Frolicing in OwEEIIs on Girls' Night Out

Today was an interesting day to say the least. I'm very tired, so I won't say too much. But just know this was one of my most favorite and least favorite days with lots to learn and take away from this trip. After the typical breakfast, we went to the UEF for culture and language class. Yet again, culture was boring but I learned a lot, today specifically about religion in Vietnam. Language class was somewhat annoying to say the least, but I kinda learned how to count to ten. Kinda.

After class we had a quick lunch and proceeded to the US consulate. I was very surprised about how much I really loved the idea of working as a diplomat. One of the men working at the consulate said that he went to American University but being a chemical engineer is always a better option than going straight for being a diplomat. Chemical engineers: good for everything. The picture below is the of the memorial to commemorate the death of Vietnamese men fighting against Americans in the Fall of Saigon/ Liberation of Saigon.

After he consulate, we walked to the other portion of the American consulate to talk to Vietnamese college aged students. This was by far the most interesting and most fun thing that we have done so far on the trip. I love meeting new people and asking questions and interacting with different cultures. It was really cool to meet people that are my age and doing the same stuff (there was even a chemical engineer- pictured below wearing the glasses). One thing that I took away from the experience is that I am extremely lucky to be in a country and position where I can travel and choose the lifestyle that I wish to pursue. I asked the Vietnamese what their dream job would be if they could be anything they wanted. Most of them said they wanted to travel, have a lot of money, or volunteer. It was humbling and fascinating, and I will cherish the moments spent with these people. I wish them every success and happiness throughout their lives. 

After this, we walked back to our hotel and relaxed for a little while and tried on our traditional Vietnamese clothes that were made for us before having our Unofficially Official Girls' Night Out. It was Kate's first time out, and we went to a few shops, drank some awesome peach tea, danced our dance, and eventually ended with some noodles. All in all, ups and downs, it was an alright day, and I love that my Vietnamese dresswear turned out well, which I was worried about.

Buddha and a Glass Egg

This morning was very difficult to wake up...

Since yesterday was a good relaxing day, I woke up very early in the morning. I went back to sleep fortunately but wasn't sure if I would have another off day or a better day than before. Lucky, it turned out to be a good day. I tried to stay really conservative with breakfast and just ate some fruit and dimseng (little dumplings filled with shrimp). After breakfast, I got a preview of the fabrics for the suits. I'm really excited to get a suit because... where else can I get a suit for $100 USD?

We went to the Emerald Pagoda. Let me tell you: It was beautiful. It reminded me of Anya's room with the incense and the relaxed feeling and plants everywhere. (Shout out to you girl- I miss you!) It was a Buddhist Pagoda, and insanely ornate. The turtles and fish of course were of interest as well.

After a quick trip for delicious cafe suda (spelled the Spanish way since it's the same phrase in Vietnamese for iced coffee), we went to class, and today's lesson was on Culture of Vietnam. It was interesting to hear about the different meanings of certain things and cultural interpretations across boarders and within the country, but it was a little hard for me to understand the professor's accent. To add on to the cultural learnings, we had a cultural invitation to try some fruit called rambutam. It's very similar to a litchi, and so so sweet.

After the class, we went to lunch, and it was an interesting spread today. Of highest importance? Mangoes. The fruits is undyingly sweet and delicious. I guess the heat in the area makes the fruit more flavorful. Anyway, I've never had such amazing mangoes ever.

After mangoes, we went back to the hotel to change and go to Glass Egg Digital Media. Besides the amazing views from the 16th and 17th floor of the building, the work they do at Glass Egg is insanely impressive. We watched 200 artists work on random projects of cars, motorcycles, racetracks, etc. The detail involved is so small, but it really makes all the difference. The company has interesting roots: The CEO was a refugee from South Vietnam who lived in California starting at age twelve, and he eventually came back to Vietnam. The other CEO was originally from Virginia and went to Pennsylvania University. He just chased the dream in a sense. I hope to be like that and not let anything hold me back.

After Glass Egg, we arrived back to the hotel, and we received a visit from the tailor. I decided on a dark grey suit with both pants and a skirt. I'm hoping it's professional and will last a while!

Tonight, we are going with Kate and Co. to Korean Barbeque (you cook it yourself) and to Lush, the night club that is owned by Glass Egg. It's all about the experience, aye?

In other news, I trapped a huuuuuuuge cockroach in a box and then proceeded to scream like a girl (or boy, cuz who wouldn't scream) while Beth and Arielle tried to unstick the door to the balcony. Thanks, Jeff for helping a few damsels in distress.

The Catchiest Alma Mater Ever

Listen Here

Learn some words and Lay Low

Today was just kind of a tough day, and it ended with me sleeping at five in the evening, Ahkil asking if I wanted to dinner, and me falling back asleep.

We began the day at breakfast, and I already wasn't feeling that well. I tried to eat according to the routine, but I still felt sick. Apparently I wasn't the only one who was feeling down. A few people stayed behind or ended up getting sick. I pushed myself a little, admittedly, but I really wanted to go to what I could.

I went to classes, the rural development presentation and another language class. The rural development class was boring, but I did get a lot out of it. I finally learned that there is resistance to the government, but it is highly censored. I was happy about this that people do actually care what's going on in their lives. It would be devastating for the government to just tell me everything that I had to do and have to put a smile on my face to do it. (Just a personal opinion. Americans: the government could be worse. Again, just a personal opinion.) After the rural development, we had language class. I like that I am learning words, and I can read the words that I know, I just can't say them!! This is frustrating, but I'm still trying as per usual.

After classes, we went to lunch. It was really good today, and I ate despite some stomach pain. There were chicken drumsticks, fried shrimp, and really well-made vegetables. I felt sick afterward but continued anyways.

We went to the US Consulate to meet with the principal director of commerce for Vietnam. His presentation was interesting, but he seemed very proud of his work. He told us all about himself, and then he talked about how companies use the US government provided service to expand internationally. A lot of franchises like KFC and Starbucks need the governments help to break ground in Vietnam and then ask to have agreement clauses pulled away that were enacted by the Vietnamese government in order to save money. Apparently South Vietnam is easier to build a successful franchise in, and North Vietnam is still not accepting of Westerners. This is mostly the old-school thought that is still prevalent in the government in capital of Hanoi. It was interesting to hear and uncensored version of what's actually going on. I know listening to these presentations is hard for me to take because there is a whole other side to the story that I would want to hear, but that side of the story is not allowed to be told.

After visiting with the consulate, I was definitely not feeling well, and then began the walk back to the hotel. It was very hot but reassuring that we are learning where everything is because we made it back by ourselves!! After a quick trip to the co-op, I came back, took a shower, and ended up sleeping for the rest of the evening until 3:30 am. They came to ask if we wanted to go eat, but my roommates and I were just feeling staying in and continuing sleeping. I think everyone else went to get noodles and coffee, but I was happy to stay in and rest.

Motorbikes Make Me Bubbly

What is Vietnamese and how do you speak it... Or sing it, even.

The day began very similarly to the previous one with waking up and having breakfast. No biggie. I tried some dragon fruit, but that was the only new thing for me.

Then we went to the UEF building for our classes! The urban planning one was not that interesting, but it proved useful for later when we were touring Phu My Hung. I was kind of surprised that they are looking to expand urban sprawl more because there is so much of the population already located in the city. Ho Chi Minh was designed by the French for 400,000 people, but there is already over 8 million people in the city with an expected continuous growth rate.

After this class, we had some time off and a bunch of us went to get drinks before the language class. We walked outside of the university to a little coffee shop. They had free white tea, which in itself was delicious. What's even more scrumptious, you ask? Iced coffee and strawberry smoothes. The iced coffee (which I stole a sip of) tasted like my favorite coffee ice cream. The strawberry ice cream was very smooth and tasted exactly like strawberries, no added sugar. It was very refreshing and helped get me through the language class...

The language class was somewhat overwhelming. We learned a lot of words, which I am learning and writing in my phone. We can have extremely simple conversation now, but I'm having personal problems with the language; My natural tones of talking are very sing-songy, and I can't get a handle of changing how I talk to adjust to the necessary meaning of words. I can read everything perfectly fine, but I can't control saying the tones perfectly. It's frustrating, but I'm happy that I can pick out words from road signs, restaurants, and listen in on conversations. The teacher giving the lessons is very in your face about everything, and it's tough for me because I like to be good at languages. I'll keep trying though!

After the class, we went to get some lunch. Same thing as yesterday, but I took some pretty awesome panos of the city.

After lunch, we went back to the hotel to change for our trip visit to Phu My Hung. This is the company that I studied and will write a report for at the end of all of this, so I had to make sure, even on day "three" that I had to be alive and ready. The trip to Phu My Hung took about 45 minutes, and it gave us a chance to do a lot of sight-seeing per say. We were able to take in the streets and people for the first time, which was probably the most enjoyable part of the trip thus far. It was interesting to see how as you left our city center, there was a clear change in the style of buildings and streets traveling into Phu My Hung.

When we arrived at PMH, we had a very formal and interesting debriefing about the "master plan" for the development of the future city. The plan is for a new city center to bring more foreigners, investors, and entertainment, education, and jobs for the people living in the community. Personally, I find the utopia society of it all a bit scary, and I would like to know the true opinion of the people if there is resistance at all to the development. Unfortunately, this country is communist, so the world may never know. Meanwhile, it's extremely beautiful, clean, and organized compared to the part of HCM that we are staying in. We took some pictures and went to the q and a session, which was quite interesting. I took a lot of notes, and I'll post the document here later with more details about PMH.

After the tour, we took a driving tour around the PMH and saw a lot of the development that I was expecting. A lot of the stores were strangely western like KFC and Baskin Robins ice cream. It was interesting to see, but we were happy to be meeting with the VP of the PMH and then to be driving on our way back to the hotel. It was a long drive back, and we were all ready to sleep even though the UEF students were coming to take us out tonight.

When we got back, everyone wanted to relax, so I went down to the lobby to meet "Kate" to help her with the bubble tea that she ordered for all of us. So of course we had to have a bubble tea party in our apparently huge room. (Yes, mom, we have the party room.) After the bubble party, we went out on an adventure! We took the motorbikes with a few of the UEF students to wherever they wanted to take us. (Yes, mom and Dr. Berman, I wore a helmet.) It was absolutely invigorating and breezy. It was really crazy being next to everyone on the roads, but it wasn't as terrifying as I thought it would be because the motorbikes don't go super fast.

We got to the pho shop easily, and let me tell you: pho is delicious. Like absolutely. I used some hot sauce and lime juice, but otherwise it was very very tasty. The noodles are a good texture, and the chicken broth tastes like a really good broth that my mom makes with burned onions in the base. It was just really really good. (I'm still waiting to try the magic purple soup.)

After the pho, I was lucky to take the motorbike again to the church. There, we ate some of the street food like cotton candy, asian quesadillas, fried foods, corn and crab something or other, etc. to name a few. It was so so delicious. I like the pho and street foods more than the "fancy food" from the welcome dinner. That's the way to go, for all of you adventurous travelers out there looking for advice about food.

After sitting for a little while, we walked to the equivalent of Times Square near the Rex hotel. There were some fancy shops, and it was very touristy. The UEF students enjoyed taking a ton of selfies with us, which was kinda fun. Malik and I took selfies with strangers which proved interesting, and we all bought these crazy, light-up helicopter things. The temperature at night is very nice. It's still hot but definitely not sweaty. We then walked back (across treacherously busy roads) to the hotel. I was feeling so wiped out, so I just had to relax in preparation for tomorrow.

All in all, it was a really good day, and I'm happy to know that I like the food (more than just rice) here. Remember kids, accents always matter, and there is always time for pho.

Hẹn gặp lại!!

I've actually been speaking Vietnamese for years...

Today was slightly eventful :)

Sleeping wasn't too tough after so many fricken hours of flying... We woke up around 6:30 though.

We began the day having breakfast down in the hotel lobby. I would compare it to the breakfast spread from Cuba. There was a good amount of European food like ham, cheese, bread, cereal, coffee, juice, and the rest was local staples like guava, noodles, dumplings, sweet cakey breads, hard boiled quail eggs, etc. There was pho available but I figure that I can have that in the following days. And really, who wants hotel pho. Pfft.

My roommates and I were so early to breakfast that we had some spare time to go get water and exchange money. Who knew that I could be a millionaire before I even finished college? (I took out about $100 dollars as 2 million dong.) After buying our water, we went back to the hotel, grabbed our schnazzy new shirts, and zoomed off into the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City to go meet the students of UEF.

Selfies. Selfies. Selfies. Seriously, the UEF students put flower leis around our necks and just went to town taking pictures of us, with us, for us... There was a really nice ceremony somewhere in between with girls dancing to "V-pop" music, I guess I'll call it, and traditional music. We received a gift of more schnazzy shirts, cloth for our very own traditional Vietnamese wardrobe, and of course our language and history books for "work" part of the trip.

So let me address the title of this post more specifically. I've always told my classmates, friends, parents, family, lover, etc. that there is a difference between particular ways to say "meh." and *YOU* all thought that *I* was the crazy one??? The Vietnamese built an entire language around different ways to say the same word, and it means something completely different. Just... what?? I'll post a picture of the workbook later. I tried to take notes, but its hard to take notes on such a musically inclined language.

After the language class, we went to get lunch at the local eatery. The food was really good. I ate a lot of rice, green beans and beef, and friend chicken balls... Surprisingly tasty, they are. Then the girls got fitted for our traditional dresses. Even though I hate the pattern I got, I suppose it's not like I will wear it very often, but it will be fun for a while. Then we joined back with the guys and relaxed in the lounge on the eighth floor of the building that the eatery was in until it was time to go to HUTech. When we got there, I was surprised that the two buildings behind a gate were the main campus. But it made sense after talking to the VP of HUTech because there is no dormitory for the students. About 40% of the students are from HCM and the rest... I wish I had asked where they stay if they are from other provinces. I am really surprised with the system of education. They have final exams and then they have a national exam that determines where you can apply kind of. This is similar to the SATs I would expect, but I'm not sure why you would want to go to a private University if you can test into a high level public University for cheaper. Eh. (See look, I speak Vietnamese.)

After HUTech, we went back to the hotel before dinner. I was lucky to get some shut eye, but I was exhausted for dinner. We have been warned many times to drink more water!! So many people are getting dehydrated.

We walked to the restaurant which was maybe half of a mile away, but it was crazy humid of course. The restaurant was beautiful though. There were lights hanging down from the trees and purple scarves hanging down from the fences. It was just kinda cool looking. We walked around the restaurant because they do the cooking in a really odd way, personally I find it inefficient. They had small stations set up around the ground floor outside of the restaurant for different types of food like soup, noodles, rice wraps, chicken and pork skewers, fish sauces, drinks, etc. It was cool too see, but really really hot.

Dinner was strange. I guess I'm learning that I don't like Vietnamese food(?). The taste doesn't bother me, but its more of a textural thing and knowing what's actually in what I'm eating. I don't like that many things are very gummy, and I get scared that I'm eating intestines or clams, which I also don't like. What I did eat was really good. I had a fried pork egg roll, quail egg in crab soup, noodles, and roasted pork. To drink, I had watermelon juice, thanks to Allen's request for the whole table, and this strange coconut milk and jelly drink. It was a lot like bubble tea, which wasn't so bad.

I was kind of terrified of the shrimp with their heads still on (I blame my stressful experience in France oh so many years ago). It got even worse when a few of the Plus 3 people got adventurous and tried the eye balls. There were other foods on the table, but again, meats in jelly are not that appetizing and fishy veggies are not on my to try list. (To my dad, the vegetable dishes are still not as fishy as that one dish you had in America.) All in all, it was a fine dinner. I was mostly excited to go back and shower after the short walk back to Victory.

As I sit here looking back at the day, I realize that it was very long, but the days can only get better, I think. I am excited to meet new people, make friends, have some fun, and learn some more sounds to make at people that actually mean something in a country on the other side of the world.

Day 1...and 2? What day is it???

I honestly have no idea what time it is... or what day it is.

We began our journey at 6:15 on Saturday, May 2. The first plane ride to Chicago wasn't bad. We tried to find Chicago style pizza (unsuccessful) before our transpacific 15 hour flight to Ho Chi Minh City. The plane ride went as well as expected. It was kind of cramped, of course, but the food was less than satisfying. It's not like expected much anyways. I tried to sleep here and there, but every time I looked at the map of our projected path, it never seemed to change. I watched a tear jerker, "Love, Rosie" and an action movie, "Kingsmen" on the flight over. Not much excitement can be reported from these circumstances.

In Hong Kong, we had about four hours to ourselves, so we walked around the mall area of the airport and grabbed some food. It was really interesting how the food looked similar to how I imagine it would from street vendors, full-bodied ducks and saliva-driving pictures of the menu. I ordered dumplings because I wasn't feeling too adventurous.

It was just annoying to have to take another plane, even if it was only for two hours, to get to Ho Chi Minh City. It was like, "We've come this far. So why aren't we there yet!" Fortunately, I took a little cat nap and the food was a bit better. I blame Americans for having terrible airplane food. (If ever, in my professional life, get a chance to talk to the food service industry in airplanes, I'd seriously like to see their faces upon receiving a terrible little meal. Gone are the days of lobsters and steak.)

Obviously, you can tell my mind is on food a lot. It's not that I'm starving, I'm just very excited to get my hands on some actual good Asian food. We've all been building up excitement about it.

We arrived at the airport, and of course it was hot and humid, as promised. The bus ride was short and sweet, and it smelled of grandma's house. We got to the hotel and promptly went to our room. I'm in the room with Danielle and Beth, which is the only girl's room of three. We all took our showers, and 37 hours of travel but about 48 hours later, we're excited to sleep with our heads on a pillow instead of a jittery wall or a strangers shoulder.

Tomorrow begins at 8:30 am officially!