Allegory of Wealth

Just wanted to share my newest favourite painting - check out the judgement in that baby's face... "Lucy, you got some 'splainin to do."

Hope everyone else's weekend was as great as mine, and mine was really great - despite leaving parties.

Simon Vouet, Allegory of Wealth, c. 1630-1635.
Oil on canvas, 17 x 12.4 cm.
Musée du Louvre, Paris.

Je ne suis pas celle que vous croyez.

I'm taking French lessons.

You would think learning Vietnamese would have been the goal here, but one year in I've got my directionals, plesantries, and food requests sorted. Further than that I've just given up hope, I mean I can hardly pronouce my street name (Nguyễn Ngọc Phương).

But I'm kicking butt and taking names in French, even starting to understand the Euros. I should have taken this on 11 months ago.

Still on the flatmate search. Fun, fun times. (Sarcasm.)

Happy Daylight Savings

Hi all, the rumours are true, I've extended my stay here in Ho Chi Minh City. Three to six months to start, but will consider a full year given the right situation and stars aligning etc etc.

I'm looking for flatmates because I waited to long to decide to stay - or I'll have to move. Once that's all sorted I imagine it will feel like home again, but until then I've been a bit frazzled and second guessing my decisions. I'm still working for the same company.

I am going to take the time to update January through now. I just found the notes I took while away on Tet in Thailand - nothing from Cambodia because I was so sick. Lots of photos on my Facebook from those travels.

Just wanted to share this because it's got all of us, particularly the women of the office, up in arms. It makes me quite sad and disappointed, all of these paintings were more beautiful the first time around: Art nudes have gone skinny Check it out and join my rage. Damn you 21st century and your beauty 'ideals'.

We're back to an 11 hour time difference and I'm not a fan. But I AM a fan that I don't have to deal with it here. Love and love and love to all <3

Long distance

On the precipice of making what seems difficult at first and has kept me up many-a-night, but will eventually be an easier decision of all the decisions I imagine that I'll ever make: I have decided to stay in Vietnam for an undetermined period of time. I realise the things I will lose, but cannot help but think of all that I have gained in this journey and what more there is to discover.

I've been in a very long distance relationship with many of you for all of this time. Some of us have kept in very close touch, some of us have teetered on the edge of mere acquaintanceship, and others of us simply separated at the start. I am sure being in close touch will be less and less the longer I am gone, but for now, this is the right decision for me. I love and miss you all much too much for words and your places are well-preserved in my heart - it's grown since I've been gone, you know, I've got room for the whole world now. Take care of yourselves, take care of each other.

"Long distance cannot be measured in I-love-you's or I-miss-you's. Words mean nothing when they cannot be felt as sincerely as they are meant. Perhaps with changing times come changing love letters so to once again give such overused words their original meaning."

Just do it...

Hello my dear loved ones, I know I still owe you a whole month's worth of update, but I'm running out of time to post THIS post and I'm leaving for Thailand in the morning.

So, my request, please please please go see Red Tails next weekend. There's a bunch of controversy surrounding it and who doesn't love proving Hollywood wrong? Of course, I'd go myself but films are about a month and a half behind in Vietnam. Here's an article with more precise details to light your fire in case the idea of an amazing black cast in a film about the Tuskegee Airmen and it being George Lucas' second film in years and years that has nothing to do with Star Wars or Indiana Jones isn't enough. (Ugh, the links never work, copy and paste: http://www.theroot.com/buzz/red-tails-travails-highlight-hollywoods-racism)

Now that I've stated my piece, I'm off to pack for 2 weeks schlepping through Thailand and Cambodia. Love to all <3

True Life: I live in HCMC

Check out this link to get an idea of what it's like getting around in Saigon. It looks crazier watching it than being in it.

http://vimeo.com/32958521

I owe you all lots of backlog. It'll come in time. I need a new laptop, mine has nearly given up on me completely. Look for: the necessary Thanksgiving post, reggae fest, karaoke and goodbye parties, as well as the bittersweet end of my contract here.

Love to all <3

Good Morning... Singapore

Just doesn't have the same ring as Good Morning Vietnam.

The idea of Singapore is really wonderful - but the practice kinda sucks. I've been here for four hours and haven't met anyone. I know how whiny that sounds, but I guess Vietnam has spoiled me a bit in that sense. Plus, nothing is in walking distance and there's cars, cars, and more cars - but the city is cleaner than a shiny penny.

I've been wandering around this mall structure, trapped due to a downpour of lake-making proportions, thinking how lovely and western, yet so far from America it is. It might be nice to live here and shirk one more year of being a full-fledged American with American responsibilities and debt. Of course, it's only a mild escape because it's super expensive here (I just paid 13 Singapore dollars (just under 11USD) for a Kilkenny, but I certainly would never find it at "home", so I'll enjoy it).

It's so clean you could eat toast that fell jelly side down off the street, no kidding. Eating and drinking are banned in the streets, chewing gum is "forbidden" (as the Euros would say), and it seems you can't smoke any where, not just inside. Hefty fines come along with these and the police carry gun in hand (as opposed to Vietnam where it's just slung over one's shoulder). I wouldn't mess around.

Airport Sightings

Note: When travelling and passing through customs is required, always get behind the tourist group. It's very likely that the tour guide will be at the front to make sure the entire group gets through quickly without much hassle. Rather than waiting 45 minutes, I magically jumped ahead because I just happened to be in the right line.

Anyway, sitting in the airport terminal, I've got this whole travelling thing down to a science. I only have to wait 15 minutes to board! Pretty sure this is only useful in South East Asia and may be limited to Vietnam.

I just watched a mother run away from her child - it was obvious to me that she was coming right back, but he can't be more than five. He slowly broke down as she got further away, but he never made an effort to run after her, which was the most interesting part. When she finally started back, the biggest smile broke across his face. He waved like he hadn't seen her in a really like time and wiped his barely wet eyes. Totally broke my heart.

This is my first flight, let alone trip out of Vietnam since I've been here (ten months). I'm unusually sad about it, even if I'm coming back tomorrow. I hate travelling alone, but this experience has given me so much. I'm starting to miss it already.

Off we go to Singapore. Hey, if you need a new visa, what better place to go than the up and coming shopping capital of the world?

Reggae > Christmas Music

I'm so so happy to be out of the US for this time of year. I can't stand Christmas music and the excessive waste of energy and money.

That said, there was a Reggae "Festival" in one of the nicer areas of HCMC. I put festival in quotes because it wasn't much of a festival at all, but the music was good - the band was great even if they weren't actually playing reggae - the food, what little without meat in it they had, was delicious, and of course anyone that is going to spend an entire day at a reggae show is probably pretty laid back, so the company was great.

However, it must be said time and time again - have no expectations and you'll never find yourself disappointed. I hope there's another before I leave!

I'm rounding out on my last few champagne brunches. Turkey twice in one week, unbelievable.

Thanksgiving

Here we are at the obligatory Thanksgiving post. I went to dinner at a friend of a friend's apartment. The food didn't compare even a little, but it was my first time having turkey since I've been here... apparently they don't have turkeys in Vietnam. I can't imagine where they get it from when it is available - it's expensive enough to come from Indiana. Stuffing, mashed potatoes, and macaroni and cheese, all good enough. I met some other Americans, which is always nice, none I think I'll see again though.

We showed up a little late and so missed the "I'm thankful for ..." round, which I'm incredibly thankful for because I never know what to say. I'm aware of the irony. Anyway, I will share with you all what I'm thankful for: this amazing year abroad, all of the people I've met, the love and support of my family and friends, the job experience and assurance that this is something I deeply enjoy and would be happy to do forever. I'm thankful for all of the travelling I will get to do in up coming months. I'm sure there are other things, but you know the magical powers of turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving!