Greetings from Hanoi, Vietnam

Silly Angela,

I was so bummed out because I didn't have an adaptor for Vietnam, and then yesterday someone told me they use the same outlets as the U.S. So, I've been not communicating out of my own ignorance. sigh. Well, What can I say.... I am in Hanoi, Vietnam and it is very different from any other place in the world. First of all, it is the exact opposite of time as my home. So while it is 6:40pm in Indy right now... it is 6:40am here in Hanoi.

Another thing... TRAFFIC... woah buddy. There are pretty much no rules. There are a bagillion motorbikes and very very few pedestrian crosswalks. You're just supposed to slowly start walking across the street in the way of oncoming traffic. I think I may have peed my pants a couple of times. It is truly scary.

As expected... some of the food here is a little bit hard to stomach. But I'm getting by. Yesterday a couple of us ran to a little hole in the wall, store to grab some junk food. I found a tin of those little Danish Butter cookies that Boo Boo always has!!! I bought some and it was like Christmas! Speaking of food allow me to describe to you my dinner. First of all, they set a plate of cold white noodles in front of all of us. Then the brought out a skillet full of oil and fish. You are supposed to add some green vegetables (Morning Glory) to the skillet and cook it yourself. It is actually quite good. Then they bring out this purple substance called Fish Paste and tell you to try it on the whole mixture. Unfortunately, I read a book on vietnam and know what fish paste really is.

It is where they put a bunch of fish in some sort of big tub and let it sit, and sit, and sit, until it completely liquifies, then they put it on their food. It smells like poop. But I actually tried it on some of my food and it wasn't too bad. This is my new way of eating... I don't ask, I just put it in my mouth and start chewing.

Yesterday We went to Ho Chi Minhs Mausoleum. I was really sad an homesick so I don't have a lot to say about it. It was super strange to walk past his body on display. I don't think I would want to be on display like that after I die. Oh, and there are a lot of government officials around everywhere. Sometimes it makes me nervous.

I can't get on facebook. Apparently it's blocked here.

Instead of going to the ceramic village, we had to go somewhere else because the road was being repaired. So, we went to a silk village instead. It is a little community full of people who make and sell silk. A bunch of people bought scarves.

P.S. I was a millionaire yesterday. 1,000,000 Dong= fifty US bucks.

There is so much I want to write about! But I keep forgetting everything. I will try to journal about as much as I can remember So I can tell everyone later. Hanoi is really a very interesting city. Its easy to get lost in... as a matter of fact, I have been lost here lol.

Anyway, I'll try to keep in touch.



Peace and Love

P.S. We're all going to go see Harry Potter in Singapore! Beat That Andrea!!!! ha ha!

OH! and I've had to pee squatting in over those little hole in the ground toilets. Just thought I'd tell everyone.