Day 10-- MAC QUA! (minus accents)

The day started with a fun language class at UEF. We reviewed our numbers while playing a game (the only numbers we really know are 1-10, we're still beginners). I scored one point for my team (the first point so that has to count for something). We went through practice conversations between what a seller/shop ownder and a customer might say while bartering. We then left class to use our skills at the Ben Tanh Market. 

The Ben Thanh Market is a giant building of vendors who each have tiny, back-to-back squares of space to put/hang up all the things they have to sell (generally themed things--coffee, t-shirts, jewelry). I walked in and before I could process the amount of things there were to look at, I was bombarded with vendors asking me if I wanted to buy what they were selling (some even grabbed me to get my attention). Fortunately for me (and probably for everyone), I did not need to use my Vietnamese to bargain because most vendors spoke English. I did learn today that I do not like to bargain, which is why I brought Arielle with me wherever I went. I eventually got some things for family and friends and even bargained a little myself once I got the confidence (I'm sure I still spent much more than what a more experienced Vietnamese person would have spent). 

We then went to the Vina Capital Foundation for a visit. The Foundation (not really a foundation because they work/fund their own projects while foundations fund other projects) is an NGO in Vietnam and invests money to fund social change. Some projects include paying for child heart surgeries and sending girls from poor areas to school. The management team that spoke to us was a cool group of guys, very focused on social change and actually making a difference. Vina Capital was very cool to me because although social change is hard to see and progress is difficult to measure, it is amazing that this company (and so many others like it) don’t stop. The representatives mentioned doing any little thing they can to donate as much money as possible—like taking economy class plane rides instead of first class ones. This really shows their dedication and I think something more people should do.

We then came back to the hotel and made plans for the night. I think I poured my heart and soul into karaoke tonight. 

Inside Ben Thanh

Rachel displays her Vietnamese pride

Day 9-- This chicken tastes fishy. Because it's fish.

Today we woke up super early and got on a bus to sleep some more. (Sleeping was hard to do though because instead of just changing lanes to pass someone on the highway, the bus driver honked his horn incessantly to tell the people (usually motorbikes) to move out of the way). But, two and a half hours later we arrived at Jesus. Jesus (literally a giant statue of Jesus) stands on top of a small mountain next to the shore. All of us ascended hundreds of stairs to the base of Jesus, after which we became very sweaty. A bunch of us also walked inside of Jesus to walk up more stairs to eventually stand on his shoulders. The view from Jesus's shoulders was incredible and totally worth the wait in Jesus's hot (literally) body. We didn't want to stay up there too long because other people were waiting behind us. We quickly came back down and then left Jesus to go to the beach. 

At the beach we learned SUNSCREEN SAVES LIVES. All twenty of us went into the water, which was disgustingly warm, and fooled around until we went to the pool. My fingers turned into raisins and at that time we got out of the pool and went to lunch. Lunch was much fancier than what we were dressed for, but either way we enjoyed the food as usual. I had a soup made with veggies and meat, and being my somewhat picky self, I casually picked up a piece of chicken to eat. Naturally I thought the chicken tasted fishy only because it was in a soup with actual fish. When I shared my thought with Arielle she told me my chicken was fishy only because it was fish. Mom and Dad, this is 100% on you. If you tell a child everything they eat is chicken, they will grow up and still think everything is chicken. Later we went back to the beach and played beach games with our Vietnamese friends. After one last swim and a couple more "dad-jumps", we got on the bus to go back home (where I am now blogging from). 

To end the blog post today I would like to give a shout out to all moms, specifically my mom. Mom, happy Mother's Day. You never cease to rock and I love you very much. Miss you lots but I will see you SOON. 

View from some point in the middle of the ground and Jesus

JESUS

View from Jesus

BEACH

Day 8-- I'm a tunnel rat

Today we went to the Cu Chi Tunnels (a hot but very cool experience). We got on a bus and went about an hour and a half north to Cu Chi. We arrived and sat through a short video presentation after Professor Berman spoke about the war and a little history of the area and after Snowball (Pete) spoke about the tunnels as structures and how they were made/worked. An interesting thing about the video we watched was that it was in the perspective of the Vietnamese. From what I could understand from the video, the Vietnamese considered the Americans "Devils" and thought their infiltration was unnecessary. I think understanding both sides is important in understanding the history of the entire war and in understanding America's role in Vietnam. Another interesting thing that I learned watching the video was that there was a large number of female soldiers in the Vietnamese army. Many girls/women lost their families early on in the war, and to honor their families they would put on a uniform and fight. I consider these women some of the bravest in the world (along with all the soldiers that fought in the war). 

The video ended and we were able to go into the tunnels and walk around in them. (By "walk" I mean crawl, on hands and knees sometimes). We went through three tunnels overall but the first one gave me a funny feeling. Being down in the tunnels didn't seem real to me but I know it was very real for the people running through them over 40 years ago. I felt a small rush of excitement crawling through the tunnels which I assume would have probably been fear and adrenaline 40 years ago. Overall, crawling through the tunnels was a cool way to see history instead of just reading about it. Another amazing thing about the tunnels was the sheer engineering aspect of them. There were multiple rooms, different levels of tunnels, breathing holes that were camouflaged above ground, etc. The tunnels were only just big enough for the Vietnamese people to crawl through, which stopped a lot of Americans from invading them (American peopel are much larger than Vietnamese people). The Americans that were able to crawl through the tunnels were called "tunnel rats". Call me a tunnel rat. 

After the tunnels we made a few more stops. We went to a temple (don't know the name of it:() that was built to commemorate the Vietnamese soldiers that had lost their lives in the war. Next we went to the cemetery where the people who had died in the war were buried. Both places were very beautiful but also gave me chills. Some of the art on the temple walls displayed scenes from the war, women and children running from men with guns. Not a nice picture really. 

Snowball speaks about tunnels

Our tour guide

Walking through the forest (the paths we were on were not there 40 years ago)

Inside the Temple commemorating the soldiers who have died during the war

Cemetery of the Vietnamese soldiers

Day 7-- It's been a week already? It's been a week already:(

Time flies when you're in Vietnam. 

Today we rolled out of the hotel with a full squad (something Bry Guy was probably very grateful for). We went to UEF for more culture and language classes. Language class was not as enthusiastic as it normally is, probably because we were all very tired. We quickly relocated to the canteen for a fast lunch and then it was off to the U.S. Consulate where we met with a few diplomats who explained to us what they do and how they got involved with working at the Consulate. All four representative were very passionate about their jobs and seemed to really enjoy what they do. We were then given a short tour of the Consulate, which was once the Embassy before it was moved to Hanoi. This was the Embassy that was attacked during the Tet Offensive. Both Americans and Vietnamese people died on the grounds we were standing on, fighting for their respective countries. The little history lesson gave me chills and I felt grateful yet again for my opportunity to come to Vietnam. After the U.S. Consulate we walked over to the American Center where we spent time with nearly 60 Vietnamese students and young adults. The event was a Q&A, where the Vietnamese students asked us (the American students) questions about higher education and just American life in general. It was probably one of the more fun activities we have done on this trip so far. Everyone seemed very interested in what I had to say about my life as an American and it made me feel that I might take for granted a lot of things in my life (like my family, my freedoms, and my education. In fact I definitely take for granted a lot of those things). 

We then came back to the hotel and a couple of us went to the pool to cool off (it was extraordinarily hot today, what's new?). Next on the agenda was GIRLS NIGHT OUT. The seven and us and Kate (i.e goddess of beauty and helping us cross the street) went shopping and brought dinner back to the hotel with us. 
(***all of this was after we tried on our ao dai!!) 

Tomorrow we go to the Cu Chi Tunnels, stay tuned...

Aster with an Ao Dai pants, business casual-cool dress combo

I wasn't supposed to take a picture of this, but--the Vietnamese plaque commemorating the Vietnamese soldiers that died during the Tet Offensive at the U.S Embassy.

Casual photo shoot in the lobby (EVERYONE was taking pictures)

cute puppy

Day 6-- The day is just getting started...

Before class today we took a short field trip to the Jade Emperor Pagoda (a Taoist temple). Although we had no guide to give us a history of the temple, it was amazing to see that in the midst of a bustling city like Ho Chi Minh, a peaceful temple can exist and be used everyday. 

Afterwards, we went to culture class at UEF. We got through one lesson and my favorite part was when the teacher was speaking about a place in central Vietnam called Hue. The teacher went in depth with a discussion about the kind of house that a family in Hue lives in. What was the most interesting to me was that in order to enter the house, you needed to walk up some stairs. There was not just one staircase, but two staircases--one staircase for men and the other for women. We were told men and women are supposed to walk up different stairs out of respect for the family. Another thing he mentioned was that the woman is the most important person in the household--who run the world? GIRLS. 

The company visit today was to Glass Egg. Glass Egg is a digital media company that specializes in art for mostly video games. They create lots of cars, characters, and weapons to be used in games for all kinds of consoles. The company was very cool, just like its owners. Each had their own story that they shared with us and it goes to show you that success can come from anywhere. 

Glass Egg also had a really neat work environment. There were multiple clusters of open desks with two computer monitors per station. Each cluster had about five or six people working on their individual projects. Everything was very close together and dimmed (people who work on computers don’t like sunlight very much). I also noticed that most of the employees were rather young. Another interesting thing about Glass Egg is the training they give to employees. Employees are expected to come with some sort of art abilities (because artistic skill cannot be taught) but how to use the computers and technology is taught after the job is offered and accepted. I feel like this is usually done in any job but is critical for this kind of job.

The rest of the day has so far consisted of being fitted for tailored suits and will consist of going to Lush (a club owned by the owners of Glass Egg).

Outside the Jade Emperor Pagoda

Inside the Jade Emperor Pagoda

THE Jade Emperor Pagoda