Anette+Lisle+-+April+28,1937

=** April 28,1937 ** =

 9:00 AM

Today is a clear day. 24 degrees Celsius. No rain. I started my day on the open porch with a cup of coffee and a newspaper searching for any good news. As always there are articles about the economic instability, and small uprisings here in Indochina. The “Le Travail” movements have just ended this month. The students in Hanoi are dissatisfied with us being here. They want their independence. This movement is based in Hanoi and has made life very chaotic for a while however, thankfully it has ended, or at least the government has announced that it has ended but no one really knows because many of these rebellious associations are still secretly forming. I am concerned but these are the things I have to deal with living here. I am one of the lucky ones. My workers on the plantation seem to be content with their work conditions. Now and then, I think about leaving and returning to France. When Francois was killed during that horrible workers’ revolt seven years ago, I thought I would never be able to live on my own - a widow open to attacks by the local people. But, my workers protect me. They are my family now and the plantation is quite successful since more and more rubber is needed during war time.

3:00 PM

 I just received a letter from Alexander Bursnell. My family used to travel a lot when I was young and I met Alex when I lived in Britain for a couple years. Alex was like my prince charming during my stay in Britain. Whenever I had troubles with school, friend etc... he was always there for me. Our families use to be quite close to each other during our stay therefore, I’ve continued to write to him even after I moved back to France. However, ever since my marriage and my sudden move to Indochina, we lost in contact. It was about 4 years ago when we unexpectedly reunited. I was in Singapore to meet a well known rubber plantation owner Lim Nee Soon.

 At the same time Alex was working for the British military and was stationed in Singapore. Somehow we ended up meeting at a port. We both were very surprised and asked about each others lives and exchanged addresses promising that we will stay in touch. From that point, we started to write letters to each other again. Through our 4 years of continuos letters, more than friendship was able to flourish and here I am, opened a letter from my Prince Charming and was asked to marry him. The the 4 words “will you marry me” just made me blanked out. I did expected this day to happen however, not this sudden. I do love Alex but I guess the image of my dead husband seems to stop me from saying yes. Even though I am a single and it is now time to move on from the lost of my beloved husband, I do feel guilt and don’t really know what to do. He mentioned that he may be coming to Indochina soon so I guess I’ll have to think about it till then.

citation : http://www.asiagrace.com/sri-lanka/rubber-plantation.php