(PICTURE: One of my favorite classes and me...)My Visa expired this week which means one thing -- I've now been in Vietnam for over six months. Lets take a look back at the top five highs and lows:
Top Five Highs:
1. Meeting Huyen. Every day I spend with her is another adventure. Some adventures are big (like taking road trips to the mountains) and some adventures are small (like trying to explain to her that I'm allergic to shellfish and constantly finding her ordering/cooking it for me).
2. Traveling around this amazing country. I've been to the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Da Nang, Hue, Halong Bay, Hanoi and a bunch of small places in the country...
3. Living somewhere completely out of my comfort zone. Every time I step out the front door I'm reminded that I've never been anywhere like where I am now.
4. Never being at a loss to find amazing food. I'm about to jinx myself, but I've also only taken two Immodium ADs in 6 months. Yeah, the food here agrees with my system roughly 20X's better (or 78 less Immodium ADs better per six months) than the food in America.
5. Being roughly a foot and a half taller than everyone I meet. I like to think I'm inspiring some future writers to write a new version of Gulliver's Travels.
Top Five Lows:
1. Being away from my family and friends for so long and especially missing the birth of my niece.
2. Being robbed by Ninjas in my sleep.
3. Being evicted and having ten days to move because my girlfriend slept over.
4. Having to work Sundays as of two weeks ago. I hate working on Sunday!
5. Not being able to jump on my bicycle and ride to the beach in two minutes like I have the last couple years in Santa Monica.
Overall it's been a pretty amazing six months and I have no doubt the times ahead of me will only get better and better...
Thanks to everyone for reading the blog these past six months. The blog truly started as something to keep my mom from daily panic attacks and has grown into an international phenomenon. Okay, maybe it's not quite that big but it's really nice to know so many people are taking an interest in my life...so thanks!
6 comments:
Thanks for always thinking of me, BenJAMIN. The blog as well as email has truly kept me from worrying (most of the time)and has also shown me what a wonderful and funny writer you are (grammar and spelling aside). Right now, L.A. or S.M. are looking very good! NYC is too much to hope for...
Dude - there's a major adjustment when you go back to American food. Kinda like AT&T Wireless Roll Over Minutes, you better start saving those Immodium AD pills.
Hi Ben,
I stumbled across your blog on Sunday as I am planning a short trip to Hanoi in January 2009.
I loved reading about your daily exploits and will continue to read about what is happening. I teach 5 year olds myself and I found your description of teaching 10 year olds very funny.
Stay safe and I hope you continue to have a fabulous time in Hanoi.
Carol S.
Perth Western Australia
Welcome, Carol! I was in Perth back in February....good times there and in Margaret River and Rotnest Island. If you have any questions about Hanoi feel free to shoot me an email!
It's great you had such a great six months in Hanoi, but what are you going to do now? Back to America or looking to stay in Asia?
Ben;
I still read the blog almost every day, but it wasn't as good as reading about Lilah.
Jeff A.
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