I'm Ok, but still unsettled. The xanax did it's little trick though in the end I had to go to bed and sleep and ask ex to pick up the kids and take them to dinner. He did. No fuss.
Things are annoying me and I'm hating living here. The mosquitoes, the inconsiderate drivers, the way they park their cars, the people that stare at me like I'm something out of space and the Haze, that dreadful smoke cloud wafting over from Indonesia and poisoning the precious air. It stinks, it hurts your eyes when it's really thick. It makes you stay inside. It's horrible and people talk about it, but no-one does anything. It was thick this morning, thicker than I've ever seen it in this part of the country. Luckily, in the afternoon, a strong wind visited and saved us from having to breathe it any longer. Other than that though, we've only seen a little of it. It looks like it's getting worse though. The government blames it on 'hot spot's' in the jungle, peat fires that start because of too little rain and burn underground, releasing a toxic cloud of smoke. It's more than the peat fires though. It's the malaysian corporations using fire to clear land in Indonesia to plant next years crops or build houses or whatever. They are polluting themselves. Stupid, selfish idiots.
On another note, we all seem to be having allergic reactions to something, though it's affecting us in different ways. My daughter gets an rash on her legs, both my hands are prickly and itchy and my right fingers are raw. My son gets itchy eyes, though he's the one that least affected and ex, he's in a class of his own. He has what looks like hay fever, really bad hay fever. I feel sorry for him. He can't sleep or work and the best we can do is to stay out of his way. Could it be the water? I've just washed my hands and am feeling my hands react as I write this. Small, itchy bumps running along the sides of my finger, driving me crazy - so small, yet so irritating. The doctor told me I'm allergic to soap, and that may be, but sometimes it just happens and I haven't been near soap. Ex does the dishes now, though I still do them once a day or wash stuff while I'm cooking. I miss my dishwasher.
School is annoying. The kids are coming home with a lot of homework, some of it they can't do. They don't have the language or the skills to complete the task. Son was crying tonight because if he doesn't get it done, his teacher will beat him. I want to go there and smack her and show her what it's like when someone bigger than you threatens to hurt you. I won't of course, but sometimes I feel like it. Instead, I've called the kids tutor to come in tomorrow and help them. Though she's only been working with them this year, I just don't know what I'd do without her. She's the perfect person for the job because her English is good, her chinese is good and she's nearly always available in the mornings when we need her. I am grateful we found her, so thank the universe and it's again time for bed.
2 comments:
I do not know what it is about parts of Asia with the pollution Jo. I do know it costs us a fortune here in Oz to keep the place safe and clean. Here are some thoughts.
In the West seem to “bang on” about the smallest environmental issues. Melbourne managed to whip themselves into an emotive frenzy over a fish that did not exist with a recent toll way. In Australia we have now officially placed the environment before people with the Carbon Credit Trading scheme making Al Gore richer.
Contrast this with the real issues ignored in the majority of the Asian community.
It was common place to see the Japanese wearing face masks. As we emerged from the lower levels of the Osaka train stations on go the masks as they approach the surface with lines of cars waiting for an opportunity to move a few metres before they stop again. I recall the time that whole villages in Japans South were poisoned while manufacturing TV screens.
Chinese businesses are poisoning their work forces with mercury as they rush to produce more of those environmentally friendly, energy saving globes that emit little light where people are a “disposable” commodity.
Indonesia and Malaya have for years now accused the fires as the cause of the air pollution there and as you say do nothing because it would affect their profitability.
I have seen the results in Seoul South Korea where the air is “thick” during peak hours unlike Bangkok where the air is putrid most of the time. Profit before people is of course necessary when there is no social welfare. A meal tonight is preferred to a tree.
The stories relating to air quality in the major cities of India are horrendous yet nothing is done because it would affect the business profitability. This was confirmed by an Indian business acquaintance. A four hour drive South from New Delhi through the poisonous gases gets him the 120Km to home.
It may well be the water causing your skin problem.
I know what it is... they just don't care. It's all about money. Damn their social responsibility. Their are articles that proclaim that someone is doing something, talking to someone, but in the meantime, we all sit here in closed up houses trying not to breathe the stuff in.
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