Funferal

Settling in

[Several previous updates from Heather have, unfortunately, disappeared into the ether. This, fortunately, has made it through.]
I adjusted to time pretty well…we all did. Just stay awake the whole first day, regardless of how many hours kip we had on the plane…then sleep the night and do the rest of the days as normal. At first we were just a little groggy…now completely adjusted. It was a strange feeling the first morning knowing that we were rowing at 3am Irish time!!
We got one day on the water, then had to put the boats in a secure place to protect them from the typhoon that never happened! The next day we were on the ergs in a tent that was 45degrees C and 95%humidity!!! I sweated a bucket load! Making weight will not be a problem here… I just have to watch the rehydration afterwards..
It is so exciting being here… for one thing I am in my element seeing everyone. All the boats. These drummers were out while we were on the water last night. It felt like a film… kinda threatening music… I thought the typhoon was on it’s way after all!!
The clulture is so different. Everyone is really polite and stand for hours waiting for the green man even if there are no cars on the road. I am getting the hang of bowing at everyone, and figured out “hi” is japanese for “yes” so when people are on the phone the “hi hi hi” is not the equivalent
of “you hang up, no you do….”
I’m going for breakfast now… Mmmm….rice porridge!!! All the meals are the same here…I love it all… sushi, where have you been all my life???