Adventures of an expat in Hanoi

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Day Tripper



Last Tuesday, my roommate Sarah and I decided to go on a little "Scooter Road Trip" Hanoi style.
But first, of course, before heading out, just as I turned left from our Alley, we noticed I had a flat tire!! how typical of me.
It's quite common here, because there is a man sitting with a pump, glue and a bucket of water, on every street corner.
So luckily, I only had to drive half a block to get help. (See photo above: How to repair flat tire in Hanoi)
We rode our little Honda waves till the outskirts of Hanoi,
crossed an enormous bridge and found ourselves on a Vietnamese Highway.
We got off and started riding our bikes around some farms and fields
Saw some buffalos and chickens. What an adventure, haha :)
(see photo above of field and farmer,wearing a Viet hat).
On the way back, I saw a man riding a motorbike with a medium sized cage behind him,
stuffed with dogs that seemed dehydrated or dead... I knew exactly where those dogs were going..
I started crying.. I couldn't stop looking into their eyes..
I'm sorry, but eating man's best friend is just too cruel.. especially the way these animals are treated..

Well hopefully next time, I'll drive more than 5 km out of Hanoi.....

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Strange things you find at the supermarket




Weird things you find at the supermarket...
1. funny clothes hanging pins
2. tooth pig holder (haha! a pun! tooth pick)
3. huge strange and tasty fruit

More to come....

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

WORMS


OK, we all know I am a crazy vegetarian.. But today I ate some thing that I had always wanted to try (or at least wanted to try cause I've seen it on TV).
I ATE WORMS!!! I think they were silk worms, they were rather small.. fried.. not live.... It was DISGUSTING!!!! Please don't try this at home...
P.S - I don't really think worms are "animals" so no lectures please... besides, they die after making silk...

Teacher's day and more cute students



Today is Vietnam Teacher appreciation day. Which I didn't realize was going to actually mean something..
I received three bouquets of flowers!!! I have never gotten so many flowers in my life. You had to see how many presents were showered on people who are actual school teachers!!!

PHOTOS: The flowers I got + the cute ladies from my Pre-intermediate class and the bouquet they gave me :)

Saturday, November 17, 2007

My new dwelling




Yes, I have a home in Vietnam now. Moved in a couple of weeks ago. The house is enormous, I am on the fifth floor,72 steps from the living room. So I keep on having to remember to take every thing I need every time I leave my room.
Some quirky facts about the house:
*It's not a building.. it's a house! 6 floors!
*We have a lot of pet Geckos.. (I even found one in the sink while washing dishes)
*We park our motorbikes in the living room.
*We have an altar on the top floor of the house (photo above)
*We dry our clothes on the roof (photo of roof above as well)
*We have a DVD and a new TV but no oven or toaster-oven (which I guess is normal here)
*We wake up naturally around 7am!
*Our landlord always yells at us in Vietnamese, I have no idea what she wants from me

Chip R.I.P


I have recently been informed that Chip, my former pet (who was kindly adopted by Janis and Greg for my departure) has gone to a better place.
You all know that Chip was a handful, but he was a great pet whom I loved deeply. He was the cleverest cat I have ever met.
Here is a photo of Chippie. May his memory be blessed