Typical Responses

People tend to have really interesting responses when I talk about going to Viet Nam. A lot of times, they just look at me like I'm crazy. That look is almost always followed by the question, Do you speak Vietnamese?! (which, by the way, the answer to is no. Very much not. But, I always add, hopefully soon!). I think that is my favorite response. It is so simple and logical. And, to be honest, it most closely reflects how I feel about going. Another response is to say that I must be really brave. Even though I know people have good intentions when they say that, I don't like it. Brave is not how I would describe how I feel. I feel like I am just doing what I need to do next; it is a step that needed to be taken. I don't know have a grand reason for going or a greater feeling of purpose, I just am doing it. So I don't feel brave, I feel terrified. I keep asking myself, why am I doing this?! Why would I choose to leave everyone I love and feel so comfortable around to do something so unknown, something so random? People don't necessarily like to hear those questions when I talk about going, so even to the people that look at me like I'm crazy I just kind of smile and nod and tell them it will be great. Because it will, and deep down I believe that. I just don't necessarily feel it quite yet...

The only other response that I seem to get is the most outrageous to me. It has happend many times, so it is not just one isolated crazy person. It goes something like this:

Person (normally a woman): You just graduated, what are you doing next year?
Me: Oh you know, I'm moving to Viet Nam.
Person: That's exciting. Maybe you will meet a cute Vietnamese man!

REALLY!?!? Really?! I tell you I'm moving to the other side of the world and starting this entirely new adventure, and you are excited that I may meet a man? If that was my goal in life, I would not leave Seattle to go to a place where I will not speak the language and do not know the social norms for dating. It is almost offensive to me to imply that meeting someone should be my priority now. It's like saying, you have a degree, now you just need a good man. No thank you. I am actually very content doing my own thing :)