New Challenges

Life here hasn’t cooperated this week. Lots of rain, more than the usual number of power cuts, down with a flu bug, nursing a broken collarbone.

I know I said before moving to Myanmar that I was looking for new challenges. But today’s aren’t the ones I had in mind.

Of course everyone has problems. Consider the difficulties of the men of Myanmar’s Parliament. Recently they debated a motion that would have allowed them to remove the special turban worn while Parliament is in session.

From a summary of the debate published in a local newsletter:

·        MPs said that wearing turbans for a long time during parliamentary sessions was harmful to health. However, a member of the Health Promotion Committee said that wearing turbans is a tradition in Myanmar and male representatives are required to wear turbans on their head as a token of respect, auspiciousness, nobility, dignity and grace. Therefore, it is a historical tradition for parliament representatives to wear turbans as an insignia. The member of the Health Promotion Committee added by saying that people consider those who wear turbans as the ones working in the interest of the country and honouring the national tradition. From a health point of view, the head might feel tight from wearing turbans and heat might be kept inside, causing hair loss, but this is not a serious health problem considering that the tradition should be honoured, the health promotion committee member pointed out.