Nhớ Nguồn

And homes stretching as far as the eye can see. 

This is actually pretty typical of cafe drinks in Saigon. Makes so much sense out of Garden Grove.

It's always amazes me how close you can get to people in a short amount of time. Two months, that's all it took for this group.

You know it's gonna be "one of those days" when even the TAs are tired. 

My first holiday in Viet Nam, the Mid-Autumn Festival. Even though I had another long day, I ventured out to District 5 to get special chè (sweet soup) and this little fried treat. It was basically a Chinese doughnut filled with some sort of green bean paste that strongly resembled custard. At any rate, the most amusing part of it was that the food was wrapped up in what was essentially trash. I've been told that it's the Vietnamese way of "saving money and saving the environment" at the same time. I'm still deciding final thoughts on this... 

In honor of the Chinese influence on Vietnam, I'd like to share an interesting poem. Original: 《施氏食獅史》 石室詩士施氏，嗜獅，誓食十獅。 氏時時適市視獅。 十時，適十獅適市。 是時，適施氏適市。 氏視是十獅，恃矢勢，使是十獅逝世。 氏拾是十獅屍，適石室。 石室濕，氏使侍拭石室。 石室拭，氏始試食是十獅。 食時，始識是十獅屍，實十石獅屍。 試釋是事。 Transliteration : « Shī Shì shí shī shǐ » Shíshì shīshì Shī Shì, shì shī, shì shí shí shī. Shì shíshí shì shì shì shī. Shí shí, shì shí shī shì shì. Shì shí, shì Shī Shì shì shì. Shì shì shì shí shī, shì shǐ shì, shǐ shì shí shī shìshì. Shì shí shì shí shī shī, shì shíshì. Shíshì shī, Shì shǐ shì shì shíshì. Shíshì shì, Shì shǐ shì shí shì shí shī. Shí shí, shǐ shí shì shí shī shī, shí shí shí shī shī. Shì shì shì shì. Translation: « Lion-Eating Poet in the Stone Den » In a stone den was a poet called Shi, who was a lion addict, and had resolved to eat ten lions. He often went to the market to look for lions. At ten o'clock, ten lions had just arrived at ...

The international hospital across the street displays a few flags. Curiously, only one stands at "attention," but only because someone ripped a hole in the corner and hung it up on the adjacent pole. I can't decide if I feel proud they're displaying our colors, or a little sad because they defaced the flag to do that. 

A new (and much needed) pair of slippers, a special delivery of homemade cupcakes, and a surprise birthday cake at work. Overall, a pretty cool birthday in Viet Nam, despite the fact that I had to work from 6:45am to 8:30pm.

The motorbike: transporting families across Vietnam for 40 years.

There's no mistake. My throat is shot. I can hardly talk. I run through my shirts like crazy because of how much I sweat in them while working. My nose is constantly clogged because of the dusty air. I'm borderline sick because I keep going back and forth between hot and cold environments. And I'm loving every minute. I like to imagine the 12-year old versions of my aunts and uncles doing "exercises" during recess in their uniforms in this courtyard. It's hard for me to recall the last time my work made me feel so fulfilled. Maybe it's because I'm finally helping people that I feel actually need my help. Or maybe it's because my kids are sharp, funny, and enthusiastic. Or maybe it's just something about the atmosphere. Whatever it is, I'm glad I took the risk of teaching >50 student classes in a completely new environment. Despite its intimidating appearance, the experience has proven to be incredibly rewarding. I can honestly ...

I really hate that this cat is making me like cats in general. The dog, on the other hand, is making me not like dogs. What is happening?...

Steel girders, rising and colliding towards an open sky - a suitable representation of the country's transition to a market economy. Also, a fine place for couples to spend the evening cuddling with one another. Somewhat ironic, but you do what you have to do in the big city.