« Housewarming party weekend | Main | Hosta and EJB coding work »
September 12, 2004
Hermit-Styles
9th – 15th August – This week Lydia was away (which I didn’t know until she got back) and I don’t feel so close with many other people here (mental note – I should probably go out and socialise a bit more, as a single person, meet more people in different groups.), that was part of the reason I was a bit of a hermit. I also am feeling quite poor. I spent $200 on my apartment ($100 deposit, plus first month), in addition to buying my moto from Monica ($300) in addition to the setup expenses of a new home. I ate from home, mostly pasta, baguettes (300-500riel each!) or rice so as to save money. As of right now (Monday the 16th) I have $36 to my name to last until the next pay cheque. Regent should be paying me another $30-40 as they screwed up my last pay, so I’ve got about $70 for the next 3 weeks and weekends. That doesn’t sound as bad as it did on Friday ($80 to last 4 weeks!), but I’m still going to have to be tight if I don’t want to borrow (from school, friends or VISA).
It doesn’t cost much to live during the week (a few baguettes here and there, some basic food, if I don’t eat out its ok), and if I were a hermit over the weekend it could be just as cheap. Unfortunately, being alone here, I do actually enjoy socialising (surprise, surprise), but that generally requires spending money (be it on lunch/dinner or drinks). I’m not asking for sympathy or even money to be sent my way… I will have money, and hopefully a decent amount by next pay, but I think this is a good way for me to really value money and learn from it. I’m good with finances, but even I know that I can spend more than I really need to. Fortunately I was able to get over the weekend (only going out Saturday night, mind you) relatively cheaply… I didn’t buy too many drinks, I was shouted a couple of them, and my friends here are very generous indeed.
Friday was a very hectic day, and it being Friday the 13th, things were ‘noticably’ going wrong. Perhaps not more than any normal day, but they were notable because of the superstition of the day. I had coffee in the morning with Lydia then ran off to be a bodyguard for Monica as she closed her bank account. After much to-ing and fro-ing, Monica and I then had a delicious lunch at Java (Mon very generously offered lunch in return for services rendered). I also found out that Monica’s real name IS actually Jacomina (as per her email address) – which I thought to be a transliteration of Monica.
Friday night was very quiet indeed – Brandon and a few others were going out to a Korean restaurant, but I declined the invitation due to the cost involved. I spent about $40 on VISA at Pencil’s Supermarket on food and beer (Kirrilee’s influence made me buy a few veggies… not many, cause they’re not particularly appetising), then I locked myself away for the night watching TV and DVDs.
Saturday involved hanging out with Lydia, Charlotte, Claus and Inga, from brunch at Del Gusto to shopping all over the place in a tuk tuk.
Saturday night – feeling poor, there were 2 for 1 drinks at some bar early in the evening, but I was still with the Germans by the time this was happening. Planned to meet them again for some dude’s farewell at FCC. I got there earlier than the others, so drank while waiting. Eventually they turned up, while I was chatting with Jana. After FCC, I had to sit on Claus’ lap in the car to get to a dodgy Temple Bar, then again to Elsewhere, after realising how dodgy Temple was. Elsewhere was interesting, stayed there until quite late, a bit after Lydia, Charlotte and Claus left.
Sunday – The Germans went to Seam Reap, so I was left to my own devices. I don’t remember doing much, probably a little shopping or something. Oh, I think on this day I had brekky then was told about a bike ride, and thus joined (Vinh, Brandon and chicky, James and Laura). We met at Rising Sun, had more food, then headed over the Japanese bridge, turned sharp left and went along a dirt track for a while. It immediately felt quite rural, even though we were just on the other side of the Tonle Sap. We turned back cause the bikes aren’t really designed for dirt. We then went down the road to the Alligator Ski café or something, where we had a bit of a chill out with a beer. After the Ski spot, we went further down the road till we found something interesting. That something was a motocross track, with a couple of dude practicing their jumps. That was cool, and kind of bizarre. After a long, bum-painful ride back, I tried the Sydney Supermarket, which is cool, I can find a heap of Oz things not available at normal stores here.
Posted by Dan at September 12, 2004 08:12 AM
Comments
Poor Dan!
Posted by: lozza at September 12, 2004 06:35 PM