Day 1

It’s only been one day in HCMC and all of us are having a blast already. The flight was very long but surprisingly I slept about 9 hours of the 15 hour flight and all of the transfer flight. I’m not as scared of flying as I thought! Sitting next to Diana made it a lot better because we talked all through takeoff and landing. We had a layover in Shanghai and our transfer flight was delayed by 2 hours!

The only souvenir I have from Shanghai is some change from the water bottle I bought. Guess how much a water bottle was? Eight US dollars! Unreal. Places I can’t afford to live: Shanghai.

After some confusion, we took a taxi to SEAMEO (the school we’re teaching at) and went to bed. Diana and I are sharing a room and it’s really nice! Two beds, a desk, two closets, a mini fridge, and air conditioning!

Today was SO FUN! We woke up and got Vietnamese coffee and pho ga (noodles with chicken) for breakfast. Coffee in Vietnam is like rocket fuel but delicious nonetheless. They give you a very small portion because it’s so strong. Pho is yummy and I predict it will be a staple in my diet here.

Later in the day, our director Anh took us to lunch where I got rice noodles and veggies. We walked all over District 1 to places like the Saigon River and Ben Thanh Market. Ben Thanh Market is like a huge flea market with souvenirs, food, clothes, and pretty much anything you could imagine. We are going back this week to go shopping!

Vietnam is very humid so you constantly have to keep hydrated. The awesome thing about coconut water here is it served to you in the coconut it came from. It tastes so fresh and much better than coconut water back in the USA. Compared to the USA, Vietnam coconut water doesn’t taste processed or loaded with sugar. I love it!

After we left Anh, we wandered around the city some more. We did so much walking today and didn’t even realize! For dinner we went to this place that made you pick a broth, then put it on a hot plate in front of you while you picked food to go in it and cook. The broth was super spicy but delicious. I also added corn, basil, and leeks. The place was kind of expensive and not worth the money. Geeta and I tried mochi after, which was one of the most interesting things I’ve ever tasted. There was chocolate mousse on the outside and some rice paddy on the outside that was SO slimy. I’m still not sure how I feel about it, I have to try it again.

We walked around some more and found a rooftop bar with a really pretty view. So far my trip here is a blast and it’s only been one day! The only thing that is difficult to get used to is the money (Dong) and crossing the street. It’s INSANE. There are motor scooters everywhere. I haven’t mastered the art yet, but I’m sure I will soon.

 

Everyone that I’m working with is so nice. We have orientation on Sunday. I am excited to start teaching on Monday!