And so it begins...

We made it to Peace House, which is located 40 minutes west of Hanoi. This is where we'll be staying for the duration of our volunteer time. It's kind of in the middle of nowhere, which is nice. I was ready for a break from the hustle and bustle of Hanoi's Old Quarter. I believe there's a few small villages here and there about 15 minutes away from us.

There were quite a few newbies that arrived yesterday. We're staying in dorm-style rooms with bunks and each person has their own fan! This is much needed, as it is very hot. The accommodations are very basic, but the people and food are wonderful! I'm so excited to get started! We chatted with Allie, a girl from the U.S., last night. She was on her way home to Wisconsin, but she offered a bunch of great info about Friendship Village (where we'll be volunteering). Again, I'm SO excited! I hope I get to work in the clinic with the physiotherapists. We're about to start orientation today...it includes a program discussion, Vietnamese lesson, and more.

P.S. One more exciting thing - we get to ride bikes to work! Some of the volunteers have a super long commute by bus, so we're pretty lucky. I'm looking forward to it!

Hoa Lu and Tam Coc

This guided trip is to the Hoa Lu Temple, the ancient capital of Vietnam before year 1000. We learned the difference between a Temple and a Pagoda. A temple is to acknowledge important people/heroes and a pagoda is a place of worship (Buddhism). It was interesting. They are building up the area to make it look more modern.



Next we rode bikes for 60 min to Tam Coc, tmeaning "three caves," and rode in a sampan, rowed by a Vietnamese womam , for 1 1/2 hrs...wait till you see the pics. We cruised amogst hundreds of limestone formations and through 3 caves (120m, 70m, 40m). Tam Coc is also known as the Halong Bay of the Land. It was gorgeous!



First I have to be honest before rumors start. Yes, I got very tired when I thought we were to our destination and the guide said we had 10 more minutes. It was really really hot, and I do not usually ride a bike. All the riding was on a flat pavement at a moderate pace. Well, I took a little spill. Got a skinned knee and a few bruises. Best of all I got a ride on a motor bike before Allison did in Vietnam....what a price I paid. I can to my own rescue with bandaids in my purse!!!



I have to tell you about the cross cultural contacts we have made here in Vietnam. We traveled agian with people from all different homes. Today we were with Philip and Doris from Austria. She is a physical therapist and he works in a bank. Next was a girl traveling alone from Spain and she is a veteranarian. Lastly we met Katherine and Ingunn from Norway. The are two deaf girls who were very friendly. They told us that sign language is different in every country, just as language is different. Katerine teaches English and Math at a school for the deaf and does talk. Her friend Ingunn, does not speak and works in Customs. It is amazing how easy it was to communicate with them.


Someone asked us to describe Uncle Sam in America...that was a bit of a challenge.

We found out that Vietnamese are 1 year old when they are borm. Vietnamese hope for a girl first so the girl can take care of the parents when they get older. Many homes in Vietnam are tall and thin with not many rooms. Different generations live on the different floors. Most Vietnamese food is cooked in bean oil...there is little milk and vertually no cheese here. I guess they get their calcium from many vegetables and yogurt...I think that would be alot of vegetables if they require as much calcium as Americans. Vietnamese call their skin yellow, not brown. Again today every wore long sleeves, gloves, pants and a scarf across their face...did I tell you how hot it was today, very hot.



Allison will post pics tomorrow. Look for the Lotus Temple, ducks, umbrellas, winding waterway, caves, mountain goats, beautiful rock formations pictures and me in my beautiful red hat! I will be excited to share rock and karst pics with the 6th graders at West Vincent when they do their rocks and minerals topic. Barbara, please tell Donna my toilet paper was folded at the resort and in my Guest house. Allison is making fun of my red hat....I have to be practical, Claire would not let me bring the one I had planned to bring, so I had to buy the red one for 2 $. This entire trip today was only 29$. It included a 3 hr mini bus ride to the site and back home by 6:30 pm...Time to go to bed. We want to get up early and see locals doing Tai Chi at Hon Kiem Lake tomorrow and a cooking class and be picked up to go to our volunteer destination. I hope I can rest a bit there. We are really keeping ourselves very busy in this northern part of Vietnam

We are off to walking at the lake and people watching today, cooking class including going to the market and then to be picked up by Volunteer for Peace at Vietnam. Love all of you.

Back to Hanoi

We woke up super early this morning...I'm not sure if we're still adjusting to the time change or we're just getting used to the Vietnamese ways. Most Vietnamese people get up between 4:30 and 5:00 to exercise before starting the day. I guess they do that to beat the heat and avoid sun. Anyways, there were about 50-75 Vietnamese swimming in the ocean at 6:15AM this morning! I couldn't believe it when I looked out our window. At 7AM, we went downstairs for yet another delicious meal. There was a breakfast buffet set up with everything from the typical breakfast foods (toast, eggs, bacon, sausage bread, etc.) to spaghetti/sausage and Singapore rice noodles with veggies! How's that for a feast? Of course we had to try a little bit of everything (minus the spaghetti). The fresh fruit was amazing - I loved the mango in particular.

After breakfast, mom and I headed to town. We opted to walk instead of taking one of the motorbikes, though it was tempting! One of these days I'll catch a ride on a motorbike. Not sure if mom will...Anyways, we walked around downtown and stumbled upon a large market with fish, fruit, veggies, dry foods, and clothes. It was overwhelming! Later, once we were thoroughly drenched in sweat, we made our way back to the resort. I had the opportunity to talk with Ben quick before hopping in the pool. We were scheduled to get massages at 10:30; however, there was an error with the booking. Instead, we got a little R&R time before leaving Cat Ba Island.

We finally returned back to Hanoi around 6PM and said farewell to our new friends. Mom basically broke out in a jog back to our hotel because her feet were hurting her. I found it entertaining...We were so HOT upon arrival. Luckily, we found out that the guesthouse had a room open for us. We went out in search of food a little while later and stumbled upon the "Blue Butterfly Restaurant" in the Old Quarter. Mom got vegetable fried rice and I got fried rice noodles with veggies. Both dishes were excellent! The best part is that we only spent $1.50 on each one! Neither of us has gotten sick so far...I'm hoping it stays that way...We were in for quite a surprise when we left the restaurant. We walked outside and BAM! It was pouring down rain. So much for not really running into rain during the "rainy season" haha. We attempted to wait it out, but then decided to just walk back once it let up a bit.

Up Next: Day trip to Ninh Binh province for cycling, boating, etc.

3 day/2 night Halong Bay Cruise

First of all, I just read Allison's post and I think I have a different version of what I said while we were in the crazy traffic with cars, mini buses, motor bikes and local women carrying local food on a pole. I think I said "oh my goodness". I also think I only head bobbed at the Water puppets for 10 min. that show really was interesting and is world famous for the unique show. There was a live band/chorus and the puppet workers were in the water behind the backdrop working the sicks with the puppets. Very Cool.

Now it is Saturday morning. Last night we walked to the Handspan agency we booked the cruise with. It was 10 blocks from our hotel. I admit I was a bit paranoid we would get lost, even though we had a map. All the roads have Vietnamese names that sound alike to me. Many of the shops look similar, so I could not remember specific land marks and the lighting is very dark in the streets with many many people sitting on little stools outside their buisness eating vietnamese food cooked with charcoal right there or seeling their wares. We got to Handspan after eating breakfast and the clerk calling us by our names "Mrs. Swink and Allison". It is so cute to hear them draw out the name Alllison.

We got on a mini bus which was "cold"...just imagine. We talked to a girl and guy, Anna and Holden. They recently graduated from a college in Washingtown state and are traveling for 2 months. It was fun talking with them. We have met many other persons who travel to several countries in SE Asia. We saw rice paddies with workers and Yak...the closer we got to Ha Long Bay the more frequent we saw very nice new 3-4 story townshouses...Many construction trucks on the road.

We got on our "junk" at Ha Long Bay. We met the Wyatt family from Arizona: Ivan, Lori, Ivy and Olivia. Ivy and Olivia are 7 and9 years old and were adopted from Vietnam. This is a special trip for them to see the country of their origin. Very very nice family. Ivy and Olivia were very content kids, but we also were on a cool "junk". I can still visualize them waving goodbye when our boats seperated. They were only doing a 2 day trip. Oh I almost forgot. Poor little Olivia got stung by a jellyfish. She had welts on both her lower legs. She was a trooper and no more tears after 20 min and back to having fun. There were only 12 patrons and 5 staff/cook/captian. Alex is 25 years old and is from England. Allison and he enjoyed company and chatting. He works lights for Broadway type shows in England and is on a holiday for 6 weeks. Tara and Jed are newleweds from Toronto, Canada. They got married in Bali and are traveling to several countries. Really cool stories. Lastly we enjoyed really humerous moments with Peter Veale, Marin Schmitz, and Michael Bolter from Germany. They are in Vietnam to produce a concert with their contemporary classical ensemble, Musik Fabrik. They worked with a Vietnamese composer to perform her piece. I need to google them when we get home.

We had an amazing day kayaking.....we had lots of fun...we saw a fishing village...self-sustaining with a school ages 1-6 grade. We saw babies on the dock behind netting on their small floating homes. We saw children in hammocks. We saw dogs on the floating homes...There are 55 families and 120 people in this village...Very Very amazing. You had to see pics to understand.
We went through 3 tunnels through the limestone formations..stalagtites hanging down...really cool. In the afternoon we went out again for 1 1/2 hrs. Our kayak was the slow one. Allison did not practice enough for the trip...Randy I needed you!!! to paddle more, so I could rest more. Claire and Ben you would LOVE this. We took lots of pictures. In the afternoon we saw a fishing farm...raised fish and clams in netted areas. Then we paddled into another lagoon after going through a very small tunnel with a very low "ceiling". Peter, Martin and Michael were funny. Michael is bald so he had a white shirt wrapped around his head. He looked like Arafat.

We got to the Sunrise Resort at 4:30.....I have never been to such a beautiful secluded resort..now remember we only paid $185 dollars for the 3 days and 2 nights (meals, accommodation, transportation, and kayaking included). The first night we slept on the junk in the bay...About 30 junks in the area amongst the Ti Top Karst formations. We were greeted with cold mint scented clothes and a fruity green drink at the resort. The room is BEAUTIFUL. 1 queen and 1 twin bed...beautiful bathroom, some know I like cool bathrooms. There is a pool, a beach, massages from 12-20 dollars. Dinner was included....elegant...pumkin soup, chicken coleslaw salad, sizzeling shrimp, sea bass, ymmy breaded squid, rice and steamed mised vegetables. It was served family style with a rotating thing in the middle of the table. The newleweds, the musicians and Allison and I were the only ones from the orginal group who came here for the third night....We can hear the ocean from our room and see it stepping up 2 steps and sitting at a cute table with chairs...we are definitely getting spoiled. I suppose the volunteering part of our trip will not be elegant, through meaningful in a very different way.

So glad to hear Kallie, our dog, is being a good mother, after Randy had to remove the futon from the computer room for her to tend to them in the whelping box he made for her. She birthed them on the futon....how do you move a mother in labor? She has 7 puppies. We saw pics and they have long tails. She looks uncomfortable with 7 puppies nessled up to her.

Sorry this is so long, but it truely was an amazing 2 days...Tomorrow we leave at 12:30 and get a fairy back to the mainland and back to Hanoi by 6:00. We need to find a place to stay for 2 more nights since the Guest House is full. They said they would reccomend us to their friends down the street. Have I said how hot it is here lately...it really is hot.

Please call Randy and Claire to see if they are OK with the puppies.

Exploring Hanoi

BREAKING NEWS: KALLIE HAD HER PUPPIES! 4 boys, 3 girls. Apparently our power went out at home, so Dad and Gma delivered the pups by flashlight, haha. What an experience! No pictures yet…

A lovely little rooster woke us up around 4AM this morning! There were also men scooping dirt or stones down on the street below. Even though we didn’t go to bed til nearly 1AM, we woke up at 6:30 to start our day. We went out on the balcony to check out the morning scene, complete with a group of men sitting on tiny stools enjoying their breakfast, women in traditional hats carrying fresh goods in baskets, and lots of motorbikes zipping down the street! I went out to take pictures and the men across the way spotted me. They waved for me to take a picture of them, haha.

The guesthouse provides a few breakfast options included in the whopping price of $18/night. Mom and I both opted for bread with butter and jam rather than pho (noodle soup) because of the heat. The bread (baguette) was delicious – all 8 inches of it! We signed up for a city tour through our guesthouse and just sat around chatting with the friendly staff until our driver came to pick us up. One of the young guys who works at the guesthouse told us that he started riding a motorbike at 15; however, Vietnamese people must wait til age 18 to get their licenses. Motorbikes are definitely the most popular form of transportation here. All riders are required, by law, to wear a helmet. It’s amazing how much stuff people can pile onto the motorbikes! When we return to the guesthouse after our cruise, I’m going to try to convince the guy to take me for a spin on the motorbike. I figure it’s a safer option than picking a driver on the street because I know he’ll bring me back to where I need to be!

Quick note on traffic: There’s LOTS of honking. Despite the fact that there’s lines on the roads, most drivers don’t really pay attention to them. Mom’s most frequently used phrase in the car was “Oh shit!” because of the crazy traffic. The majority of drivers wear face masks, some even wear gloves, to protect themselves from sun/pollution. We were given our very own complimentary face masks upon arrival! Although motorbikes are the most common form of transportation, there’s cars and buses as well. Mom and I were surprised at the number of women who drive motorbikes wearing heels – sometimes even stilettos!

We departed around 8:30AM for the city tour. The tour guide’s name was Thim, but pronounced “Tam.’ Her friends sometimes call her Tammy, so mom liked her right off the bat! There was a couple from the UK, Italy, and Vietnam, on the tour. The couple from Italy didn’t speak English well, but they were friendly nonetheless. We chatted with the couple from the UK. They’re here on a 3-week vacation because they have friends who are teaching down in Ho Chi Minh City. The women, who must be in her late 50s or early 60s, plays field hockey! Cool, huh?!

Our first stop was at the Ho Chi Minh Complex. We were unable to enter the mausoleum because it’s closed on Fridays and Mondays. However, we were able to tour the grounds and see the various buildings “Uncle Ho” worked and resided in during his presidency. Ho Chi Minh, also known as the “rich father of the nation,” was the first president in Vietnam. We found out that he was fluent in 7 languages! Vietnamese people aim to visit his mausoleum at least once during their lives. Our next stop was at an embroidery workshop for people with disabilities. We saw them working and browsed all the goods available. Though the pictures were beautiful, we didn’t buy anything. After that, we traveled outside the city to a ceramic village. We got to tour the workshop and then browse in the store below. I could have stood there for hours watching them paint! Again, everything was beautiful, but no purchases.

We traveled back to the city and enjoyed a yummy lunch in a hotel. We weren’t quite sure how to approach the meal. All the food was served family-style on platters and each of us were given a bowl and pair of chopsticks. We could pick and choose from the following items: brothy soup, veggies and meat, breaded chicken, spring rolls, rice, and a whole fish. After lunch, we went to the lake and toured another pagoda. Then, we went to the Temple of Literature, which was the first university in Vietnam. It was bombed years ago and since then, it has been rebuilt and converted into a tourist site. There were turtle statues on the grounds that were engraved with the students’ names who passed the national exam. Although this is no longer something they do, I thought it was interesting! Perhaps someone will engrave something for me when I pass my boards in November?! Finally, we ended at the water puppet theater. Mom was doing the infamous head bob for almost the entire 45-minute performance. By that point we were so tired! I think the jet-lag was setting in. Anyways, it was a neat cultural experience. There was a traditional “band” on the side and the puppeteers, hidden behind the stage, manipulated the puppets in the water.

Quick note on sun protection: Unlike Americans, Vietnamese people think being pale is beautiful. Most of the people in the city use umbrellas, gloves, jackets, etc. to protect themselves from the sun’s rays despite the unbearable heat! Skin color is almost an indicator of class because most farmers have dark skin, whereas people in the cities have lighter skin.

After all that excitement, we found our way back to the guesthouse and enjoyed much needed naps! I’d like to point out that it is 87.6 degrees in our room with the “air con” on high and the fan blowing. It feels very refreshing compared to the temp outside! By the time we stumbled out of the guesthouse around 8PM it had already gotten dark! We wandered around the streets and did some shopping at the infamous night market. We each bought t-shirts for $1.50 each. I got 5 DVDs for a little less than 4USD. Let’s see…mom picked up a few things for Claire and I bought a silk nightie for 4USD. We didn’t see any NorthFace stuff, but did see knock-off designer bags and shoes!

Up Next: Halong Bay!

Good Morning, Vietnammm!

Woke up to a rooster crowing around 4AM. Didn't stop til we rolled out of bed at 6:30! Thank goodness for the rooster though, because the alarm clock was set wrong. Oops. Breakfast is included at our cute little guesthouse - we each had an 8inch long baguette with butter and jam! Quite the feast! We're leaving to go on a city tour today and then plan to see a water puppet show this evening. We figured it'd be good to get a tour before trying to explore this unknown territory all by ourselves.

...more to come later!

P.S. Unless Ben's lying to me, I think we finally have pups! 4 boys and 1 girl. I won't believe it til I see a picture though ;)

This is exciting! We are here at the Guest House of Hanoi, Vietnam. It is 10 at night and yes it is hot at night! Lights are not very bright in vietnam. Lots of people sitting outside on stools on the sidewalk. Apparently more people are out at night than during the hotter day. It looks a little rogh on the streets we drove through to get here, but we feel safe. The room has beautiful old furniture, standard bathroom, but only a ceiling fan...maybe airconditioning that has not gotten cool yet. I am sitting here using the internet in the small lobby with the clerk on another computer and I have a nice ice cold water. Randy, should I have a cold beer for you?

We left Newark NJ at 10:05 to go to Dulles..layover 2 1/2 hrs, until we left for our 14 1/2 hour flight to Seoul. We flew north over Canada and Alaska and then into Seoul. Ther were 3 sections of 3 seats across the plane. I sat next to a 15 year old Korean boy who is studying at a High School in Albany NY. He is going home with his older brother for the summer. He was very friendly and spoke fairly smooth fluent English. Good for him. I tried not to talk to him too much; some of you may know I like to talk to strangers to learn more about them. We had 2 meals, drinks, snacks and the long flight was as pleasant as a 14 1/2 hr flight could be. Oh, lots of movies to choose from too.

We made all of our connecting flights, including a short train ride in Seoul, without a problem. We painted hand held fans in the airport in Seoul...free for foreigners. I do feel different in the crowd, but not uncomfortable at all. Miriam met us with the "official" sign from Volunteers for Peace in Vietnam after we got our luggage....all was there, after 3 transfers. She had a taxi to get us to the Hanoi guest House.

Claire should be getting back from her 2 night overnight in the woods at Bear Creek Camp Thursday. Apparently there was a large black bear checking out the kids and the camp fire Sunday night. I do not know if she was aware of it or not. Pastor Mark said he knew it was around becasue the songs kept getting louder and louder and motions were being added to scare the bear away. Actually this is always an exicitng time if there is a bear sighting at camp. The children are not in any danger. The staff are very well prepared to handle the situation.

We will update you tomorrow when we see Vietnam in the day light. Good Night

Tammy

...a few more memories...