One reason that this month feels so much like a wrap-up is because it’s the last month of my year-long project: The Language Script Challenge. It’ll be like saying good bye to an old friend. Sigh.

That said, there’s still a month left of Burmese script focus time.

But before that, how did last month go?

I’ve had a few people ask lately why I pick the languages I learn, more specifically, “why Burmese?” So I wanted to answer that in a little more detail in this post.

Why Burmese?

In 2011, I was lucky enough to visit Myanmar/Burma. (If you’re unsure what the deal is with the ‘/’, it’s complicated. It’s the same country. See here for a detailed explanation)

I hated it. Well, for the first 10 days at least.

The money was crazy.

Crisp US dollar bills or exchange on the black market to Kyat, which were far from crisp yet just as accepted.

The transport was infuriating.

One night bus had a puncture at 3am. On another, it was so full that I’m pretty sure a woman dropped her baby at one point.

Something made me sick.

So sick I had to go to hospital for the first time in my life on my return to Bangkok.

Yet the people were glorious.

Never have I been anywhere where everyone is so happy to see you visit their country, so curious to know about you, and so helpful and good-willed.

Of course, it’s unfair to generalise about the population of an entire nation, be that a negative or positive generalisation, but the place got under my skin.

I started in Yangon, the capital, where I stayed at the wonderful White House Hotel, which served the most incredible breakfast.

From there I headed to Inle Lake, where it flooded. Yup.

I set out through the flood water to the market on my first evening after a day on the water exploring the sights with a local guide.

A local guide who lived next to my hotel and called me as I made my way through the flood to the market for dinner. She told me the market was closed and proceeded to feed me in her own home free of charge.

That night I got sick. Wading through flood water, drinking water without enough sterilisation, eating from an unseen kitchen, who knows. Either way I was sick.

The hotel owner’s son rushed me to the doctor’s hut through the flood on his push bike. I sat in the sidecar.

I then proceeded to spend the best part of 2 days trapped in my wi-fi-less room with only a hefty amount of pills for company.

What was I doing here?! Why are you doing this to me, Burma?! Argh! I hate you!

Glad to escape my prison, I set off to Mandalay where things picked up a bit (including my health) and I was able to spend some time chatting with locals at street food stalls (using my phrasebook, of course).

I even hired a bike to brave the streets of Mandalay! I’m not a natural cyclist! What are you doing to me, Burma?! Argh! I hate you!

The final stop before heading back to Yangon for my flight home was Bagan.

Bagan is truly one of the most incredible sights I’ve ever seen. Maybe I’d even go as far as to say one of the most incredible sights on the planet. It’s out there. Said it now.

#nofilter. Told you it was pretty.

On the bus to Bagan from Mandalay, I was sat next to a fellow Brit solo traveller, Chris. We soon met 2 American girls, Rebecca and Brianna.

They saw me throw up within an hour of knowing me. And they still offered to share a horse carriage with me the next day. Thank you, guys.

The following day was incomparable.

It was that evening stood watching a sunset from a secret temple far from the touts with my three new friends and our horse carriage drivers that I fell in love with that land.

Despite the frustrating transport, the unavoidable government fees, the sickness, and so many other niggles, the country won me over. In a big way.

And I guess that’s why I want to learn Burmese.

Cool story, bro.

Yeah…sorry if that got a bit soppy. I wasn’t expecting that. I just kind of kept writing.

Anyway!

I’m focusing my last month of the year to getting more of an understanding of the script belonging to Burmese.

I am working out roughly what I want to learn when next year but I’m sure Burmese will be amongst the languages I study next year.

I’m going to stop writing now.

Here’s the video explaining what I’ve learnt so far about the Burmese script.

Related: Things I’ve Learnt About Burmese So Far

Do you speak Burmese? Have you studied it before? I’d love to read your tips in the comments!