Personal space

I have now been in Vietnam close to two weeks. It has so much to offer-Hanoi was crazy but fun and interesting, SaPa was beautiful, Hue was chill and Hoi An is a shopping spree, plus all the places I haven't been yet. But also, there's something about it that just puts me on edge. So, last night, while I was up in the middle of the night, I realized what is was--personal space, or lack there of. And I'm not just talking about the little Vietnamese grandma who comes up to your shoulder standing 3 in away looking at what you are buying. Nor am I talking about the women who pick up your fingers to check if you need a manicure, look intently at your ring and stroke your hand. I'm not even just talking about the people in the shops to grab your arm and walk around behind you as you think about what to buy. All of that is frustrating. But it is even more than that. Like I walked outside with my laundry, within 3 seconds this woman is beckoning me, laundry here, laundry here, and pulling me over to her place. I walk down the street and guys run up, motor bike???? with this extreme urgency. Why are you running? You walk past a hotel, you're not carrying your stuff, they scream 'hi, hotel?' There is just a general sense that they are watching your every move and you can't be invisible. They are constantly in my face with something. Someone says hello, and I count to five, they are offering me something. But sometimes they try to hide it by asking where are you from, what is your name.

So, I've started to cut to the chase. Very politely I ask, what are you selling, as soon as they ask where I'm from. I'm tired of the song and dance. But I think more than that, I think I'm tired of being seen as dollars. And I know that's kind of bull, because really, that's what I am. Right? I mean I can't really speak to anyone, and all I do is go from place to place, find a hotel, find a restaurant and then take photos or buy stuff.

On the other hand, Vietnam's been great. I had fun in Hue. I made a friend named Paulette from Australia. We met on a tour of the sites of Hue (many tombs where we heard the same information, but anyway, it was okay) and she showed me a great pool that was in a resort. I decided to stay in Hue and extra day to hang out with her. Plus, my hostel had free beer, you can't beat that. So, the pool was fun, I stayed in the shade and still managed to burn my stomach. Crazy sun. Hue was hot, hot, hot. Like dripping sweat while sitting under a fan hot. Not moving. Paulette and I had some adventures. There was a worker at the pool who really liked her, and began by asking for English lessons, progressed to asking both of us out for coffee, and finished it off by following her into the bathroom to profess his love for her. We also met a Texan, who is half-black, half-vietnamese, war baby, who has family all over vietnam that' he's just meeting. He's an ultimate cage fighter, with about 40 guns in his house, but don't get me wrong, not scary at all. Extremely sweet and just excited to see things. He was trip. He and I dressed up in the royal garb for 30,000 dong (aobut $1.50) and took pictures in the throne at the citadel. I probably wouldn't have done it if he hadn't wanted to, but it ended up being really fun. The photos a bit dark, but I'm hoping to get some from Marvin's camera.
Let's see, I went to food street in Hue where I ate some Pho with mystery meat. It was orange, couldn't quite bring myself to finish it. Well, okay, I only took a few bites. Other than that, I read most of my book and generally just chilled out. It was a nice time.

Now I'm in Hoi An. Which, for those of you that don't know, is a town filled with tailors. You walk around and pick out what you want them to make you, they take your measurements and everything is between $10-25. Not as cheap as I would like, but come one, it is made to order. I've already purchase: a skirt, pants, shorts, tank top, dress, and little shoes. Omg. Yes, I went a bit crazy. But it is okay, because I'd been planning on doing it. I brought very little with me (and sent a bunch of stuff home with Matt-thanks hon) so that I'd have space. It still might be a bit of a challenge to get it all in my bag. And I've spent about $100. I never could get all that for $100 at home. I'm contemplating boots, which is completely crazy as I've got another 7 weeks of carting my stuff around, plus 2 weeks in India, (but then I'll be able to leave some stuff at Joanna's) but they'll be like $50. I mean, at home they'd be $200-300. And I could actually get some that fit my little chicken legs. So, we'll see, if I can find what I want, for the right price with a shop I like.

The other cool thing about Hoi An is the architecture. I guess the North and the US agreed not to bomb this town because it so cute. I mean, I don't actually know why, but there are 100 year old buildings here, which is really unlike the rest of Vietnam because of how we ruined this country. That's pretty cool.

It's been raining like crazy, so I'm a bit sad bc I want to hang out at the beach and go on a boat tour. That's it for now. Hope all is well at home.

Here's a photo I took at sunset.

xoxo,

Dina