My First 2 Weeks in Viet Nam

Many people whether online or on the phone have asked me: "So.. How is your experience in Viet Nam thus far?" I might have answered simply, "it's great!" or sometimes more extensively "i'm learning a lot. here is why... a, b, c, d." To be truly honest, I am extremely overwhelmed everyday to a point which I feel somewhat lost, so lost that I found. If that makes any sense. If not, it's alright.

This is my first time out of the US. It's very interesting to study and learn about what modernization or "development" means for non-European or "non-Western" countries. I've been questioning a lot about my identity and the various borders I draw for myself. Despite the complexity and theoretical nature of the academic material I have to go through for class including the thoughts I'm thinking each day, I'm learning a lot about the simplicity of life; especially, life here.

Without those clear-cut roads lined and ordered for efficiency.
Without an automobile to always worry about.
Without the road rage that complements individual rights; those me me me's.
Without the excessively large closet I make myself up with.

Without the fast food franchises that storm each intersection.

Without the chemically-engineered food that problematize health of so many people.
And so much more..

I hope to post up pictures each week or every 2 weeks to update friends and family of what I have been up to. I miss you all.

(Em)Braces

My mouth filled with metal to gain a medal.
I ask please, please treat me right.
Straight teeth seem to be right.
Straighten me out.
Straighten me out.
No one wants to be crooked, a thief, a crook.

Mirror looking at me, I don't want to look.

...

Because image is everything? 

I'm disappointed I'm not in Berkeley right now for Shadow Nite. I had to come back to San Jose on Friday for an Orthodontist appointment today, Saturday, to tighten my braces. I am in pain right now. Ow!

Driving down Tully Road to get to "other side" of town, though it's such a short distance (approximately 4 miles), it takes a quite awhile.  There's always traffic on Tully, especially at the overpass to get on/off the freeway before the first and largest Chuck-E-Cheese in the US (yes, that is one of the things San Jose is known for).  When I first learned how to drive, I believed the stereotype: Asians could not drive, especially those darn Vietnamese people, except me of course. My explanation for why that area specifically was so trafficky, which increase the chances of accidents (yeah, there are a lot of accidents there), was that Vietnamese are bad drivers.  

Now, I understand that yeah some Vietnamese people might be bad drivers (applicable for everyone, not just limited to race and ethnicity), but you must take in consideration that that area has a dense population--it's overcrowded (you can look at the public policy aspect).  Plus, that area is considered the "heart of the Vietnamese community" (Lion Plaza) in San Jose.  No wonder it's so crowded all the time.  Many Vietnamese rely on the services and businesses there. My orthodontis is there, right across from Eastridge.  For many Vietnamese people, "everything to them" is there: the market, restaurants, coffee shops, doctor's, dentists', orthodontis'.. the list continues...

While driving down Tully, I could not help but to observe the elderly Vietnamese ladies, who remind me much of my own grandmothers, with their conical hats waiting at the bus stop, walking along street, crossing the street.  I would glance at their teeth, crooked, sometimes not all there, but still smiling.  Still smiling.  

I could've sworn I left my smile somewhere.  When back then it felt so right.