Today was a day of many appointments: 1 at school and 3 at strangers' houses. Needless to say, I became very familiar with Grab (Vietnam's version of Uber). They have a few options ranging from basic taxis to the equivalent of UberPool to motorbikes (oh yes, motorbikes) and I have used all three of those today. The first Grab took me to school and the assistant there, Tu, had me call her when I got in so she could give directions to the driver (apparently the school is hard to find and I don't really speak Vietnamese).
Paperwork was done at school and time to call another Grab . . . wouldn't work from my phone! Keep in mind I'm at least 10 km away from my hotel apartment. Luckily, Holly, another front office person, managed to get one from her phone and I just paid cash . . . crisis averted (and lucky I had gotten cash yesterday!) I didn't learn too much from these taxi rides as it felt very safe and secure and my life was in no way in danger. There's a lot of honking that happens but we'll get to that later. Cue my afternoon appointments. I let my realtor(s) go before I began my journey across the ocean in favor of finding roommates. Those of you that know me know that I'm not the most social person by nature so the thought was roommates = more opportunity to make friends or at least have regular social interaction. The teachers at the school seem friendly from what I've seen on Facebook but I don't want to place all my money on that. Anyways ... I've been scouring Hanoi housing groups for roommate listings and found 4 that were willing to let me look at their homes this week. First one isn't too far but I don't want to walk 30 minutes in 90 degree heat and 90% humidity (idk if that's accurate but that's definitely what it felt like) so I order a Grab Bike. However, I make the mistake of putting my pickup location on the spot where all the Grab Bike drivers hang out so I have NO IDEA which one is the one that picked up my order . . . and again, I don't really speak vietnamese. Luckily, the guy happens to ask what I'm wearing and I do know enough to say "mặc áo màu đỏ" or wear red shirt and the guy finds me, hands me a helmet and I hop on the back of a complete stranger's bike. This might be a good time to mention literally none of my drivers today spoke any English ... or if they did, they didn't let on at all. So things I learned about riding on the back of a motorbike 1. Hold on to something (the person, the handle behind you ... something) and squeeze the bike with your thighs. Makes you WAY more stable 2. Breathe . . . why you ask? Well of course you kind of need to to live but why might you not breathe: 1. The paint that divides lanes means literally nothing to drivers here 2. Red lights are a suggestion apparently 3. Unless you're actually colliding with someone, there is no such thing as too close to another vehicle 4. SO. MUCH. HONKING. . . . Now I don't mind the honking while walking down the street or as ambient noise in my apartment but there's just something about being a part of the traffic and hearing it that sets you on edge a little bit Honking serves MANY purposes in Vietnam. I had read as much before coming here but it was very interesting to actually observe it first hand. Things a honk might mean: 1. I'm going to pass you now 2. I'm behind/beside you . . . aka I am passing you right now 3. I'm in your lane right now please don't hit me on-coming traffic 4. Walk faster pedestrian 5. I'm turning in front of you **Note: literally in front of on-coming traffic . . . like making a left turn while people are coming at you 6. Hello there 7. I know the light is red but I'm going anyways 8. Or the same thing as in the USA (general annoyance/anger/frustration etc) ... this one is by far the least used Anyways, I took 2 more motorbikes and another taxi getting to/from my house appointments. All but the last taxi and bike were good drivers in my opinion. The last taxi driver ran over a biker's foot (got too close!) and the last bike just didn't know where he was going even after looking at the map on his phone (we made 2 U-turns). Thoughts on the houses: First House - Ba Dinh area near Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum (that can't be the right spelling . . .?). Pros - beautiful house, room available with balcony so lots of natural light. Cons - took A LOT of turns through alleyways to get to it (got lost and guy had to come find me). Didn't feel like the safest place . . . Not that it felt unsafe, I just don't have a better word for it. Maybe cramped location is better way to put it? Second House - Tay Ho (west lake side). Pros - easy to find, open street/alleyway, Giang says the housemates are very social with one another, room is well decorated and has mini fridge. Cons - I'd be sharing a bathroom with a boy . . . Not really a con but I felt I needed to put something. This one was my favorite so far. Edit: actual con - space to dry clothes on terrace isn't super well covered. It was raining when I went and the clothes drying had blown off and onto the wet floor. Third House - short walk from the second house so also Tay Ho/West Lake. . . Was not a fan of this house. Very cramped inside, a bit dingy, I would be the only non-Vietnamese tenant, TINY bathroom (imagine two airplane bathrooms glued together and that still might be bigger than this bathroom), the only window in the room has the next house's wall less than a foot away. Pro- covered place to dry your clothes (dryers aren't super common here) I think that's enough for today. Basically traffic is crazy and housing is coming along hopefully. One more to see tomorrow.
2 Comments
Tyler
27/7/2018 06:53:32 am
Oh the wonderful honking! Its like the polite beep-beep, but CONSTANTLY
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Christina McCartha
27/7/2018 09:34:22 am
Shannon,
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ShannonMath Teacher living and working in Hanoi, Vietnam Archives
February 2022
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