Anyway, being back...how does it feel? That seems to be the question I get a lot of after, "how bad is the jet lag?" Well, it does not feel strange at all. I was pretty mentally prepared for my return and actually have so many errands and things to attend to lately that I don't have that much down time for reflection. It has been great to see some of my close friends and actually to see the research staff stateside. In fact I just got back from the hospital in which a quick meeting turned into hours of gossip and "welcome back" hugs.
But.
I do miss Hanoi. I miss my friends, the staff and office, the food, my host family, but most of all the spontaneity and vibrancy that had become part of my daily life. It kind of motivates me to view things a little differently. It is a little hard to explain as I don't clearly grasp the idea myself. Life was exciting but dreamlike abroad. I want to find a way to incorporate my same rosy eyed and open outlook to my "real world" of San Francisco.
Real world indeed. I've been back for a few days and already I am watching my schedule slowly pile with daily deadlines, meetings, social events, etc. etc. I'm already busier here than I was in Vietnam. One of the things that damper spontaneity and a truly carpe diem attitude is this full schedule. That was definitely one of the things I loved most of Hanoi; the time to say, "why not? let's do it, let's give it a try." Hmmm...I'm just babbling...I'll give this more thought later.
Anyway before I go onto a post about Korea I'll post some pictures of my last week in Hanoi. My last week can be summarized in three words: friends, food, and karaoke. Every night was a "it's your last Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.!!!!" and led to friends dragging me all over the city to eat, drink, and be merry with god awful singing (unless you are local which means you are blessed with an amazing singing voice).
Some of my old co-workers taking me around Hanoi and then for drinks
We went to a fancy bar...
Went
to a shady place to catch a live reggae band with a running friend that
I never ran with. Ha! I actually knew the lead singer through another
expat friend...Hanoi, tis a small world
After one of my first going away meals we went singing...
The expats were resistant but eventually everyone was singing. :)
Yea yea, I posted this for you N. Now you can tell everyone I adore you. (see you in December!)
The Hanoi Lung Hospital Director. I specially requested NO BUFFETS for my going away...a girl can only do so much grubbin!
This thing was one of my favorite foods in Hanoi. Ah, I miss it!
For
my official last day of work I wanted to introduce the team to
something different. So we went to a delicious Indian restaurant...it
went 50/50 with them.
Then some fancy karaoke
Some old co-workers invited me to a going away meal at their house. They have the nicest house I've ever seen in Hanoi!
Followed by more Karaoke at the house.
But
my favorite was my last meal...my housemate cooked me Taiwanese food
(the panko potatos were gooood!) to eat on the floor of our bedroom
before we hugged and she and my host family walked me to my airport
taxi.
Good times. <3
