some of you know I speak a bit of Burmese and I regularly find myself in a
Burmese and I regularly find myself in a
Burmese and I regularly find myself in a Yangon taxi talking to the driver
Yangon taxi talking to the driver
Yangon taxi talking to the driver I’m an English girl I married a Burmese
I’m an English girl I married a Burmese
I’m an English girl I married a Burmese man and they got aa car later and I said
man and they got aa car later and I said
man and they got aa car later and I said please put your hands back on the
please put your hands back on the
please put your hands back on the steering wheel oh he’s like a light dad
steering wheel oh he’s like a light dad
steering wheel oh he’s like a light dad and Abu ZAR you are later can take on
and Abu ZAR you are later can take on
and Abu ZAR you are later can take on air so what are we talking about there a
air so what are we talking about there a
air so what are we talking about there a little bit of Burmese napoo your
little bit of Burmese napoo your
little bit of Burmese napoo your forehead SAR writing you are is a
forehead SAR writing you are is a
forehead SAR writing you are is a village and let it is to go around so
village and let it is to go around so
village and let it is to go around so what they’re saying to me is you started
what they’re saying to me is you started
what they’re saying to me is you started off in one village you went all around
off in one village you went all around
off in one village you went all around the houses and eventually you arrived in
the houses and eventually you arrived in
the houses and eventually you arrived in Yangon and met the man of your destiny
Yangon and met the man of your destiny
Yangon and met the man of your destiny the man of your dreams lastly yeah I
the man of your dreams lastly yeah I
the man of your dreams lastly yeah I guess so he’s sitting somewhere down
guess so he’s sitting somewhere down
guess so he’s sitting somewhere down there so which village did I start off
there so which village did I start off
there so which village did I start off in so I was born actually in the US but
in so I was born actually in the US but
in so I was born actually in the US but I grew up in Oxford in a university town
I grew up in Oxford in a university town
I grew up in Oxford in a university town my my parents were academics and I went
my my parents were academics and I went
my my parents were academics and I went from Oxford over to Cambridge studied
from Oxford over to Cambridge studied
from Oxford over to Cambridge studied pathology and then to University of
pathology and then to University of
pathology and then to University of Chicago and it was after that that I
Chicago and it was after that that I
Chicago and it was after that that I joined the Foreign Office I became a
joined the Foreign Office I became a
joined the Foreign Office I became a diplomat I arrived in Rangoon on my
diplomat I arrived in Rangoon on my
diplomat I arrived in Rangoon on my first posting 1990 and I’ll come back to
first posting 1990 and I’ll come back to
first posting 1990 and I’ll come back to how I got there but in the meantime my
how I got there but in the meantime my
how I got there but in the meantime my destiny my nipples are was born in a
destiny my nipples are was born in a
destiny my nipples are was born in a small village called medleague on in the
small village called medleague on in the
small village called medleague on in the north of the Delta Irrawaddy region and
north of the Delta Irrawaddy region and
north of the Delta Irrawaddy region and he had a normal boy’s life already
he had a normal boy’s life already
he had a normal boy’s life already showing artistic tendencies and as a
showing artistic tendencies and as a
showing artistic tendencies and as a result they sent him to Rangoon study
result they sent him to Rangoon study
result they sent him to Rangoon study law because that’s the way it works here
law because that’s the way it works here
law because that’s the way it works here and he was in Rangoon University in 1988
and he was in Rangoon University in 1988
and he was in Rangoon University in 1988 and being the way he is he got involved
and being the way he is he got involved
and being the way he is he got involved and being the way he is he got thrown
and being the way he is he got thrown
and being the way he is he got thrown out and so he was very much part of
out and so he was very much part of
out and so he was very much part of those student demonstrations in 88 which
those student demonstrations in 88 which
those student demonstrations in 88 which then when the military took over took
then when the military took over took
then when the military took over took him on a very long journey first to the
him on a very long journey first to the
him on a very long journey first to the Indian border to mana poor and then to
Indian border to mana poor and then to
Indian border to mana poor and then to the Chinese border and then back and
the Chinese border and then back and
the Chinese border and then back and then through three jails and eventually
then through three jails and eventually
then through three jails and eventually he ended up
he ended up
he ended up Kim yang-gon where he met and married
Kim yang-gon where he met and married
Kim yang-gon where he met and married the British ambassador which obviously
the British ambassador which obviously
the British ambassador which obviously was where you would expect him to end up
was where you would expect him to end up
was where you would expect him to end up and that was me so what started me on
and that was me so what started me on
and that was me so what started me on that journey to Rangoon was a lighthouse
that journey to Rangoon was a lighthouse
that journey to Rangoon was a lighthouse it was actually two lighthouses at
it was actually two lighthouses at
it was actually two lighthouses at opposite ends of the earth one is
opposite ends of the earth one is
opposite ends of the earth one is lighthouse off the coast of Scotland hi
lighthouse off the coast of Scotland hi
lighthouse off the coast of Scotland hi recalled the scare of all it was built
recalled the scare of all it was built
recalled the scare of all it was built in about 1844 and then about 20 years
in about 1844 and then about 20 years
in about 1844 and then about 20 years later in the colonial times they used
later in the colonial times they used
later in the colonial times they used the exact same model to build a
the exact same model to build a
the exact same model to build a lighthouse off the coast of Burma now
lighthouse off the coast of Burma now
lighthouse off the coast of Burma now I had an early boyfriend don’t tell my
I had an early boyfriend don’t tell my
I had an early boyfriend don’t tell my husband that but I had an early
husband that but I had an early
husband that but I had an early boyfriend whose father was the trustee
boyfriend whose father was the trustee
boyfriend whose father was the trustee of the Scottish lighthouse and the two
of the Scottish lighthouse and the two
of the Scottish lighthouse and the two of them were lucky to get a visa in
of them were lucky to get a visa in
of them were lucky to get a visa in about 1985 to come out and visit the
about 1985 to come out and visit the
about 1985 to come out and visit the sister lighthouse in Burma and they
sister lighthouse in Burma and they
sister lighthouse in Burma and they brought all of the spare parts that they
brought all of the spare parts that they
brought all of the spare parts that they found in the back of the Scottish
found in the back of the Scottish
found in the back of the Scottish lighthouse because actually turns out
lighthouse because actually turns out
lighthouse because actually turns out you could use them all in Burma even
you could use them all in Burma even
you could use them all in Burma even though they were 20 years out of date
though they were 20 years out of date
though they were 20 years out of date back in Scotland so they came over on
back in Scotland so they came over on
back in Scotland so they came over on that trip and showed me the photos when
that trip and showed me the photos when
that trip and showed me the photos when he came back and I’d never heard a Burma
he came back and I’d never heard a Burma
he came back and I’d never heard a Burma I had no colonial grandfather I had no
I had no colonial grandfather I had no
I had no colonial grandfather I had no uncle who died in World War two but
uncle who died in World War two but
uncle who died in World War two but those images of Faneca of houses on
those images of Faneca of houses on
those images of Faneca of houses on stilts at the Delta and the White House
stilts at the Delta and the White House
stilts at the Delta and the White House really stuck in my mind and as a result
really stuck in my mind and as a result
really stuck in my mind and as a result when I came to join the Foreign Office
when I came to join the Foreign Office
when I came to join the Foreign Office two or three years later and they put in
two or three years later and they put in
two or three years later and they put in front of you a list and they said where
front of you a list and they said where
front of you a list and they said where do you want to go first what language
do you want to go first what language
do you want to go first what language did you want to learn and it was Moscow
did you want to learn and it was Moscow
did you want to learn and it was Moscow Beijing Tokyo Athens Lagos and then
Beijing Tokyo Athens Lagos and then
Beijing Tokyo Athens Lagos and then there was Rangoon and at the time it
there was Rangoon and at the time it
there was Rangoon and at the time it felt random I just ticked the box
felt random I just ticked the box
felt random I just ticked the box rangoon I now realise all of this was
rangoon I now realise all of this was
rangoon I now realise all of this was preordained but as a result they sent me
preordained but as a result they sent me
preordained but as a result they sent me off to learn Burmese in London for a few
off to learn Burmese in London for a few
off to learn Burmese in London for a few months and I came out here in July 1990
months and I came out here in July 1990
months and I came out here in July 1990 was full monsoon I was sweating just
was full monsoon I was sweating just
was full monsoon I was sweating just like I am now
like I am now
like I am now sweating in the humidity tain Lyn I
sweating in the humidity tain Lyn I
sweating in the humidity tain Lyn I think was a lot hotter and stickier he
think was a lot hotter and stickier he
think was a lot hotter and stickier he was at that time up on the Indian border
was at that time up on the Indian border
was at that time up on the Indian border and I got on with my job and one day the
and I got on with my job and one day the
and I got on with my job and one day the new lights what actually was the working
new lights what actually was the working
new lights what actually was the working people’s daily in those days for a name
people’s daily in those days for a name
people’s daily in those days for a name the working people’s daily our daily
the working people’s daily our daily
the working people’s daily our daily government newspaper came through the
government newspaper came through the
government newspaper came through the door and we read about a press con
door and we read about a press con
door and we read about a press con France now this was a press conference
France now this was a press conference
France now this was a press conference about and given by students who had fled
about and given by students who had fled
about and given by students who had fled to the border and who had come back and
to the border and who had come back and
to the border and who had come back and they told these terrible stories of
they told these terrible stories of
they told these terrible stories of torture of executions and how they’d
torture of executions and how they’d
torture of executions and how they’d survived
survived
survived and we in the embassy and indeed most
and we in the embassy and indeed most
and we in the embassy and indeed most people in Burma read in thought you know
people in Burma read in thought you know
people in Burma read in thought you know more military propaganda we couldn’t
more military propaganda we couldn’t
more military propaganda we couldn’t believe it we thought this was just a
believe it we thought this was just a
believe it we thought this was just a way of undermining the cause of a
way of undermining the cause of a
way of undermining the cause of a democracy but actually it was a great
democracy but actually it was a great
democracy but actually it was a great deal worse and what I didn’t also
deal worse and what I didn’t also
deal worse and what I didn’t also realize at the time was that the young
realize at the time was that the young
realize at the time was that the young man that you can see sitting on the edge
man that you can see sitting on the edge
man that you can see sitting on the edge of the row that was miner poozer and he
of the row that was miner poozer and he
of the row that was miner poozer and he also didn’t realize that the second
also didn’t realize that the second
also didn’t realize that the second secretary in embassy was the woman
secretary in embassy was the woman
secretary in embassy was the woman destined for him so he went back to his
destined for him so he went back to his
destined for him so he went back to his village I left Rangoon I went to
village I left Rangoon I went to
village I left Rangoon I went to Brussels six years there and I came back
Brussels six years there and I came back
Brussels six years there and I came back in 2002 as ambassador so at that stage
in 2002 as ambassador so at that stage
in 2002 as ambassador so at that stage tain Lin had gone into his jail career
tain Lin had gone into his jail career
tain Lin had gone into his jail career it was by that stage he was at Maui our
it was by that stage he was at Maui our
it was by that stage he was at Maui our jail back in the Delta and when I went
jail back in the Delta and when I went
jail back in the Delta and when I went to present my credentials to the senior
to present my credentials to the senior
to present my credentials to the senior General which was on the 31st of
General which was on the 31st of
General which was on the 31st of December 2002 which was tain Lin’s 36th
December 2002 which was tain Lin’s 36th
December 2002 which was tain Lin’s 36th birthday by chance I was 36 – I was one
birthday by chance I was 36 – I was one
birthday by chance I was 36 – I was one of the youngest ambassadors and I
of the youngest ambassadors and I
of the youngest ambassadors and I presented my credentials the photograph
presented my credentials the photograph
presented my credentials the photograph was showed in the newspaper and a few
was showed in the newspaper and a few
was showed in the newspaper and a few days later the newspaper was smuggled
days later the newspaper was smuggled
days later the newspaper was smuggled into miaow miaow jail as often happened
into miaow miaow jail as often happened
into miaow miaow jail as often happened and all the political prisoners had one
and all the political prisoners had one
and all the political prisoners had one of their sort of regular political chats
of their sort of regular political chats
of their sort of regular political chats and they decided to pick for today’s
and they decided to pick for today’s
and they decided to pick for today’s topic
topic
topic why has Britain sent an ambassador to
why has Britain sent an ambassador to
why has Britain sent an ambassador to Burma the US have not done it and nor
Burma the US have not done it and nor
Burma the US have not done it and nor should the Brits and talen was
should the Brits and talen was
should the Brits and talen was absolutely adamant that this was a case
absolutely adamant that this was a case
absolutely adamant that this was a case fortunately my government was not
fortunately my government was not
fortunately my government was not listening to him so I was there I got
listening to him so I was there I got
listening to him so I was there I got the job I tried to do what I could to
the job I tried to do what I could to
the job I tried to do what I could to support the cause of democracy they were
support the cause of democracy they were
support the cause of democracy they were difficult times and often we would find
difficult times and often we would find
difficult times and often we would find people turning up at our door and
people turning up at our door and
people turning up at our door and announce mostly undercover journalists
announce mostly undercover journalists
announce mostly undercover journalists to to ask us about this and one day I
to to ask us about this and one day I
to to ask us about this and one day I got a call from reception a woman called
got a call from reception a woman called
got a call from reception a woman called Lindell was sitting there Lindell are
Lindell was sitting there Lindell are
Lindell was sitting there Lindell are you out there somewhere she should be
you out there somewhere she should be
you out there somewhere she should be somewhere out there so Lindell I didn’t
somewhere out there so Lindell I didn’t
somewhere out there so Lindell I didn’t know I’d heard of her she came up and
know I’d heard of her she came up and
know I’d heard of her she came up and she said you got you got to help me
she said you got you got to help me
she said you got you got to help me you’ve got to help me there’s
you’ve got to help me there’s
you’ve got to help me there’s amazing amazing paintings you’ve got to
amazing amazing paintings you’ve got to
amazing amazing paintings you’ve got to put them somewhere safe we’ve heard you
put them somewhere safe we’ve heard you
put them somewhere safe we’ve heard you do that kind of thing I said maybe tell
do that kind of thing I said maybe tell
do that kind of thing I said maybe tell me more
me more
me more so she told me and she showed me the
so she told me and she showed me the
so she told me and she showed me the leaflet of an exhibition by a recently
leaflet of an exhibition by a recently
leaflet of an exhibition by a recently released political prisoner called tain
released political prisoner called tain
released political prisoner called tain Linh and she said these are paintings
Linh and she said these are paintings
Linh and she said these are paintings which are painted on prison uniforms
which are painted on prison uniforms
which are painted on prison uniforms they’ve all got stamped on the back
they’ve all got stamped on the back
they’ve all got stamped on the back property of the prison Department we
property of the prison Department we
property of the prison Department we need to get them out of here otherwise
need to get them out of here otherwise
need to get them out of here otherwise they’ll get seized soon can you help and
they’ll get seized soon can you help and
they’ll get seized soon can you help and I said okay look send him round and I’ll
I said okay look send him round and I’ll
I said okay look send him round and I’ll see what I can do so one afternoon he
see what I can do so one afternoon he
see what I can do so one afternoon he came round to my residence and I
came round to my residence and I
came round to my residence and I remember as we sat there drinking tea
remember as we sat there drinking tea
remember as we sat there drinking tea and we were drinking it from the
and we were drinking it from the
and we were drinking it from the gold-rimmed teacups and I remember
gold-rimmed teacups and I remember
gold-rimmed teacups and I remember looking at his head which was quite
looking at his head which was quite
looking at his head which was quite shaven that time we’re thinking gosh
shaven that time we’re thinking gosh
shaven that time we’re thinking gosh there’s some interesting scars on that
there’s some interesting scars on that
there’s some interesting scars on that head I wonder where they came from and
head I wonder where they came from and
head I wonder where they came from and so I learnt more about his story he in
so I learnt more about his story he in
so I learnt more about his story he in turn was looking at me and thinking gosh
turn was looking at me and thinking gosh
turn was looking at me and thinking gosh when we read about the British
when we read about the British
when we read about the British ambassador we’d assumed she was some old
ambassador we’d assumed she was some old
ambassador we’d assumed she was some old crone of 60 and this chick seems quite
crone of 60 and this chick seems quite
crone of 60 and this chick seems quite young so we got talking I took his
young so we got talking I took his
young so we got talking I took his paintings I packed them and sent them
paintings I packed them and sent them
paintings I packed them and sent them off to Amsterdam where there’s an
off to Amsterdam where there’s an
off to Amsterdam where there’s an archive which keeps some of the sort of
archive which keeps some of the sort of
archive which keeps some of the sort of social history of me and Marr safe and
social history of me and Marr safe and
social history of me and Marr safe and we used to meet up from time to time
we used to meet up from time to time
we used to meet up from time to time talking about language talking about
talking about language talking about
talking about language talking about politics talking about art and over the
politics talking about art and over the
politics talking about art and over the following sort of six or so months I
following sort of six or so months I
following sort of six or so months I sponsored his art exhibition at the time
sponsored his art exhibition at the time
sponsored his art exhibition at the time he was so poor he had to paint on
he was so poor he had to paint on
he was so poor he had to paint on recycled paper he painted my portrait
recycled paper he painted my portrait
recycled paper he painted my portrait and we used to talk about art and
and we used to talk about art and
and we used to talk about art and artists and one night we were sitting
artists and one night we were sitting
artists and one night we were sitting there watching a DVD about Jackson
there watching a DVD about Jackson
there watching a DVD about Jackson Pollock in my residence and then he
Pollock in my residence and then he
Pollock in my residence and then he didn’t go home now dr. tough so in me
didn’t go home now dr. tough so in me
didn’t go home now dr. tough so in me and my culture it’s really quite simple
and my culture it’s really quite simple
and my culture it’s really quite simple you hang your lone Gees on the line
you hang your lone Gees on the line
you hang your lone Gees on the line together it’s an established
together it’s an established
together it’s an established relationship when you’re an ambassador
relationship when you’re an ambassador
relationship when you’re an ambassador it’s a bit different number when you
it’s a bit different number when you
it’s a bit different number when you don’t do your laundry okay but number
don’t do your laundry okay but number
don’t do your laundry okay but number two you know when your lover is
two you know when your lover is
two you know when your lover is potentially an enemy of the state and
potentially an enemy of the state and
potentially an enemy of the state and you know you have a certain position you
you know you have a certain position you
you know you have a certain position you wonder what you’re meant to do so I
wonder what you’re meant to do so I
wonder what you’re meant to do so I turned to the diplomatic practice guide
turned to the diplomatic practice guide
turned to the diplomatic practice guide to see what I could find
to see what I could find
to see what I could find it wasn’t in there so I thought to
it wasn’t in there so I thought to
it wasn’t in there so I thought to myself okay what should we do well I’ve
myself okay what should we do well I’ve
myself okay what should we do well I’ve been told that in my staff there is
been told that in my staff there is
been told that in my staff there is bound to be an informer for military
bound to be an informer for military
bound to be an informer for military intelligence everybody’s told me they’re
intelligence everybody’s told me they’re
intelligence everybody’s told me they’re telling mi all the visitors coming to
telling mi all the visitors coming to
telling mi all the visitors coming to your house each day and even actually
your house each day and even actually
your house each day and even actually there were people who refused to come to
there were people who refused to come to
there were people who refused to come to my house because they insisted that
my house because they insisted that
my house because they insisted that there was somebody sitting with a camera
there was somebody sitting with a camera
there was somebody sitting with a camera in one of the towers of the Methodist
in one of the towers of the Methodist
in one of the towers of the Methodist Central Church across the gate so I took
Central Church across the gate so I took
Central Church across the gate so I took the band’s found that sooner or later
the band’s found that sooner or later
the band’s found that sooner or later because they would see Tanglin coming in
because they would see Tanglin coming in
because they would see Tanglin coming in and out every morning going to his
and out every morning going to his
and out every morning going to his English classes going to his studio but
English classes going to his studio but
English classes going to his studio but the week’s went on and it was quite
the week’s went on and it was quite
the week’s went on and it was quite clear that the word was not getting
clear that the word was not getting
clear that the word was not getting through and I felt somewhat so
through and I felt somewhat so
through and I felt somewhat so disappointed by this so I thought I can
disappointed by this so I thought I can
disappointed by this so I thought I can let me at least put the word out to my
let me at least put the word out to my
let me at least put the word out to my embassy so we were doing a blood
embassy so we were doing a blood
embassy so we were doing a blood donation and I I took tainment along you
donation and I I took tainment along you
donation and I I took tainment along you know work it out for yourselves guys
know work it out for yourselves guys
know work it out for yourselves guys which my embassy staff being smart
which my embassy staff being smart
which my embassy staff being smart people did not military intelligence
people did not military intelligence
people did not military intelligence however so then we thought okay Tanglin
however so then we thought okay Tanglin
however so then we thought okay Tanglin was going to get a passport he actually
was going to get a passport he actually
was going to get a passport he actually went and told the agent that he was
went and told the agent that he was
went and told the agent that he was going out with a British ambassador ago
going out with a British ambassador ago
going out with a British ambassador ago I didn’t take notes so then we went to
I didn’t take notes so then we went to
I didn’t take notes so then we went to his village and we had to put in a
his village and we had to put in a
his village and we had to put in a diplomatic note because they had to
diplomatic note because they had to
diplomatic note because they had to arrange a security detail and so you
arrange a security detail and so you
arrange a security detail and so you know the word was now official and then
know the word was now official and then
know the word was now official and then we went off to UK for the first time now
we went off to UK for the first time now
we went off to UK for the first time now along the way there had been somebody
along the way there had been somebody
along the way there had been somebody who’d worked it out Tsar Ghana a friend
who’d worked it out Tsar Ghana a friend
who’d worked it out Tsar Ghana a friend of both of ours
of both of ours
of both of ours who had given tain Lynn to green silk
who had given tain Lynn to green silk
who had given tain Lynn to green silk lounges matching salt lounges for his
lounges matching salt lounges for his
lounges matching salt lounges for his marriage and he’d given them to me it
marriage and he’d given them to me it
marriage and he’d given them to me it said wear these when we get married and
said wear these when we get married and
said wear these when we get married and I said yes but you do wonder our British
I said yes but you do wonder our British
I said yes but you do wonder our British traditions have to firstly ask me but I
traditions have to firstly ask me but I
traditions have to firstly ask me but I put them to one side so I took him to a
put them to one side so I took him to a
put them to one side so I took him to a friend’s wedding and let him do a little
friend’s wedding and let him do a little
friend’s wedding and let him do a little bit of research into these quaint
bit of research into these quaint
bit of research into these quaint English customs and so he discovered the
English customs and so he discovered the
English customs and so he discovered the concept of the proposal and then we went
concept of the proposal and then we went
concept of the proposal and then we went to Cornwall and in Cornwall I discovered
to Cornwall and in Cornwall I discovered
to Cornwall and in Cornwall I discovered everywhere
everywhere
everywhere Taylan goes art follows or comes along
Taylan goes art follows or comes along
Taylan goes art follows or comes along in the car with us and in this
in the car with us and in this
in the car with us and in this particular case I was sitting there on
particular case I was sitting there on
particular case I was sitting there on the beach and reading the newspaper and
the beach and reading the newspaper and
the beach and reading the newspaper and he was scuffing around and he told me to
he was scuffing around and he told me to
he was scuffing around and he told me to go up to the top of the beach and say
go up to the top of the beach and say
go up to the top of the beach and say you know what do you think and I said
you know what do you think and I said
you know what do you think and I said you’ve got the grammar wrong
you’ve got the grammar wrong
you’ve got the grammar wrong and then I said okay let we let week
so we returned and by that stage the
so we returned and by that stage the word had got out and the senior general
word had got out and the senior general
word had got out and the senior general had called in the forest minute whose
had called in the forest minute whose
had called in the forest minute whose minister who was from the village and
minister who was from the village and
minister who was from the village and said what’s going on the British
said what’s going on the British
said what’s going on the British ambassador’s marrying somebody in your
ambassador’s marrying somebody in your
ambassador’s marrying somebody in your village find out about it
village find out about it
village find out about it so the forest minister went rushing back
so the forest minister went rushing back
so the forest minister went rushing back and fortunately our visit had been
and fortunately our visit had been
and fortunately our visit had been documented by security and put all
documented by security and put all
documented by security and put all together in an album called moments of
together in an album called moments of
together in an album called moments of wonderfulness and so every step of our
wonderfulness and so every step of our
wonderfulness and so every step of our visit was there and he was briefed and
visit was there and he was briefed and
visit was there and he was briefed and he reported back and it but the general
he reported back and it but the general
he reported back and it but the general said have they got married yet have they
said have they got married yet have they
said have they got married yet have they got married yet we need to know now we
got married yet we need to know now we
got married yet we need to know now we hadn’t at that stage got married we did
hadn’t at that stage got married we did
hadn’t at that stage got married we did then go on to marry many many times for
then go on to marry many many times for
then go on to marry many many times for various religious bureaucratic and
various religious bureaucratic and
various religious bureaucratic and social reasons including at the mahadji
social reasons including at the mahadji
social reasons including at the mahadji monastery and what we found at our
monastery and what we found at our
monastery and what we found at our marriage was that we didn’t have the
marriage was that we didn’t have the
marriage was that we didn’t have the relatives to fill the kind of the
relatives to fill the kind of the
relatives to fill the kind of the groom’s photo or the groom’s family the
groom’s photo or the groom’s family the
groom’s photo or the groom’s family the bride’s family but we had enough from
bride’s family but we had enough from
bride’s family but we had enough from Yaya Jail we had enough for mandalay Jo
Yaya Jail we had enough for mandalay Jo
Yaya Jail we had enough for mandalay Jo we had the jungle we had the 88
we had the jungle we had the 88
we had the jungle we had the 88 generation and as a result we had
generation and as a result we had
generation and as a result we had special branch outside clicking all the
special branch outside clicking all the
special branch outside clicking all the time as a backup set of wedding photos
time as a backup set of wedding photos
time as a backup set of wedding photos so we married and there are many others
so we married and there are many others
so we married and there are many others in my situation I think many other
in my situation I think many other
in my situation I think many other Western women who have married Burmese
Western women who have married Burmese
Western women who have married Burmese men so I asked them what’s been the
men so I asked them what’s been the
men so I asked them what’s been the biggest challenge for you because for me
biggest challenge for you because for me
biggest challenge for you because for me it was actually the bureaucracy in the
it was actually the bureaucracy in the
it was actually the bureaucracy in the paperwork of getting the visas they said
paperwork of getting the visas they said
paperwork of getting the visas they said the main challenge for us is usually the
the main challenge for us is usually the
the main challenge for us is usually the in-laws and it’s more specific than that
in-laws and it’s more specific than that
in-laws and it’s more specific than that it’s usually the washing machine why
it’s usually the washing machine why
it’s usually the washing machine why because in Myanmar custom men’s and
because in Myanmar custom men’s and
because in Myanmar custom men’s and women’s undergarments are not meant to
women’s undergarments are not meant to
women’s undergarments are not meant to be mixed it’s bad for the man it affects
be mixed it’s bad for the man it affects
be mixed it’s bad for the man it affects his masculinity his poem and some of my
his masculinity his poem and some of my
his masculinity his poem and some of my friends say that they’d found their
friends say that they’d found their
friends say that they’d found their in-laws looking through the laundry
in-laws looking through the laundry
in-laws looking through the laundry basket to see whether the lazy wife was
basket to see whether the lazy wife was
basket to see whether the lazy wife was mixing it up now I am very very relieved
mixing it up now I am very very relieved
mixing it up now I am very very relieved that my mother-in-law has never to my
that my mother-in-law has never to my
that my mother-in-law has never to my knowledge looked in my washing machine
knowledge looked in my washing machine
knowledge looked in my washing machine her reaction on us marrying is oh my god
her reaction on us marrying is oh my god
her reaction on us marrying is oh my god thank God my son is going to eat finally
thank God my son is going to eat finally
thank God my son is going to eat finally because she had seen
because she had seen
because she had seen you know a Sun in the jungle in jail and
you know a Sun in the jungle in jail and
you know a Sun in the jungle in jail and then she was expecting him to be a
then she was expecting him to be a
then she was expecting him to be a penniless artist so marrying an
penniless artist so marrying an
penniless artist so marrying an ambassador she thought is going to get
ambassador she thought is going to get
ambassador she thought is going to get him at least three square meals a day
him at least three square meals a day
him at least three square meals a day which it certainly has we found that
which it certainly has we found that
which it certainly has we found that actually through a shared art and
actually through a shared art and
actually through a shared art and culture and a shared commitment to
culture and a shared commitment to
culture and a shared commitment to things like freedom of expression there
things like freedom of expression there
things like freedom of expression there hasn’t really been that much difference
hasn’t really been that much difference
hasn’t really been that much difference in our two cultures and tane Lin himself
in our two cultures and tane Lin himself
in our two cultures and tane Lin himself is a very adaptable person so wherever
is a very adaptable person so wherever
is a very adaptable person so wherever he goes he uses art and so my friends
he goes he uses art and so my friends
he goes he uses art and so my friends would ask him how’d she find London now
would ask him how’d she find London now
would ask him how’d she find London now that you’re living there and he would
that you’re living there and he would
that you’re living there and he would paint it he would mix up looking out on
paint it he would mix up looking out on
paint it he would mix up looking out on top of Nelson’s column and he did the
top of Nelson’s column and he did the
top of Nelson’s column and he did the same for Amsterdam for Brussels for
same for Amsterdam for Brussels for
same for Amsterdam for Brussels for Venice and so on so it’s been art
Venice and so on so it’s been art
Venice and so on so it’s been art culture language which has brought us
culture language which has brought us
culture language which has brought us together but there has been one other
together but there has been one other
together but there has been one other group which has had a different
group which has had a different
group which has had a different narrative the military government we
narrative the military government we
narrative the military government we discovered this the other day we met a
discovered this the other day we met a
discovered this the other day we met a Frenchman who had been detained by
Frenchman who had been detained by
Frenchman who had been detained by military intelligence and they said to
military intelligence and they said to
military intelligence and they said to him do you know Vicki Bowman and he said
him do you know Vicki Bowman and he said
him do you know Vicki Bowman and he said well I think I’ve met her at a
well I think I’ve met her at a
well I think I’ve met her at a conference or two and they said you know
conference or two and they said you know
conference or two and they said you know what she did she kidnapped or Miam our
what she did she kidnapped or Miam our
what she did she kidnapped or Miam our artist and she took him to London I
think it was destiny there was no there
think it was destiny there was no there was no struggle on my hands we were
was no struggle on my hands we were
was no struggle on my hands we were destined to marry it was on Naboo sir
destined to marry it was on Naboo sir
destined to marry it was on Naboo sir thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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