaded my chest, and basically made a nuisance of herself until I got up and gave her some attention. I laid back down, but didn't actually get back to sleep before the alarm went off.

[Post Script: at this point in my typing I nodded off, and just gave up and went to bed. I figured the post could wait until morning. And I was right.]