Foreigners: A safety hazard!

This morning something reminded me of a funny event that happened the other day. And while I may have a lot to do here at work, the fact that my family comes in just 2 days (2 days! 2 days! 2 days!) seems to leave me quite incapable of sitting still or doing anything too incredibly productive. So why not update you with yet another blog post this week?

I think it was Monday, and I was riding my bike home from work. I am now used to this mode of transportation and used to the looks it provokes from people--a white girl on a bicycle is not something you see everyday here. My route between MCC and home is short and usually pretty uneventful. But for some reason, on this particular day, I noticed this man and his double-take. It was an extreme double take. He passed on his moto, then fully turned his head and stared. Stared to the point that I was beginning to be concerned for his safety because he was not watching the road. But he survived and continued on, in one piece and probably only a bit confused by my presence. I laughed to myself and went on my merry way.

Then, just a few blocks later, what do I see but a foreigner walking down the sidewalk. Foreigner? Walking? In my neighborhood? Now it was my turn to do a double take. I was baffled. Where did this man come from? Why is he here? Is he lost? I only observed him for a moment before remembering that I was on my bike and I should be concerned for my own road safety. I continued on home, a little ashamed of my own lack of tack and that I contributed to the stares this foreigner received that afternoon. I guess I am not immune to unabashed staring when I am surprised by things.

Fast forward to this morning, and again, on my way to work, there was another foreigner. A different one, but still, someone walking. And I realized why it is so strange to me, I don't think I have ever seen another foreigner in my neighborhood. In my small, new residential development full of Vietnamese families and a few small office buildings, I make no sense, just like these strange men. No wonder people stare at me!

I don't know if this foreigner spotting pattern will continue. But in case it does, I need to practice not staring. If not for them and their comfort then for my own safety. Goodness, I never even thought of myself as a safety hazard, but I guess I kind of am!

Ban hoc tieng Viet

Yesterday was my first day of language classes. It was perhaps the most overwhelming 3 hours of my time in Viet Nam yet. We spent the first half doing pronunciation which, let me tell you, is not what you would think. I think it is going to be quite a process to un-teach my mind the connection between letters and sounds. For example, r, d, and g all make z sounds. At this point in time I feel pretty sure there is no way I am ever going to learn. But, I know that I will eventually. Particularly after three days a week, for three hours at a time, in a classroom of just Calah and I, for ten weeks. I guess I at least know enough for the title of this post, which says, "I study Vietnamese".

By the time class was over, Calah and I were very ready to head home. Biking hasn’t been too bad, but yesterday was rush hour and to make matters worse, I lost my shoe. Not forever kind of lost, just the momentary kind. But it was kind of an issue. There I was, patiently waiting at a stop light with the masses and when I stepped on the pedal to go my shoe decided to stay on the ground just a little longer. I had to pull my little bike over, and hope that my shoe would still be there in the road. Luckily, for some reason a woman decided to, in essence, guard my shoe. She, along with a crowd of other people, had stopped around it and were not running it over. So I ran out, picked it up, thanked her and ran back. And then, I was on the road again. Now, REALLY ready to be home.

Luckily we had a fun evening planned to make up for the overwhelming afternoon. Hannah, Calah and I went to a symphony at the opera house! We dressed up, took the bus down, sat and enjoyed a little Beethoven, took a lot of pictures and then went to the most famous ice cream shop in Hanoi. I don’t think anything could be a better for a Friday night, especially after such a long day!

Here is a quote from Calah today that I think just about sums up life:

"These days, happily ever after means I made it home from work alive and there is pineapple for dessert."