Know One Teach One

It's nice rediscovering Vietnam. There are lots of little details that I had forgotten.

Like the way little kids shout out "HALLO!" when you pass them in the streets. Then there's the smell. All of Vietnam smells the same but it's hard to work out exactly what it is. I think its a pungent mix of rice, fish sauce, fruit and a hint of sewage. All in all not as unpleasant as it sounds.

But the smell doesn't just invade your nostrils it sticks to you. The heat and humidity makes the air just like a blanket and mixed with the city pollution you feel like you can almost scrape it off your face.

I remembered the heat - but not the type of heat. While it doesn't feel as hot as you'd experience on a Spanish holiday, the second you walk more than ten yards you just drip with sweat. After every ten minutes of activity you feel like you need some quality air con time - or at the very least a fan trained on you from a couple of feet away. As I type this I have two on me - and the sweat is still trickling down my back.

Everyone here remains so eager to please. I have said hello to the hotel owner half a dozen times already today. It's like he loiters just around corners so he can exchange smiles and "HALLOS!" when I least expect it.

Last night was lovely. I ws invited to meet my new colleagues at KOTO. We ate fantastic local food - tofu, chicken and noodles, caramlised fish etc - and saw off a few Tiger beers too. it was all very friendly and the get together was for my benefit alongside another member of staff who is leaving.

Top exciting news - I've been asked to help out with the KOTO football team which is made up of street kids. So tomorrow, bright and early I will be frying in a Vietnamese field while a bunch of kids kick a ball around. All in all a perfect antidote to watching the spoilt superstars of Newcastle United.

Maybe I can set up a Vietnamese scouting network for the Toon.

So, it's all pretty amazing right now. I think the secret to Hanoi living will be discovering a few quiet places where I can recharge my batteries. There is a local saltwater pool which will be a nice place to hang out. However, I have to admit that while Hanoi is as hundred-miles-an-hour as ever, it's less stressful than I recall it being.

We've had freetime up to 4pm this evening. Then we're going on a walking tour and will hopefully go for drinks with other volunteers later.

In the meantime I will stroll back to my hotel and take a siesta. The aim being to cool off with the aircon than to actually get some sleep.

Comments

[original comments from old blog]

At 1:57 AM, Anonymous said...

JAZZ
So this is where you're hanging out and very interesting it's looking too.
Cool. Haha. Or maybe not!
http://radio.weblogs.com/0114325/

At 4:25 PM, mike said...

All of Vietnam smells the same but it's hard to work out exactly what it is. I think its a pungent mix of rice, fish sauce, fruit and a hint of sewage. All in all not as unpleasant as it sounds.Ooh, that's bang on, that is... brings it all back!

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