Home Sweet Hanoi

Do you remember that July afternoon where the sky was so blue, the temperature was just right, and you wished that summer would last forever? Well, somehow that wish came true for me this year. The sunshine and heat of Vietnam persists, but somehow, amidst the gorgeous weather, I find myself missing autumn. I find myself dreaming of fiery Maple trees, hot cider, wool sweaters, and football games. Even though, truthfully, every year the beauty of a New England autumn always slips by between midterm exams and preoccupations.

            They say, “the grass is always greener on the other side”, and damn them for being right! While in an urban paradise of culture, beauty, and exploration I find myself missing the mundane of home and Union. I’ve realized, that wherever I may be, high school, college, or abroad, there always seems to be a tug pulling me toward “what could be” rather than enjoying the moment at hand. At 18 I couldn’t wait for freedom and new beginnings, but later at Union, I missed the familiarity of home and established friendships. I know that I cannot completely erase the tugs of home life. In fact, I should be grateful that I have so many people and things to miss. With some focus, will power and luck, hopefully I’ll be able to turn these pangs of wanting into greater appreciation for what I have both at home and here, in Vietnam. After all, when else will I have the opportunity to live in such an emerging, developing, and exciting country?

Hanoi, the Beginning

Twenty-one hours later, our bus pulled into our Hanoi guesthouse at 5AM. After a day or so of catching up on sleep I was really able to delve into the streets of Hanoi. Compared to Saigon, Hanoi is cooler in both temperature and fashion. The style here seems to be some derivative of Euro-chic, with cockatoo haircuts, distressed denim, and graphic tees. Additionally, many of the college students living in my district seem to spend their free time at “gamer cafes” playing World of Warcraft rather than piling into coffee shops like in Saigon.

            Hanoi has plentiful lakes, along which most of the tourism and exercise occurs. The other day I went for my very first run in Vietnam, (or exercise for that matter). A few friends and I walked to closest lake/pond to jog around the perimeter. Afterward I practiced my Yoga with some meditating elderly. As usual, a group of onlookers gathered, but this time they seemed to be exceptionally close. I stood up to find a group of middle-aged woman surrounding me. One took a firm cupping of my bum and the others began to smack it! They grabbed my waist, arms, and legs and cheered, hooted and hollered at me. After the full body exam, they proceeded in asking me mundane questions about my age, country of origin, and such. Strangely, this didn’t even faze me as much as it should have. The Vietnamese have often grabbed my cheeks and declared me a beauty, stroked my skin and praised my “whiteness”, and called me a “doll” or “dep qua!” (so beautiful!). Although the scrutiny and stares can be quite awkward, I have never felt so beautiful! 

            My fourth course in Vietnam (in addition to Photography, Vietnamese, and Culture) is an internship. My group of classmates chose varying jobs at think tanks, motorbike repair shops, and farms, but I was able to land a job teaching dance and art to elementary students! Yesterday was my first day as Miss Olivia. My classmate Sheri and I taught a group of 70 eager kids. Sheri instructed Irish Step Dancing and I taught Hip Hop for two hours. Afterward we moved onto drawing for another two hours. Although exhausting, the students were so happy to be learning from us.

            Hanoi’s downtown district has chic boutiques, interesting alleys, and beautiful views of the lake. Just last night, Josh and I entered a seemingly small café in hopes of coffee or dessert, but instead found ourselves climbing flights of a spiral staircase leading to an elusive lounge with stunning views of the city. It seems as though each nook of the city is filled with something new to explore; I can’t wait to see more.