Day 4 - Rain, rain, go away

All right, so today I went out to this theme park with my dad. I called it Great Vietnam, haha.

In the morning, I watched Get Rich or Die Tryin' on HBO. I then went out to eat and bought some sunglasses.

These sculpture were made entirely from china. Tea cups, plates, spoons, etc.

So bumper cars in Vietnam are pretty intense. I actually hurt myself when I drove. I banged up my knee because of the impact when someone hit me. Its like they turned the power all the way up. If you side swipe or hit someone head on, they literally go flying about 5 feet back. You can feel the force and velocity run through your body when you get hit. And you actually have to wear a seat belt.

Later on that day, at the park, it started to rain again. It rained hard and then would stop and then resume again after awhile.

The rain got bad so we left back home. By the way, when I first got to the park, I saw this lady come out of a car wearing a full out wedding gown. I'm guessing she was getting married in a theme park? Whadafaux?!

So, that evening, as the rain came down again, it started to storm and thunder & lightning came. It was so crazy, because I looked out the window, and all of a sudden a jolt of lightning flashes right in front of me. I think it was about 100-200 ft away, but I saw the actual strike of lighting. I got scared, so I closed the window and watched tv.

So, as I awaited dinner and the rain to stop, I watched another HBO movie starring Robert Downey, Jr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. I think this has become one of my favorite movies. You should give it a watch.

Anyway, I'm getting pretty tired. I tried pig's ear for dinner mistakenly.

Pictures up soon! HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AGAIN!

Day 3 - Uncle's House

Recap of Friday July 4th


This morning I went back to the school, and man there are a lot of things about this place that amazes me.

Ex.

There is this landscape picture at the front door of a group of horses, one pack running towards the right side, and the other pack running towards the left side. It was so interesting that everything about the school had a meaning or messege behind. The picture represented, first the west and western civilization, second the east and eastern civilization and culture, coming together and meeting at the middle. It was at this school that my grandfather founded that Western culture meets with Vietnamese culture. The horses represented a race. A race to knowledge.

In each classroom, at the front of each door, there is a picture of some important person and a bio about them. The first room had a picture of the first Vietnamese Encyclopedia writer. The second room had a picture of the first Vietnamese Poet. And the third room had a picture of an American writer during the WWII era.

My grandpa's school isn't like any other school. Like I said, there was something behind everything. There aren't even any bells to signal the end of class, but instead, speakers that play music. Classical music signals the start and end of each class.









Later that day, I took a taxi to the other side of town and met up with my dad. I am going to spend the weekend with him and his family. We then went to my uncle's house and basically spent the whole day there.


These are my cousin's. They are actually not much younger than me. 13 and 14 years old, but I am hella taller than them.

I ate rat's meat and I must say, its pretty good. The thing is, I didn't even know it was rat's meat because it tasted just like beef. Kinda creepy. I met my cousins and talked to them. We talked about soccer and watched tennis. I even played a little basketball with my cousin. He plays point guard for his school's team. It started the rain pretty hard though.

Later, we left and I went back to the hotel my dad was staying at and checked in. I have a room for myself with a view of the city.

I also got a cell phone. It was a long day.


Edit**
That night I went out with my dad and his friends. We went around the city and flea market shopped. Went to this hotel and took some pictures. Fresh Coconut and Pina-colata ftw.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY
TO EVERYONE BACK IN THE STATES.
I wanna see fireworks!

Day 2 - Meet the Students

All right, so today, I went out and helped my grandpa with his school. He teaches English and the Computer. I met some of his students, first in the morning, the younger students, ages 4-10, and then that night, I met his adult students, ages 20 & up. I taught the little kids how to play Big Booty and Duck, Duck, Goose.

Here is a picture of one of his younger classes.

I explored the area a little more. I learned my way from walking home to the school. I also bought some sandals. It still hasn't hit me that I'm in Vietnam. Everything is just so...new to me. I mean, walking through the streets is dangerous because there aren't any organized streets. There are a lot of thin people here. I can tell that their diet is pretty small because of the size of their meals. In the states, the meal sizes are much bigger. When I had lunch today, I had to order two portions.

So my grandpa asked me this question that I though was very interesting.

Which two of the following three have something in realtions/common with the other?
Only choose TWO.

A) Cow
B) Chicken
C) Grass















If you chose Cow and Chicken, then this means that you are very American or Westernized.
If you chose Cow and Grass, then this means you are in relations with Asia.

The Cow and Chicken represents the American way of categorizing like things. Cow and Chicken are both animals.

The Cow and Grass respresents seeing things from the larger picture, since Cows eat Grass, it is the natural way of seeing things in relation/common.


Later that day, I met up with Jonathan Phan! My childhood bestfriend. Unfortunately, he was leaving home to the states that same day.

That night, I went back to the school to see his adult class and students. It was pretty fun. Since they are learning English, and I am stuggling with Vietnamese, we taught each other things. We had some fun conversations. One of them told me how he loves baseball and watched it on ESPN every weekend. It was fun; they took me out for dinner at this famous local restaurant down the street. I burnt my finger.

Frere Phong's group is on their way to Saigon very soon and are about to fly over to Australia for WYD. I wish I could go with them.

Day 1 - Karaoke

Brief Recap of Wed. July 2nd


So after arriving in Vietnam, I toured the area a bit. The streets are so busy and crowded with mopeds. I met up with my Dad because he was on a business trip, but stopped by Saigon to meet his family. I went out with him and his family to a karaoke house. It was pretty fun. They made me sing so I picked out some English songs: Ain't No Mountain - Marvin Gaye, and Beat it - M.Jackson. My uncle taught me tricks with a Zippo. Ex. Flicking it open with one hand and lighting it by snaping your fingers. Anyway, I met my dad's "friend" and I must say, my dad is pretty boss. Yada? We went out for some drinks and dinner before I left back home. My cousin's are pretty good karaoke singers. Hahaha.

16 hours later

After a 12 hour flight from SFO to Taipei, a two hour delay, then another two hour flight from Taipei to Saigon, I am finally in Vietnam.


Man, its humid.

Current time and date: 11:40Am Wed. July 2, 2008