One Year Anniversary

I've fallen in love, with Vietnam. Ha! You thought I meant a man huh? Shaaaaa, like that will ever happen. Anyways, Happy Birthday Daddy!!!!! OK, back to original note, one year...since I left home. It's been a year, and I'm in my 3rd country.

Before I left the US, I told everyone that I would be gone for about a year; 3 months Nepal, 3 months Vietnam, 3 months Laos, 3 months Cambodia=1 year. Look at what happened; 5 months Nepal, 7 months India (India wasn't in the plan!) and I'm lovin' Vietnam. I want to stay here for maybe 6 months, there are a lot of opportunities here, and lots of great food.

When I arrived in Vietnam, it was like culture shock. I mean, I traveled to South East Asia before, and I knew what to expect. But I think being in India/Nepal/Bangladesh for a year, with the same kind of culture and atmosphere, the change was difficult to adjust. I was also extremely tired, I had an early flight to Hanoi from the Bangkok airport so I slept there...in the airport, but the lights were too damn bright to sleep. The first day was raining, hot, foggy, and humid. I had never seen so many mopeds in my life. Oh, and they're Asian; asian asian. I blend.

Currently I'm volunteering for East Meets West Foundation, I am the "Creative Consultant and Graphic Designer" volunteer. This foundation raises money for people with disabilities, 11% of the Vietnamese population are disabled. This is cool because now I get to work on my professional experience, which I haven't done in a while.

Here's my budget plan: $5/room. $3/food. So $8 a day. I live on pho, egg rolls, and kebabs, the cheapest food here, and I'm allowed to splurge one day a week (I found a Pinkberry-ish frozen yogurt shop). However, if I travel to work on a xe om (motorbike taxi) then that's $2/roundtrip. So then I spend less on food, I would eat plain pho, or a pastry. Sounds poor, but I am poor. Not sure how long I can stay here, Hanoi is pretty expensive, compared to India. I think on my second part of Vietnam I will travel to the country side and find an orphanage (I hope there isn't frozen yogurt there). BUT!! I can have a beer in the afternoon, like a snack. It costs $1, it fits in my budget.

Alright kids, my crazy adventure continues. Miss you all. By the way, which one of you unemployed are going to visit me in South East Asia? I have a few hopefuls planning already.