essay 2

. . .


ode to jenni

you are so beautiful!
thanks for making my trip so kickass
and for introducing me to all your talented, charming and brilliant friends:

thanks tuyet for helping me volunteer at the school/orphanage
thanks tuan for reminding me that i always have a reason to come back
thanks chris for an awesome day and lovely night in cu chi
thanks huy for the OC tattooist hook up
thanks zoe for sharing your work and your story
thanks sang for reminding me that i'm still as sexy as the next girl
thanks bao, vy, nam, son, lu, and the rock fan club for rockin good times

Back in Business

I have been out of commission for the past couple of days, sick with stomach bugs. Part of not being prepared for Vietnam was not packing the medicine. I did bring Advil, but haven't needed it yet. The funny thing about the "drug stores" in Vietnam selling western medicine are that they all act as though they are pharmacists or doctors. They probably do know what they are doing, but I am not a pill-popper at home so why start, right? Both places I visited gave me god knows what kinds of pills (Priscilla, I'll bring these to you when I get home). The only one I recognized was from the second place (Imodium: my savior, my friend) and that was the only one I took.

All better! Time to party it up for my last couple days here.

Orphanage

Resolutions, not new

I left for Vietnam several days after New Years Day without any new resolutions. I'm guessing it's because people usually make resolutions when they want to actively make a change, and I kind of already acted on some before January 1. Before I left the States on the 4th, so many changes had already been set (relationships- something to nothing; career- manufacturing to nursing/medicine; and employment- 1 1/2 jobs to none) that another shift in thought and action would have been excessive. SO instead I set out to (re)define my goals in life for my 2008 resolutions. It's somewhat like restating these goals I've had since college but my life experience up to this point gives them more sophisticated definitions. Wanna hear it, here it goes:

Expanding my mind and worldview
Giving what I can
Staying healthy
Being present
Creating beauty

essay 1

Tin Cans and Twine

Saigon, Vietnam - Day 4 (Wednesday)

I'm having a hard time communicating with folks back at home, but it's probably better that way. I guess all it takes a few thousand miles, a differences in time zone, and a dial up connection to create communication gaps that rival the Grand Canyon. Of course, in some cases it's more than just those barriers. Funny how it happens that when you really want to keep in contact with people these barriers are negligible. Part of me is glad for the quiet solitude.

Still, this sort of lonely is pretty insettling. I'm surrounded by people who care about me, but wishing for a deep philosophical, spiritual, emotional connection (Further comments about my primal instincts for something physical can wait for another time or blog post). What's even more weird is that instead of finding Vietnam revolting because of this out-of-sorts feeling, I want to stay longer. The challenge to overcome it is really appealing.

Anyway, I have pictures to upload but I'll wait until I have a faster connection at an internet cafe to put them up. Just the usual: food, family, fun and Tiger Beer.

Side note: I really want to learn how to play the bass and want my first performance to be a song with the same name as this blog post. I just need the rest of the band.

untitled

I woke up to the whirr of the fan against a backdrop of motorbike(s) and voices traveling through ceilings and walls.

I am not as prepared to be here as I thought. Maybe its because i was more prepared to leave there.

Freshly manicured nails

My nails were long so it was time to visit my Grandma and give her a manicure. I'm not a professional manicurist, but I do a good job. I was just reflecting about our hands when I took this picture. My grandma has done so many kickass things with those hands. Before the fall of Saigon, she sewed her brother's US address into the clothing of all her husband, 7 adult kids, 2-5 grandkids, sons and daughters-in-law, etc so that they would be able to reunite... who knew where each person would end up. In 1989, she scattered her husband's ashes near sacred grounds in India, as he requested. She used to knit me sweaters when I was a kid-- there was one that was read and white with strawberry buttons that I loved. We are the same Chinese zodiac sign. I can only hope my hands will be able to accomplish a lifetime's worth of awesomeness.

A Haiku for the Occasion

To new begnnings
That rejuvenate and heal,
And a damn good year.




Happy 2008 Everyone!