These students are wonderful. They work very hard and go to class and study over ten hours per day. I think they are the reason I like to teach in Vietnam. They are excellent students…only the best and brightest get to go to university. And although they are struggling with my course [GIS is very difficult—even for English speaking students] they are hanging in there and trying to learn the material. Last class I was working with some images that are “thumbnails” of the data. In the US we use the term thumbnail and everyone knows what it means. But I stopped mid-sentence and was silent for a long time. I couldn’t figure a way to explain what a thumbnail image was. In fact, I decided it was a stupid name to use. And, I gave up trying to explain and just called it a “small image” –which I think they understood.
Anyway…back to Vietnamese Women’s day. The students learned that one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes is Bun Cha – an awesome…flavorful…and very filling dish.
So they invited me out for a Bun Cha dinner. We walked about 2K and sat down to a big meal.
Afterwards we stopped for another group photo around the sign advertising the restaurant.
I also snapped a photo of the flowers being sold right now because of Women’s day. It is similar to Mother’s day and if you are a lucky woman, you get flowers. So flowers are everywhere. I love how the sidewalk shops appear and disappear based upon the season, holiday or day of the week. Flowers today and maybe winter clothes tomorrow and then motorcycle helmets the next day.
We walked back to the campus in the dark. It is difficult trying to explain how awful the traffic and street noise and dust is here. But basically you walk in the street—not on the sidewalks because they are hazardous with holes, parked motorbikes, and assorted other stuff. So I took a left off the main street and the kids wondered what the heck I was doing. I told them that I learned to wander the back alleys and streets to avoid the dust, traffic and noise on the mail roads. So I ended up walking about 15 girls through the byways of Hanoi. None of them knew of these side streets and were surprised that I did! Goes to show you how much of a “geographer” I am. I love to putter in the back-street areas of a city. I think you really get the flavor of the culture and get a better sense of “place” doing this.
So we arrived back at the dorm and they all said good night! It was a grand evening. I walked into my VERY, VERY COLD room. I have been howling for two months about the bad AC in my room and today it was fixed—along with the leak in my bathroom ceiling. I forgot to turn the AC down and it was blasting out cold air. I loved it and am happy I will sleep cool tonight.
I have to insert a quick side note about finally getting the problems in my room fixed. Yesterday I hit the wall...literally! Water was cascading down the walls of my bathroom-kitchen. I was pissed about the AC and lots of other little things were bothering me. So this morning I fired off an email to the President of the university and copied his wife. I don’t like to do this….but I really was unhappy. Within one hour of sending off my note the repair guys were at my door. AC was fixed [dirty filter that needed changing] and leak in ceiling repaired. About 3pm I was working away on my computer and I heard a knock-knock on my door. I opened it to find the President of the university outside my door!!! GAK….oh my gosh. He wanted to check the room and make sure it was ok. Imagine that happening in the US! Never …nada…nothing! So I was a bit surprised and pleased to see how much he cares about my comfort!
Anyway…things are rolling along. I called Korean Airlines today and confirmed my return flights home. Phil arrives on Monday night—we take off for Myanmar on Thursday and when we return, I only have about 10 days before we depart for CoMo. Gosh the time has gone by quickly!
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