1. Where are you from?

Hmawbi in the Yangon division, about 38 km from here. It is a small town of maybe 38,000 people. They are mostly rice or fruit farmers.

2. What is your occupation?

I work here in this hotel - I clean the rooms. It is a good business, very busy in January and February during the dry season In the rainy season it is a lot quieter though for some reason we get a lot of Spanish people. I think because it is very hot then in their country.

3. Do you enjoy it, or would you rather do something else?

I like this job but I want to be a guide. . I like being a tourist guide and sometimes the guests here will hire me to show them around. My boss will let me take off time to do it. I will stay here 5 or 6 months more and then I will be finished with my studies and get my tourist guide license. I have been studying German for a year because guides who speak German can make $38 - $40 a day. Speaking only English you will make only $15. I have also started learning Japanese.

4. Have you traveled much or been outside your country?

No.

5. Tell me about your family? Are you married?

I have a mother and two sisters. My father died when I was 18. He was in the Tatmadaw (Burmese Army) when he caught Malaria and died. My mother had to go to work then and now she is a shopkeeper. She sells traditional Bamar noodles called Mohinga(rice vermicelli with fish sauce) - she cooks them on the street. One sister is twenty and got married two months ago. It was a big wedding and the brides parents traditionally pay for it so it was difficult for my mother. My other sister is a student, she is 15.

6. What is your favorite food?
Mohinga of course! My mother makes the best. I have tried western food, Italian I think. Anyway, I didn't like it.

7. Do you have access to the Internet?

No. I don't know what it is. I don't care though. I am not interested in the Internet.

8. Where did you learn your English? Why did you learn it?

Because I want to know languages and it is easy to study here, I am studying German and Japanese at a school here in Yangon, it is why I took this job in the city. English I just learned from a friend and a little from tourists. It is an international language and I know I need it for my life, for visitors, for everything.

9. What do you do for fun?

Play the guitar. I've been learning from my friend for about a year now and I am quite good. I like to sit around here and play and sing with the other people who work here, we have a good time. Sometimes I go downtown and see a movie, mostly war or action. I don't have much money though. I just saw Enemy at the Gates, that was a good one. Have you seen it?

"Yes, just last week in Pyin oo Lwin."

"And how do you like Myanmar now?"

"I love it."

Nigel
02.10.02