(PINK?)For Huyen's thesis presentation she had to wear an "ao dai", the traditional dress of Vietnamese women. Your average Vietnamese girl doesn't actually own one of these fancy dresses so they have to rent them for big events. Yeah, kind of like tuxedos. Huyen asked me go with her to choose out a dress for her presentation.
The Ao Dai shop was a two story store stacked from floor to ceiling with silk gowns. The gowns come in every imaginable color with all unique designs on the front and back. Girls don't have to worry here about showing up to a party wearing the same dress as one of their friends since all the dresses -- at least at this shop -- were different.
On a side note, one of my favorite episodes of Seinfeld (or as my Dad thinks it's called -- Steinfeld) is when George takes naps under his desk at work. All of us get tired at work on occasion and want to take a nap but most of us aren't brave enough to throw a pillow on the floor and snooze off for twenty minutes. Well, in Vietnam they're a little more blatant about it. Sure, working in retail isn't the most exciting thing but check out this video I took at the dress store. These girls are either really tired or perhaps there was a carbon monxide leak in the store:
7 comments:
Nice idea, renting a dress for the occasion, since many times the fancy dresses only get worn once. I like the one Huyen is wearing in hot pink. Do people get to watch the presentation?
Huyen chose the hot pink one. It looked really good. Yup, you get to watch the presentation. That's my blog for tomorrow.
how did you not laugh when seeing those girls sleep??!!!
eileen would not be happy with you taking pictures of people while they sleep....i've never forgotten that old wives tail!!
Four months ago I laughed Bier. Now I just giggle and shake my head. I see things like that all the time but don't have my camera with me. I have to remind myself sometimes, "that not normal where I come from." Once in China I went to this famous museum and EVERYONE was sleeping. I'm talking like twenty people.
This takes sleeping on the job to a new level! It's a good thing they don't work on commission.
I like the blue dress for Brad's wedding...
That sleeping in the clothing store situation is more similar to the Seinfeld episode when George gives a rocking chair to the security guard in Susan's uncle's upscale clothing store. The security guard promptly fell asleep on the job, and the store was robbed. That Costanza was always causing trouble!
I feel bad that my first comment on your blog was a lame Seinfeld reference. Ben - you've put together something quite impressive and a thoroughly enjoy reading about your adventures!
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