Yay, so if you didn't read the post below it basically explains how I came into the situation of having to do some last minute house hunting in Ha Noi. Good news - I got a cute little room today! It's above a nice looking restaurant and consists of 5 floors.
Floor 1 - kitchen, living room, dining room
Floor 2 - Mother, husband, and 2 daughters (elementary school age) who own the place
Floor 3 - My new humble abode
Floor 4 - 2 Japanese ladies working in NGOs I think
Floor 5 - Laundry
Anyway, the lady seems really nice and does a lot of charity work. The kids are shy but I'm getting cheaper rent I think because the mom is hoping they learn some English from me. The house is next to the athletic center, park, public pool, and a lake so I don't have many excuses about not finding a place to run in the mornings. Hehe, and the rent is only $150!
The one catch...is that the person who found the place is the same guy that is trying to get closer to me. I am a pretty oblivious person and get confused by people's intentions often but he has asked to hang out several times, wants to go on mini vacations together, calls at midnight (I JUST MET HIM!!!), and has told my mom he wants to be her "con."Actually, I have a weird feeling about him since we just met...he's probably after a green card and his brother just seems a little shady. I mean, they are both calling me at midnight already...not cool man.
OH UPDATE: dude just demanded a few million dong from my mom for helping me. GRRRRR, I KNEW THEY WERE SHADY!!!! I KNEW IT! I told my mom a week ago I didn't really trust those guys yet she kept joking around that she will let him be her "con" during dinner. (sigh, being a small viet kieu makes me such a target around here) But I'm still glad I got that house and now I know they are not hanging with me to be my "friend."
ANYYYWAAAY, in different news Typhoon Nesat is hitting Hanoi tomorrow and should last about a week. I got a travel warning through UCSF saying "transport and power disruptions, flooding, and landslides likely." BRING IT ON!!! :P
I will just have to wait a little bit longer for running and picture taking to commence.
