Now officially spoilt

I’m settling very nicely into the new place and into my new life.

I must admit when I handed over the deposit I thought I had a pretty sweet deal considering the spaciousness of my new pad. (Later, paying three months advance rent in Vietnamese dong  was a wheelbarrow job).

Then I got home yesterday and found the place cleaned and dirty clothes taken for laundry.  The clothes I had slung into the cupboard were now folded.  Turns out this place is “serviced”. I had no idea.

I guess I have made the complete transition from slumming it volunteer to spoilt expat.

It’s not hard to see why so many foreigners here are somewhat removed from reality.  Thinking about it, if I hadn’t done my two-year stint with KOTO , I might have had no idea of the poverty that still exists here.

As I write this I am sitting in air-conned loveliness, I’m streaming Six Music perfectly and I’m about to have lovely long and hot shower.  No more boiling water for bucket baths.

After Cameroon I still can’t get over these luxuries.  I hope I never take them for granted.

The pic?  That’s another plus point for the new pad – a banh mi trung (egg butty) place across the street.  It was washed down with iced coffee this morning. Even having a fridge again – one that works without being kicked – seems incredible.