Thursday, Jan 25, 2008

I know it's been two weeks since my last update; and I know that you may all be waiting to hear what I've been up to; and I hope this entry will lay to rest some of your anxiety, which I must apologize for, BUT living the past two in Can Tho has made me slow my life down to a very lethargic pace. Here is a table of contents for this post because it may be long:

1. Walk-through of typical day--including a rather lengthy diatribe on the food.
2. Story of how my camera broke and what I'll do without one.
3. Getting poked, touched and slapped by Vietnamese.
4. Pictures throughout

For example, each day I wake up whenever I want (usually earlier than later) and eat at one of many favorable street-side "restaurants." I have found a vegetarian place with the most satisfying fried spring rolls; Kristen and I eat here all the time. If not there, then one of the hundreds of other places. There is a street filled with just food vendors--I call it food street.

Then after breakfast I usually retire to read; Kristen teaches Monday and Wednesday. I've finished CATCHER IN THE RYE and I'm really getting into A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING by Bill Bryson. The down time is great and it feels like the first time I've had "rest" since I started--believe it or not.

And with all of this rest comes with it a rest of the mind--hence, my lack of updates. I've been taking in the culture of the southern Vietnamese, learning bits and pieces of their language (mainly the things I need to get by, meats, fruits, drinks, desserts, noodles/rices). I can actually recognize these items in displays; pronouncing them is another entirely challenging aspects. The language is toanl, menaing that the word will not be understood unless the speaker puts the correct inflection on the sound of the vowel or ending of a word. There are several basic ones: up, down, short down, down up (low), question rising; and that's leaving out the pronunciations of theirs vowels: each having three! So as you can surmise, it's a challenge but one that I'm facing.

We eat lunch, sometimes alone, then usually hit the gym or go on a bike ride or shop around for groceries, or even lay low.. again! Dinner is usually had with the entire house including An (our Vietnamese friend and life-line!). There is a Bia Hoi bar down the block from our apartment, we went there last night. The beer is dirt cheap and even tastier than its metallic brother in Saigon.

Besides from eating, exercising and reading the days are long, very warm (usually around 90 F) and not hard at all to get through. The room mates are great and I hope that they aren't getting sick of me 'cause I'll be here for another couple weeks or so.

We've went to dance clubs where we were treated like VIPs, and to gyms where the guys like to measure my waist and body-fat content by padding my chest and squeezing my sides (speaking of which, I have been poked and finger-jabbed some many times it's hard to count by random kinds, and Vietnamese men on the streets or even riding my bike; it's like they want to make sure I'm real or see if I feel the same as they do.. very weird but something I'm a little more comfortable with.. now); we've been forced to take shots of whiskey with a group of 40-somethings on the side of a street selling auto-parts and wrenches (a mechanic's dream); we've eaten and drank like kings without spending $2.00; we've almost been in 30 motorbike accidents (both on my own and with Xe Om (like tacis but on bikes) drivers; I've stil seen only half of this city but continue to explore it place by place, taste by taste, and with new friends and new adventures.

I went on a bike ride the other day to some rice patties. Along the way I was taking some photos--got a couple good ones:


When we finally arrived at the patties my camera failed to operate. It was wigging out and the lens wouldn't stay open. In desperation I tried banging it (lightly) to work again, but it didn't work. My camera that has been with my throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Australia, Kuala Lumpur's airport, Thailand, and Vietnam has taken it's last picture:

It's a great one isn't it. It deserves a Pulitzer.

So that kind of sucked. I think I'll buy a really expensive new one, because that's all they sell here--great.

I've bought a bike, which is entirely useful.

Let's see, what else is new. Well, I'm not getting a job here. I plan on going to Hanoi and other northern territories of Vietnam, then into Laos, maybe some other countries. IF I do, you'll know of it. Send me some emails if you'd like more frequent communication!