Health and Visitors

Funny thing, but I think I came to Vietnam to get into the best shape of my life. Haha, ran another 10K in the countryside with the Hanoi Harriers Club last weekend and proud to say that 1) I didn't get lost and 2) I was just barely sore the next day. It's a bit weird because now some people here think of me as a "runner." Trust me, by no means do I deserve that label compared to my athletic friends back in the states but compared to most local and expat female standards here...I am very "suc khoe" (healthy). I have not actually had time in the last 2 weeks to run because of all the traveling being done with my sister in town. However, that didn't mean that I wasn't being active. My new favorite thing to do is trek/hike/explore the amazing scenery in Vietnam. My sister and I spent almost every non-sick day of her trip (booo, I got food poisoned and my sister got a cold last week) hiking and filling our cameras to the max with pictures of water buffalo, pigs, green hills, rice fields, and waterfalls all over northern Vietnam. Combined with constant bicycling and a healthier diet...well, I guess I have lots of endorphins running through me nowadays.

These flowers are amazing!!!

In Ninh Binh province

A Vietnamese pot belly pig...they hella deserve their name...fatties. :P

Now on to another topic (sorry this is a bad transition sentence) but I am kind of amazed by how many people are in/visiting Vietnam right now. Hanoi apparently is THE place to be this year. I have been lucky enough to catch up with almost 20 Berkeley, UCSF, Onevietnam, and other random acquaintances in Hanoi. WOW, isn't that crazy?!?! My favorite moment was when my friend J and I were taking one of our visiting Berkeley friends out to eat bun cha and proceeded to randomly run into another mutual Berkeley friend!!! WHAT A SMALL WORLD?!?! And really, like I said in some earlier post, there is nothing better/more bond worthy than randomly hanging out with friends abroad. Oh and even better, this international friendship train isn't going to end anytime soon. One of our hilarious UCSF study coordinators just arrived today for a week, I have a friend I met camping a few months ago traveling through Hanoi this weekend, and then a few more folks coming after the lunar new year. Gawd, I love this life.

I know this blog has been somewhat cheesy lately and sorry about that...but...well...I'm happy and I'm not going to hide it. Bwahahahaha!

Some co-workers from my research two years ago...reunited = gossip night!

Current co-workers with my UCSF mentor on his (quick) visit to Hanoi