Only in Asia: Save a Dry Marker
We’re preempting our usual “Wordless Wednesday” blather today (which btw – in retrospect seems a bit silly as A. rarely have any of the WWs been the least bit “Wordless”, and B. seldom do I manage to post them on “Wednesday”).
ANYWAY… We’re necessarily preempting to bring you a purely sterling… “Only In Asia” moment.
The OIA tale:
So as I’m leaving “An Tiến” (the “American Academy”, the private English school I teach at here in Dalat) after my 5-7pm class Monday night, there at the front desk the dear receptionist lass is quietly and diligently…
Though my little iPhone3 pics ever come out a good bit blurry…
Yup – she’s methodically REFILLING each and every red, blue and black DRY ERASE MARKER!
This, at a most modern, high-tech (w/ scads of computer labs, et al scattered about the 4 levels of classrooms) school.
Not a matter of backwards technology – shoot, AMA here in Dalat is on the brink of installing the new “Interactive Whiteboards” soon.
Gently inquiring as to why the lass was so zealously poised with that wee nozzle slowly dripping ink into the spongy innards of every blessed pen…
She sweetly informed me that it was “very economical” – each bottle of ink costs just 10,000 vnd (about .50) and could refill up to FIVE markers!
In short – gotta love the frugality of such solutions in developing nations. Unlike we Western countries (where time = money), in Vietnam saving a few dong by reusing those many (can you spell P.L.A.S.T.I.C. – aka L.A.N.D.F.I.L.L.???) pens makes perfect sense!
About the Author
Dyanne Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion,and I’ve always lived life “like-a-kid-in-a-candy-store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been: This ain’t a dress rehearsal, folks!
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Off-the-beaten-path travel is my passion, and I’ve always lived life “like a kid in a candy store” – eager to sample as many flavors as I can. Indeed, my life motto has long been:
Just wanted to say that this is my first time here and I am impressed. You write as interestingly as you talk. Your turn of a phrase keep me reading. NOT boring. And you are WAY more attractive in real life than your photo at the top.
Well gosh, thanks for stopping by Rebecca, and glad you’re enjoying my “turn of phrase” here.
And thanks too for the compliment on my RL looks. So you don’t think my wee circular photo above is accurate? It was taken little more than 2 years go on a boat whizzing up the river in Cambodia to deliver some school supplies to the refugee children living in the floating villages on Tonle Sap Lake. I rather thought my silver tresses and trademark pigtails were the spitting image of my customary disheveled mug as I wander the cobbled streets here in Cuenca each day. 😉