Saturday, November 19, 2005

short bus

Today I am 26. I like this better than 20. I like being less insecure and less naive. Don't you?

Boring, skippable paragraph:
If anyone wants to shoot me a phone call, my parents have figured out a way to do it cheaply and reliably. Give them a call at 208 735 5963. Say your name is Chuck and you knew me in college. Or your own name could possibly work too. Unfortunately, it's pain in the rear for me to try and make international calls from here, and almost impossible to get through, so I can't really call people very often if ever. But phone calls are really nice and they make me happy.

24 is SO addictive.

Riding bike in Khulna is so much fun. It's a rush. Naturally, it's not the safest thing in the world and it seems like there are no rules, but there really are, and they're just a lot more intricate. For example, if someone steps out in front of you, you stop. Faster traffic on the right honks like crazy when they're coming up behind you and you on the rickshaws and bikes move over immediately. Ring your bell to tell someone you're coming around them. Ring your bell to tell someone who might not be looking that you are going to plow them over if they don't look in your direction and take the proper evasive maneuvers. Ring your bell to tell someone "hey, I've got a bell." If you want to move over or join the stream of traffic, just gently assert yourself and people will (most of the time) slow down and let you in. If your name is cow, or you are in fact a cow (which is really the same thing), disregard these instructions, and walk where you please. 14% of us worship you and hence, don'tworryit'scool.

I got a call from my parents last night and it was a wonderful thing. Being 26 is way better than being 16, when, as memory serves, my parents were oppressive backward tyrants. Somehow they changed in 10 years. Now it's weird, like I love them or something. Like I'd actually want to stay at their house for another reason than that it's free rent. Like I'd actually ditch my important life plans if they needed me. Crazy.