Big Announcement

There is a big announcement in this video clip. Get ready!!!!....and no, Huyen and I are not engaged.

Gas Prices

The other day I talked with my parents who complained about the soaring gas prices in the states. Well, the price of gas has just sky rocketed in Vietnam too. Last week it cost me 50,000 Dong to fill up my motorbike. That's about $3.00. Well, this morning I filled up my bike and it cost 70,000 Dong. That's about $4.00. That's a 20,000 Dong/$1 increase in a week. That's huge!

While at the gas station I talked to my favorite Gas Attendant who I have the same conversation with every time:

ATTENDANT: Where are you from?
ME: Mie (America in Vietnamese...one of the few words I know although I think I'm spelling it wrong here.)
ATTENDANT: How long you been here?
ME: Three months.
ATTENDANT: What do you think of Vietnam?
ME: I love it.
ATTENDANT: Oh!!!! (Then then turns to the attendant to his right and says something in Vietnamese which I'm pretty sure means, "The American loves Vietnam.") We then say goodbye...and have the same exact conversation one week later.


By the way, reason #4,289 why I love 'Nam: Like New Jersey someone has to fill up your gas tank for you.

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

One of my worst nightmares is coming true -- gossip magazine have made their way into Vietnam!

The Salter Sisters left a couple magazines here and Huyen found them. Next thing I know she's going to be asking me about Britany's babies and whether or not Tom Cruise is gay.

Where are the Culture Police when you need them! (FYI, the Culture Police are the policeman who come into the bars every night and kick everyone out at midnight...unless they're paid off).

Dinner With My Students

It is tradition at Language Link to take your students out for coffee or dinner after your last class. Well last week I finished two classes which meant two dinners. Here's a few pictures I took both nights with some classic/random music to guide you along the way...

Anxious?

Apparently I'm not the only person in my family who has the travel bug. Look who else is looking to get out of her surroundings to see a new world:




Let me know when you want to visit Uncle Ben in 'Nam, Lilah!

Flag Ceremony

Every night at 9PM a giant crowd gathers to watch the flag taken down in front of Uncle Ho's Mausoleum. Here's a quick recap of what happened when I went:

Worm Noodles

The other night Huyen took me out for one of her favorite dishes: Worm Noodles. Yeah, it is just like it sounds. It's noodle soup with worms. Or if you're a pessimist, it's worms with noodle soup. Being the fearless adventurer I am, I had to try it.