Yuck

There are a couple of things that happen regularly in Timor Leste that I have slowly gotten used to...

The nose picking is definitely off putting, but I guess I can understand it. I just don't understand why it needs to be public. Yuck

The cutting of nails in any public place is a bit gross. I thought it was bad enough when a housemate cut their nails in the living room, but cutting them in the office is something else entirely. Yucko.

But, the one that takes the cake for me was when one of the guys and I went to a meeting with a local senior official. We were discussing a new employment project that we are working on. All was going well when said senior official reached into his pocket and pulled out a cotton bud (a q-tip for my Canadian friends).

Well, that’s a little werid.

There aren’t too many things you can do with a cotton bud, and surely none of them are appropriate in a meeti…oh, how wrong I was.

Within 10 seconds I had completely lost track of the conversation. As I struggled to remain focused on the meeting and suppress a giggle, he proceeded to clean out his ears…and inspect it.

Yuck. Double yuck. Yucko.

Nia koalia Tetun

The other day my work mate and I went to a meeting. When we walked in they all started speaking in Tetun, then when one of the guys noticed me and started speaking in English...at which point my work mate said "la problema, nia koalia Tetun."
"No problem, she speaks Tetun."

That was a very nice moment.