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 #5 - Learning Vietnamese

Vietnamese flag

Today it was a day about Vietnam culture and language, learning, learning, learning!! I had an introduction to the program that I am going to work on and also I joined another program on my free time here - all good then.

In the morning I had orientation on Vietnamese culture. Things like Lotus is Vietnamese national flower, that we cannot use white hairband because it's only used in funerals, we cannot stick the chopsticks in rice because means bad luck; we cannot point our feet to sanctuary because is bad luck. Taking pictures of a group of three or a pregnant woman is bad luck (in the group of three it is really bad if you are the one in the middle). Wearing red is a synonym of luck; the Vietnamese flag is composed of red for all the blood shed by the vietnamese to be independent and the golden star is because gold means royal. So many... many, many more things.

I have learned Vietnamese basics and I already practiced when I went shopping for some clothes. It's really nice to be able to say some words to the locals. For example, Portugal in Vietnamese is Tay Ban Nha. How cool is that?? Do you want to know my name? Tên tôi là Juliana!! I am loving this. I can't wait to start using a bit more of these words. 

The program that I have applied for was in the Children Hospital, however as this program is only in the afternoon I asked if I could help in other program in the mornings, so I am going to do community classes. I will help the University students that want to learn English but can't afford it. I am actually looking forward to it. I think it would be great to do this. Language barrier is the worst and I think I can also use this program to learn a bit of Vietnamese. Win - Win for me and hopefully the students will also learn something.

After all this information I went shopping with my colleagues. Working in Vietnam means that you cannot wear anything above your knees, so I went for quick shopping. In Vietnam one of the first things they mention to you is bargain, you need to bargain. Well, I had my first attempt and I failed miserably. Better, I didn't even try. The lady said the price and I paid. This is as much as I bargained. But to be honest, I paid less that 2 pounds for a pair of trousers, so I think it was not a rip off - I can live with this.   

After the shopping we went again for bia in the same bar. You know when you are in your home town and you go to the same bar and the waiter already knows who you are and what you want?? This is exactly the same. The waiter comes to us, knows you want beer, sets up the table and place for you. Don't get over excited. This is a plastic table and chairs on the side walk, but is just cool!! Once the beer finishes I look around to ask for more and as I couldn't find the waiter I just hold the empty bottle of beer and everyone in the bar sees me and start to ask for the waiter to come to see us, and a group of man just say "bring more beer!!", they say it in English. Was just so nice and funny. Everyone is super friendly on the street. They see us and say hi even not knowing us. They just want to say hi to us and wave. I admit that I feel a little like fish in aquarium, being watched all the time but who doesn't want to be called "beautiful" while walking on the street, every once in a while?? And oh, I saw a guy with Portuguese jersey number 9! I have no clue of which player is number 9 but it's good to see that we also have fans around here. I thought on telling him that I was Portuguese, but my Vietnamese skills are not quite there... unfortunately!

Bia @ Tom's bar

I am still trying to get used to some things and there is a couple that I want to try. I want to try bubble tea, egg coffee and sugar cane juice. I am still thinking if I am going to try any of the dog, cat, snake, rat, grass hopper or the eggs that are half egg half duck specialties - I have to say that I am more keen to not to try than the opposite. It's just too hard to think of any of this as delicious food. Apparently, Vietnamese only eat Vietnamese dog. I am not sure what this means but apparently if you have a "crazy" neighbor, he can steal your dog and cook it. Humm, I am still not sure about this one, but I haven't put completely aside yet... However, if you live next to a Vietnamese and you have a dog I advise you to keep your dog shut. You never know if your neighbor gets too upset and might just cook your dog for Sunday lunch (I need more time to absorb this information).

The food? well the food today was just delicious, I have tried the spring rolls in the Vietnamese restaurant in Birmingham but is nothing like this and I also tried the best pineapple ever. It was just perfect. The other volunteers are complaining a bit because they are fed up with Vietnamese food but I have to say that so far, everything is delicious and I am looking forward to try the next meal... and the next... and the next. 

I am also planning to visit the famous caves the weekend after, and other volunteer want to come as well. I came by myself to Vietnam but since I landed in Hanoi I haven't spent much time alone, which is quite cool.

Tomorrow I am going to visit the Hospital where I will work. I am going to work with children with kidney disease. I don't know if I can say this, this way... but I am really looking forward to start. :)