My Folks

"YOU ARE SKINNY." That's what my pops said to me when he saw me picking him up at the Hanoi airport, October 4th. Followed by "A year and a half and 4 days." For me, it didn't feel long. For him, it was. He and I talked about my whole time in Vietnam while we waited for my mom to arrive. (they flew seperately from different countries). At this time beginning of October, it was 1,000 year anniversary of Hanoi itself. So it has been crazy packed in the Old Quarters.

My dad was emotional seeing me and I knew he was going to be like that. Seeing my mom was casual as ever, as if she was a buddy I saw yesterday, "hey" my mom said when we saw each other. We grabbed a taxi and headed to their hotel. It was late in the evening but all the lights of Hanoi was still lit. Been a while since I drove in the Old Quarters late at night, so it was nice to see it all decorated without the normal chaotic traffic.

The next day I met up with them and we walked around the Hoan Kiem Lake. I grabbed a couple cyclos (I can't believe I did it a second time) for my dad, and the other for mom and I. Rode around for 30 minutes and had lunch, and walked around some more around the Old Quarters. Went back to the hotel and took a nap. Dinner came around and I took them to Quan An Ngon. One of my favorite restaurants. My parents ordered 7 dishes! Turned out that my dad wanted me to be full, he thinks I'm starving myself to save money (maybe).

Wednesday, my parents left in the morning to Halong Bay. A 1 night and 2 day trip. I had to stay in Hanoi to work.

Thursday.

Friday, I worked and taught class. I met up with them in the evening before they went to bed. They said they enjoyed their time in Halong Bay and had great food. A few ups and downs with the tour guide and hotel management, but overall they enjoyed it.

Saturday, we had lunch with the owner of the school I am teaching in. The restaurant was a HUGE buffet and once again, I was stuffed. I think I did gain a few pounds that week. Anyways, after lunch we went to ceramic village and silk village. The whole journey should have taken about 3 hours, including shopping time, but because of traffic due to the festival, it took 5 hours! Not to mention, our taxi driver hit someone on a motorbike. The driver flew off his bike. I did not want my parents to see that when I had JUST told them that I bought myself a bike. The taxi driver gave the injured motorbiker 300k dong ($15) and we left. Good thing we were tired, my parents forgot about the accident and just relaxed when we got home.

Sunday, I was supposed to be at my parents hotel at 8am, and take a tour bus to Hoa Luu (Old capital) and Tam Coc. I woke up LATE! I can't remember what I did Saturday night...I woke up at 7:40 am. I brushed my teeth, grabbed my backpack, and drove as fast as I could to their hotel, the streets were so busy at that time! But I made it to my parents hotel on time.

I fell asleep the whole way to Hoa Luu. Hoa Luu was nice but Tam Coc was AMAAAAAZING. Way better than Halong Bay. My mom is silly, she's sooo silly.

Tam Coc

Tam Coc

We got back to Hanoi early evening and I took them to have BBQ. Afterwards, we had dessert called Che, it's just a bunch of different stuff mixed together and crushed ice on top, my parents like that kind of stuff. We headed back to the hotel and I spent the night there with them. My dad had to leave back to Taiwan the next early morning.

Monday morning, my dad left at 7:30am. He told me not to come with him to the airport. I couldn't go anyway cause I had work, but if I didn't, he would force me to stay in Hanoi. My dad is too proud to cry in front of me, I'm the same way. I left my mom at the hotel until lunch time. I picked her up at noon, put her in a taxi and followed me back to my house, 15 minutes away.

Tuesday, I forced my mom to cook for my friends and I. It took us 2 days to shop for all the ingredients, and it was the first time I rode a motorbike with her on the back! It was a lot of fun and she didn't seem scared or paranoid being a passenger. That's good. About 10 people showed up and my mom and I cooked so much food! The left overs lasted a few more days. Anyways, it was a good night of my close friends and it was nice to eat her cooking again. She's the best Chinese chef!

Dinner

Wednesday, I was late coming home in the evening. I had to attend a ceremony where a Vietnamese 'celebrity' was handing over donations to people suffering from disabilities. I had to take photographs. It was crazy traffic and was so worried my mom was waiting for me to eat dinner. I got home quickly and I open my bedroom door, my mom is laying there watching her Chinese DVD's. She did eat without me cause I was too late, but we went to the Old Quarters to go shoe shopping. Ate a little food cause I was hungry and we both shared a fruit smoothie.

Thursday, I came home from work at noon, we had lunch and went to a hair salon. We got our hair washed and had facials. We both relaxed until her taxi came at 4:30 pm, and she left to the airport back to America.

I think my parents liked Vietnam. I also think that my dad understands why I like it here and more acceptable that I'd rather be here than America. I needed my dad to visit me cause it's good for both of us. I like seeing people I care about and I miss a lot of people, and he needed to see his daughter. It was a good trip, many laughs and hugs.

my folks.