You know you've been in Asia a while when blasting techno music outside your office at 3pm is only a mild surprise...
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Friday, January 11, 2013
Life Pro Tips for Vietnam
Some of my observations after 2.5 months of living in Vietnam, enjoy!
1. It's not important whether or not there's insects in your house (there always is), it's only important whether they will bite you or not!
2. In traffic, size is the most important factor determining in right of way. Therefore: bus, truck and car passes motorbike, motorbike passes bicycle, bicycle passes... people walking, people pushing/pulling large carts, cows...
3. If you have unusual body modifications (such as facial piercings and tattoos) you will be pointed at and possibly touched on a daily basis.
4. Most events start late but if someone's coming to meet you, they will start calling you repeatedly the minute they arrive.
5. The description "same, same" means the two things being discussed are not even remotely the same.
6. People in Vietnam are significantly smaller than your average North American and size of everything (chairs, clothes, ceilings etc) reflect this fact.
7. Restaurant service that would be considered non-existent in North America is the norm, shouting at the waiter is expected and no one leaves tips.
8. The sun is an evil enemy to be feared. Therefore one should cover all exposed bits of skin, typically with face masks, jeans and sweaters in 30 degree heat. If you wear a t-shirt it will be concluded that you are strangely fearless of this evil enemy.
9. Vietnamese people can sleep anywhere, at anytime. It is not considered lazy to nap on the job. Some people, such as guards, have beds at their posts for this exact purpose.
...more to come as I think of them!
1. It's not important whether or not there's insects in your house (there always is), it's only important whether they will bite you or not!
2. In traffic, size is the most important factor determining in right of way. Therefore: bus, truck and car passes motorbike, motorbike passes bicycle, bicycle passes... people walking, people pushing/pulling large carts, cows...
3. If you have unusual body modifications (such as facial piercings and tattoos) you will be pointed at and possibly touched on a daily basis.
4. Most events start late but if someone's coming to meet you, they will start calling you repeatedly the minute they arrive.
5. The description "same, same" means the two things being discussed are not even remotely the same.
6. People in Vietnam are significantly smaller than your average North American and size of everything (chairs, clothes, ceilings etc) reflect this fact.
7. Restaurant service that would be considered non-existent in North America is the norm, shouting at the waiter is expected and no one leaves tips.
8. The sun is an evil enemy to be feared. Therefore one should cover all exposed bits of skin, typically with face masks, jeans and sweaters in 30 degree heat. If you wear a t-shirt it will be concluded that you are strangely fearless of this evil enemy.
9. Vietnamese people can sleep anywhere, at anytime. It is not considered lazy to nap on the job. Some people, such as guards, have beds at their posts for this exact purpose.
...more to come as I think of them!
Obssessions with Excess
I recently read another article about how much food is wasted world wide: this one stating almost half of all food produced! The article brings up many good points but one that stuck with me is the common cultural practice of serving guests more food than they can possibly eat. This is a practice that can be observed the world over, from Thanksgiving dinners in North America to every dinner party I've attended here in Vietnam, everyone wants you to overeat - and then some!
But where does this custom come from? In North America obesity is already a huge health concern, as it is becoming in many other parts of the world as well but more interestingly to me is the fact that when you state "I'm not hungry" (especially in Vietnam, but I'm sure you, dear reader, have observed this throughout your travels) suddenly your judgement is no good and your word holds no value.
Everyone's been put in those uncomfortable social situations where they have to eat when they really don't want to and are not hungry so why does this practice continue? Why can't we, the advanced people we are, accept that sometimes someone just isn't hungry and it isn't because there's anything wrong with the food or the person offering it but they just don't feel like eating at at moment? I understand that in many cases people do not have much to give other than food and it is a common ground that all humans share - we all must eat, but we have the biological ability to become full as well!
But where does this custom come from? In North America obesity is already a huge health concern, as it is becoming in many other parts of the world as well but more interestingly to me is the fact that when you state "I'm not hungry" (especially in Vietnam, but I'm sure you, dear reader, have observed this throughout your travels) suddenly your judgement is no good and your word holds no value.
Everyone's been put in those uncomfortable social situations where they have to eat when they really don't want to and are not hungry so why does this practice continue? Why can't we, the advanced people we are, accept that sometimes someone just isn't hungry and it isn't because there's anything wrong with the food or the person offering it but they just don't feel like eating at at moment? I understand that in many cases people do not have much to give other than food and it is a common ground that all humans share - we all must eat, but we have the biological ability to become full as well!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Northern Vietnam
Some highlights from my two week trip to Hanoi, Sapa and Cat Ba Island.
 |
| Christmas decorations in Hanoi |
 |
| Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum |
 |
| Visiting a village outside Hanoi |
 |
| Village outside Hanoi |
 |
| Trekking in Sapa - terraced rice paddies |
 |
| Sapa |
 |
| Cat Cat village outside Sapa |
 |
| Market in Sapa |
 |
| Two day trek in rubber boots! |
 |
| Kayaking in Cat Ba |
 |
| Our boat in Cat Ba |
 |
| View from Cat Ba |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)