A New Neighbor

Vietnam is generalized as a very communal culture. I don't want to go into whether it is or not, but knowing the simple fact that it this area of the world has that stereotype shaped my expectations for how people would be and how I would interact with them. On the whole, I would say that my experience has not fit the box of what I anticipated. Last night though, I had a very expectedly unusual experience.

A few weeks ago my family started talking about the new foreigner that moved into our neighborhood. Another 20-something American girl has moved in down the street with a Vietnamese family and everyone has been very excited for us to meet. Now, I think its great that she lives there and I was looking forward to meeting her, but it was kind of like my family was trying to set us up--I don't even want to know what they would have done if it had been an American boy, haha. Anyway, everyday they would ask if I wanted to meet her that day, and then for some reason or another it wouldn't work out. Often the time they wanted me to meet her I would have plans and when I was around and asked if I could go meet her I was always told, oh no, she'll come over here. But it just never happened.

So last night it was 9:30 and I was returning from dinner with friends. I was excited that I had got home in time to interact with my family for a bit before sleeping because I'd been gone all weekend (which I'll probably write a post about for you soon). But when I turned around to lock the gate behind me, there was a woman standing there, staring at me. I said hi and she starting telling me, in Vietnamese, that I should come meet the neighbor. Now, I haven't meet this woman before (turns out she is the house helper from the house) and was only half sure that I was understanding her correctly, but I figured, why not just follow her!? So I ran inside to tell my family where I was going and then followed a stranger to her house. She led me upstairs, sat me down very formally in the living room--which looked exactly like my family's---and then left me there while she went to get "the foreigner". I just sat, a bit unsure of what to do with myself, but just laughing all the while about being kidnapped by an older Vietnamese woman.

It was just a few moments before she came down and we finally got to meet. She is great! She's from Indiana and 25, here for just a couple months. I think we're going to try to start walking together (since activities are limited in our neighborhood and walking seems to be the cool thing to do!).

Overall, it was a very funny experience. That is more what I expected here, to know the people living around me and to just have awkward but social encounters all the time. And to be served a Pepsi at 10pm in a giant mug in a formal living room.

Our power just went out, so I guess I'm done writing now. Power going out has happened a lot recently. I guess its inevitable when its 90 out, but with humidity it feels like 107 so everyone uses AC. Let's hope it comes back soon....