Culture Shock and Awe

Hanoi is like a giant, powerful river with a current that sucks you into the flow, ready or not. I have been moving nonstop for the past two weeks. I was observing classes and attending teaching orientation meetings my second day here, and then I started teaching and taking vietnamese lessons my third day. At first it seemed like no big deal, but now I realize there has been no time to think or reflect or let the new impressions sink into my overstimulated brain. I have my classes assigned to me and have been planning and trying to get to know the students, their needs, their cultural expectations and their interests. It is so much...

For my first week I was ripped off, tricked, and politely taken advantage of. Initially, I felt lost and helpless because I did not have the language to negotiate or to understand what is going on. Now, I am slowly adapting, familiarizing myself with the roads, and learning some basic vietnamese. Also, I have come to the acceptance that I will just pay a lot more for stuff and get over it. It saves me energy and it makes me feel a lot better - acceptance has been my way of getting my good attitude back and letting go of the frustration I felt at first.  

The traffic and horn noise is something else! I can't believe that people actually drive here because it is really scary... seriously. I ride xe om (pronounced say om) which means on the back of a motorbike. it is really fun but it can be intense when there is rush hour or when people drive too fast. i see small children on motorbikes with no helmets and it seems really dangerous. I realize that I am really safety conscious, or at least from my cultural view, I am used to traffic "regulations." Here, it is like the wild west, and only the strong and savvy drivers survive. 

okay, so this brief and poorly punctuated entry is the best i can manage at the moment. My main lesson so far has been to take a deep breath, relax, let go, and calmly join the flow. I repeat this to myself when I feel lost, scared, overexcited, and so on. 

so now, i take a breath, ready myself for a xe om ride...

until next time,

chao cac ban (bye all of you friends)

ps-i miss everyone very much.