Monsoons and plastic bags

I’ve never really appreciated city planners until a few days ago in Hanoi. I went to Hanoi for a few days for a quick orientation at the CDC with the other ASPH fellow, Kate. We were at a café getting some sandwiches and a monsoon (or what felt like a monsoon) came through and within the span of eating a sandwich the street was completely flooded with some sections waist deep. This is when the city drainage system should have kicked in! We were watching with some amusement as the taxi drivers, motorbikes and bicyclist did risk assessments before barging into the water. Some decided they were going for it and others tried to back up in the middle of the pile up. As we watched the rain fall and the water rise we also were watching the steps of the café disappear beneath the water. When we left I took off my shoes, rolled up my pants and wrapped plastic bags around my feet.

I thought I was a pretty smart but the bags quickly came off and I was quickly wadding in the water with plastic bags full of water. When we got to some higher land I tried to dry off my feet and put my tall, striped socks on with my shoes and walk back through the rain. Usually there are a ton of vendors with umbrellas, plastic sandals or ponchos on the streets. The only vendors open on the way home were the pots and pan vendors, which are just as helpful as those pesky plastic bags!!

Siagon- Day 3

First impressions of Siagon. It is not Chengdu, China. I am afraid that I’ve been making some comparisons and while it may seem natural since they are both in Asia I can’t say that it is completely fair. Siagon is so far from China in that it takes a good 14+ hour train/bus ride through the mountains to get up to China. That means that the majority of people here are completely unfamiliar with China and have therefore maintained a very different culture.

I am thoroughly impressed with the genuine niceness of people here. They will do anything to help. While most have very minimal working English, sign language and business cards usually do the trick to communicate.

On my first day here I was taken aback when I saw huge poster boards with what looks like 1940 German propaganda with Vietnamese people. The colors are bold red and blue and I can’t wait ‘til I can read it because I’m sure that will add to the amusement.

There is a huge Catholic Cathedral in the center of town actually right next to where I work. It is called Notre Dame after the cathedral in Paris. While I’ve never been to Paris what I can remember of pictures is that is isn’t a rounded style with red accents. I could be wrong though!!

For those of you who are wondering why I made a pit stop in Chicago here is the story: I had gotten to the airport in Chicago from Raleigh and was 2 hours away from boarding my flight to Hong Kong when I got a call about my visa. I looked at my visa and sure enough the active date wasn’t until Oct 1. I was supposed to get in on Sept 29. I would be sent back and at best I might be able to find a hotel in Hong Kong for a couple of days. Not my idea of a good time! United Airlines fortunately rebooked my flight for the 1st and I was to stay in Chicago for a few days. I was so thankful for my aunt’s friend, Barb, who picked me up from the airport and invited me into her home. It was such a blessing because it allowed me to get some much needed rest before flying again.