CSDS, Vietnam - Life is beautiful

CSDS goodbye present

After one week of being back home I can now better reflect on my last 3 weeks in Vietnam. I didn't have much expectations to be honest or at least I tried to not raised any. When I was preparing everything for my trip I read the volunteer guide that the organization sent me. In this guide I had all the information, from what I should take, a bit of Vietnamese history and also a little bit of what we should expect of being a volunteer.

Happy beautyful little girl

After reading all of it I thought "yeah I am not going there and change anyone's life!!" and it's true we don't change anyone's life by spending a few months with them and in my case even less because I was going to be there for just 2 weeks. When I started to think about it I wondered if it made sense to go for just 2 weeks... I was troubled with these thoughts for a while. But then, what does it matter if it's just for 2 weeks, 2 days or 2 hours... you can actually impact someone's life just by spending 2 minutes with them. We don't make a big change people's life but we definitely can have a little impact. And that my friends... that is exactly how I felt every day that I spend with the children or with the students in the community classes. Yes I didn't do anything special, I just played with kids tried to entertain them and I also only spoke english with the students, what does it matter?? I help the little ones go through the afternoon with a bit more fun and I helped the students to know even if just 1 more word or that Portugal exists and where in the map. Is this too little? Probably but... Well it felt like a lot to me. So looking back there is nothing that  would change about this experience. The CSDS staff was the most helpful and gentle that I could ask. I met very interesting people that do an amazing job to help their community, people passioned about their work, people that actually care. They do an amazing work with the little resources they have.

I learned through these weeks that life is beautiful, you help by giving whatever you have (english knowledge or just passion for children) and you get it all back. You get it all back by having just one little girl coming to play with you every time she sees you or just having students saying that they enjoyed the class and they wished you could stay longer.

At this moment I am writing with tears in my eyes. I really connected with the children I met, I loved the time I spent there and everyone I met. I just wished I could have stayed longer. But duty called.

Another learning is that, it is very good to travel alone. You meet a lot of people and you are a lot more open to talk with different people. You meet a lot of people that turn up to be really weird but that is fun too.

So I will probably repeat this experience... Maybe I will go back... who knows.

Day #23 - Goodbye Vietnam

Goodbye Hanoi @ Hoan Kiem Lake

It is my last day in Vietnam, so much has happened in the last three weeks that is impossible to describe, tell everything that I have seen, listened and felt.

Last night @ volunteers house

After finishing my volunteer experience I left the volunteers house and came to an hotel in Old Quarter in Hanoi. I had spend my traveling in a low cost budget so I decided that I would spoil myself on my last days in Vietnam. Staying in a nice hotel was a start and then shopping in the Old Quarter was the second step and a perfect way to say goodbye to this city. Also was the perfect way for me to be lost in the Old Quarter as well! You know me and my lack of sense of directions... add a neighborhood where all the streets look the same and are full with people and motorbikes and taraaa!! - 30 minutes wandering around. I only knew one way to get to the hotel which started in the lake, however I couldn't find the dam' lake for quite long time. Result of being lost in the Old quarter? - I did quite a lot of shopping.

Water puppet show

In the evening I met with the other volunteers again and we went to the water puppet show. It was nice and funny but after 20 minutes I think I had enough and we were kind of half way. If I understood Vietnamese would have helped a lot, but well at least I ticked the box. After we went for drinks, this means beer and we ended up in a bar full of foreigners that only played hip hop. Let's say that this is not really my favorite type of music and even less the rubbing in each type of dance that usually comes with this music. Nevertheless I was having fun and this guy approaches me. He starts to talk with me because of my glasses. I don't really understand this, is it not normal people wearing glasses?? Well, maybe not ones so big and probably they avoid to take it when going out. Well, I don't!! So he thought that my glasses were fake and then when he finds out that I am Portuguese living in the UK he says he is from Leeds and then shoots "Oh you are Portuguese... if you were English I knew exactly what you were thinking but now I really don't know!!" - what the f#$% is that supposed to mean?? You know me right so I said "Well I am here in a bar having fun with my friends and just talking with you, as simple as that!!" If that is what he uses as an approach I think he is not going to be very successful. Moving on... After this we went to another bar and once the night ended we took a taxi. Going in a taxi in Hanoi is always an adventure and being foreigner means "they will try to rip you off!!" and that's exactly what happened. As we said we wouldn't pay 5 times the correct price, we gave him money and he threw back to our faces. We left the money in the taxi and then left. The taxi driver got our of the taxi and came after us threatening with chopsticks. Now that I think about it is quite funny but at the time was really scary. It was almost 3 in the morning and we had a crazy taxi driver chasing us with chopsticks and me ridiculously trying to avoid the guy being "stabed"!!

Halong Bay

But this was the last stressful moment of this trip! On Thursday I went in a 2 day cruise in Halong bay. Halong bay is one of the 7 Wonders of Nature. This is a beautiful bay! The day started very early, with a bus trip of 4 hours from Hanoi to Halong Bay and once we got to Halong city we were transferred by boat to the big boat. From the moment I checked in at the hotel in the Old quarter until I sat at lunch table at the cruise I had to keep saying that I was traveling alone... no I don't have a husband and no I don't have a boyfriend. Everyone seemed confused and I don't understand why is so difficult to understand that I am single!! I forgot to tell you, the last time that I was on the bus to the volunteer house the man that sells the tickets started to talk with me. Myself and Eve made the mistake of asking him for directions and then when Eve got out of the bus he kept talking with me. From asking my age, where I come from - the usual, until are you married!! Well I told him that I wasn't and he carried on asking "Why not?" - what kind of question is that??.  I told him "I haven't find the right husband yet!!" - what else could I say... He was not done yet so he asked where I bought my watch and how much I paid. Well let's say that the watch I was wearing is worth as much as the average salary in Vietname, so I just told him that it was a present - which is actually true. So he nodded and gave the final shot "I see why you are not married, you think you are too young and you don't need to get married." By this moment I was getting a tiny bit annoyed so I just looked at him and repeated "Not really, I just didn't find a husband!!" he smiled and lots of people came in the bus so he had to go work... Anyway let's say that if you go alone anywhere in Vietname and you are a woman you will be asked a thousands times if you are married and if the answer is no you will see their confused expression looking at you.

My cruise buddies: Amy, Lisa and Myriam

Once I got to the cruise we sat at the dinning table and I met Myriam, Amy and Lisa. Myriam was traveling alone as well and Lisa and Amy were traveling together. Once Myriam and I realized that we were the only ones traveling alone we became kayak buddies and we kept on enjoying the cruise together. The cruise included visit the caves in one of the Halong Bay islands. I always knew that Halong bay was going to be a busy place full of tourists but... I never thought it was that busy. It was almost impossible to take a picture without someone on the other side appearing in it. The visit to the caves was quite nice and the best part was the guide. The way that they tried to make it more interesting and also justify the presence of the guide was by showing us some "rocks" and say that they had a particular shape, animal, fingers, etc

The penis rock

Let's say that I never saw what he was saying and one of the times we all disagreed with his interpretation. There was this bit of rock that the first moment you look at it, you just see a penis. Well, the guide said it was a pointing finger... Ok, saying that it looked like a penis probably wouldn't be very appropriate but it definitely looked like one. After the caves we cruised to the Tip To beach where we could swim and also go up the mountain to enjoy the view. Well, I didn't swim, it was not hot enough for me as we were on the side of the island where there was only shade - I know, I Know!! You are thinking "Not hot enough?? Is she crazy?!" Yes It was not hot enough for me, end of story! I went up the mountain and the view was just stunning. Everything was so beautiful and peaceful - well if you manage to forget the noise of the boats and the Chinese making movies of the view (I still don't understand this bit. Why make a movie of a bay?? Weirdos!!) The day ended with one of the best sunset that I have seen and back to the boat. In the evening we learned how to cook fried spring rolls, that is just delicious and had dinner with a gazillion of courses and all very much amazing!!

Australian Family

After spending all day traveling in a bus going in a cruise with super tight schedule, I just felt like going to the top deck and enjoy the evening in the bay by myself, just enjoy the view. Well... that didn't happen. Once I got to the top deck Myriam and Lisa were playing cards with an Australian family that were also in the same cruise. They were a big group of family and friends traveling all together, parents, sons & daughters and boyfriends and everyone was playing cards. We joined them and it was so much fun. They were so competitive and just so friendly - we made another group of friends for the rest of the cruise. So no Me time at all for myself.

The second day on the cruise was so nice, we had the chance to go kayaking for an hour around some caves  and the best part was that there wasn't so many people in this area when we went but once we were trying to get to the boat this bamboo boat full of Chinese appeared and once they saw us they just started to take pictures of us. Right, I don't really have anything against Chinese but... they are weird! What are they going to do with hundreds of pictures of 2 foreigners struggling to take the Kayak back to the boat?? Honestly!! The cruise was really nice and I really enjoyed Halong bay, I believe everyone should go and see it but at the same time it's just sad that they are not taking care of the Natural wonder to make sure that it will "survive" as it is for a very long time.

Spring rolls

Cruise over, time to go back to the hotel and realized that Amy and Lisa are staying in the same hotel. We met for dinner and in the beginning they wanted to try Pho so we looked for a restaurant. we found one that only serves beef Pho so we moved to another one and once I asked what exactly they wanted to eat Lisa just said "Spring rolls!! I just love spring rolls" hahaha, me to! I was exactly in the same page. And after trying to talk with the front man of a restaurant and he telling me that they didn't have Pho and that it was not a Vietnamese restaurant... We actually decided to go inside because it looked nice and we realize that the restaurant OF COURSE it is Vietnamese food and, guess what? It does have Pho in the menu. Ok probably I was not saying Pho with the best pronunciation but either way. The food was amazing and it was the best way to enjoy my last meal in Vietnamese soil and also to say goodbye to Hanoi city. After saying goodbye to Amy and Lisa I went to the hotel.

Before I went to Vietnam I had some good news, I was offered with a new position at work and also I got promoted. Until my last night in Vietnam I haven't done anything to celebrate this so I decided that I would do something to spoil myself. I believe I deserved it so when I looked for the hotel for my last night I looked for a spa hotel and I found it. So to end my trip to Vietnam and to celebrate my new job and promotion I did a hot stone massage and foot spa! I know that this all goes against the purpose of the trip - I am really spoiling myself - but it just felt so good and it was so cheap, both treatments costs was like $35 USD, is not even 30 pounds!!! The hot stone was really nice, it felt amazing and so on but the foot spa... everything was amazing until she decides at the end that the best way to finish this amazing and relaxing treatment beating the shit out of me in my back!!! You know when they hit with the hands in a vertical way?? I actually never thought that would actually happen but now I can say, Yes it does. Crazy!! And because this was not enough she started to beat me with the palm of her hands!! Auch!! I am glad that I didn't ask for a Thai massage!! Myriam told me that was not a relaxing massage and that's why I changed to the hot stone. I don't think I would be here to tell the story after that. They would be still trying to put all my pieces together after that.

And this is it, time to say good bye get on the plane and return to reality. My trip back to UK it was fine, it was so long but ok. It would have been better if Qatar airways didn't disappoint me so much by not having hot chocolate. There was 2 funny moments during my trip back. Well, probably more but I don't remember anymore: 1. The moment that I realized that I really wanted hot chocolate, but after being offered with champagne they tell you that there is no hot chocolate in the biggest bloody airplane in the world, so I am not going to have it; 2. In Doha airport I went to have another strawberry and banana smoothie and the girl recognizes me from 3 weeks ago. It was hilarious and also so nice. I had to tell her that they make the best smoothies!

Last stop Paris! I got to Paris with all my luggage, I didn't loose anything during all my trip, which was very surprising. I bought a couple of paintings in Hanoi and all made to Paris. Yahoo!! But not everything made to England because I forgot the stupid paints in the airport in Paris. Yes, everything made all the way from the other side of the world and on my very last stop, I manage to forget my paintings, the ones that I went on purpose to the Old Quarter in my last hour in Hanoi to buy. The ones that I specifically looked for a lady from whom I bought previously. Yes, those ones! I left it in Paris airport. Big, massive BUMMER!

World Nature Wonder - Halong bay

Day #18 - Last day volunteering

Tuesday's community class

Today was my last day in the volunteering projects. In the morning I went to give my last community class. It was so weird, I really enjoyed to do that and I also really liked my students - Is so funny to say My students! We talked about cultural differences and we had a very interesting conversation about this. At the end of the class they asked me if I was going to teach the class on Friday and I had to tell them that it was my last day. They felt sorry and said that I was a very good teacher (this was surprising to me) and they asked me to take some pictures with them. Of course I also took a picture of this class. On Monday I said goodbye to Nhung but I wasn't sure if I could hug her or not, so we just waved to each other, but today with the girl from the community class she said goodbye and then she came and give me a hug. Was so cool, I really wanted to hug Nhung to say goodbye but I wasn't sure if it was ok, so this time was nice to do that.

My goodbye postcards

In the afternoon I went as well on my last trip to the hospital. I didn't have any particular activity in mind but then Eve suggested them to make a goodbye card for me and they did!! This little boy that the day before was sad because he missed all the activities, he was there and the moment he saw me he smiled and then he did my postcard. It is a beautiful postcard where he also made a draw of myself. So cute. As we are in a children hospital we have children from 6 months to 16 years old, so yesterday this 16 year old boy was there and he wanted to practice his English. As he was very ill he was missing a lot of classes and he wanted to know my opinion about his English level. I have to say that it was very good, he knew a lot of words and could spell very well as well. 

Street Food with the local supporters

As this was my last at the hospital we went all for street food. The local supporters took us again and once more it was delicious. I have to say that my European body doesn't seem to be coping very well with the vietnamese food but I am not stopping eating, I take Imodium and hope it just goes away. Of course that when saying goodbye there was a lot of hugs and they also gave me really nice feedback which made me very happy. It is really weird to know that I won't be seeing the little ones again, in 2 weeks I just connected with them. Well, who knows me knows that I love children anyway. 

Karaoke bar

Today was not only my last day in the volunteers house, was also Emma's and Sophie's last day, therefore, we all went for Karaoke after dinner. Yeah, Karaoke!! I couldn't come to Asia and not go for Karaoke, it would be outrageous!! So we went to this Karaoke place and we all got a room just for ourselves - it was hilarious!! I forgot to mention!! When we were going inside the bar I asked the guy if people could smoke inside (this was  stupid question, of course they can but I was just checking), I didn't use words I just put my two fingers, like people do to hold the cigarette, and put close to my lips. Well the guy understood something different, he thought I was asking if they do blowjobs in there!! He makes the move that everyone knows it's referring to blowjob and nods his head saying yes. It was hilarious. 

CSDS volunteers

Karaoke was amazing, so much fun. I was the oldest person in the room... does that really matters?? I was with friends and I was having fun. The waiters just kept on bringing beer and fill our cups while we were trying to sing. We had different music lists in different languages and it was just hilarious to see that when we thought we asked a song, actually it was something completely different that would show up on screen. Amazing!! I couldn't possibly ask for a better "farewell" party.

The volunteering is finished - sad face - and now is time to enjoy a bit more of the Vietnamese Paradises. Tomorrow I am going on a 2 days cruise to Halong Bay. Tonight I am staying in a hotel in the city centre and tomorrow early morning I depart and will spend the night in the cruise. For someone that doesn't really like boats this is going to be interesting. Yeah I know!! You are thinking "how can she not like boats when she did surf??!!", well is not the same thing is it? I am not in a cage that if it drowns, it takes me with it!! Anyway, I know is silly fear but I believe I will be ok. In the next couple of days I am also spoiling myself. this trip so far has been about low cost traveling but the next couple of days I will go on a very nice cruise and I will spend my last night in a very good hotel where I have booked a massage!! I believe I deserve this treat. I haven't done anything to celebrate my new job and promotion and also I got my bonus last month so now is... me me me time. I will be traveling alone the next couple of days which is also a experience as since I landed in Vietnam I didn't spend a minute alone. Wish me luck :)

Day #17 - Weekend and so much more

I have so much to tell, to describe, to share!!! I have done so many things and... Oh I don't want to go back... I am loving this here.

Cute little one that I wanted to bring to England

Let's start from the beginning which is actually the end... the end of the week. Friday work at the hospital started with a ride in a motorbike in Hanoi. I was super scared but then I loved it. Remember me saying that I didn't go when Nhum offered me a ride and I regretted, well I didn't miss my second chance... Once we got to the hospital, we did lots of cool activities with the littles ones. Was just so much fun. Ok not just for the kids for me as well. We did a puppet show, to tell the story of the three little pigs, we played duck duck goose, we danced the chicken dance (Passarinhos a bailar para os Tugas) and the hoky poky... so many things. Trying to teach the chicken dance to children with their parents watching is just hilarious... they make a lot of fun of you, is just impressive. And of course my little girl that just wants to sit on my lap was there and I made her dance, she smiled when I just put her up in the air (yeah I know that chicken dance doesn't do that, neither the hoky poky but I improvised... eheheheh) It was so cool, I took so many pictures and was just good to see everyone enjoying themselves. Oh and I met this cute little baby girl with whom I just fell in love with. I said to her mom that I just wanted to take her with me and when she told the little girl, she just started to cry. Awww, so sweet, so sweet, so sweet!!! After all the dance we managed to make everyone sit and listen to the 3 little pigs story, and the little girl came to sit on my lap and then another one also came and then... well lets say there wasn't anymore space for anyone to sit.

Watching the 3 little pigs

After finishing at the hospital the weekend started with the trip to Cat Ba island. We took the train to go to Hai Phong where then we would take the ferry to the island, this is a 3 hours trip. Once we got to the train station bought our tickets I asked the lady which platform we would take the train. She looked very confused and pointed in the direction of the train outside. I thought "well that's helpful, how do I know if this train goes to where we want??" so we just came outside to wait for the train and I realized that the train was in the platform waiting for 6 o'clock and there was only ONE train in the ONLY platform of the station!! "Oh that's what the lady tried to say!!! Got it!!" I went to Cat Ba with Eve and Amandine. Eve is blonde and that makes her very popular in this country so while we were waiting for the train the train drivers spent the time checking on Eve and smiling at her. When she just asked to take a picture of them... I think they fell in love. Ah, almost forgot to mention the train... Oh dear, when we saw the train from outside we thought "we will never make to Hai Phong tonight!!" but actually, once we got in it looked pretty ok. Is not the most modern but the seats were good, there was plugs to charge phone or laptop and screens. Oh the screens!! Let me tell you, I spend 3 hours of train journey listening to Vietnamese type of Eurovision show is not entertaining... but we survived. And let me tell you this was not the worst... or the best let's put this way. At some point, while I was almost falling asleep, Amandine does a fast move and wakes me. When I look at her she just says "I think I saw something moving on the floor, I felt something!!", "What do you mean you felt/saw something" - I say. She is French and her English is not very good but she used enough words to make me understand that she saw a MOUSE!!! The moment I realise this I put my legs up and at this time the ladies on the sit next to us, realising what just happened, start to laugh of us. Let's just say that I spent 2.5 hours of the journey with my legs up... my. feet. didn't. touch. the. floor. 

Seafood hot pot

We made it to Hai Phong safely and on Saturday we woke up to have breakfast and catch the ferry to the island. And the breakfast was just something... They had RICE for breakfast!!! Is not enough that I spend the time having rice for lunch and dinner, here at the volunteers house, I also have rice for breakfast in the hotel???!!! You are kidding me, right!!! Well, I didn't have rice or noodles, I stack with the toasted bread with butter and water. Then take the ferry to the island. We finally get to the island and went for some walking around and went to our hostel. Once we got there we ordered food and organized a half day tour around the island. Do you want to know what I had for lunch??!! Seafood hot pot, yeah, exactly that. It is delicious!!! Being in this island I had to have seafood. I have to be honest with you guys, I was worried about getting food poisoned but no, it didn't happen... and thank God because that would have made my afternoon a nightmare!! I could try to describe what a hot pot is but there's no words to make it justice. In the afternoon we went with our drivers (motorbikes drivers... we could have rented a motorbike but the english and french girls were a bit scared so we had drivers with us) around the island. We visit an Hospital cave that was used during the war with Americans, to protect from the bombing, we visited Cat Ba national park and went up the mountain. It took us 1 hour to go up and another hour to get down. I saw this funky spider with yellow and orange head and, what I believe to be a colorful crab. I pretended to be cool about it, but inside... inside I was Freaking out. Anyway, being on top and the view makes totally worth the hassle to go up. And great that was cold that day, otherwise I am not sure if I would manage to just take one hour to go up... I was boiling when I got there. And as I was so scared of being bitten by something I had my jumper and trousers down... so I was really, really, really hot!!

In the jungle, kind of

Trekking in the mountains was really cool and we met a lot of people... Foreigners - locals don't seem to do these things. I met a couple, he is American and she is Dutch and once I started to go down the mountain he told me "See you at the bar tonight!" and I thought "yeah see you at the bar." And guess what we had dinner at the same place and he actually ate the chicken burger that I ordered. This is quite a funny one. I order a chicken burger (yeah I know that right now you are saying, she went to Vietnam and is eating burgers - silly one.) yeah I can still hear all of you, but after so many days eating noodles and rice, I just wanted something different. Moving on... I ordered my burger and waited... waited and waited, once I got my burger I see that is not chicken burger. I call the waiter and told him that my burger was not chicken. He told me it was and I was like "Look this is not chicken, this is beef!!" and he looks at me, confused and say "That is chicken beef" - at this moment all of us look at him with a face like "really??" anyway they took my burger back and bring me afterwards my chicken burger and 50% discount. While I was waiting for the burger with the right meat, Travis (the American we met at the national park) said "hey I heard you ordered a chicken burger, is it this one??" Oh he had ordered a beef burger and the waiter just messed up with our orders and while I (Portuguese, European) didn't accept that, Travis (American, over polite, hungry guy) took the burger he didn't order because he thought they would through the food in the bin. Is just funny. We all ended the night at a bar where all the foreigners go. The bar is really cool, they have a jukebox... well is not really a jukebox, is a laptop where you can go to youtube and choose any song you want to listen at the bar... you end up listening to random music but is actually quite cool. I met people from everywhere, America, Netherlands, South Korea, South America, etc everyone just traveling and meeting at this place. You won't believe how many of these people quit their jobs to go travel for 1 year... so many stories and so inspiring. I had conversations about everything and anything, is just so good to meet people with so different and random life stories, so interesting lives around there. And I have to say that tell someone what my job is, is just hilarious... even more if they are from countries like South Africa, where Cadbury is like "The. Brand." Anyway was just really good evening. We went home at 3 in the morning and really happy... probably drunk as well.

Cat Ba beach - Paradise for me

Sunday we went to the beach. Dam' it was perfect. Beautiful beach, warm water... a paradise on earth, I am still amazed. Then we had to start the journey home and once we got back to Hanoi and took the taxi, the fun was not over. Our taxi driver was just insane!!! We came in a taxi with super loud electronic music and the taxi drove like we were in Fast & Furious 8!! I was in the middle on the back seat watching every. single. move. I thought I was going to die. Luckily I am still here to tell you all about this craziness.

Now I am just having my last two days at the hospital. Today we played with the little ones and when we were leaving, this little boy, that is usually always with us came from his treatment and he was so disappointed because he missed the activities... I felt so guilty for leaving him!! So I promised him that tomorrow we will do the same thing together. Feels so weird to leave them, I wish I could stay here for longer. I can't believe that it's almost over...

Day #13 - End of the week

Little ones with the masks

Oh this has been quite a week, ver busy. Monday I started to do the Community classes in the morning and go to the hospital in the afternoon and Tuesday and Wednesday the same schedule. This was a little tiring, trying to keep the students focused for two hours and entertain the little ones for three hours needs a lot of creativity and energy.

Community class @ Park

The Community classes theme this week was Traveling and one of activities is to explain to the students what is a bucket list and ask them to make their own bucket list. I gave examples and afterwards they had to write their own. To make them practice their English speech I asked all of them to share their list. This was quite funny, from being an Icon (for no specific reason, the student just wants to be famous), to visit the sea reefs, travel the world to... "I want to become a boy." Yeah you read it correctly, this girl wants to become a boy. In the beginning I thought that I didn't understand correctly but then she repeated. Once I finally understood what she meant I was a little surprised. Not only because I was not expecting that answer but also with her confidence to say and share that wish with everyone else in the class. The other students started to say that she just needed to go to Thailand and do the operation and she just replied "Yes, I know I can go to Thailand, I am already saving money, I really want to do this!" Well, if before I was surprised then I have got really impressed with her confidence (Go girl!) and also with the other students. Of course they made comments but none of them were malicious and once I asked another student for his bucket list, they changed subject and we moved on. I just thought "If this was in the Western side of the world this girl would be so bullied in this class!!" - is good to know that here is different. As part of the class on Wednesday we went to the park to talk about nature. We played games and the students had to create their natural world. They did some impressive creative things and I believe they also enjoyed it. By the way I also never took so many pictures with people. I mean, I never had so many people wanting to take picture with me, but I guess this just shows that they like me and that is a good thing. After this class Nhung offered me a ride back in her motorbike but I took the bus, I was not brave enough. I regret it now because I want to experience a ride in a motorbike and I might not have another opportunity... bug bummer!   

This week was also the first time that I had to take the bus by myself to go to the hospital - this was an experience. First I had to cross one of the busiest roads in Hanoi - well I stop by the road letting all the motorbikes pass until I saw a local. I waited for him until he started to cross the road and then crossed as well - I need some "support"! Then I got in the bus and everything seemed to go perfect, no major incidents... until I had to get out of the bus. I was by the door with only one lady ahead of me. The bus stops, doors open and the one lady ahead of me get out of the bus and when I stepped down and I am almost passing the door... The bus starts again and closes the door and I am hit by the door and pulled inside the bus. The girl behind me starts shouting to the driver and he brakes in a way that I go against the door again. He finally opens the door and I shoot out of the bus - I was not getting stuck in that bus with that driver again!! The lady that got out of the bus before me just waited for me to leave the bus and said something to me and smiled... I just shrugged and went to the hospital - I have no clue of what she said to me but I guess was something like "next time be faster they are crazy here!!" Going in a bus here is so funny, is almost like a roller coaster... Ok I am exaggerating but when the bus just slows down but doesn't really stop to people go in or out of the bus; When you hear the motorbikes "hitting" the bus all the way and nothing happens - I guess you understand what I mean don't you? I have told you that there is no rules in the road for motorbikes (well there must be some, they just don't follow) apart from: if it's a bus, it's bigger than you, let it go first.  

Little girl with her plasticine creations

All my afternoons I spent in the hospital playing with the kids. We did a lot of things; from playing with plasticine, making portraits (I made my own portrait and all the kids couldn't stop laughing, I guess it just shows how good I am at it), making our own masks, make origami, singing songs, etc. Sometimes is really hard to start with them but now they recognize us already which makes it a little easier. There is this little girl that in the first day I spent the time trying to get a word from her. Ok I wouldn't understand but would be nice to have a little word. She also wouldn't give me a smile. I sat her on my lap and we started to make a puzzle. She was really shy but when the other kids started to play with plasticine she also wanted to do it but she is just too little, she is just 3 years old. Let's say that my skills with plasticine are close to none but I know how to make balls and strings and that's what I did for her... And I got in return a beautiful little smile - Yahooo she was so amused with those that I spent the rest of the afternoon doing it. The day after the moment I arrive at the hospital and she saw me, she came right after me and when I sat she pointed saying that she wanted to be on my lap and we started to play again. She even sang a bit, and that was all the words she ever said to me.

Yesterday I gave to them the animal masks that Alison Pirie donated. They were so happy, you should have seen it!! Was so nice to see. One of the boys got the Lion mask, he loves lions because they are the strongest and the king of the jungle. We didn't need to do anything else the rest of the afternoon we just played with the masks, making the sound of animals - this was hilarious. There was this little kid... he is such a cheeky little monkey!! Just running around, with a cheeky smile... so cute!!

Pho Gà

Every time I go to the hospital I always have a local supporter to help us translating. And one of the days Hóa and Doanh came with me. They asked me if I had children and how old I am. When I said that I am a single 30 year old they explained to me that in Vietnam that is unacceptable. Hóa is 24 years old and her mother is asking her if she has a boyfriend. I didn't have to ask to see that she doesn't and she said that in Vietnam is very difficult a woman pursue a career and not get married. When I asked her what happens to the women that don't get married, she said that people won't talk about her and with her. Knowing this was a bit of a shock to me and I just told them, that in the West is easier to have a career than a husband - at least I managed to make her smile. After finishing the day at he hospital the girls invited me to go try Pho and it was delicious. I had Pho Gà (chicken noodles) and it was really good, I used chopsticks and a spoon to eat it - like a local. Another tick in my list of things to do in Vietnam.    

In the volunteer house things have been funny as well. On the same night, I went to a shopping centre here in Hanoi that is like a palace and then went for drinks to Tom's, our Vietnamese local bar, to have a couple of bia with the new volunteers. Once we all went back home, C. found a mice in one of the bathrooms. Yeah , A MICE!!! I just ran to the kitchen and went on top of the chair. The other crazy ones just stayed in front of the bathroom door trying to find the mouse. In the meantime in the kitchen... we closed the door so the mice wouldn't come in and M. started to toast some bread. We were so focused in making sure that the mouse wouldn't come in that when the toasts were ready and jumped we all jumped as well... we got scared!! This was just hilarious!! We ended the night dancing on top of chairs avoiding the mouse.

My cutest little friend

And now is the weekend and myself, E. and A. are spending the weekend in Cat Ba, an island close to Halong Bay. The weather this week hasn't been warm at all, just 18ºC, at some point it felt like I was back in UK's summer but the heat is coming back in the weekend, hopefully, we will be able to enjoy some sunshine by the seaside and get some healthy color.

Plasticine creations (none is mine)

Day #9 - Teaching and Street Food

Community class 

Today I had my first full day of volunteering work. I started in the morning with Community classes. In these classes we have the university students that want to learn English but can't afford to pay the classes.

I started the class by introducing myself and as I mentioned before once I say what my job is I cannot not spend 30 minutes talking about chocolate. They wanted to know how to make chocolate and I think I managed to explain in the most simple way possible. They were so excited that when I said that my first job was in coffee, they also wanted to know everything about coffee and here when they learned that Vietnam was the first country to export coffee they felt very proud. They also have good coffee here.

After talking about me, chocolate and coffee we started the class with theme traveling. It was very good and I had lots of fun. Hopefully the students from tomorrow will enjoy as much as the ones today. As part of one task they had to create a "bucket list" and one of them just wrote "pretty wife", I thought it was fair, who wouldn't want that?!

Afternoon I went to the hospital again and played with the children. In the beginning is always hard to get their attention and will but with time we manage to lure them to participate in the activities. Boh was there again and we made a face mask together. But today there was this little girl, she must be 3 years old and she wouldn't say a word or give a smile. I tried everything I could without being able to say a word i Vietnamese until I think she gave me a smile... I think, I am still not sure about it.

Enjoying Vietnamese Street food

The day ended having Vietnamese street food (they say!), Vietnamese pasta and pizza, all very delicious, however I only had a tiny bit. I am not feeling great - my belly is not right!! It was something I ate but I am not stopping eating...  food is just sooo good. I am just going to lay on my bed and sleep! Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better. I so much hope so! 

Today is short, I am just not feeling very well.

Day #8 - Happy Easter from Vietnam

Easter @ Hoan Kiem Lake

Well, Easter in Vietnam is just different. Why? well, there is no Easter here. Instead of celebrating Easter today I went to walk around Hanoi city centre again and buy souvenirs.

As Sunday, today the day started later and we headed to the city centre and get some food. I am not proud of myself today because I went to eat something western. Today was a day full of western things. Maybe I was missing being at home for Easter... but actually I think I was just not brave enough to go somewhere without a local that knows the place and the people. So today there is no pictures of food, I am too embarrassed. 

After lunch we went for shopping and I had my first try on bargain. I did some shopping and I tried to bargained in all of them. But there was one point that I felt very very guilty, more like an hypocrite. I was challenging the price of a tshirt that was 70000 VND which is 3.24 USD!! I challenged and I paid only 50000, 2.32 USD. This money doesn't even pay the tshirt!! I left the shop and I was thinking how hypocrite I am. I came here as volunteer to help and I don't want to pay 3.23 USD for a tshirt when I was wearing a 20 pounds one???!! Just felt wrong. I can't fix the world but this just felt wrong...

We spent the afternoon walking around and we went to a shopping centre on the other side of the town that it was like we entered in a different world. Suddenly, the streets with the open drains and people cooking on the street, parking their bikes anywhere and having shops stuffed with clothes and other articles was like a different planet. In the shopping there was Dior, Cartier, Kenzo, etc and a man to open the doors for us. The differences that you see between two worlds in this city are gigantic. This is the type of thing that I knew to exist but when you see with your eyes is just awakening... and sad. And as anywhere in the world, as more simple and modest the people are, nicer and more welcome they are.

After a nice walk in the sun around the lake we sat to relax a little and a group of students approached us. They are having English classes and they wanted to practice so they asked our help. I spent some time talking with them. About what I do as job (this is always a funny part of the conversations), my hobbies, the reason to be in Vietnam, what did I visited and where do I go next. They took sometime to explain us the legend of the Hoan Kiem Lake (in english, The lake of the returned sword) and after they asked me to tell something about where I come from. After explaining that my job is make chocolate, this is the best part of the conversation. I told them that I was from Portugal, their faces, like everyone else, is of confusion - they have no idea where Portugal is - so then I shoot the miracle question "Do you know Cristiano Ronaldo??" Their faces open with a massive smile and say "Cristiano Ronaldo?? yes!! I am a big fan, he is so handsome!!" - job done, everyone knows from where I am. Thank you so much Cristiano, you have no idea but you made my life a lot easier here around Vietnam, probably anywhere else I go too!!

Our English students

To finish, do you remember when I said that everyone here was very polite and respected a lot the elderly people by giving their seats on the bus??!! Well, not everyone, there is assholes in Hanoi as well. Surprise, surprise!! When this old lady got in the bus, Amondine (another volunteer here in Hanoi) stood up to give her seat and another lady took the seat. When we pointed to the older, very fragile lady to show that the seat was for her, she completely ignored us and the lady. In my best Portuguese I said "cabra do c$%&"#$"!

Tomorrow, my first community class and another afternoon at the hospital :D   

I also skyped with my family today. Was nice to talk with everyone and also see my niece. She is so big. I never spent so long without talking with her and also neither spent so much time away from home like now. This was also the first Easter in 30 years that I was not with my family and without my Kinder egg. Well, I did a lot of good and nice things as well and I always have next year. I am sure I do. But... I do miss my homeland.

PS: First Imodium tablets taken... my belly feels funny (very worried face)