[L] So, as you recall, a few days ago, our neighbors from downstairs paid a visit to us because there was something that was leaking from the balcony...  The story continues.

So, today, our landlord came to attempt to fix this mysterious leak.  This time, he brought with him a repairman, who seemed equipped with a caulk-seal gun and some plastic tubing.  After 30 to 40 minutes of them talking, working, banging, crawling around the balcony...  The repairman begins to take action.

He climbs completely over the railing of the 4th floor balcony.

He steadied himself by putting one arm around the railing, while the other arm is used to insert the plastic tubing in a pipe.  Meanwhile, his sock-covered-feet was on the ledge of the balcony.  He was completely OUTSIDE, almost dangling off our balcony, nothing to keep from falling except his feet to steady himself on the ledge while one arm holding onto the railing.

Oh yes, did I mention that he did take some safety precautions.  He had our landlord hold onto his arm (the one arm that is gripping the balcony). In the case of a fall, will our little landlord be still holding on to this man's forearm and heroically rescue him from falling 4 stories?! We don't even want to think about it.

Is this legal?!!  Back home, there is such a thing as workers comp. Work-related injuries lawsuit. Protection of the worker. Safety-code. Policy and procedures manual.   But here, apparently, things just work a lot differently. Apparently, risking your life to dangle on a 4th floor balcony to fix a leaky pipe is okay.  It might even be normal.  (Just be sure not to fall, that's all.)

We just feel for them.  Life and work is hard here. And no one is there to vouch for you if you get hurt. 

[L] It has been my desire to be a morning person for so long!  When I read bio's and books of people that I admire and respected, many of them have one trait that I admire:  They wake up early at the crack of dawn before the world hustles and bustles.  Some like the brisk air of the early sunrise while they do their morning jog/walk.  Others spend their morning reading, reflecting, and having personal QTs.  And others read the newspapers, drinks coffee, or watch the morning news.. before heading off to work, school, or wherever.

Unfortunately for me, I fit in none of these categories.  I cannot drink coffee (unless it's de-caff) or I experience some signs of tachycardia (heart beating fast).  And the rest of those things... I can only dream about doing at a different time-- which is late late night. For me, I stay awake longer than the rest of the world into the wee hours of the night.

The only time I ever remembering waking up at the crack of dawn recently was when I was jet-lagged. (Of course, this doesn't count the days when I used to work at the hospital when my shifts sometime began at the crack of dawn!)  The first few weeks of coming back here, I would fall asleep at 9pm and wake up at 5am.  It was beautiful. I sat on the windowsill and watched the sunrise.  I had good reflection time, good QTs.  I saw the people down below setting up their carts and shops.  I saw the workers riding their bikes and scooters, dragging behind them loads of their workgear.  And then the big steamers (which steamed at least a hundred steamed buns at a time) would hiss in unison as it was cooking, getting ready for hungry people to buy their breakfast.  Over in the far side, I would see chickens in cages, being brought out for sale. And groups of people would squat on low stools, as they gathered to eat their morning rice-porridge.

For some reason, getting to watch all of this brought a sense calmness over my heart. Perhaps it's knowing that I don't have to rush to be in class or somewhere until another couple of hour or so. I have time to entertain random thoughts of life.  What would my life be if I was born on this side of the world?  What would it be like to be these people downstairs, working so hard to sell steamed buns to make a living.  What would my future hold?  What are my dreams and passion? 

Unfortunately, over time, my jet-lag wore out.  And my schedule began to shift later and later.  Until it's back to me being a night person again.  I realize that the reason I am a night owl is because at night, when things are calm, the world is asleep, I can have some time to recover from the "busyness" of the day.  Life is so busy, and it just passes by if I don't stop to think and appreciate what I've been given.  However, I sure just WISH I could do that early morning, instead of late in the night.  But for now, I guess that'll have to do...  

My only solution to counter this busy world, this busy life... is to find pockets of time when things are still.  And hopefully, that I get to pause...even just for a moment, to appreciate it.