Gondola, anyone?

This entry was bound to happen sooner or later and today was the beginning of what I anticipate being nearly three long months.

Things are going really well with the motorbike. I'm very confident and comfortable in varying amounts of traffic. However, much like Jersey, it's dreadful in the rain: people suddenly forget how to drive and heavily depend on their breaks. Let's not forget that the rain in Vietnam is a driving, stinging, painful rain that gets everywhere it doesn't belong, much like sand. I'm pretty sure my contact almost surfed out of my eye the other day. I will never again take for granted windshields or windshield wipers.

On top of driving in the driving rain, let's visit traffic: at least 100 motorbikes cram as closely together as possible at red lights, releasing trillions of particles of exhaust (and germs, no one covers their mouth when coughing or sneezing). So part of you is focusing on not inhaling while the other part of you is making sure your lower legs aren't getting burned by exhaust pipes. Let's not even venture into how many people are staring at you because you look different than them, and OH! You're speaking English with a westerner that's driving with you or near you. It's like a museum or amusement park and you're the entertainment, so SMILE!

So today, I was venturing into the heart of Binh Thanh where my students live. When Tracey, Lizzie, and I were looking at places we visited an apartment right around the corner, but settled for the outskirts closer to the center. Robin lives over there though, mind you. I was driving in, quite pleased that I'd left work early enough that the traffic wasn't so bad yet, where what would be three minutes from their house when - I hit a lake. It was kind of shallow at first, no problem, I've been in flooding that covered my sandaled foot before. But then, as lakes generally do, it got deeper and deeper where if I'd put my foot down, my leg would have been drowned up to mid-calf/shin. Sure, I'm short and hence have short calves/shins, but that's a lot of water where a street used to be.

What did we learn today?
1. Don't panic.
2. Don't make faces, they'll only stare at you more.
3. Don't put your foot down!
4. Don't panic.
5. Don't speed up or slow down too much or you'll have to break rule 3.
6. Laugh at the fact that a gondola would serve you better in this environment.

All of these rules were learned by observing others, except 6. For those of you counting at home, 78 days until the 209 gang is reunited!

Love to all <3

Chez Lauren strikes again

I've been cooking a lot on and off. I'm on a new tofu kick. Unfortunately there's only one kind and it's not firm at all. I sauteed it tonight with tomatoes, garlic, and onion, but the firmness never changes. It was pretty good, but any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

They make it two phenomenal ways at the street food place we go to, but I can't figure out what any of it is really, just delicious.

Nothing too exciting going on around here. Next weekend 11 of us are going to Nha Trang (that's a LOT of people and there's a LOT to do in Nha Trang, I hope we can agree on things, or at least agree to split up) and the weekend after that is Oktoberfest sponsored by the German association in the city.

I'm happy to be off tomorrow, I hope it rains in the morning like it did this morning... I would greatly appreciate a sleep-in and then reading in bed. I don't do that nearly enough. I will one day give you some idea of driving in the rain on a motorbike.

I can't believe it's almost October, I was convinced today was the 16th. Have a nice weekend! <3 xo

American culture

In standing up for my American culture, I stormed out of a party. As Vietnam would have it, I was trapped in the house because you need a key to get out. When the person who lived in the house finally came to let me out, I told him he offended me and he basically told me to get out of his house and he didn't care how I felt about any of it.

Lesson learned: it's okay for everyone to (excuse my language) shit on America, especially when there's only one person there to defend it (me). BUT as soon as someone starts to shit (excuse me) on Germany ... NOOOOO that's not okay. (Let's just forget the reason WWII even started.) I can take the criticism in stride, I know we're not perfect. BUT as soon as you tell me that Germany is perfect and other countries (namely America) have no culture, you're just wrong. We have EVERY culture, and that's what I think makes us who we are. But, according to this guy, American culture didn't begin until 20 years ago. So, what, I was 6? What did we have before that? I know America has a dirty past and continues to get into trouble, but that doesn't make us uncultured.

Am I wrong? Did I do the wrong thing? Stand up for the wrong beliefs? It's so hard being the only American in my circle of friends sometimes.

I've got some troubles, but they won't last

Hi all! You'll never guess what I just returned from doing... I'm not sure I believe I did it.

I was out with western friends the other night and a guy came up to Romy and I and asked if we'd like to be in a movie. Half interested and half joking I said sure! He said he needed extras to play doctors and nurses in a feature film based in Australia but with scenes here in Vietnam. After a lot of blabber from my friends, I decided to just go and check it out today after work.

Apparently I AUDITIONED for a role, the most pathetic audition I'm sure there ever was because I never thought to take a second of the experience seriously... it's Vietnam, after all, AND the guy made it seem like he just needed people in the backgound. They took some photos and I did a film test and had to dance... yes DANCE to Sugar Town (hence the title of this post). Apparently if I'm chosen, thanks to my "fresh face and smile" I'd be a girl in the band, not a nurse as I'd have imagined. (By the way, the film is family comedy about girls who sing for soldiers haha.) I'm not taking this seriously as I'm sure it was just another story to add to my exciting tale about Vietnam. But, wouldn't it be quite crazy if I was actually in a film? If I suddenly managed to become known if only in Australia and Vietnam?

Filming starts in a month. I'll let you know what happens... assuming I hear from them before I forget the whole experience.

In the office tomorrow :( Two Saturdays in a row, WHAT IS THIS?! Still working with book fair stuff, so nothing new to report there. Love to all! <3

Happy September!

I can't believe I've been here for six months. Some days I could almost count how much longer I'm here, but most days it feels like it's going too fast. The weather's been very reminiscent of Jersey in autumn, windy with a hint of coolness. Hard to believe I'm not going to have a proper autumn or any kind of winter. I don't think I'm regretting it too much, though.

Between my extremely fickle computer and the immense load of work I've had at the office since the other english editor quit almost a month and a half ago, I've been too tired, impatient, and busy to post.

Last Friday was Vietnamese Independence day. Nothing too special appeared to happen. Most of my friends went out of town, so I enjoyed a quiet weekend in the city. I promised my friend Nicky I'd stay out with her Saturday night because I always bail and go home early. It was more fun than I anticipated, so maybe I've learned to stop bailing on her.

We're gearing up for the Frankfurt Book Fair at work, it's at the end of October in Germany. Robin and Julien are going, while we're here in the office now working our fingers off. Perhaps I should be in Marketing? No, seriously, I prefer editing, I just wish there was a second person to share the very heavy load of all the things that need to be ready for the Fair.

I had to work today, so I'm just settling in for the afternoon with no grand plans to do anything. Robin's roommate (and a bunch of her American friends! so few Americans here haha) is planning karaoke tonight, so I might do that.

I could use a nap now. Love and miss you all <3