Bonne fête Nationale mes amis français. Andrew m'a dit qu'il pleut toujours en Normandie et Lisa a abandonné son camping en Bretagne en raison de la pluie! Je pensais à cette époque l'an dernier quand j'ai regardé les feux d'artifice a Livarot et je suis allées à Beuvillers pour ma dernière Foire a tout! Il me manque vous tous et j'ai hâte de Christine, Valérie et Marc arrivent bientôt et pratiquer mon français!
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| Another of the guard of the Nunuk ragang tree! |
With all the financial crisis going on in Europe I'm feeling very far removed and fortunate in many ways that I have a job, a salary and live somewhere where the cost of living is very low. I've just had my electricity bill for the last 6 months which is 95 ringitt - (25 euro) which seems very little to me. I can go out to the market with 10 ringitts (divide by 4 for euro and 5 for sterling) and come back with 2 pineapples, a bunch of bananas, tomatoes, cucumber, aubergines, a cauliflower and some peppers. You can go to eat in a restaurant in Ranau and have a meal and drink for about 7 ringitts which is also the price of a good haircut! Before you all think of moving here there is of course the downside! Beer can be bought in Ranau for 8 ringitts a can but wine has to be purchased in KK at 50 ringitts upwards for a very average bottle of wine. And cheese?? - well Ranau hasn't heard of it but I believe it can be bought in KK at a huge price. So my french friends - can you imagine a life without wine and cheese??
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| Saturday morning market Ranau |
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| Used to seem exotic to me! |
I have put up an Olympic Countdown at school but recently an even bigger and more impressive Countdown poster was put up - the days before Ramadan. There are approximately 5 days before fasting begins depending on the moon but I think we can safely say that Friday 20th July will be the first day of fasting. Emily and I arrived in Ranau on the first day of Ramadan last year and didn't comprehend how it effects the school timetable whether you are Muslim or Christian. The school canteen closes, all extra curricular activities, sports etc are stopped , the timetable is shortened and the Muslim female teachers are often up at 4 a.m. preparing the food before sunrise for the family breakfast. I am embarrassed about my ignorance and lack of knowledge last year and am very much more aware this year of what is involved. However I have much to learn and am contemplating having a go at fasting for a few days to see what it is like - the no water might be a problem I think!
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