Hanoi Bound.......

As September temperatures become cooler and Missouri begins its welcome transition to more tolerable weather, I begin my long trek to hot, steamy Hanoi. As many of you know, I officially retired on September 1. Eight days later I am on an airplane bound for Vietnam. As I did in the fall of 2008, I will be teaching a geography course at Hanoi National University of Education.

I am excited to be headed back to Vietnam. I enjoyed my previous semester teaching there -- but as I well know, going back can be difficult because things change. But for me it seems like the right thing to do. I need some type of transition from working full time and of course, my little feet are always tap...tap...tapping. I like to keep moving and travel to the far corners of the world seems like a great way to "transition" into retirement.

My flight from St. Louis to Hanoi was uneventful--just the type of trip I like to take. I flew from STL to Chicago and after a short layover, boarded a big ol' Korean Airlines 747 bound for Seoul Korea. I have discovered the perfect seat on this airplane. My travel agent thinks I am crazy.....but I really like the very last seat on the plane--back in steerage, as I call it. The 747 airplane narrows at the rear and the seats go from the standard 3-4-3 seating to a 2-4-2 configuration. So I am on the aisle of the 2. Behind my seat is a HUGE space--actually about 8 feet of nothing. So I can have my seat in full recline and I bother no one. But the best part is that I can stand up and "exercise" any time I want. In addition, I can stand and lean over my seat and watch movies on the personal TV screen in the seat back because my headphone cord is able to stretch that distance. The fourteen hour flight passed.....well, not quickly...but somewhat in comfort.

I arrived in Seoul and after going through screening, headed up to the fourth floor of the airport. I know this airport well and several years ago discovered their free showers. I now pack a clean set of clothes, towel and soap so I can take advantage of this wonderful facility. I manage to stay awake for the four hour layover and my next flight to Hanoi departs on time. This leg of the trip is always brutal. The flight is almost five hours long and by that time I am totally trashed. I try to sleep but as usual, I end up only dozing. My seatmate on this trip is a young Vietnamese graduate student who is returning home to see his family for the first time in two years. I learn that he got his undergraduate degree from Truman State University. We both laughed when he told me that. He said he spent many weekends in Columbia because not much goes on in Kirksville!

I arrived around 10pm...claimed my luggage and was very happy to see several familiar faces when I emerged from customs. So now I am back in my old room.....a few changes...but basically the same place as in 2008. The next few days should be interesting. I am anxious to see what is new....and what has stayed the same. So stay tuned!