Vietnam

I have been in Hanoi for 3 days now and it is an experience to say the least. First off the weather is extremely different than I thought it would be. The first two days here is was 90-95 degrees and muggy (hotter than SA) and now it is 65 and chilly (jeans and long sleeve shirt weather), but next week it is supposed to get to over 100 so I go from hot to cold to hot. The city of Hanoi is full of people, foods, and MOTOR BIKES. It is impossible to cross any street without almost getting hit by at least 59 motor bikes. Most streets are two way streets but there are no "rules" and you can enter the opposite lane and drive into oncoming traffic if you choose to. You can also bring you motor bike onto the pavement if you choose. When crossing the street on foot you ahve to man up step into traffic and let the bikes swarm around you as you move to the other side, or wait for a car to go by and follow quickly in its wake. With all this chaos it would seem like people would be getting hit all the time but that doesn't seem to be the case, it may seem crazy but there is some respect for pedestrians as long as they themselves are respectful, still I am waiting for the frist IHP student to get bumped by a bike... After two days of staying in a hotel Eddie and I have moved into a home stay about 5 K from the Hanoi School of Public Health (HSPH). Our host brother Tam (tom) and our host sister speak English while our parents do not. Tam and his girlfriend have both just graduated from high school and have applied to many schools in the US and are waiting back to hear from them, they have just as many questions for us as we have from them.

We started classes today and to get there it is a 15 minute bus ride through busy streets. Today was an orientation of sorts and tomorrow we start right in going to visit the public hospital and hearing a lecture on Agent Orange and its health effects on the community. It still amazes me how quickly I went from being in SA to Vietnam. One plan ride and 24 hours later I am completely immersed in a new culture and find that I have to quickly adjust and learn not only academically but culturally to the people and surroundings. It is very taxing at times but worth the stress.

I am only just beginning to understand understand the culture here. For instance it is not proper to say "goodnight" because that implies that the people you are saying goodnight to are going off to do "romantic" things. So there is a lot to learn but between our classes and living wiht my family I feel like I will learn quickly. Check back soon for pictures!

Joel