Living in Hanoi, Vietnam

Man, it really feels like I'm back in L.A., it's cool...but not that cool, but still cool. I'm working in a huge NGO, I have my own xe-om (motorbike taxi) drivers, happy hour after work, attending music/art shows, and then dating?? Been a while, but I still got game, I think it's the tattoos.

Past few weeks I have been designing all the signage for an exhibition campaign in Ho Chi Minh City (South Vietnam, I like calling it Saigon), incase you forgot, I am living in Hanoi (North Vietnam). Flew out of Hanoi with two co-workers to Saigon for five days preparing the campaign. This campaign is to help promote awareness and raise funds for the disabilities in Vietnam. We feature 10 organizations from around Vietnam. We had celebrities, ambassadors, and sponsors coming in, so it was a huge success. The communications team seemed happy with the outcome, and with me. As a result, it was good for me to network on finding volunteer opportunities when I come back. Good hook-ups. These people can give me contacts all over Vietnam.

Face for Handicap International Organization

East Meets West Booth

This helped plan my future in Vietnam but also my career; I had an exhibition class in art college, but never got to do it professionally. So I learned a lot, worked hard, and I got to see my art displayed. I'll admit I wish I could have change the whole art that was already chosen by their old designer, oh well...I think I made it look better than before. All in all, we (Chau, Lan Anh, and I) worked our asses off, little sleep, ate food late in the night, worked so hard to the point where we were talking stupid.

Finishing up Saigon; flight delayed again! Went to the War Museum, ate at the best sushi bar in the city, went to Wrap 'n Roll for the first time, attended an Art Talk featuring Tuan Andrew Nguyen, had a French dinner with French people I didn't speak to, noticed on FB status's that Coachella was this weekend...as a replacement I went to MTV Exit concert featuring our organization, music sucked! Who the hell is this American band The Click 5??

What I learned so far in Hanoi:
-A lot of Vietnamese people here think they're awesome and important than you, and try really hard to show who's a better person in everything (mainly alcohol tolerance and fashion)...sounds like L.A.
-If you have an argument with a local trying to rip you off, it's pretty much a 'who can yell the loudest?' situation. So 'hanoi-ing.' Thanks bro.
-Hanoi is a big city, but small, seems as though all the expats know all the other expats. And those expats know a lot of cool Vietnamese people that are also friends with the other expats. So it's one big circle.
-No one knows English and I'm having a hard time learning it.
-They all eat with their mouths open...do not give a Vietnamese person chewing gum (smacking, sloppy sounds...pet peeve).
-This is the first country where I eat street food everyday and have not been to 1 western restaurant yet.

Soon I will write a blog about volunteering in Vietnam. Because it was so hard to find a legit organization that doesn't rip volunteers off!! For example, I visited a temple that helps raise children with disabilities that have been abandoned by their parents. The organization that funds for this is a huge company with plenty of volunteers all the time. But...the volunteer has to pay $270.00 a month (basic food/dorm accommodation). On my own, I spent $230 this month, and that's including drinking nights, dinners, splurges, transportation, and my own room. Yeah, that's what I mean by rip-off. I'm going to keep helping the world and other people that wants to do the same.

-sigh- I love what I'm doing.