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104

Burmese ways of life.

Dec. 8 -    
[[strikethrough]] April 13 [[/strikethrough]]

This afternoon a visit at house Jo (  ) a young man with an M.A. & PH.D who lived for seven years in the States & whose sister is now studying Social Anthropology at Oxford. His observations about Burmese life - No art tradition.

Difficult to change & improve the way of life for the people. They all used to living in close quarters, families, parents & grandparents all crowded together. (I have written before of life expectancy of 29 - & prevalence of T.B. in young & old) A man of 60 is regarded a patriarch.

Even people of means do not know how to improve their living conditions. Seldom buy or rent large houses. no nothing of nutritional values. no cultural activities - no theater, concert or travel - no art buying or collecting, etc.

Wealth usually is displayed

105  

Wed. Dec. 8 -
[[strikethrough]] April 14 [[/strikethrough]]

by acquisition of jewels - diamonds in particular. Women of means even have buttons of real diamonds or precious stone on their blouses (made removable with clasps) for example. The fashion is to acquire a radio (no television - no telephones) and an American automobile. Photographs of the family members & weddings usually adorn the walls of their homes.

The people, however poor, don't work more than they have to, to keep alive. The climate is enervating - and sets the slow, ambitionless tempo of life. Why hurry? The sun shines, rains come, there is enough rice for the mendicants & priests set up on the road ways. (Pots of rice & water for the poor & needy passerby)

For us, accustomed to the changing seasons, this climate is difficult. Now the cool, winter season. - it is as tiring & debilitating as our worst