Mobils, Wifi and Water puppets

I was warned that everything in Viet Nam takes a while to get done. But, so far, everything has happened right on schedule. On Monday, we asked how we could buy cell phones. Dr. Thao, the director of Fulbright here (more on him later), said he would arrange for us to go get them on Tuesday. I assumed it would, in fact, probably take several days. I was wrong. The next day (yesterday), we were sent with a translator to the cell phone store. I am now the proud owner of a Vietnamese "mobile" a Vietnamese number!

Another example of punctuality: The night I checked in (Friday), I asked about internet in the hotel. I'd read online that the hotel had broadband, but a Fulbright assistant said it did not. The hotel clerk said what I thought meant they were installing internet in 5 days. I spread the word among the other Fulbrighters with the disclaimer that a) the clerk barely spoke English and b) it could take months for them to actually install wifi. However, we just returned from orientation today to find men installing the routers in each hall. No more "borrowed" wifi for me! No more glitchy skype video calls! And not as many late night treks home from Day and Night Cafe (although I've come to like the walk...).

Tonight we're going out to dinner and to see a water puppet show. Water puppets are a traditional art form in Viet Nam. Very excited!

Everything is going so well. I am so fucking happy here. Em dem, or, in English, peaceful. I have infinitely more to say about that, which I will do when I don't have to run out to a water puppets show.....