Thank You and Thanks

It's been a journey. I wrote a post a while ago about random people sending me messages about my blog and how it had inspired them. I receive about 2 messages a week from people who have came across my blog or have heard from other people. I appreciate the messages saying "I can't wait for your next post" or "Keep it up, you seem so happy."

I always reply back saying "Thanks, I'm glad someone actually reads them!" I really feel like that. Like...wow...people care.

I think I am not a good blogger or even a writer! I never had a journal or diary. I've always used photographs as my memories. I write what I feel and I write when I feel like I need to write. I remembered how awkward it was to write my first few blogs, I didn't know what to say. My brother persuaded me to have a blog when I refused. I consider myself a private person, but I'm glad that I have continued to write and not give up.

I thanked my brother, dad, mom, and close friends for supporting me. And now I want to say thanks to whoever reads this. I appreciate you all following with me on this epic adventure. Although, even without support I'd still be doing this trip.

Anyways, design work for EMW is going well, designing a new website, and can't wait to find out which design we're going to end up using. Teaching English at the Hanoi school is good, the kids LIKE me! The other day I was on my motorbike going to work, another motorbike passed in front of me and a little boy sitting on the back turned his head, removed his face mask, and said "Hi Teacher!" and then ride away. :) It's also nice to run into my students in the city center and meeting their parents, the child would say "This is my teacher," and the parents would have huge smiles, then we would shake hands, and I'll tell them their child is a good student. They love that.

My colleague from work, Huong, invited me to visit her family in Phu Tho. It's a 3 hour train ride from Hanoi. The family was so welcoming that I fell in love with them. It's funny that when you enter a family's house in America, you are still distant to not over-stay your welcome, even when they say "mi casa es su casa." But this family, BAM! You're part of the family. I napped with Huong, her baby, and the grandmother in one bed...I slept well! I loved the grandmother and she made me miss my own grandmothers in America and China. I helped her out of the car one time and walked with her for walking support, she sniffed my hands. I got paranoid and asked Huong why the grandmother was sniffing my hands. Huong said that it was her way of showing affection. Awwwwwww!!!!! She liiiiiiiiiikes meeeeeeee. After that, whenever I saw the grandmother sitting alone, I'd sit next to her and hold her hand. Even though we couldn't communicate to each other (because I barely knew any Vietnamese), we had a bond. That's what I miss, I miss that kind of love. When the grandmother left, she sniffed both sides of my face. DOUBLE SNIFFS! YES!

Grammy on right.

Huong's father seemed to like me a lot too, if I got married (ha!), he wants to come to the wedding. They will come to my house one day.

On another note, I got a new mattress cause the old one had bed bugs. BED BUGS!! Haven't been bitten by bed bugs since sleeping in a shitty hostel in India! Uhhhhhh.