I figured out a few things.Â
First, I am the only exhibitor. That could be either really good or really bad. The trouble is that only in the former case do I deserve to enjoy lazing about the Horizon resort, but only in the latter case do I have any time for it. The resort sprawls across a large area and includes several swimming pools, tennis courts, spas, and beachfront, not to mention the restaurants and souvenir shops. A number of service personnel speaks some English, and some speak enough for more complex discussions than “Where are you from, sir?” Not all staff members are local – Byron, for instance, is from Shenyang and probably more than happy to be here instead.Â
Second, all the Russians. Of course the Russians are out in force. It all makes sense, ever since discovering the sign above the large array of plastic tables and lawn chairs that said “РождеÑтвенÑкий Ужин” (I hope that displays correctly – let me know otherwise). Now I don’t know enough Russian to figure out on my own what it means, but I remember enough to be able to remember two words and chuck them through Babelfish. “Christmas supper” is what I got, and it all fit into place – the orthodox activities, the head count, everything.Â
Third, the internet. There’s no wireless in the room. I need to unplug the LAN cable of the room’s desktop PC and stick it into my laptop to access the internet with a computer with a reasonable kezboard. It’s still pretty slow, so I don’t know how well stuff like skype will work.Â
Fourth, the food. It’ll be a regular challenge to get small portions of something somewhere around here.Â
Fifth, the logo. The Horizon resort has its logo everywhere. It’s even stamped in relief in the ashtray sand.Â
Sixth, the time difference. I thought it would be 6 hours to Switzerland, but it’s 7.Â
Well, I ought to get offline.Â
It’s good to hear from you again. Too bad this is just a travel blog, because I like reading what you write, but don’t like knowing that for me to have that pleasure, you and that very special person must be separated.
It’s a good think I know you (vicariously) well enough to know how much you love your parents, or on their behalf I’d take exception to the comment that for the first time in a long time you were leaving someone very special behind. 🙂
“reasonable kezboard” – that reminds me of Janet’s first post from Switzerland:
I don’t think the Swiss use the exclamation mark, or at least I can’t find it on this keyboard. If zou didn’t figure it out from mz last post, zou can see now that the Swiss put their Z’s where the Y should be. I’ll trz to fix it. Anywaz (darn), anyzway (oops), anyway, last night I couldn’t connect to the wireless network….
Thanks for the kind words! Of course, a side benefit for you may be that the very special person in question gets more time to work on her own blog.
And yes, I knew somebody would catch on to that implication. I didn’t expect it to be the very first comment… I do love my parents and consider them special as well, but – och, y’all know it’s different.
If it gives you any comfort, I’ll pick a US kezboard over a French kewboqrd any day. I still can’t figure out who thought it was a good idea to require the shift key for a full stop, or to swap the “m” and the comma.
He’s right about finding time to write to the blog, you know. I noticed the ‘goof’ with his folks, too, but he always speaks so highly of them that his meaning was never in question. Besides, I wasn’t the one to give him Faschtewäije for the trip. I still have much to learn about pleasing my extra special person. 🙂
Am I supposed to be reading all these comments? I feel like I am intruding on your guys’ conversation…
And hey, what about me? I did not even get mentioned in the blog, let alone as a special person! 😉 However, I still fondly remember your mentioning me a few months ago, still living off that… 🙂
By the way, there is a way to change the keyboard setting as long as you know the keyboard by heart and don’t have to go looking for the any of the special signs.
Well, the world is able to read those comments, so if anyone is “supposed” to read them, you’re certainly among the finalists. You’re at least that special! 😉
I’ve since plugged the LAN cable into my laptop, so I don’t have to go fooling with settings on a computer that’s not mine. I wouldn’t want to switch to a Swiss keyboard setting and have the next Chinese guest cursing the computer because I forgot to switch back!
Remember, you’re special, just like everybody else.
I for one like blog comment conversations. It makes me feel like people I care about all over the globe are in the same room chatting away.
Let’s hear it for sisters! I’m a sister, I have a sister and several sisters-in-law, my children each have a sister…. Of course sisters are special! (And brothers, too, of course, just in case any of mine happen to wander this far.)
Considering where you’re writing from, however, who left whom behind may be a matter of debate.
I love blog conversations. For some reason, I have no difficulty talking with complete strangers in print; in person is another story altogether.
hi there… just eavesdropping in on the conversation 🙂
4 days behind the masses, but so what.
writing in basel dialect on an american kezboard would result in funnz stuff… “fzzryzzg”?