Week One Update

  Ha Noi, Vietnam
Friday, June 16, 2006

It's been an eventful week for Miss Mytam. I graduated only one week ago and now I am sitting in a hotel lobby in Ha Noi Viet Nam. My experience here has given me so much perspective about my life, what it could have been like, and where it is going. I am in the process of applying to go to Brazil in October (cross your fingers for me), as well as studying for the GREs, LSATs, and as well as studying for our courses during this trip.

It has been a wonderful and very eye-opening first week in Viet Nam. I feel at home, but we are living in the city, where many things are catered to tourists and I can't wait to go into the countryside.

The humidity has taken some getting use to but it has cooled down today. We are thankful for the rain here.

As I am writing there are ice cream men playing whimsical songs along with the sounds of bustling motorcycles, cars, and business people yelling out their advertisements for the night. Grass roots marketing. Grass roots living.

Everyone here is on the hustle. Working hard to provide for themselves and their family.

I feel very blessed with my life, but at the same time I've been frustrated with the perception that life in the U.S. is luxury. I've repeatedly explained to many people that we all have our struggles, it is just different.

I'm very touched by the elderly and children here. The businesswomen impress me as well.

Today I placed an order for three custom-tailored shirts and one pair of pants for roughly $44.

Cara, Anyie and I had pedicures today for 50,000 dong less than four dllars.

Last night we ate at a place where beer (3,000 dong or roughly 15 cents) was cheaper than water (5,000 dong or roughly 25 cents).

An eggroll vendor told me here that you make alot of money in America, but you also spend alot of money. In Viet Nam, money is hard to make and hard to find.

There is so much I want to say, but one of the best way I can express myself is through photos. I will do a weekly recap much like this one at the end of the week to sum up my experiences. There may be daily ones as well. Come back for updates! Enjoy the ones I have below:

Leaving Seattle:

Lovers' goodbye. My roomie Cara and her boyfriend Carver.


Group picture at SeaTac Airport international terminal.

The flight:

This is exactly how the 11 hour flight went.

Arriving at Seoul International Airport:

This airport is ridiculous. It is like a shopping mall!


Yes, that is Chanel in the airport.


The sun from Korea


The udon that made us almost miss the flight from Seoul to Ha Noi


Exactly what it says.


It's not turkey-flavored ice cream.


It's ice cream FROM Turkey. Or something of the like. It's very creamy and sticks together. This little boy thought he was getting all that ice cream. The ice cream man is one of the most hilarious people I'd ever met. He would do all sorts of tricks like this while he is serving you. The most entertaining icecream I've ever had.


Our Asiana flight attendants. Wonderful service.

Arrival in Viet Nam!

Group picture with Giang, our resident coordinator.

The first week in Viet Nam has been amazing. Below are some pictures recapping our first few days.

This boy was playing with a bunch of children by Hoan Kiem lake when we were walking by there last night on the way to get some gelato.


Gelato...and hilarious gentleman.

This crossing was dangerous!

Group picture near Hoan Kiem Lake.

This is our group of 13 attracting much attention on our way to dinner.

Where beer is cheaper than water and a whole entire meal costs $1

The owner of the restaurant liked Kels.

Such a happy duck.

But not for long. It's dinner.

Cara and I bought fans from two different ladies so that they won't be upset with us. One lady followed us for three blocks, but we didn't buy from her.

Washington apples next to Vietnamese lychee!

Woman temple keeper at a 996 year old temple.

This man lives at the temple has much wisdom about the place.

Woman in ao dai watching the city zoom by

This shrine shows the age of the temple. So breathtaking.

Exterior of the temple.

Woman in ao dai worshiping at temple.

The keeper of the temple taking a break from his work and the heat in a recliner with traditional Vietnamese music playing.

Gate in the city.

On our way around the city, Cara and I stumbled onto a market near Hoan Kiem Lake. They sell everything here, including snails.

There is no form of social security here. I am really sad when I see elderly women beg or work so hard when they should be enjoying old age and retirement.

Nap time at the market.

Yuum.

Intricate and very beautiful funeral wreaths. I love the lotus flowers.



Gotta wash your veggies once you bring them home.

This eggroll stand really left an impact on me. This woman supports two children by this business alone. Her thirteen year old niece is in town helping her for the summer. This could be my mother and I if we didn't immigrate to the U.S.

Tourist cyclo procession through the city.

The fruit vending hustle is to put these loads on us then befriend us so we can buy their product. Cara is looking like a local!

So do I!

Who needs Victoria's Secret?

These children are playing games at an internet cafe. So adorable.

Lauren, Stacy and I walked around a couple of days ago and we saw this small market. It was sweltering hot in there. We were covered in sweat after being in there only for a few minutes. These women are there all day. Once I took pictures of one of them. They all wanted a picture. I developed these and am bringing copies of the pictures to them today.




Shoes! Shoes! More Shoes!

These boys run a food stand all by themselves.

Can you tell which one has a crush on Cara?



Yup, this one has a crush on Cara. He pushed another boy out of the way when he tried to get into this shot. Hahaha.

One man. Six plates.

Late night eaters.

The chairs in our hotel lobby gives us realy good posture. Here's empress Lauren.

Cara at the temple.

Our first lunch as a group together.


It's quite the endeavor to get all of us somewhere. Here is us in front of our hotel before we take our first group cyclo ride to lunch.


Me and Saskia's firs cyclo driver!


Beautiful ride.


Lovely commie uniforms ;)


Tamarind shrimp


Here is the waitress scraping the burnt rice for me. Good stuff!


Salted fish. Our resident coordinator's favorite dish.


This is what our rice came in. So charming.


We love our beer and food!

Top left: my favorite dish. It's young sticky rice from the tip of rice stalks wrapped in spring roll wrapper and fried served with seasoned grilled pork. So good.

Flower soup with field crab.