I got socked in the eye by a door a few nights ago. It was a hotel door, with the ball latches that allow you to open the door and peak outside without letting someone in.
When I heard my friend knocking outside at 1 AM, I opened the door for him with my eye level to the fist-like catch. My friend decided he needed to get into the room more quickly than I could pull it open, so he pushed forward. As we both had some drinks, this led to the predictable ending of the door punching me in the face.
I wasn't so happy at the time of the event, but it seemed rather hilarious in the morning. My friend said he was sorry and that it would never happen again (They always say that don't they). I really hope someone asks how I got this shiner so I can say, "No. I am telling the truth; I just ran into a door."
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Three months fly by
For those who are still following this blog only to see that nothing is updated, I apologize. I haven't posted an entry in quite some time, but it hasn't been for the lack of good material. In fact the past three months have been filled with great stories, but none of the time to sit down and write them. My lack of a working camera has also made it difficult to record the events pictorially.
Rather than trying to haphazardly tell the stories and events, I am just going to list the events and allow whoever is reading this to piece the details together.
Watched some friends and their organization get blacklisted from Cambodia, with the requirement that they leave within 24 hours.
Thought I had saved someone's life, but found out two months later that I didn't.
Dated a co-worker, became the center of the rumor mill, and eventually decided that the whole thing was a big mistake.
Attended at least 10 good-bye parties.
Joined a bible study, which ended up being rather discouraging for the people who were hoping to open my eyes to the splendor of their Christ; the bible study was subsequently dissolved.
Was sent on a business trip to Hong Kong with a notice of two days. Business trip consisted of drinking gin, trying to socialize, and picking up an award for something I am casually involved with.
Traveled to a conflict zone, met both sides of the conflict, and tried to speak with my limited vocabulary of both languages.
Watched a land-mine being removed from a road I traveled down fairly regularly and assumed was perfectly safe.
Watched a boy who had no way to communicate for four years, suddenly find the right people and tools to teach him how.
Was instrumental in helping to build a three-classroom school for a hundred children that had been studying in an unstable shack. Oddly enough, I did not feel completely satisfied on the completion of the school.
Selected 25 new students for hospitality education, with personal stories that ranged from murderous fathers to orphaned children who sleep outside.
Avoided dengue fever, unlike five of my co-workers.
Donated blood, with minor complications that resulted in a gigantic bruise across my arm.
Went to an indoor rock climbing wall on a regular basis, but then not at all.
Hosted about 15-20 random strangers to sleep in my guestroom. The most interesting of which was either the triathlon athlete who was riding his bicycle around the world or the Vietnamese-American who lived in Mongolia.
Ate tofu seasoned with concrete.
Swept water out of my house twice, once after an entire day of heavy rains, then again three days later when the river spilled over and flooded large portions of the city.
Watched the roads turn from bad to terrible and then, with a quick declaration from the Prime Mister, restored with the kind of speed that only an authoritarian ruler can make possible.
Lived perfectly content without a TV for three months, but finally broke down and bought one. Haven't noticed much of a difference.
Visited the outstanding Islamic Art Museum in Kuala Lumpur and came to the conclusion that Islamic societies get very little recognition for their advances to general world development.
Stopped the potential use of child labor at my workplace.
Looked at a piece of land being sold by someone who seemed to be running a brothel, and decided that that was enough reason not to buy the land.
Paid a bribe to a Cambodian solider to camp at a 14th century temple. Spent the later evening watching the stars and eating chips-ahoy cookies with the person that we paid-off.
Figured out a way to make sure that my roommate could pay for university without getting a loan that might ruin him.
Learned how to drive a motorcycle. Use of the breaks is still a problem sometimes.
Swam in an ancient reservoir.
Was complemented on my performance as Master of Ceremony at the hotel's graduation ceremony.
Underwent some difficult staff issues and meetings that ultimately led to the resignation of one of my staff, who has five years of experience with the hotel.
Bicycled around Angkor Wat in nearly complete darkness.
Jumped into a saltwater pool with all of my clothes on, and pulled a World Bank consultant into the pool with me.
Watched Kung-Fu Panda a dozen times with co-workers, who never tired of the jokes.
Became more inebriated than necessary in a night that began with a third of a bottle of whiskey, followed by beer, then another bottle of whiskey, and finishing with shots of sambuca and sips from a bucket of redbull plus unknown alcohol. Amazingly, I still made it to work at midday on Sunday, sober, for the extra work I had scheduled.
Denied a young, Cambodian girl her graduation diploma in a conversation that was filled by a large amount of tears.
Terrorized some small cats (no physical harm) in the hope that they would stop begging for food at our staff canteen.
Watched an elderly woman have her decayed, red-stained teeth pulled.
Organized a day trip for a group of 60 hotel consultants.
Something else amazing that I cannot write in any open forum.
Well, that is it. I hope that I will have more time to write stories from now on, but something tells me that that may not be true.
Rather than trying to haphazardly tell the stories and events, I am just going to list the events and allow whoever is reading this to piece the details together.
Watched some friends and their organization get blacklisted from Cambodia, with the requirement that they leave within 24 hours.
Thought I had saved someone's life, but found out two months later that I didn't.
Dated a co-worker, became the center of the rumor mill, and eventually decided that the whole thing was a big mistake.
Attended at least 10 good-bye parties.
Joined a bible study, which ended up being rather discouraging for the people who were hoping to open my eyes to the splendor of their Christ; the bible study was subsequently dissolved.
Was sent on a business trip to Hong Kong with a notice of two days. Business trip consisted of drinking gin, trying to socialize, and picking up an award for something I am casually involved with.
Traveled to a conflict zone, met both sides of the conflict, and tried to speak with my limited vocabulary of both languages.
Watched a land-mine being removed from a road I traveled down fairly regularly and assumed was perfectly safe.
Watched a boy who had no way to communicate for four years, suddenly find the right people and tools to teach him how.
Was instrumental in helping to build a three-classroom school for a hundred children that had been studying in an unstable shack. Oddly enough, I did not feel completely satisfied on the completion of the school.
Selected 25 new students for hospitality education, with personal stories that ranged from murderous fathers to orphaned children who sleep outside.
Avoided dengue fever, unlike five of my co-workers.
Donated blood, with minor complications that resulted in a gigantic bruise across my arm.
Went to an indoor rock climbing wall on a regular basis, but then not at all.
Hosted about 15-20 random strangers to sleep in my guestroom. The most interesting of which was either the triathlon athlete who was riding his bicycle around the world or the Vietnamese-American who lived in Mongolia.
Ate tofu seasoned with concrete.
Swept water out of my house twice, once after an entire day of heavy rains, then again three days later when the river spilled over and flooded large portions of the city.
Watched the roads turn from bad to terrible and then, with a quick declaration from the Prime Mister, restored with the kind of speed that only an authoritarian ruler can make possible.
Lived perfectly content without a TV for three months, but finally broke down and bought one. Haven't noticed much of a difference.
Visited the outstanding Islamic Art Museum in Kuala Lumpur and came to the conclusion that Islamic societies get very little recognition for their advances to general world development.
Stopped the potential use of child labor at my workplace.
Looked at a piece of land being sold by someone who seemed to be running a brothel, and decided that that was enough reason not to buy the land.
Paid a bribe to a Cambodian solider to camp at a 14th century temple. Spent the later evening watching the stars and eating chips-ahoy cookies with the person that we paid-off.
Figured out a way to make sure that my roommate could pay for university without getting a loan that might ruin him.
Learned how to drive a motorcycle. Use of the breaks is still a problem sometimes.
Swam in an ancient reservoir.
Was complemented on my performance as Master of Ceremony at the hotel's graduation ceremony.
Underwent some difficult staff issues and meetings that ultimately led to the resignation of one of my staff, who has five years of experience with the hotel.
Bicycled around Angkor Wat in nearly complete darkness.
Jumped into a saltwater pool with all of my clothes on, and pulled a World Bank consultant into the pool with me.
Watched Kung-Fu Panda a dozen times with co-workers, who never tired of the jokes.
Became more inebriated than necessary in a night that began with a third of a bottle of whiskey, followed by beer, then another bottle of whiskey, and finishing with shots of sambuca and sips from a bucket of redbull plus unknown alcohol. Amazingly, I still made it to work at midday on Sunday, sober, for the extra work I had scheduled.
Denied a young, Cambodian girl her graduation diploma in a conversation that was filled by a large amount of tears.
Terrorized some small cats (no physical harm) in the hope that they would stop begging for food at our staff canteen.
Watched an elderly woman have her decayed, red-stained teeth pulled.
Organized a day trip for a group of 60 hotel consultants.
Something else amazing that I cannot write in any open forum.
Well, that is it. I hope that I will have more time to write stories from now on, but something tells me that that may not be true.
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