I have had the privilege of living in the lovely touristy city of Da Nang, Vietnam for the past week and a half. I think I have set a record of number of times I laugh to myself and think what is my life? Here are some of my moments that I hope paint a picture of my life in Vietnam.
- We ordered a grab (equivalent to Uber in Asia) and our grab driver cancelled on us and sent us a text message saying sorry I cannot pick you up I need to sit in my car and eat rice.
- One of the guys on my team was talking to someone on our bus ride from Ho Chi Minh to Danag and the bus attendant got impatient that he was standing in the aisle for too long slapped his butt and said move. I laughed for a good 5 minutes after this occurrence.
- I met my new Australian bff Shannon who is 26 years old, works in children’s ministry, and has been a great resource of fun things to do in the area. I am so happy I have an Australian friend!
- The ladies at the front desk of our hostel have gotten my teammate Alivia confused multiple times and seem to think we are the same person. I can see where they see the resemblance; American, tall, red hair must be the same person.
- I ordered a lemonade at a Westernized restaurant and they brought me a sprite. Apparently in Australia ordering a lemonade means sprite. I described to the Australian server what lemonade in America means and he was very intrigued.
- I am so happy that pizza can be found all over the world. In Indonesia I ate rice as a food group and I am feeling grateful to take a temporary break from eating rice everyday. Yesterday I ate Pizza Hut for lunch in Vietnam and had to process the fact that I am eating Pizza Hut on the other side of the world and boy was it delicious.
- Traffic in Asia does not stop for pedestrians. You have to walk out in moving traffic and hope that nobody runs you over. It is my goal to be able to cross the street in Asia without feeling like I’m about to have a heart attack. I am going to be very weirded out coming back to America in the land where cars will stop for pedestrians at a cross walk.
- Buying food at a Vietnamese market when you do not speak Vietnamese is an experience in and of itself. It requires lots of hand gestures and patience but it can be done.
- Sometimes on the way to English club you get stuck in traffic because there is a long parade for Buddha’s birthday.
During our time in Vietnam my team and I have been facilitating an English club several times a week to provide opportunities for teenagers and young adults to practice English conversation. It has been a joy to build relationships with the young people in the area and to spend time with them outside of English club.
Putting a candle in the water for good luck
