Lessons From Street Vendors
Trip Start
Jun 14, 2006
1
3
8
Trip End
Sep 01, 2006
Ha Noi,
Vietnam
Saturday, June 17, 2006
What stood out for me today are two experiences:
1) Fruit vendors
2) Food stand ran by boys
The first experience was a result of my craving for tropical fruit. Lauren, Stacy and I stumbled on to a small indoor market. It was sweltering hot. We could feel beads of sweat dripping down our faces and bodies within minutes of entering the market.
They all wanted me to buy their fruit. Although all the vendors' merchandise look the same, they were convinced that theirs was the best. I ended up buying one from the oldest woman there. Afterward I asked if I could take a picture of her, what happened next was definitive for me.
She looked at her picture on my camera the other ladies looked into it as if it were their first time seeing a digital camera. They all then wanted pictures. It was amazing for them to react to something that is so normal and typical in the U.S. It was beautiful for me to be able to share my love of photography with them.
The lady that I bought the fruit from then asked me where I came from. I told her the U.S. and she said, "Life in America must be great".
From the sweltering fruit market, with sweat dripping down my face, looking at the women that would have to sit there the entire day to make a living and provide for their family, I reflected on my life in America.
Another lady walked up to Stacy and I and admired our meaty arms. Pulling it, pinching it to see how tight our skin was.
My second experience today was around 11 p.m. Cara and I had waken up from napping all afternoon trying to recover from jet lag and we went out to buy some bottled water.
Outside, the streets were still damp from a heavy rain earlier in the day. The rain had cooled down the temperature, the streets were filled with late-night diners. We wandered down the street our hotel is on and I stopped in front of one of the street foodstands.
It was run by young boys. I asked them how old they were and they said 16-22. Some of them looked as young as eight to ten year olds.
They were cooking, waiting on tables, and organized the entire business by themselves. One of them had a crush on Cara and pushed another boy away when he was trying to get in the shot of Cara and him.
Their shop is open from 5 p.m. until 4 a.m. One of them was balancing just under ten plates on his two arms. Another cooking plain white fried rice opposite from one who was cooking a wok of vegetable and beef stir fry.
Another thing I noticed today is most of the shop operators and owners are all women. It is an empowering thing to see.
It is 2:30 a.m. and Cara and I should get some sleep to somewhat adjust to the time difference here.
Good morning-night.
