Wired

After exactly one month of spotty wireless internet, I'm happy to announce that I now have a fully-wired internet connection that will (hopefully) be more reliable. The downside of the arrangement is that there's a new hole over my door, and an ugly cable lying tangled across my floor. Further proof that everything is give-and-take. At least now I'll be able to work at my desk--I was having to sit in the far corner of my bed, because it was the only place I got a decent wifi signal!

I'm also glad to report that everything is still marvelous for me. Absolutely wonderful, as always. I'm happier now than I have been in my entire life. Maybe because I live more simply? Have less stuff? Or maybe because I am choosing to be happier, or because I have somewhat of a clean slate here in Vietnam? It's hard to say, I guess, other than to acknowledge that the true cause of my happiness is probably a combination of these and other factors. The most important thing is that I soak up this happiness, allow it expand exponentially, nurture it and help it grow, make it a permanent fixture of myself, like my eyes or hair. Because I don't want to lose it--and that's what scares me most about leaving this place. No, it's what scares me about going back to my old life and old patterns....

But enough waxing philosophic. Back to the gritty details of my life! It's Wednesday here, and today is Katherine's birthday! We're going out to dinner with Steve, Inaki, Maryanne and another volunteer, and then we're all going to the beach with some friends in our building. Vegetarian food, fruit, beach, stars, friends--should be a lovely evening.

Yesterday (Tuesday) was the release of Sam's album with Ben Folds, WAY TO NORMAL. Exciting day for him, and I was a bit sad to miss all the action in NYC, but that's his adventure, and I have mine. The album is doing well, I think. It's currently at number 6 on iTunes. (Although that ranking isn't exactly accurante because there are two versions of the album; one is at 6 and the other is at 18, so the combined ranking would be a bit higher I imagine.)

Further in the past, this weekend was amazing, even if a little to heavy on the alcohol. Friday evening found me out for drinks with Inaki and Katherine, and I made my debut appearance at some of the city's various bars. It felt strange to me, to be around so many westerners, hardly a Vietnamese in sight, music blasting, spending money on alcohol. That hasn't been my life for a while, and returning to it felt like having deja vu from an old dream or something.

Of course, it was still a fun night though. I drank a little too much, stayed up until 2 or so, and then I had to be in a van at 6:30 am to go to Yang Bay with some masters students in my building. Yang Bay is rural park about 40 km from the city, with beautiful waterfalls surround by jungles and mountains. Not surprisingly, the place was beautiful. After hiking off the remains of my hangover in the Vietnamese jungle (we hiked aimlessly for a couple of hours!), I went swimming in the pool at the base of one of the waterfalls. It started raining after a bit, which made the experience even more magical. There I was, sitting in a waterfall, in the rain, in a jungle in Vietnam, surrounded by mountains..... Again, how is this my life? (More pictures at my picasa!)

lounging on a sandbar

climbing up to a waterfall

falling in the strong current

swimming in the waterfall

Recently recovered from Friday evening's activities, I decided that a little more alchohol couldn't hurt. I shared in the beer that everyone was drinking while swimming at the waterfall in the rain. Harmless enough, I guess, especially since I hate beer and only finished half. But then our friend Mr. Tum brought out the home-made snake wine, which, it turns out, I don't hate at all. A few hours and god knows how many shots later, I was speaking Spanish and chiding my friend Habib about why he didn't have a girlfriend since he was such a handsome guy. Then I conked out in the van. Then I fell asleep for a few hours on the bathroom floor of Inaki's hotel room. Not one of my shining moments in life, but I'm putting some of the blame on peer pressure :) And besides--it was a damn good day, no one died, and I was sober by 6:00am the next morning for English Club.

so begin the shots of snake wine

at the house of a friend's sister for dinneractually, it was this guy's sister. and he was nice enough to let me pass out on his shoulder on the way home.

Oh, English Club. Given the total (but tame) debauchery of the rest of my weekend, I'm quite proud of myself for getting up at 6am Sunday morning for English Club. (Not that I had a choice--technically I'm running the whole thing). But here are a couple images for you, my dear readers: Me, with a headache, at 8am on a Sunday morning, wearing a yellow ribbon tied around my head, singing Yankee Doodle in front of 150 Vietnamese students. Me, three hours later, still wearing said ribbon, doing the electric slide in front of said students outside of G6 classroom building. If I had any unhealthy pride before this event, it's gone now. The singing and dancing were bad enough, but did they have to tie that damn yellow ribbon around my head? They said it was to distinguish me as an "English Club Organizer". But I don't there was any risk of mistaking my role--I was the only white girl holding a microphone, singing Yankee Doodle, doing the electric slide, and/or running around frantically trying to make sure the event went smoothly. I think my role was pretty clear without the ribbon!

Not even these slightly humiliating moments can get me down, though. Life is better than ever for me. I've been getting up early, around 6 or so everyday, and one more I even woke up for the sunrise. Absolutely breathtaking. And I'm having so many ideas of things I want to research--but again there's the problem of me having no idea how to do original research in a country where I don't speak the language, don't have a good interpreter, and dont have access to many of my prefereds subject which are considered taboo here--sexuality, reproductive rights, domestic violence. I'm even having some ideas for screenplays. Unfortunately not many ideas for books or poetry--but maybe those will come in time.

Meanwhile, I have go with Tu and Duan to pick out a birthday cake for Katherine! The festivities begin....