Wrap up

Leaving Saigon in 12 hours at 430am for a 555 flight to hong kong and then Chicago greensboro. Nice weekend. Friday we stayed home and had ribs for dinner. Dad had two hr massage. I picked up the painting I had made. SaturdY dad worked, I got my nails done and got drenched on the wY home on my bike. Dinner was peak hyatt. Sunday wS had. Asual morning, went to city, got foot and leg massage because I didn't want to mess up my make up and hair! Then we checked out a new indoor mall then a tailor. Then we came home had a rest. Dinner was at tres gourmand restaurant. Lovely French meal Tonightt is light dinner at home. Soup and/or salad. Ms Han is sad I'm leaving. She wants me to come back soon. Early morning alarm. Two suitcases about 20+ kg each! Jeez I thought I'd get off easy. Dad sending stuff back, Rajiv sending things to college daughter (I offered) as wells as my bag that I had in calif before I left. Back to nc in time for lots of Christmas festivities. Happy birthday archer. See you soon!

Thanksgiving in Vietnam 2012

today is thanksgiving but its not a special day here obviously. we are going to the park hyatt tonight for turkey and fixings. i hope they have lumpy gravey and mashed potatoes. today i had nhi and ann carey for lunch. ms han made a fantastic soup called "bun rieu" or something like that. it was crab meatballs in broth with tomato and then you add salad toppings of your choice. she also made pate for another dish she'll make tomorrow and gave nhi a jar of pate. then went for 90 min massage because its 20% off $27 so who can resist a sale. wednesday ms. han had day off so i was the help. did laundry, served breakfast, tidied up beds, etc then went into town. on the return taxi ride i had a frightening experience first time. the driver didnt drop the machine so when i got to the compound it was 500,000 dong and i know its usually only 130,000 dong ($5 per 100,000). i got into an argument with him and my doors were locked and so were the windows. he kept yelling and i just said shhhhh. there was so much else i should have done: take out my cell phone, took off my shoe, taken his #s but i was just shocked at his behaviour. anyhow i ended up giving him $4US and got out. wish i could have reported him but as i said, i didnt take his number. next time, use my cell phone for photo and dialing. i was so distraught that i needed a facial. so 20% off facial helped my frustration at being dumb. i've learned a lesson to first make sure he drops the meter. dinner was two take out pizzas, two salads and one order of mussels. (dad, stephen and me) Tuesday: great day with ann carey and some ladies. went to a few museums. vn ladies museum, vn herbal medicine museum, lacquer factory and a nice lunch. dad had a dinner so stephen and i went to a new french restaurant and it was great. beautiful patio (but i think they might allow smoking outdoors so it could be bad). i had veal filet that was fantastic; stephen had scallop and ?? mixed up. one taxi driver i did have this week was very nice and he had a catholic rosary bead hanging from his mirror .. crystal. young guy. i'm starting to think the russians and french are not so friendly. no reply to good morning or hellos.

Compound living

Saturday afternoon the compound is alive with kids of all ages down by the river, kids on bikes, skateboards, stollers, families, nannies, dogs. A real united nations of kids mostly chatting in english with their own accents. The pre teen girls are probably the hardest age here. Pre teen boys more involved with their bikes and skating ramps. Dogs. Who in their right mind would bring a st.bernard to Vietnam. Felt so sorry for him/her as it lumbered around being walked by a maid. At least the grey great Dane was slow but not burdened with long hair. Then there was the dog being exercised by a maid on a bicycle. I feel somewhat guilty about knowing the playlist at the massage place. Maybe I've been there too often??? I've made breakfast, washed dishes, load of laundry. Not bad for a houseguest! Don't want ms Han to run away when she comes in on Monday. I'm sure she will be tired taking care of new mommy and grandson. He was 3kg which is 6.6 lbs. 2 wks early. Quiet Sunday planned.

End of week

Never did get back to the photo exhibit before Friday. Oh well. Thursday I went to meet Ann carry at the intl ladies of Vietnam ILV christmas bazaar I. The morning. Can't say there was anything that interested me ... I was looking for a tree ornament. Just a big room with stuff for sale like cakes and glutten free baked goods, some scarfs, handmade cards, clothes. Thursday afternoon I finally got out to the factory. Probably only bc dad was giving another person (art gallery asst) a tour and that's why I was allowed to tag along. Amazing skills watching a piece of wood go thru the process to becoming a chair, table, mirror frame, etc. Back home by 4. Dinner at home of pumpkin soup and morning glory and garlic. Friday popped down to get my watch. It's a goner. Can't repair the stem. Did a little shopping too. Got back to the house about 1 ... Lunch was pho. Ms Han got call from daughter. It was baby time so she left. Had a massage, went to supermarket, met dad after his two hr massage about 8pm for dinner pizza and carbonnara. Got call from Han. Baby boy born c section had not seen daughter or baby yet. So she has the morning off and I get to do breakfast. Works half day on Saturday. Saturday morning now dad has gone to exercise. Better start my day too. Missing all. Christmas decorations starting here.

Around town

I'd say about 95% of the vehicles in town are minivans and SUVs, very few sedans, except for high end merc bez and bmws and taxis of course. Tourist seasons, lots of cruise ship groups wandering with guides. The downstairs tv and the upstairs tv are completely different channels. What's on 4 downstairs is not on 4 but on 12. Hard to get find a station without channel surfing. I've gotten very daring on my bicycle. I've been riding a lot outside the compound merging in traffic, crossing and turning into side streets etc. Now that many not sound like much of an accomplishment, but I assure you it's harder than it sounds here. Next challenge learning how to drive a motorbike. Caught an great outdoor photojournalism exhibit but then it started to rain so I'll have to resume it by Friday. Very interesting mong people and their traditions.

reflections

now that things have calmed down after a hectic summer 2012, i've been doing a lot of thinking about family stuff. dad celebrated his 64th birthday and that's a pretty big milestone. we had a lot of family evenings ... some sad, most happy. i miss my mom and still get teary over little things. but some of the best stuff also happened this summer, starting with jack's arrival, then emily and charlies wedding then the awesome beach trip. all happy family events and we are so fortunate to be able to celebrate and enjoy each other. today i was thinking about what was the most terrible event in my life as a parent ... actually i am so grateful that childhood was uneventful for the most part when raising four children. there could have been a lot more stuff. probably the most terrible occurred when elizabeth had the lump on her lymph node and they suspected leukemia. I guess everything else was minor. Whoever thought cat scratch was a real disease! And Sarah always had a good dr when stitches were required. My regrets. Many I'm sure. Probably over reacting to stuff that in the scheme of thugs wasn't major. Maybe being too controlling but I like to think of that as protective. And particularly not reading more to my children as they were growing up. This is obviously only a partial reflection which I started several times but it's a work in progress.....to be continued

In Vietnam nov 2012

Started out going to calif and staying with Sarah for her half marathon and jacks baptism at st. Edmunds or Edwards. Great Disneyland trip, Halloween night, preschool parade,etc. Left from John wayne airport on election day for San Francisco. United flight to Tokyo then to ho chi mihn city arriving on Wednesday night about 1045. Thuesday was just regrouping day but I did get 90 minute massage and we had macys group for dry ks with roger Friesen. Had lunch with Ann carry and dinner with Harvey both at Mekong merchant. Soup and then carbonnara. Don't recall Saturday but I think I did the city for a while. Sunday we were at anthony and Sally cox's for a lovely lunch...Stephen, Jenny and others were there. Then we headed to the hyatt to meet roger before he departs on Tuesday. Monday Ann carey and I spent the day exploring and shopping. We went to the glass factory that I first went to with rosemary. Got some vases and kitchen stuff. Then lunch At a coffee shop then more shopping in a new tower type mall. 3 basement levels of shops and food court and some amazing shops .. Many luxury brands too. Good day with her. Dinner was a salad plate at home that dad devoured quickly. It was very good so I savored it more. Hard boiled egg, tuna, green beans, tomato, carrot, yellow bell pepper all presented beautifully on a platter (sorry no photo) Tuesday breakfast was some scrambled eggs and tomato that were prepared with lots of flavor. Back into town to finish some things ... Needed to pick up my watch but it wasn't back. Checked out bazaar. Attacked the garden earlier today. I think the gardener is hesitant (afraid) to be brutal when pruning. And stuff grows so easily that you really can't worry. Hope that catches you up somewhat. Did hear election results on flight. Awful movies. Thet really were pathetic. I will be more diligent hopefully in the coming days.