I had to write this.

I bet any of you who have ever written your thesis/dissertation have never done it like i have today (I wrote this last week whilst out in the rural districts). Visiting a village to give a mulberry farmer some new cuttings, I realised I was surrounded within 5 minutes of about 25 villagers who have never seen a white person, or ‘barang” before in their life. It was such a remote place that I completely understood that, I bet some of you, including me, would have got embarrassed or not sure what to do; but I gladly showed them my funny features : blonde hair , nose piercing , white skin . It was quite the most enjoyable thing that happened all day, especially when the ‘Ming’ (word for Auntie, older female term) gave me and my boss a coconut each to drink.

I think both sides learnt a bit about each other’s culture. What a great way to sit down and write a final dissertation. So, hopefully I beat anyone in effort in studying for their finals and being a group of people’s first ’ barang’ sighting.

This probably sounds corny, or stupid to some of you, maybe all of you, but it beats sitting on my ass doing nothing in cold England hey. The work I have

been given has been an absolute privilege.

Education, look at me now, giving me fails, E and D grades. I can make it without you. Anyone can if they try hard enough.

Peace