Conversation

One of the things I really miss about traveling in non-English speaking countries, and especially non-European non-English countries is conversation. Chatting. Most anyone I talk to is work -- for them, for me, for both of us. I have to speak slowly, carefully, and think about my word-choice carefully. When training, I can talk about the technical matters, but I can't really chat about the other stuff I normally would. Similarly with anyone else -- clerk, wait-staff, whoever.

It makes things surprisingly lonely, actually.

And, with the time-zone change of Asia, I can't even really chat online with friends. I'm sleeping during the Ottawa day, and working during the Ottawa evening.