Found: Western Breakfast and Mexican Food

I was going to title this "5 Weeks Down" but I don't want it to seem like this is some fatiguing task that I'm forcibly doing. This is the exact half way point of my trip and to think of how far I've come is so amazing! Some days are harder than others but sometimes I'll just be walking down the street or on the bus and think "WOW, I'm in Vietnam!!" and remember how grateful I am to have this experience. I have one full week left of volunteering (I don't get the 4th of July off?? How preposterous!!) and then Stace arrives next Thursday morning! It will be so nice to go on adventures with someone and not have them leave me the next day...the backpacking culture can create some abandonment issues!

This week I battled the final stages of my cold - one morning I had a terrible headache from being so congested so I took some personal time in the morning. On Tuesday an older Australian man visited the shelter for lunch. He teaches English to sisters at the Tan Thamh Covenant (I work at the Tan Thamh Shelter). He's a second grade teacher back in Australian and has taught English at the covenant 4 times over the past decade so it was interesting to hear how he's been successful with teaching! He revealed to me how difficult it is for him to teach English which made me relieved that I wasn't the only one feeling that way. He teaches 4 different groups for an hour each day! Made me feel bad for thinking that 2 hours a day was tough...this week the kids I teach in the morning were on vacation on the coast so I had an even easier week.

I've been working out a lot this week - trying to stay in/get back into shape. One day a German Vietnamese (his parents fled to Germany during the Vietnam War) chatted with me before a work out class and then convinced me to do a dance class after our strength class - wow I didn't know what I was getting into! It was hard work and the most sweaty I've been in awhile -- and that's saying something here! Unfortunately he was leaving Saigon the next day but it was lovely to chat with a fellow foreigner.

On Thursday I was at the hospital in the morning and confirmed my feeling that I never want to go to med school. Nothing like 30 over-eager cut-throat med students crowding around you at 8am in 100 degree weather!

The nuns met me at the hospital after I was done shadowing and invited me out to lunch to celebrate Sacred Heart day (Tan Thamh means Sacred Heart in Vietnamese). We went to a seafood place on the Saigon river and they ordered some shrimp and crab for the table. Not to be rude but it was the worst meal I've had in a long time. For one, I was so sweaty and hot and flies seemed to think I was some sort of fruit so I was covered in them while no one else was!! I got a few mosquito bites since we were by the river which were especially itchy (I average around 1 new mosquito bite per day - just lovely). The shrimp was barely cooked and still had the head, legs and tail. I went to rip off the head of a shrimp and this goopy brown juice squirted all over me so by then the flies were just loving me! It was an interesting experience that left my stomach quite empty. But nonetheless I was appreciative that they included me in on this celebration!

Saturday morning I was craving a good Western brunch and found a foreigner approved place! Unfortunately I didn't have enough money to get a mimosa so I'll have to go back...I had bacon eggs benedict, a VERY large bread basket, tea, fruit juice, and a fruit plate. Filled me right up and was just what I needed !

Saturday night I met up with Ayush, a friend from high school. It was so great to see a familiar face and catch up over dinner!

Today I got a soothing honey and oat body wrap - complete with a 30 minute head massage. I can't get used to having these cheap spa days!! I'm so spoiled here. I lounged around the spa for the afternoon and finally told myself it was time to go home. I've been trying to find a good Mexican restaurant here and I can report back that I got my FIX tonight at Khoi Thom (means Fragrant Smoke...what?!?) Sweet potato chips with guac and salsa, shrimp burrito, churros - all paired with a glass of sangria and margarita. It was the most expensive meal I've had here ($17) but wow it was SO worth it.

So here we go, my last full week in Saigon - WOW! I'll have to figure out a way to celebrate the 4th...

Love

Whit

One Month in Asia!

This past week marked my one month in Asia! Sometimes it seems like I have been here for longer than that and others times I feel like I have just arrived. I have 5.5 weeks left in Asia till I head back home and I have exciting journeys ahead! Stace comes to Ho Chi Minh City in about 2.5 weeks and we'll go on a tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels and then take a bus to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to start our 3 weeks of traveling! Lots of planning ahead for us.

This week I was on my own as a volunteer at the shelter. I really felt the women at the shelter opened up to me which is a incredibly special feeling. Throughout the week they would practice English with me (previously they would only try to speak English while I was teaching English class) and would invite me to help out with the babies or teach me how to make something for the shelter. It's really touching to know that they feel comfortable around me!

This is Su (nickname for a long complicated Vietnamese name). He always needs attention but he's just so cute I can't bare to see him cry so much. His personality is two extremes - screaming crying and giggling for the end of time. I had to snag this picture for all the yogis out there - is this where the "Happy Baby" yoga pose came from??

I went to the hospital twice this week to observe rounds with the doctor, once with a translator and once without. I'm trying to not have my translator with me as often because it can be annoying (sorry!!) having the same person follow you around for 8 hours of the day and I've become comfortable with getting around in this city and with my volunteering. This next week I will only have my translator in the afternoons from 2-3 when I teach English! 

There's been a bug going around this backpacking district and unfortunately, in classic Whitney fashion, I caught it. My throat started to feel sore Thursday morning and then Thursday night I barely slept and when Friday morning arrived, it hurt to swallow and I had the chills from a fever. With my parents' nudge, I asked for a recommendation for a clinic I could go to. When I arrived, I was the only foreigner there but luckily there were 2 people who spoke English that worked at the clinic and it was very clean and organized!

I had a translator to relay my aches to the doctor and he put a scope down my throat and nose to take pictures. I had the screen right in front of me so I could see everything - I have to say it was pretty awesome!! I've never had that done in the US! The translator told me I had ---itis (couldn't understand her) but then I read on my papers I had sinusitis and pharyngitis! I have lots of antibiotics and they've been working well - I probably need just one more day of rest and a good night's sleep to fully recover.

Thursday night I was able to meet up with my friend Laura's cousin, Angus! He's traveling around Asia for a couple months and I was so excited to see a familiar face!

I met up with Angus and some friends he made on his tour (he went to the Cu Chi Tunnels) for dinner after a long day of napping/resting. A girl chose a restaurant for us on our street called La Casa which serves Mexican and Vietnamese food....weird combo. I stuck with getting Vietnamese food though I am CRAVING Mexican food like no other. 

Saturday morning a group of us from dinner booked a tour to the Mekong Delta to see the floating markets. Unfortunately our tour bus left an hour late so we missed most of the markets...ugh and it was raining on and off all day but it was a fun time with the group nonetheless. 

Really REALLY obnoxious tour guide that made cheesey jokes in broken English and would not stop talking. Also we had a Vietnamese baby on our bus that had his diaper changed twice and they threw the dirty diapers on the side of the road...interesting!

Floating markets! The poles on each boat hold up what they are selling. The boats have giant fishes or crocodiles painted on the front of their boat to scare off predators in the Delta.

Snake wine...big touristy thing here and most of the time the snakes are plastic. I decided not to try it either way!

Coconut candy, a delicacy from the Mekong Delta...soso good. Best when freshly made so it's gooey and warm!

Canal ride with Angus and Ben (Aussie) - it was drizzling the whole time hence the hats! (Those hats are actually clutch for any type of weather...)

Last night Angus and I were walking down our street to grab a drink and people watch and saw some military cars slowly going down the street. One car had a speaker on it and was saying something in Vietnamese and then in English it said "Please help us by participating in a civilized manner." Then all of a sudden the hostels and bars (every place on this street has cushions and chairs on the sidewalks for people to sit and drink) ripped up the mats off the ground and threw chairs into their bars/hostels. The military men jumped out of the cars to rip down signs for alcohol and confiscated chairs and cushions. We were so confused by what was happening! Then a yelling match broke out between the owners of one hostel and the military. A huge crowd formed around them and everyone was shouting and shoving. No tourists were involved thank goodness. It was upsetting to see this as the "backpacking culture" of drinking every night, all night has taken over this area and the local people obviously capitalize on this to make money but then have to fear that the military will roll through, take their stuff, and fine them. A woman tried to explain it to us saying that the military looks the other way when tourists are drinking but if they see locals drinking, they will come and bombard the streets because Vietnamese people are supposed to be "civilized" and should not participate in drinking with tourists. I have no idea what's the truth but either way, it was crazy to see! 

After the commotion, Angus left for his night bus to DaLat (haha I've done that before!) so we said our goodbyes. It was great couple of days and we may cross paths later in our trips!

Today I'll be resting, maybe getting a spa service and preparing for this next week ahead - hoping I'll be 100% soon7. Only 2 full weeks left! 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures - I'll try to remember to keep taking them!

Love and miss you all,

Whit

I'm Going to Turn Into a Mango

The title refers to the ridiculous amount of mangoes (and fruit) ever since coming to Vietnam. Summer is the best season for fruit - I'm so lucky! I don't remember loving mangoes so much back home (well maybe mango salsa in shrimp burritos from Cafe del Sol in Menlo Park) but it will be a sad day when I leave here. I don't think a day goes by that I don't consume at least one mango. The nuns at the shelter always make sure I get enough food which usually means I stuff my face with mangoes and home-made peanut brittle (so good by the way I can't wait to try to make it at home!)

This past week I've been teaching English to two kids (ages 10 and 11) in the morning and then to the women at the shelter in the afternoon. Man it is much more difficult than I thought it would be! It's so hard to explain some of the weird exceptions or words in English and it's especially hard for them to say "s" or "is". It's been helpful to have Fiona (Swiss woman) because she had to learn English herself so she remembers what worked and what is difficult to understand. I also have Vu as a translator...wow I feel so bad for him that he follows me around every day but I guess that's his job!

Monday I went to my first yoga class at my new gym! I was the only foreigner out of 50 people in the class. Our instructor was Indian but had such a strong accent that I didn't realize he was speaking English till 5 minutes into the class. I don't think I've ever sweated that much in a workout EVER. And I didn't have a towel so that was lovely.

After class I went to the supermarket to buy some breakfast items since I'm not interested in having noodles and meat in the morning (typical Vietnamese breakfast). The supermarket was a mad house - I thought it was Black Friday or something! After spending 10 minutes trying to figure out which milk was soy milk using my phone translator, I realized that the back of the containers had English on them. Jokes on me hahha.

Tuesday morning I was supposed to go to the hospital to shadow Dr. G but after not sleeping all night due to loud music (who knew Monday night was such a raging night?), I decided to take it easy for the morning. I've been trying to check out a new guesthouse (same owner) that is the in alley near my current one but the owner only comes late at night but hopefully tonight I will catch her so she can show me a new room that's hopefully quieter. I used to be a hard sleeper but now I'm so sensitive to sound as I'm falling asleep. You'd think living next to Jimmy John's (sandwich place/drunk hangout that's open till 4am every day) in Ann Arbor would prepare me for this! Every night I have to wear earplugs, then my noise canceling headphones and THEN play meditation music on a timer on my phone. Ridiculous.

On Wednesday I traveled to the shelter with Fiona and Jeremy and as we got off the bus, they told me they recognized this guy who had followed them around a couple days prior. He looked pretty disturbed and then all of a sudden he started pulling eggs out of his pocket and throwing them near us! It was so bizarre...

After safely eggscaping (ha - sorry I'm exhausted), Jeremy wanted to take a picture of this tiny alley next to the shelter that motorbikes speed through. Every time you see two motorbikes going down the alley in opposite directions you think "Oh yep they're going to crash they're going so fast!!" and then some how they both maneuver around each other. It's truly amazing how these motorbikes squeeze around everywhere. As Jeremy was taking the picture, Fiona was holding the camera case and a motorbike whizzed by, snatched the case, and sped off! She was in such shock and then realized that he will be extremely disappointed there is no camera in there! Boy were they lucky!! I am super vigilant about my purse and such but now I will be extra careful.

I bought a movie ticket for tomorrow night for the movie "Maleficient" even though I was trying to see a different movie but I guess I got the theaters wrong. Luckily the movie is in English with Vietnamese subtitles but I'm excited for the experience!

Not much planned for this weekend. I'd like to work out a lot (wishful thinking to think I would want to work out after volunteering all day and being in this heat!) and maybe a massage...I'd also like to check out some markets.

Next weekend I'll probably plan a trip to the Mekong Delta though that is just a day trip. I'm thinking about planning a weekend to fly to Hoi An, a colonial town in Central Vietnam. We shall see! Just a month left in Saigon till Stacey arrives!

Keep praying for me and miss you all!

Love
Whit

Life so far in Ho Chi Minh City

For references: Saigon=Ho Chi Minh City. Saigon was the name of the city until the end of the Vietnam War. After 1976, the city is now called Ho Chi Minh City but locals still call it Saigon. 

Thursday I went to the women's shelter in the morning and helped make flowers for them to sell, practiced English with them, and took care of the babies. After lunch I went to a clinic nearby to chat with a doctor to see if the clinic would be a good fit. Well it turns out it won't be...not knowing the language and not having a translator who knows medical terms is SO limiting. It made me regret coming to a country that doesn't speak a language I know (like spanish) as it would've been easier but this is a crazy life adventure! 

Sister Theresa then called the doctor who takes care of the babies in the shelter to ask if I could shadow him at the children's hospital. He said yes absolutely! People are so kind and welcoming here. 

Last night I just needed something other than Vietnamese food...so I got a $5 pizza at the restaurant "Good Morning Vietnam" (still need to see that movie!)

It actually was quite good relatively speaking! 

This morning I woke up on the earlier side to head to the hospital with Vu, a guy who is part of my program that helps with translating. We met "Dr. G" and followed him on his rounds. He is a gastroenterologist for children. He is a teacher at the hospital so I stood with the other medical students while he examined patients. The examinations were done outside, no equipment, no sanitatation, people walking in and out...nothing like the US. That was especially interesting. After rounds he have a lecture to the students and it was all in Vietnamese so I just sat there for an hour...needless to say I won't go to that again! 

Vu and I continued on to the shelter and I met 2 other volunteers, Fiona and Jeremy, who will be here for the next week. They're a young couple from Switzerland so it was a breath of fresh air to talk English! They were interesting to talk to as they've been traveling for awhile and have had a different journey of schooling than in the US. They also told me of a cinema that plays recent movies in English so I can't wait to see a movie by myself! Hahaha. They are staying nearby me so I hope to be able to hang out with them outside of volunteering but I will see them next week nonetheless.

Tomorrow (after hopefully a restful sleep but who knows with all the clubbing music), I will be able to relax in the morning and then I'm meeting Fiona, Jeremy, and Sister Theresa at the shelter to go on a market excursion! I'm excited to see how the locals shop and to get some supplies for my room! I'm still working on getting a somewhat western breakfast.

So I have been in Vietnam for a week and I have 5 more weeks to go! Next week I'll be switching off from shadowing the doctor and working at the shelter. I will start an English class for the women that is 3x a week so pray for me that I have the skills to be able to teach! 

Love and miss you lots,

Whit 

 

Saigon -> Dalat -> Back to Saigon!

Ok here it goes.

Sunday night I took an overnight bus with Vi to Dalat. It was actually pretty comfortable to sleep in even though I was clutching my stuff with the strongest grip you could imagine (paranoid about my stuff being stolen!)

We arrived in Dalat at 5:45 in the morning...boy was I out of it! We took a taxi to our guesthouse and attempted to sleep a bit before the day. 

I felt a little uneasy in the morning (emotions and fatigue will get the best of you) but a chat with my mom helped me calm down -- the two times I can talk with people back home are in the morning or late at night so I'm glad she was available! 

We went to my internship and at first no one was there because it was lunch time. Then when the doctors started to arrive, none of them spoke any English (I was told there would be an English speaking doctor that I would work with) and they said I would only work in the clinic from 8-11am. 

I immediately got upset and angry. I didn't fly across the world to work 3 hours a day and then bum around in the afternoon!! And also not be able speak with the doctors! 

I voiced my concern to Vi and to the program director in Saigon and said I would rather go back to Saigon and work at the women's shelter where I could work all day and have a direct impact on people. I told them I would go to the internship the next day but I was pretty upset with the situation. So word for the wise: follow up on what your abroad internship entails and make sure it's the experience you want! 

After talking it through with a couple friends and my parents, I was exhausted and hoped that a good night sleep would give me a clear mind in the morning. 

Well I didn't sleep that great and I woke up (to a rooster at 5am outside my window) and knew I needed to go back to Saigon. There are more opportunities there and I would be able to travel a bit more than if I was in Dalat. 

Today at my internship I watched about 70 children get vaccines (wow did I cry and squirm that much as a kid when I got shots!?? Sorry mom and dad!). I also saw a couple adults get the rabies serum. When I asked what exactly I would be doing, Vi told me that after awhile I could start giving injections to adults and then help with wrestling the children. As cool as that would be, it's no guarantee and not many adults come through. And no one speaks a lick of English. I can't justify coming across the world to only work 3 hours a day. 

So after a chat with my parents who were super supportive about my decision to go back, I've decided to return to Saigon. The program will set me up at a clinic (hopefully) and I will also be working at the women's shelter that I visited last Friday. Although Saigon will be much busier and hotter!, I believe it's the right decision for me. I know I will be unhappy if I'm bored in the afternoons and by myself.

So Vi and I left Dalat last night, the chilly highland city of fruits and flowers, on another overnight bus back to Saigon! I'm trusting that this is the right decision for me and that I will make the most of it. I'm thankful for such supportive parents and friends! I'm ready to settle in one place so I can finally unpack and send my laundry out!!

We arrived around 5am and walked back to the guesthouse where I stayed before and where I will be staying for the next 5 weeks. After switching rooms, I'm hoping that my room won't have any issues though it may be loud because it's on the first floor. We shall see.

Across the street from us there was a Buddhist funeral procession that started on Sunday and it's still going on! Apparently it lasts from 9am till 11pm...blasting music and people visiting the family. I'm told it will go on until Sunday because the daughter of the woman who passed is coming back here from the US.

After resting a bit, Vi and I went via bus to the women's shelter. My program director, Dao, was there and we had a private conversation and she apologized that the internship in Dalat wasn't what I was expecting. Apparently previous volunteers only wanted to work in the mornings so they could explore so she thought that was what I would want as well. Those volunteers were only there for 2 weeks max so she could understand why I wouldn't want to do that for 5 weeks!

She found a clinic through one of the sisters that works at the women's shelter (it's a Catholic shelter run by nuns) and I spoke on the phone with a doctor there to set up a time to meet tomorrow! She speaks English which is so refreshing! I'm excited to see if the clinic will be the right fit for me and if I can help out in any way. A group of us at the shelter relaxed and talked for a bit which helped calm me down and feel comfortable. The head sister, Sister Theresa, is so so very kind and inviting. She took some pictures with me and was so excited that I will be here for the next 5 weeks. She invited me to come on the weekends and go to mass with them or to just help out around the shelter. I'm so eager to help and work that I can't wait to see how I can help them. Also - a woman at the shelter will have her baby soon which is so exciting!

So tomorrow I finally begin! I will meet Vi at the bus stop - she will help me figure out my commute situation for the first couple of days. It seems like an easy commute (one bus and then walk or taxi to the shelter) and should take around 30-45 minutes. She also mentioned to sit at the front of the bus because the bus driver will start to recognize me and let me know when to get off and such. Also the bus costs 5,000 dong which is basically 25 cents...wow!

I have to say I feel so much better today and I hope this feeling continues. I knew coming to Vietnam wouldn't be easy so this is just another experience that will help me grow and figure out what I want for my future. I'm excited (and somewhat nervous) for the self-reflection I will have during these emotional and eventful times.

"Change is inevitable, growth is intentional." Here we go!

Love

Whit

P.S. I need to always remember to bring my umbrella! This raincoat cost about 35 cents and saved me from a surprise downpour -- hello wet season in Vietnam!