During the Week of Nov.5-10:
I got to know the experience a little more of the simple life in Vietnam. Because all the samonims and pastors were busy preparing for the World Camp, I was mainly at the IYF Center, waiting for my students to arrive, as I helped with the everyday chores.
Vietnam is two hours behind Korea, so the first few days in the morning time, I was able to wake up really early, and hear the roosters crow (seriously! I think they were next door, and it made me realize that I was not in NY or in Korea anymore. The sight and the sound of roosters was something that needed getting used to; will go into detail a little bit more later). After a few days, I got familiar the time change, and had difficulties waking up at 6am, so I couldn't hear the roosters' crowing in the early mornings anymore.
Another thing that I needed getting used to, was the fact that the bathrooms in South East Asia (SEA) do not usually provide or come with toilet paper. Instead, they have what is popularly called the "Bum Hose". It's pretty much a mini-water hose that people use to rinse/wash/clean after themselves after going to the bathroom. I found it quite awkward at first (did my best not to use the bathroom too often in the beginning) because the toilet seat would always be wet, and I would have to pull up my pants with my bum still wet. But again, it was something that I got used to after awhile. Because like I mentioned in my previous post, the weather in Vietnam was very hot and humid (even in November!), so my pants would dry up pretty quickly. I also did some quick research online to find out why SEA bathrooms are structured this way, and realized that it is just a matter of hygiene. So, it was pretty interesting experience. And next time I will remember to bring some tissue napkins with me when I visit there again in the future. :)
So I mentioned about roosters before. And during my time in Vietnam, I wondered why there were so many roosters around. People actually take care/raise them like dogs. But later, through a elementary/middle school Vietnamese student, he explained to me through body language, picture books, a few English words that he knows, that there are many roosters around because people would have the animals fight each other and place money-bets on the winning animal. It kind of made me feel a bit shocked when I heard that, for two reasons; one is because I heard it from such a little kid, meaning it must be so common, that kids think nothing of it. But then again, he also told that he once helped separate the fighting roosters before. Another reason I was shocked was because it was not something I come across everyday. I am aware that there are some cruel people in this world that would abuse animals by making them fight each other (to the death at times), but in the US, it's considered as animal cruelty and is illegal. While here in Vietnam, it seems to be widely accepted, like a common pass-time.
During the day everyone is so busy and it is so hot, nightlife is really where many people come out from their homes and workplace to enjoy shopping and eatting on the dimly lit streets. Karaoke also seems to be a very popular pastime since there seems to be as much of those as there are Starbucks in NY.
Vietnam is a Communist country, where the definition for a "Christian" is "an American who does not like Communism" (someone told me this before, just thought it was interesting so I shared it here). So during the time spent in Vietnam, many of the IYF activities was under tight surveillance by the Vietnamese government, and at times, we were worried that our event might be canceled. However, with the grace of God, we were able to successfully hold our event which consisted of the Gracias Music students performing multiple music pieces, and the founder of IYF giving multiple mind lectures. The students really enjoyed their time in Vietnam. They said that it is like Heaven compared to where they were in India. They enjoyed performing, and the audience loved them, so they felt so happy and thankful for being able to perform.
When I think back to Vietnam, I will forever remember the Autobikes and the many different kinds of food I got to enjoy during my time there.
Like I mentioned in my previous post, riding on these autobikes is a really refreshing experience. I have never ridden anything other than a bike before (and even that, I've only ridden once), so I was kind of nervous to get on one when I first arrived to Vietnam, and was taken to the IYF center on an autobike. As a driver of a car, it is definitely a different kind of feeling to be riding on a vehicle without all the protections that a car provides. Autobike drivers only use a helmet, and some people wear face covers and sunglasses, and a flowy shirt to protect themselves against the dust, wind, and sun. Vietnam has very loose laws for driving, so people tend to not follow the traffic signals, or they drive in different directions, or just uncourteous to other drivers. When people do stop at the Red-light, they are all very packed up close to the crosswalk, so it was both an intimate and yet awkward feeling on an autobike. I was only a passenger behind the driver, but it is quite common to see up to three adults on a bike or many kinds of items piled up in front (the gap between the legs on the bike) and behind the driver. Thinking back at it now, autobikes brings back fond memories of the few times I was able to ride one.
The food in Vietnam was amazing. It was both very light and also very filling at the same time. Rice noodles are very famous in Vietnam. It is very inexpensive to eat, and is delicious. However, one must be careful where they eat it at. Hygiene is something that travelers must be super careful about when it comes to food in SEA. Luckily, the IYF and church took care of all the food, so everyone ate very happily, deliciously, and safely. :D
In NYC, there are a lot of kinds of food, and Vietnamese food is definitely on the menu. I've tried rice noodles, and sandwiches, but it is again, a little bit different in Vietnam. The ingredients are not the same, so the taste of course is different. But because of the French influence in Vietnam, all the bread in that I've tasted in Vietnam is so fresh and delicious! :D
The fruits is another amazing thing to talk about. Even though in the US, there are pineapples, and papaya, and plantains, it is very fresh and delicious and abundant in SEA. When I was eating these fruits with the students, I found out that they have never eaten papayas before, and was surprised because I thought it was widely imported fruit. I love papayas because it is such a power fruit, great for the body, but not available all year round, and is expensive when it is in season. So I stuffed my face with fruits like pineapples and papaya.
Other than papayas, there were coconuts that I, along with the students were introduced to, in it's natural form. It was fresh coconuts, with all the juice and the meat inside the center. Sadly, because I was so stuffed and busy, I didn't get a chance to side down and eat the coconut meat. But it was delicious! :D
I will finish off with one last thing about Vietnam and it's food, and that is about Vietnamese coffee, especially the instant packaged brand "G7". I was never a coffee lover. While I was in Korea, many Koreans drink coffee, and I could not understand why. I never found a taste for it. But while I was at the IYF center, and was bored one day, I tried a cup of iced G7 coffee, and was addicted. In Vietnam, I probably drank like 10 packs in 4 days (not healthy, I know). I regret now, not thinking ahead, and buying a couple packs while I was in Vietnam (it cost like $2 for a box of 20 packets)..But maybe, if I'm lucky, I can find it while I am back in NYC. One thing I love about the city, is that it is so diverse, you can find almost any kind of food/drink :D
During my time in Vietnam, the students and I got to tour a little bit, where we went site-seeing (former "White House" before the building of operations was moved to Hanoi), and shopping at the famous tourist shopping area in HCMC. The Vietnamese university volunteer students were really wonderful to explain the country's history, to translate for us, and to help us bargain as we shopped. I was surprised though, when many of the students that I spoke to did not speak as much English as I expected.
On another thought, I was also able to meet another GNC volunteer who was sent to Hanoi, Vietnam, and was from Thailand. She shared with me her difficulties and the heart she felt as being the only volunteer there. Our conversations just made me think again back to God, and the grace that he has showed me and is continuously pouring onto me. Sometimes I come across difficulties, and think of them as very heavy burdens. But then later, when I look back, I realize that it is really God preparing me for grace.
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