Carmen Clark
September 19, 2023
Greetings from Viet Nam.
My first encounter with Vietnam was overwhelming, the air is hot and humid, the noise level is beyond anything I’ve come across so far in my life. Crossing the streets is probably going to be one of the most adventurous things I’ll ever do in my life, good luck with daydreaming, if you’re not fully present as you walk the streets of this country, it might just be the end of you. There are no obvious rules to the Western eye, everything seems chaotic and overwhelming. Four weeks in and I start seeing some structure and I’m becoming more skilful at crossing the street or walking on the edge of the street almost of the time as the sidewalk is high real estate or motorcycle/car parking designated spot.
I spent the first two weeks travelling in the Northern part of Vietnam, getting to see some places and meet some people. I tried to take as many pictures of the locals as possible, their smiles were the most beautiful ones I have ever seen. I was struck by how poor, yet how happy they look, they simply glow with hapiness.
I started school last week, and I’m getting into a rhythm already. I usually wake up around 5, 30 am and get to school by taking a Grab motorcycle, or bus lately making sure I am there for 7:30 am. Where I teach, at a primary school, students start school at 7:45am, have 4 periods of 35 minutes each in the morning until 10,35 am with a 5 min break between each period and a 20 min break in between period 2 and 3. They go home or stay at school resting until 2 pm and the school resumes at 2,10 pm for 3 more periods, again with 5 min between each period and a 20 min break in between period 2 and 3. School is done at 4,20 pm in the afternoon. What I’ve observed is that they start their day with some school yard physical exercises to warm up, loosen their body and get in the school mood. I join in at times, and the students give me thumbs up for doing an amazing job. I’m proud of myself! The love and attention Gabe and I receive in that school is endless, drawings, verbal and written love declarations, stickers, I was given chips and crackers, I was even offered a juice box, which I chose to decline after many given thanks, just felt awkward to accept such a big give. There are fans in each classroom, but I am still sweating something fiercely, my clothes are soaked all the time and I just can’t get my body to cool off.
For lunch I use the Highlands café for its AC and get some assignments or readings done and then find a small joint to eat some local food for 2 or 3 dollars. Days go fast this way.
At the end of the day, I usually walk back home, wandering around, window shopping, stopping for either a coconut ice cream served in half a coconut shell or a coconut coffee, which is something out of this world good, or sometimes just buying a snack off the street, most of the time not knowing what I’m getting anyway. Street vendors are abundant, and I use Google translate most of the time. Food is amazing, concentrated broths noodle dishes and vermicelli soups are fragrant and delicious. You can find juices and fruit teas everywhere for a dollar or two and they are cooling.
More to come, Carmen