Funerals in Vietnam

I've lived in Saigon for about 26 months and never ever will I get used to funerals. I've never BEEN to one, but I've heard them, been re-directed on roads, etc.

This morning at 5:30 the saddest saxophone played the saddest song, accompanied by what seemed to be an orchestra down on the street (I never climb out of bed to look because that would wake me up even more). I used to think they started at such obscene hours in the morning because it was the exact moment when the person died - you know, in the dead sleep when this painful brass music wakes you us, there's not a lot of coherent thought going on. Today, in half a daze at missing out on an hour of vital sleep, I finally asked one of my colleagues - one who doesn't take offense to my questions about the culture but laughs at me instead (try to keep up with the language and the blending of paragraphs... I don't how how to change that since blogspot reformatted):

LA: Good morning dear DK! So, what's the deal with the 5:30 am band when someone dies? I used to assume it was the time when the person died... but I can't imagine that 8 people have died at 5:30 am since I've lived here. DK: not sure understand ur question LA: In my neighbourhood when there's a funeral, there's always a band playing at 5:30 in the forsaken morning. DK: ahhhhh :D:D:D understand LA: Why do they do this? WHY? DK: (rofl)(rofl) LA: |-) DK: omg Lauren hahahahaha you make me hahahaha cannot stop laughing (rofl)(rofl) but u're so cute wen asking/thinking the reason of dat hahahaha (sorry will tell in 5mins after finish laughing) :D LA: haha laugh it up while I take a nap

[Ten minutes later, which I'll presume she was working, not laughing at me]

DK: ok finish haha. well, dats de time music band starts working my dear. its not cause of dats de time the person died. LA: But they only work for 1 hour?! DK: no, they start at dat time, den they rest. and they only work every time there's people come to visit the died people LA: So they sit there all day and wait for visitors? DK: yes exactly LA: WHO VISITS AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING!? DK: no no its the time they start, its like warm up LA: I see, I see. Well, it's mostly very beautiful music, I just wish they'd sleep in a bit later. DK: hahaha. to me i dont like, it's too noisy :| LA: You're right, it is VERY noisy. I can hear it CLEARLY on the 9th floor. DK: :D yes. and to me its also not "formal" too. funeral is something sad already, there is no fun for listening to music >"< LA: That's true. DK: but others think cause its too sad so we need music to make it less sad :| DK: one more thing the fee to invite music band is really expensive too. if it's just VNmese, traditional music, it will be 4M for 3 days and if it is music band who plays western music/foreign music (they call like that), de money will be double. so sometimes here, having a music band in the funeral is de way for some people who wants to show off that they're rich LA: That IS a lot! DK: it's useless, the died people dont listen to music

So, now I understand the system. And DK has a point which I think could be proven around the world - that we'd rather spend money on things we can't afford so people will thing we have more than we do. When really, we can't even buy what we need anymore.

I'm finishing up my contract here in just three short weeks. No idea what I'm doing next. Currently, I have two freelance projects in the mix, so that should keep me busy until August. Also, finally moving out of my building in two weeks. I'll be sad to have to learn new routes, but so so happy to be rid of the forsaken parking men.