Last trip to hanoi...

Just got back from my last trip to Hanoi. I got nostalgic on the way home as it all started to set in that I'm leaving...my Ipod was playing some John Denver and a tear may have come to my eye...

But then my bus broke down and I sat in the sun for 1/2 hour before some man I didn't know physically pushed me into a different bus sardined with people, then moved me to stand in the front of the bus beside him and the driver, and they started making fun of me in Vietnamese for not speaking Vietnamese, even though I kind of understood what they were saying, and it wasn't all very nice so I didn't really feel like responding, and I thought, "Ok, I'm ready to go home now." Then I turned on some Jay-Z.

Woohooo! America in 3 days: Where people will still make fun of me, and public transportation will still kind of suck, but where I can swear in English and everyone understands. Also, it's the home of the free and the brave!!!!!!!

In other news, my students had their drama competition on Friday and it was GREAT! Pics and update soon...once I finish some grading. And take a nap...

La-Di-Da-Last-Week

I've been putting off posting because I've been waiting to think of something witty/clever/reflective to say in my last days/SLASH My hard drive is full, and so I have to clean some stuff out before I can upload pics.

I will tell you that Hue was great. What I saw of the city was really quite lovely: a citadel, an old pagoda, some dead guys' tomb.... But to be perfectly honest, my cultural consumption ability isn't what it was in August, and I spent most of the time swimming in the hotel pool with the other Fulbrighters. We were just such a cool crew: Corinne once lived on a commune, Mia worked for Hilary, Mark has tattoos, Tam wants to go into medicine, Uyen likes math, Jen's a teacher (and married!), Emily cares a lot about sex trafficking, Sofia's family is Jewish, Hayley was an All American runner, and I like to write, read, and plan things.

How am I spending my last week in Viet Nam? Grading exams, running the Drama Competition, packing, packing, packing, and getting responsibly excited to go home. I say "responsibly excited" because I'm trying to give myself the OK to be a little overwhelmed and shocked about home. I didn't know what it would be like to move here, and I don't know what it will be like to move home...but I do know that home has good things I'm ready to get back to, like JCrew and Starbucks, and other shamelessly capitalist ventures which I hold dear.

The other thing that's exciting about going home is that I'm going to take some of my extra Fulbright cash to buy a Bicycle! I've loved riding my bike around Hai Duong and other places in Vietnam, and I can't wait to have a mode of transportation in New York!


Oh, and I just made this my facebook pic, but my mom doesn't have facebook so I'm posting it here. This is of me and this little girl named Linh I met at a wedding a few weeks back. She was my buddy.

2 weeks Out

I like to think in terms of weeks. My father likes to think in terms of day. I say, "Dad! I'll be home in 3 weeks!" and he says, "I know. 20 days and a wake-up."

Regardless...we're at 2 weeks, or 13 days and a wake up. I'm heading down to Hue in a few hours (and I really need to pack...), but in the meantime I've just been thinking a lot about everything I'll miss from here, as well as everything I'm looking forward to at home.

Two things stand out.

I will miss the fruit of Vietnam. So sweet and delicious. So cheap and juicy. So fresh. So good.
But I can't wait to see my beautiful dog Lady. She is so silly, and lovely, and sweet, and cuddly.
(However I am slightly concerned that my thoughts about missing food lead me to an excitement about seeing my puppy...hmmm....)

I love Hoi An.

It’s a week later, and I still can’t quite put into words how much I loved Hoi An. If you’re planning on traveling to Vietnam, I’d definitely advise that you make sure not to miss this place.

First of all, it has a beautiful beach. I mean, just a lovely view, luke warm water, nice sand, open space, great sun.

The first night we were there, we stayed late on the beach and had a seafood picnic by oil lamp. People set up mats all over the beach and we ordered all kinds of seafood, which they cooked on little coal fires nearby. Then, as the sun went down, people brought out these little oil lamps made out of 2 broken bottles. The food was great, the beer was cold, and the atmosphere was divine.

In additional to the fantastic beach, the town itself is ADORABLE. It used to be a main trading port for Japanese, Chinese, and European merchants (hence this Japanese covered bridge in the center of town pictured below), and it is the only place in Vietnam that has completely preserved roads and buildings from the 16th to 19th centuries. Its lovely just to walk around, but on top of that its filled with great tailors and shopping. I went into the weekend vowing that I wouldn’t buy anything.... I walked out with a little tan trench coat, 2 beach dresses, and some sandals. All made to order. But only for $60! Ee gads.(Corinne loves Hoi An, too.)

So my friend Corinne and I spent the weekend shopping, lounging on the beach, reading by the hotel pool, and eating amazing food. The last day Corinne had an early flight, so I rented a bike and trolled around town all morning by myself. Then, in the afternoon, I continued riding and found a more secluded beach. For the rest of the day I read a trashy romance novel, ordered clams to be brought to my rented beach chair, wrote bad poetry in my journal, and played peek-a-boo with little sand crabs. As an aside, have you ever noticed how silly crabs are? Seriously. The funniest animals alive. I also spend a lot of time swimming solo in the ocean amidst the most docile jelly fish I’ve ever encountered. Twice one floated into me, and neither time did I get stung! That’s Hoi An...Everyone is happy. Le Sigh....

(The Crabby's hole)

(The Crabby.)

In 2 days I head to Hue, the Ancient Capital down in Central Vietnam, for my Fulbright End of Year Seminar. END OF YEAR! Can you believe it? 16 Days and I’m on my way home. In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that I’m definitely ready and I can’t wait to touch down at JFK. Still no job...but that’s ok. I’m not looking to start anything until August. I have some summer obligations, like going to Vegas for Scott’s birthday, hanging out with my dad at our cabin, swimming at the pool where my little sister is a lifeguard, and spending a week in Sea Isle, NJ with my fam. Priorities, people. Priorities.

Tonight

Tonight a 70 year old woman climbed 20 feet up a Mango tree to pick me three mangoes. Then, at dinner, her daughter put dog meat into my bowl of rice. ( I didn't eat it...)

9 1/2 months and you still got it, Vietnam.


(Hoi An was amazing....pictures and update to come.)

Happy Mother's Day!!

What would I do without this woman?

Beach Bound

Just a quick update before I catch my flight to Hoi An! Hoi An is an ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Central Vietnam. It has a great shopping and silk district and a beautiful beach! I was on a huge travel kick at the beginning of the year, but since I got back from my Tet Holiday adventures to Laos and Cambodia I've been pretty well settled in Hai Duong and Hanoi.

I am THRILLED to be getting away, and even more happy about the prospect lying on the beach and getting a little color before I head back to America in a few weeks. Its been so damn hot lately, and the sun has been brutal, but every time I go out in a tank top I'm stopped by at least 10 Vietnamese telling me to cover up so my skin doesn't get blacker...thus I am as white as ever.

I'm going to try to keep my shopping/tailoring to a minimum, although that is part of what Hoi An is best known for. I recently had a tailor make me a gold lame/sequined mini dress, which in truth makes me look kind of like a Las Vegas hooker. I took it as a message that just because you get someone to make you anything you want, it doesn't mean you should take them up on it....

I also just have to take a moment and brag about the great hotel I got for my friend Corinne and I for $20/night! That's $10/person! I saved 80%. I am a hotel deal maven. See link.

Ok. Time for take-off. I got a hot pink pedicure and I'm ready to go.