10 August, 2009

Masks, Musicals and Manilla

I had some reverse culture shock this morning while shopping. The lady in front of me had a mask on. A common sight in Japan. Not common here. In fact someone told me that they daren't wear a mask because you get shunned like you have the plague. I didn't say a thing to the lady in front of me, but obviously she was feeling pretty self conscious. She volunteered, "Don't worry, I don't have IT." ('IT' being Swine Flu.) She continued, "I've been sick for so long that I'm just trying to avoid picking up any more bugs." I wonder if Swine Flu has been more rampant here just because of the anti-mask culture. On a lighter note. I've just bought my husband's birthday/our anniversary present. Tickets to Les Miserables (how to I put that proper bit over the 'e', I wonder?). I'm happy. I've seen it once before, but he hasn't. It is a marvellous production and I'm so pleased with myself for having figured out a way to celebrate his birthday. I'm leaving for Manilla on his birthday for a week - leaving him in the middle of school holidays with the boys. Pretty bad timing, but not much I could do about it! Why am I going to Manilla? Tune in next time...suffice to say, it is a bit of a career change.
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7 comments:

  1. Anonymous10 August, 2009 17:19

    To put the "proper bit" (known as an acute symbol) over the e, you either (depending on your keyboard):

    Put on NumLock, and press and hold down Alt while typing 0 + 2 3 3. (Using the + symbol and numbers from the number section found under the NumLock key.)

    or...

    Go into MS Word 2007 and press (without holding down) Alt I S. Then go to Latin-1 Supplement and find the letter you want.

    [/off geeky knowledge of how to write French]

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  2. Anonymous10 August, 2009 17:20

    Or you could just look it up online and copy and paste. :)

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  3. Hippomanic Jen11 August, 2009 08:55

    Sorry I haven't been around lately. Just done a big catch-up, I hope that your trip to Manilla went well.

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  4. Ken Rolph11 August, 2009 09:48

    You sure picked a good time to not be in Asia. I hope the weather has started to behave itself if you are going back.

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  5. Wendy11 August, 2009 12:26

    Nope, Jen. Haven't been to Manilla yet. End of September.
    Ken, I heard of a typhoon and an earthquake, what have you heard about in Asia?

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  6. Ken Rolph12 August, 2009 09:14

    "Ken, I heard of a typhoon and an earthquake"

    Isn't that enough? You want more?

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  7. Wendy12 August, 2009 16:14

    Oh, a typhoon and an earthquake, no problem! Hardly any damage to any buildings, no one killed; it was minor.

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