"I've got a guy for that." ... "oh, they have that at _______." ... "I know how to get there." I can say that now about certain things and it's super exciting. Now that school is full swing, I've started developing a new "routine" and getting comfortable with my life and how things work here in Hanoi.
Thanks to my roommate, I now have a "juice guy." Also no English but he has a price chart and can kind of understand my bad pronunciation of the fruit juice I'm ordering. Chanh leo (passion fruit) juice is AMAZING! Though this afternoon, I thought I'd branch out and also get some tao (apple) juice . . . I don't think I said it right and ended up with, well, not apple juice . . . not sure what it was but it was alright I think. Imagine if celery and an apple had a baby . . . the taste was semi-familiar but no idea what it was. If you know, please share. Officially rented a motorbike yesterday from a guy named Quan (officially deemed my "motorbike guy"). Less than $50/month, maintenance included. I got up at like 5:30 this morning to drive it on mostly empty streets . . . I've shown you how bad traffic gets . . . I'm not ready for that yet. But feeling comfortable driving around the neighborhood (minimal traffic). Hopefully, I'll drive to school later this week and brave rush hour on the way back.
After my ride, I walked to meet our carpool group (we all got motorbikes from Quan ... he's a popular guy). Stopped by a lady with what I thought were banh bao (steamed buns/dumplings). I'd tried a bite of Laura's taro bun last week and it was pretty good so I thought I'd try to find it on my street . . . Doi Can has SO MUCH STUFF on it. Anyways ... it wasn't a banh bao as I had thought but just a steamed roll I guess. Still delicious. I also got chanh leo juice from her . . . not as good as my juice guy's unfortunately. Yes, I now have opinions on who has the better juice. But long story short, I got breakfast for super cheap (13,000 VND or about $0.56). Vietnamese lessons have started every Saturday. Some of us are doing small group lessons with a lady named Tram. Board game night is Tuesday at The Nest in Old Quarter with a Couchsurfing group so I'm meeting new people each time I go ... which has only been twice but I'm trying to make it a regular thing. There's only one place to do aerial silks in Hanoi but I've been going once or twice a week. Not as difficult/demanding as the classes in Atlanta but it's nice to still keep that routine. I've started talking with the teacher I see most (Trang) and had a conversation with another American expat who's been in all the same classes as me. So yea, I'm settling in, figuring things out. It's not as scary since I got over the "what if I go try it alone and they don't understand what I'm trying to ask/say?" . . . It'll be fine, whatever. Khong sao (no problem). Very excited for this adventure. Oh and Independence Day is next weekend (American Labor Day). Got a trip planned to Ninh Binh with some other teachers from work. Super excited!
4 Comments
Judi Labrecque
29/8/2018 02:06:58 am
Could that juice have been kohlrabi? One of my favorite veg that tastes like you describe.
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Shannon
8/9/2018 05:58:22 pm
I'm not sure but now if I find a kohlrabi, I'll have to try it and compare. Thanks for the tip!
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Clara Mimbs
6/9/2018 12:47:42 am
Hi Shannon, sounds like you are getting used to life there. I enjoy reading your blog and was glad when I got your email. Still excited for you and wishing you all the best. Hugs!!
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ShannonMath Teacher living and working in Hanoi, Vietnam Archives
February 2022
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