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14 Apr 2002 |
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| We usually walk round the factory grounds after dinner and have recently got to know one of the girls from the packing department. She was horrified to learn that we were going to spend New Year at the factory so she invited us to her house. On Sunday at 08.00 she met us at the gates and we set off for her village which we knew was somewhere "over there". In fact it was over the river, so we had our first trip on the local ferry, a rickety wooden affair with outboard motor. Over the other side we stopped at the temple to pour rice onto a growing pile (to add to world happiness) and to make an offering before going on to Channy's stilt house. It was simple in the extreme: bamboo walls and floor, thatch roof, no furniture, no beds - and a big welcome from her family. Her father smiled a lot and made me sit cross-legged on the floor, which he found far easier than me! So far we had managed okay without a common language, but it was something of a relief when her English speaking neighbour made an appearance. We chatted more easily for an hour or so and learnt something of the family history and were able to thank them properly for inviting us before taking our leave. Kindness indeed. | ||||