Friday, June 24, 2011
Follow the Signs pt. 2
READ POST BELOW FIRST
Since I have been back in Terengganu the last couple of weeks I have been seriously working on trying to find a job. I'm in the process now of studying for the MCATs but I don't think I'll be ready by September to take them. I'm not sure what I'll be doing when I return to the states. The other day I received a email from the networking site LinkedIn. I had set up an account last year sometime but really have not kept up with it so I decided to update it and send my resume out to a couple of employers. I took the email as a sign that this is a opportunity. God willing, with some more hard work something will come through. Pray for me.
Being here in Malaysia has been a blessing. BUT one thing that I wish I could change would be the concept of communication. Something that I think every ETA has experienced is the lack of communication amongst Malaysians and then affecting us. There have been countless occasions where I have had activities planned and at the last minute have had to cancel them because of something "coming up". Last week I had a camping trip planned for some student's who won my English Week activity back in MARCH and two days before we were supposed to leave I was told that we could not go because the students at the school could not leave the school. Now this activity was planned over 3 months ago but everytime there had been a last minute change in the schedule that would not permit me to carry out the trip. I have shown up to class multiple times and found out from the students that there is no class because they had a speaker come or the teacher has taken the class on a field trip. I have had 6 different schedules within the last 4 months. This makes it hard to get to know the students in a classroom setting and really have them get used to me and my teaching style.Sometimes we do not find out about competitions until the last minute or business transactions do not go through properly because there is a break down in communication somewhere. It's interesting because the Malaysians seem used to this type of procrastination or "lack" of preparation. And you know what, it's probably on like this because WE'RE not used to it. Life still goes on efficiently for them and it had been before we even arrived back in January. As good as the Fulbright officials have been to us sometimes I think we forget that the world does not revolve around us. When things like communication break down it is a reminder that we are "small fish in a big pond" sort of speak and that even though we want to know what's going on we need to continue to adjust to this lifestyle. Life here in Terenggnau will go on without us once we leave. Because of this, my resiliency skills and time management skills have definitely improved. Sometimes I find myself slowing down and thinking situations out more clearly and that has helped me in planning and recruiting.
Well because my trip was cancelled, a couple of ETAs and I decided to go to Pulau Perhentian last weekend. It ended up being one of the best trips that I've ever taken. For a couple of reasons:the water was crystal clear, the weather was beautiful, and the atmosphere was very relaxing. When I got into the water, I walked to it was about waist high and I could still see my feet. Never have I been in a natural body of water where I could walk that far out and see my feet. Check out the pics! The sand was white, WHITE SAND! I mean I'm talking about scenery you only see in movies or unless you're rich and take weekend excursions to remote islands. When we left Besut(the jeti) the water was dirty. The boat was surrounded trash and immersed in murky dark water. About 5 mins into the 30 mins transfer to the island the water turned a gorgeous blue. You could see the two islands, Perhentian Kecil and Besar, in the distance on the horizon. As we drew closer to the islands we noticed that the water started becoming a lighter blue and the water was a lot calmer. Once we pulled in the island's lagoon, you could look down off the boat and see the coral on the sea floor some 3m below. I decided to go to snorkeling. We were told that my group was going to see turtles, sharks, and all different types of colored fish. They did not lie. I saw Little Nemo, Sharkbite, Dorry and all the other sea creatures from Finding Nemo along with the coral. On the way back from the designated snorkel points, we stopped because we saw some turtles coming up for air. We quickly put on our gear and got out of the boat. I was less than 3 feet from 1 meter long turtles. They were sooooo BIG. The turtle that I got to swim with had just come up for air and it took another 15 minutes for it to come up again. Next we saw the sharks. The sharks were a little to big for my comfort so after seeing one in the water while snorkeling I decided that was enough for the day. Now I'm not too much of a "lay out on the beach all day and work on my tan" person but I definitely enjoyed being out there amongst the other ETAs and in the environment. If I had gone on my camping trip with the kids I might'veFinding Nemo cast! Well maybe not but I had a great time. THANK YOU
I tell all the other ETAs and officials that I am very happy to be teaching at my school, SMAASZA. Since being there, I have made many friends, learned from students and teachers, enjoyed teaching, and been a part of their success! The students participated in the Uniform Body Camp. Each organization participated in different team skill building competitions. Once I arrived on Friday the students had already cooked, pitched there tents, built there camps, and erected forts and statues out of bamboo. Once again amazing how resourceful these kids are. Another example of these kids intellect was illustrated at the SEM competition. The science, engineering, and mathematics fair was held right down the street from our apartment so it was easy to attend. Our students entered 2 products in the fair. The first being a light bulb changer. Picture a "trash picker-upper" with the hydraulic handle pump but at the end two grippers used to delicately grasp a bulb and unscrew it. The second which was more impressive was called " Fruity Easy Machine". It was a mechanical system that cored, peeled, ejected, and juiced fruits. Basically making it easier to make fruit juices, shakes,or to just eat fruit without the hassle of peeling and cutting. A magnificent invention all made from scrap metal and recyclable parts. The machine was also came with an electrical board used to rotate the fruit during the peeling process giving you an even cut. AMAZING!!! To see them turn it on and actually do all of this was....wow. Well we ended up earning 1st place honors in all the 4 individual categories and being GRAND CHAMPS!!! 11 of the 12 students who participated in the fair were my students and I was proud to say that I taught them. Not that I had anything to do with their success in that realm but I'm glad they were so successful. WELL.....they DIDDDDD actually have to explain their inventions to the judges in English so hopefully I helped them be more confident in speaking and conveying their message. :)
THANK YOU SMAASZA STUDENTS
Since I have been back in Terengganu the last couple of weeks I have been seriously working on trying to find a job. I'm in the process now of studying for the MCATs but I don't think I'll be ready by September to take them. I'm not sure what I'll be doing when I return to the states. The other day I received a email from the networking site LinkedIn. I had set up an account last year sometime but really have not kept up with it so I decided to update it and send my resume out to a couple of employers. I took the email as a sign that this is a opportunity. God willing, with some more hard work something will come through. Pray for me.
Being here in Malaysia has been a blessing. BUT one thing that I wish I could change would be the concept of communication. Something that I think every ETA has experienced is the lack of communication amongst Malaysians and then affecting us. There have been countless occasions where I have had activities planned and at the last minute have had to cancel them because of something "coming up". Last week I had a camping trip planned for some student's who won my English Week activity back in MARCH and two days before we were supposed to leave I was told that we could not go because the students at the school could not leave the school. Now this activity was planned over 3 months ago but everytime there had been a last minute change in the schedule that would not permit me to carry out the trip. I have shown up to class multiple times and found out from the students that there is no class because they had a speaker come or the teacher has taken the class on a field trip. I have had 6 different schedules within the last 4 months. This makes it hard to get to know the students in a classroom setting and really have them get used to me and my teaching style.Sometimes we do not find out about competitions until the last minute or business transactions do not go through properly because there is a break down in communication somewhere. It's interesting because the Malaysians seem used to this type of procrastination or "lack" of preparation. And you know what, it's probably on like this because WE'RE not used to it. Life still goes on efficiently for them and it had been before we even arrived back in January. As good as the Fulbright officials have been to us sometimes I think we forget that the world does not revolve around us. When things like communication break down it is a reminder that we are "small fish in a big pond" sort of speak and that even though we want to know what's going on we need to continue to adjust to this lifestyle. Life here in Terenggnau will go on without us once we leave. Because of this, my resiliency skills and time management skills have definitely improved. Sometimes I find myself slowing down and thinking situations out more clearly and that has helped me in planning and recruiting.
Well because my trip was cancelled, a couple of ETAs and I decided to go to Pulau Perhentian last weekend. It ended up being one of the best trips that I've ever taken. For a couple of reasons:the water was crystal clear, the weather was beautiful, and the atmosphere was very relaxing. When I got into the water, I walked to it was about waist high and I could still see my feet. Never have I been in a natural body of water where I could walk that far out and see my feet. Check out the pics! The sand was white, WHITE SAND! I mean I'm talking about scenery you only see in movies or unless you're rich and take weekend excursions to remote islands. When we left Besut(the jeti) the water was dirty. The boat was surrounded trash and immersed in murky dark water. About 5 mins into the 30 mins transfer to the island the water turned a gorgeous blue. You could see the two islands, Perhentian Kecil and Besar, in the distance on the horizon. As we drew closer to the islands we noticed that the water started becoming a lighter blue and the water was a lot calmer. Once we pulled in the island's lagoon, you could look down off the boat and see the coral on the sea floor some 3m below. I decided to go to snorkeling. We were told that my group was going to see turtles, sharks, and all different types of colored fish. They did not lie. I saw Little Nemo, Sharkbite, Dorry and all the other sea creatures from Finding Nemo along with the coral. On the way back from the designated snorkel points, we stopped because we saw some turtles coming up for air. We quickly put on our gear and got out of the boat. I was less than 3 feet from 1 meter long turtles. They were sooooo BIG. The turtle that I got to swim with had just come up for air and it took another 15 minutes for it to come up again. Next we saw the sharks. The sharks were a little to big for my comfort so after seeing one in the water while snorkeling I decided that was enough for the day. Now I'm not too much of a "lay out on the beach all day and work on my tan" person but I definitely enjoyed being out there amongst the other ETAs and in the environment. If I had gone on my camping trip with the kids I might'veFinding Nemo cast! Well maybe not but I had a great time. THANK YOU
I tell all the other ETAs and officials that I am very happy to be teaching at my school, SMAASZA. Since being there, I have made many friends, learned from students and teachers, enjoyed teaching, and been a part of their success! The students participated in the Uniform Body Camp. Each organization participated in different team skill building competitions. Once I arrived on Friday the students had already cooked, pitched there tents, built there camps, and erected forts and statues out of bamboo. Once again amazing how resourceful these kids are. Another example of these kids intellect was illustrated at the SEM competition. The science, engineering, and mathematics fair was held right down the street from our apartment so it was easy to attend. Our students entered 2 products in the fair. The first being a light bulb changer. Picture a "trash picker-upper" with the hydraulic handle pump but at the end two grippers used to delicately grasp a bulb and unscrew it. The second which was more impressive was called " Fruity Easy Machine". It was a mechanical system that cored, peeled, ejected, and juiced fruits. Basically making it easier to make fruit juices, shakes,or to just eat fruit without the hassle of peeling and cutting. A magnificent invention all made from scrap metal and recyclable parts. The machine was also came with an electrical board used to rotate the fruit during the peeling process giving you an even cut. AMAZING!!! To see them turn it on and actually do all of this was....wow. Well we ended up earning 1st place honors in all the 4 individual categories and being GRAND CHAMPS!!! 11 of the 12 students who participated in the fair were my students and I was proud to say that I taught them. Not that I had anything to do with their success in that realm but I'm glad they were so successful. WELL.....they DIDDDDD actually have to explain their inventions to the judges in English so hopefully I helped them be more confident in speaking and conveying their message. :)
THANK YOU SMAASZA STUDENTS
Follow the Signs pt. 1
The last month of class, traveling, learning, and living has gone by soooooo fast. Many things have happened since I last wrote in the blog. All have turned out to be a blessing in the end. As I sat on the beach at the Perhentian Islands off the coast of Terengganu, I thought about what I would be doing if I was back home. Not that I don't think I would be successful but this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Throughout my life I have been exposed to a great amount. Sometimes it is hard to grasp the amount of opportunities I have had to succeed. It's easy to become complacent in blessings that are bestowed on you and take them for granite. Blessings can come in all forms,shapes, and sizes. There are many signs that indicate favor. Within the last month, I have seen many signs in which I think....no no no....in which I know were blessings in disguise.
I have made many friends here in Kuala Terengganu. People from all different backgrounds with different expertise and knowledge. These are relationships with people that I highly value because of the social aspect that is essential for growth. At the end of May, I met two people in particular that proved to be wonderful, caring, and thoughtful. I go to a laundry mat to get some delicate clothes cleaned and ended up meeting a young lady, Sakina, who offered me a vision. I told her that I would like to hear about it more in depth. She then introduced me to another,Kee, who shared her vision. They invited me to Kuala Lumpur to attend a conference with them. QNET is the biggest network marketing company in Asia. I had never heard about it so I was unaware of its vision and purpose. I'm always cautious of network marketing strategists and companies because sometimes you end up spending more money investing in them then you get out. Once we arrived in KL, we were greeted with representatives from over 70 countries including Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Nigeria, Hungary, Norway, Great Britain, India, and of course Malaysia. What a environment to be in at the time. Here I am in all this diversity as an individual and as a member of the Terengganu reps. More importantly, I found it amazing that all these countries with civil warring and disputes here for a common purpose. While waiting, for the conference to start, I shared a great conversation with a young man from Egypt. We talked about life, the economy, the difference in people and QNET. He was only 22 years old but talking to him made you enlightened because he was so knowledgeable about all that we discussed. His approach to life was to make the best of it. His life had been impacted, it seemed, by so many negative influences that he had every reason to give up. As we both agreed, because of those influences he had every reason to keep moving forward. He was a very intelligent guy and it was great to talk to and learn from him. The theme of the conference was BELIEVE. I thought it was a very appropriate theme solely because of the adversity that these different countries have faced. Everyone that I talked to was under that notion belief is one of the most important factors in improving themselves and their country. I had a great time.
At one time before the break, I really contemplated not going anywhere and just relaxing at home. This option would def save money and I could do some traveling locally. One night the week before the break I was watching TV and a commercial came on about the beautiful places that Air Asia could take you for cheap. I started thinking why would I not take full advantage of those deals and this opportunity. I'm so glad that I thought against staying home. I planned my trip much later than everyone else so I wasn't able to travel for the full two weeks like the other ETA's. I left the Friday of the second week of the break and decided to travel to Laos and Vietnam. At the airport, I was approached by two women who claimed that they had saw me a month before in Singapore on top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino. I initially thought it was a joke but then I started doing the math and placing the dates and everything matched up. They were from Canada and teachers at a international school in Kuala Lumpur. One of them, Tanya, had finished her contract and was traveling for 3 months before she returned back to Canada. The other, Katie, had six more months and was going to travel for a month before returning to finish out her contract. The three of us ended up hanging out everyday together while in Laos. While in Laos we stayed in the capital of Vientiane for one night and went to Luang Prabang the other. In Vientiane I visited the Laos History Museum where it was very interesting to see and hear the writer's perspective of Americans and French soldiers during the Vietnam War. Later I travelled to the Buddha Park where the giant Sleeping Buddha along with many other Buddhist temples and statues reside. On the way I saw the craziest signs. Some made perfect sense and others would've confused the locals(figuratively speaking). The most rewarding experience of the whole vacation was the visit to COPE. Cooperative Orthoticsinternet! That is remarkable! It was a very humbling experience. To listen to him tell his story about his life and the retell the bomb accident was very moving. I am so glad that I had a chance to talk to him about his life. He was so apologetic about his "poor" English when really he spoke clearer and more precise than most we ran across in all of Asia. How could a kid who was 19 experience so much hardship and still be so positive and a role model to his friends and to me? It was very moving to hear the kids' stories about their accidents and lives. One thing that I think we as people without injuries or disabilities tend to think is that we should feel sorry for them and that they feel sorry for themselves. While this may be the sympathetic way it is sometimes viewed this was definitely not the case here. There was no "pity party" there was no grief. There was only affirmations and support within their group and us. They were very positive and had such a progressive mindset it sent chills through my body.The next day I took a night bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. I don't usually say I will never do something but I will never take another night bus in Laos again. Everything that could've gone wrong did. People were throwing up, the bus had a flat tire, we stopped 6 times, the bus driver sped through the windy hills, people were smoking on the bus, there were 8 to a seat and it was 10 hours long. On the other hand, we got there safely after all that. I spent a day in Luang Prabang, a World Heritage Site, in north Laos. It was rainy and an overcast for most of the day but that added a mysterious feel to the town. I walked around and saw many temples and even got a chance to talk to some monks who were living at a temple. We talked about their way of life and about their childhood. Afterwords Rebecca, Ani, Olivia and I(all whom I randomly ran into in Vientiane) met up with two of the ETAs in Vietnam Heidi and Jens. We ate lunch at local stalls, I sampled the local donut shop, and we hung out until I had to leave. THANK YOU Tanya, Katie, Patrick and COPE, Heidi and Jens
VIETNAM!!
The FIRST thing that comes to mind when I think of Vietnam now will forever be TRAFFIC. Last year, between January and November there were 10,800 accidents in Hanoi alone. Out of those, 10,180 resulted in deaths. That number is staggering. Now you would think that with numbers like those there were be some new laws implemented. Nope, none!! I found out firsthand how crazy the driving in Hanoi can be. Walking 5 meters across the street has proved to be one of the most mentally challenging tasks EVER! I say mentally because seeing a speeding car or motorbike coming straight at you is unnerving. There is an understanding in Vietnam between drivers and pedestrians that if you keep just walk they will DODGE and drive around you. I have never been anywhere where the traffic is sooooo "unorganized". I can't tell you how many near accidents I was almost involved in or saw. One in particular, we were on a bus. There was a 18-wheeler in front of us and a van in front of it. Like a high speed chase scene from a movie we all tried to pass one another.......AT THE SAME TIME!!! To make matters worse, a lady was pushing a cart in front of the van and didn't know that this was unfolding behind her and veered out into the street. All at once, each car rearrange position and swerved on both sides of her while narrowly missed hitting her. My heart was left about 800m back from where we started because the whole thing was crazy!
Since I was in Vietnam for so short of time I wanted to see as much as possible in Hanoi and Northern Vietnam. The second day I was there I walked what seemed the whole city of Hanoi. It was so humid. Reminded me of home and how humid it gets in the summer months. I met a guy on the plane named Simon who was 19 and going to start college after he travelled in Asia for 2 months. We reserved the same hostel and hung out in Hanoi together along with three girls from Denmark. Simon and I visited Hao Lo Prison, the Vietnam War Museum, and the Vietnam History Museum. The next day I reserved a tour to Halong Bay. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been, the bay hosted over 3,000 islands. I booked the tour through my hostel, Hanoi Backpackers, which is nothing but a party waiting to happen. I was on board with a bunch of college students who partied partied partied. Not quite what I was expecting but I had to roll with the punches. I met a guy named Mark(who ended up being my roommate) from the UK who was in Virginia last year and visited Busch Gardens. Small world. The island were beautiful and big. While there, I JUMPED OFF A BOAT(seems small but it took a lot of nerve), went kayaking, and cave exploring. It was a great experience. When I returned to Hanoi, the three girls from Denmark and I all went out to eat and spent the night on the town. We had soooo much fun. They were students in Vietnam and were vacationing until they had to return to Denmark. On most streets of Hanoi, there were vendors selling everything from bookmarks to full dining sets. I was overwhelmed at the amount of vendors along the street. I was even more amazed that some how the motorists did not hit any pedestrians or vendors. We stopped to eat at a BBQ restaurant where we bbq'ed goat and beef udders(stomach). Now it might sound nasty BUT I'm here to tell you I haven't had any meals that were too much tastier. In fact it was so good that we returned the next night. The food is very good and cheap as the exchange rate is $1=20,000 Dong. An average meal cost about 15,000 Dong.
I had a great time in Laos and Vietnam. It's funny because I keep saying everything happens for a reason and am constantly reminded that after those situations. If I had not booked at Hanoi Backpacker, I would not have met Simon, Maria, Kristine, Millie, and Mark. These are people who I enjoyed talking to because of what they were able to share. Each had a different story and you never know what they've been through until you cross paths. THANK YOU GOD
I have made many friends here in Kuala Terengganu. People from all different backgrounds with different expertise and knowledge. These are relationships with people that I highly value because of the social aspect that is essential for growth. At the end of May, I met two people in particular that proved to be wonderful, caring, and thoughtful. I go to a laundry mat to get some delicate clothes cleaned and ended up meeting a young lady, Sakina, who offered me a vision. I told her that I would like to hear about it more in depth. She then introduced me to another,Kee, who shared her vision. They invited me to Kuala Lumpur to attend a conference with them. QNET is the biggest network marketing company in Asia. I had never heard about it so I was unaware of its vision and purpose. I'm always cautious of network marketing strategists and companies because sometimes you end up spending more money investing in them then you get out. Once we arrived in KL, we were greeted with representatives from over 70 countries including Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Nigeria, Hungary, Norway, Great Britain, India, and of course Malaysia. What a environment to be in at the time. Here I am in all this diversity as an individual and as a member of the Terengganu reps. More importantly, I found it amazing that all these countries with civil warring and disputes here for a common purpose. While waiting, for the conference to start, I shared a great conversation with a young man from Egypt. We talked about life, the economy, the difference in people and QNET. He was only 22 years old but talking to him made you enlightened because he was so knowledgeable about all that we discussed. His approach to life was to make the best of it. His life had been impacted, it seemed, by so many negative influences that he had every reason to give up. As we both agreed, because of those influences he had every reason to keep moving forward. He was a very intelligent guy and it was great to talk to and learn from him. The theme of the conference was BELIEVE. I thought it was a very appropriate theme solely because of the adversity that these different countries have faced. Everyone that I talked to was under that notion belief is one of the most important factors in improving themselves and their country. I had a great time.
At one time before the break, I really contemplated not going anywhere and just relaxing at home. This option would def save money and I could do some traveling locally. One night the week before the break I was watching TV and a commercial came on about the beautiful places that Air Asia could take you for cheap. I started thinking why would I not take full advantage of those deals and this opportunity. I'm so glad that I thought against staying home. I planned my trip much later than everyone else so I wasn't able to travel for the full two weeks like the other ETA's. I left the Friday of the second week of the break and decided to travel to Laos and Vietnam. At the airport, I was approached by two women who claimed that they had saw me a month before in Singapore on top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino. I initially thought it was a joke but then I started doing the math and placing the dates and everything matched up. They were from Canada and teachers at a international school in Kuala Lumpur. One of them, Tanya, had finished her contract and was traveling for 3 months before she returned back to Canada. The other, Katie, had six more months and was going to travel for a month before returning to finish out her contract. The three of us ended up hanging out everyday together while in Laos. While in Laos we stayed in the capital of Vientiane for one night and went to Luang Prabang the other. In Vientiane I visited the Laos History Museum where it was very interesting to see and hear the writer's perspective of Americans and French soldiers during the Vietnam War. Later I travelled to the Buddha Park where the giant Sleeping Buddha along with many other Buddhist temples and statues reside. On the way I saw the craziest signs. Some made perfect sense and others would've confused the locals(figuratively speaking). The most rewarding experience of the whole vacation was the visit to COPE. Cooperative Orthoticsinternet! That is remarkable! It was a very humbling experience. To listen to him tell his story about his life and the retell the bomb accident was very moving. I am so glad that I had a chance to talk to him about his life. He was so apologetic about his "poor" English when really he spoke clearer and more precise than most we ran across in all of Asia. How could a kid who was 19 experience so much hardship and still be so positive and a role model to his friends and to me? It was very moving to hear the kids' stories about their accidents and lives. One thing that I think we as people without injuries or disabilities tend to think is that we should feel sorry for them and that they feel sorry for themselves. While this may be the sympathetic way it is sometimes viewed this was definitely not the case here. There was no "pity party" there was no grief. There was only affirmations and support within their group and us. They were very positive and had such a progressive mindset it sent chills through my body.The next day I took a night bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. I don't usually say I will never do something but I will never take another night bus in Laos again. Everything that could've gone wrong did. People were throwing up, the bus had a flat tire, we stopped 6 times, the bus driver sped through the windy hills, people were smoking on the bus, there were 8 to a seat and it was 10 hours long. On the other hand, we got there safely after all that. I spent a day in Luang Prabang, a World Heritage Site, in north Laos. It was rainy and an overcast for most of the day but that added a mysterious feel to the town. I walked around and saw many temples and even got a chance to talk to some monks who were living at a temple. We talked about their way of life and about their childhood. Afterwords Rebecca, Ani, Olivia and I(all whom I randomly ran into in Vientiane) met up with two of the ETAs in Vietnam Heidi and Jens. We ate lunch at local stalls, I sampled the local donut shop, and we hung out until I had to leave. THANK YOU Tanya, Katie, Patrick and COPE, Heidi and Jens
VIETNAM!!
The FIRST thing that comes to mind when I think of Vietnam now will forever be TRAFFIC. Last year, between January and November there were 10,800 accidents in Hanoi alone. Out of those, 10,180 resulted in deaths. That number is staggering. Now you would think that with numbers like those there were be some new laws implemented. Nope, none!! I found out firsthand how crazy the driving in Hanoi can be. Walking 5 meters across the street has proved to be one of the most mentally challenging tasks EVER! I say mentally because seeing a speeding car or motorbike coming straight at you is unnerving. There is an understanding in Vietnam between drivers and pedestrians that if you keep just walk they will DODGE and drive around you. I have never been anywhere where the traffic is sooooo "unorganized". I can't tell you how many near accidents I was almost involved in or saw. One in particular, we were on a bus. There was a 18-wheeler in front of us and a van in front of it. Like a high speed chase scene from a movie we all tried to pass one another.......AT THE SAME TIME!!! To make matters worse, a lady was pushing a cart in front of the van and didn't know that this was unfolding behind her and veered out into the street. All at once, each car rearrange position and swerved on both sides of her while narrowly missed hitting her. My heart was left about 800m back from where we started because the whole thing was crazy!
Since I was in Vietnam for so short of time I wanted to see as much as possible in Hanoi and Northern Vietnam. The second day I was there I walked what seemed the whole city of Hanoi. It was so humid. Reminded me of home and how humid it gets in the summer months. I met a guy on the plane named Simon who was 19 and going to start college after he travelled in Asia for 2 months. We reserved the same hostel and hung out in Hanoi together along with three girls from Denmark. Simon and I visited Hao Lo Prison, the Vietnam War Museum, and the Vietnam History Museum. The next day I reserved a tour to Halong Bay. One of the most beautiful places I've ever been, the bay hosted over 3,000 islands. I booked the tour through my hostel, Hanoi Backpackers, which is nothing but a party waiting to happen. I was on board with a bunch of college students who partied partied partied. Not quite what I was expecting but I had to roll with the punches. I met a guy named Mark(who ended up being my roommate) from the UK who was in Virginia last year and visited Busch Gardens. Small world. The island were beautiful and big. While there, I JUMPED OFF A BOAT(seems small but it took a lot of nerve), went kayaking, and cave exploring. It was a great experience. When I returned to Hanoi, the three girls from Denmark and I all went out to eat and spent the night on the town. We had soooo much fun. They were students in Vietnam and were vacationing until they had to return to Denmark. On most streets of Hanoi, there were vendors selling everything from bookmarks to full dining sets. I was overwhelmed at the amount of vendors along the street. I was even more amazed that some how the motorists did not hit any pedestrians or vendors. We stopped to eat at a BBQ restaurant where we bbq'ed goat and beef udders(stomach). Now it might sound nasty BUT I'm here to tell you I haven't had any meals that were too much tastier. In fact it was so good that we returned the next night. The food is very good and cheap as the exchange rate is $1=20,000 Dong. An average meal cost about 15,000 Dong.
I had a great time in Laos and Vietnam. It's funny because I keep saying everything happens for a reason and am constantly reminded that after those situations. If I had not booked at Hanoi Backpacker, I would not have met Simon, Maria, Kristine, Millie, and Mark. These are people who I enjoyed talking to because of what they were able to share. Each had a different story and you never know what they've been through until you cross paths. THANK YOU GOD
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