Yesterday was Vietnam's 50th anniversary as a Communist state and also one of the worst days of my life ( Read more... )

Yesterday I went to the Hanoi Zoo. I was a bit apprehensive before going because I feared the conditions that the animals lived in would make me sick and sad. What I found was less than appealing, but better than the nightmare I had pictured ( Read more... )

We were packed like sardines in the six-person sleeper car with stiff mattresses and soiled sheets. Toilet paper, once washed manually down the squatter tube, fell damp and dirty onto the tracks as the train raced along to its destination. On the way, I got kicked out a train car for whispering loudly to a friend. The man spouted angrily in ( Read more... )

In the small tourist-inspired province of Ninh Binh we took a 1 hour and 30 minute boat ride. As an introduction to the boat ride, our resident director said that the person limit was 2 foreigners per boat and 6 Vietnamese per boat. Of course I thought he was joking, but he wasn't. So we carefully boarded the boat, I in my child-size cai non and my ( Read more... )

Today I walked the streets as the rain trickled down the conical hat that was bought for me by the mother of a local friend of mine. At first I was afraid of offending, but I do not think that I did ( Read more... )

I walk into the area and immediately I am acknowledged as a foreigner. Not only my skin, but also my speak causes a barrier between us as great as an ocean. Their admiration and their curiosity is now only skin deep.
I very much look forward to the day of acquisition.

I had sent in a very long and delicious entry yesterday, but unfortunately the computer did not accept it. So here I am again at the computer, but this time with so much more to tell ( Read more... )

The reality of my undertaking is finally becoming real to me. Up until only a few days ago it seemed like a fractured dream or an unattainable fantasy ( Read more... )

I am considering publishing a pamphlet which answers the most popular yet vexing question of the hour..."Why choose Vietnam?" Actually I'm too lazy to really do this, but I am contemplating taking "Why choose Jesus?" pamphlets and doctoring them up a bit.

I have a new pumpkin obsession to add to the pumpkin list thanks to Lee and Lee's mom.
Pumpkin bread.
Mighty tasty. Lemme tell ya.