About rowbare

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

Pabna, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

Citizen Of:

United States

Past Expat Posts:

Niger

Madagascar

Egypt

Bangladesh

Lao People's Democratic Republic

About rowbare

Living overseas since I was a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Niamey, Niger in 1981 (where and when I met my German partner). He has the job, I follow along unofficially. We've lived in Niger (Niamey), Madagascar (Antananarivo), Egypt (Harem, Giza), Bangladesh (Rangpur), Laos (Muang Sing and Hongsa) and now again in Bangladesh (Pabna) until 2015.

Advice for New Expats

Bring some treats from home for those down moments. treats= favorite food, music, pictures, books, movies, etc...

Education:

Colonia High School (NJ)
  1970 to 1974

Rutgers College
  1974 to 1979

Favorite Assignment:

Loved them all! Why go someplace you aren't going to love?

Favorite Movie:

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Favorite Book:

'Tales of the City' series

Some Forum Posts:

Laos: i would like to work in loas as an english teacher:

Don't forget to circulate your CV to NGOs. Many times they are looking for teachers for staff and especially their drivers. If you can go to project work sites to teach that is even better. Good luck.

Laos: Thanksgiving in Laos:

OK as the senior (and only) American here in Hongsa I guess I am the one to write a little something about Thanksgiving in Hongsa. We have several new things here in Hongsa just this month to help you for your Thanksgiving dinner: ATM - yes, we now have an ATM in Hongsa! So if you are short on cash to get that turkey you can now get kip 24/7. Conveniently located about 100 meters from the market in that HUGE red box. (check to make sure it's plugged in first!) Cocktail Bar - yes, a new 'cocktail bar' has opened just a short walk from the main market in the village just after the big bridge. In reality it's a slushy with a shot of vodka but who is complaining with all the flavors they have. Actually it's a nice garden setting, very Lao. I'll bet they would even come to your house and set up a table in your garden on Thanksgiving day! Cocktails before the Thanksgiving feast anyone? (this is where that Smirnoff Cranberry infused vodka comes in handy) Crepe Maker - can you even begin to imagine! Here in Hongsa someone brought a crepe maker from the big city. The same style you see on the carts in Vientiane on the Mekong River Road (I can never remember the real name of that street). It just happens to be found at the before mentioned cocktail bar so if you have them bring the slushy maker to your garden then have them bring the crepe iron also. Pumpkin stuffed crepes for desert anyone? Mahout Union - who wants to walk that turkey dinner off when you can ride up high on an elephant! The Mahouts in the district have gotten together to form a union. Now it's even easier to order elephant rides for the kids (and those who are kids at heart!). Oddly enough I'm home alone again this year so it's just me and the Cranberry vodka but with a little luck I can find some turkey flavored Lays chips in the market. Have a good one everyone! Gobble gobble!

Laos: living in remote areas:

Expat who just moved to Muang Sing, Laos ten days ago. The house is a little more . . . rustic . . . than my partner described but nothing a case of bug spray can't remedy (so much for that shrinking ozone hole). It's raining like the dickens right now but I got a chance this afternoon to do some laundry. It's Friday night and I'm home alone - partner should be home soon unless the roads were washed out which is always possible. Satellite TV is out for some reason. Internet is running good. Lots of cold beer in the kitchen. Thunder in the distance. Guess we'll be eating in tonight. Worried about moving to Laos? If I can survive in MS you can certainly make it in Vientiane!

Date Joined:

8/25/2006

Total Posts:

3

Posts/Day:

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