England in Vietnam's eyes
When Vietnamese people ask me about England, they invariably ask me if it is really foggy every day. I have to break the news to them that it is not actually foggy every day, and only occasionally in the mornings in winter. The look on their faces is similar to if I was telling them that the person they thought was their mother actually wasn't - they are devastated! The Vietnamese have the Sherlock Holmes picture in their heads of men in top hat and tails, swinging a black umbrella whilst walking in the fog and the ancient text books which are used in schools support this vision. It takes quite a lot of convincing before they actually believe me!
I also get asked some unanswerable questions and had one conversation which went like this: 'Who washes your hair?' I answer, 'I wash my hair'. 'Why do you wash your hair? I answer .................'I don't know, who washes your hair?!' I later found out that most Vietnamese women go to a hairdressers once or twice a week to get their hair washed. I was invited to have my hair washed and have to say that it was a very relaxing experience as there was a long head massage and my hair has never felt so soft. However, my western hair needs washing more than once or twice a week unfortunately!
Another question that stumped me was, 'When do you have a shower?' I answer, 'I have a shower in the morning and a quick shower before I go to bed.' 'Why do you have a shower in the morning?' I answer ..........'Because I do!'
I think they find my excessive washing quite a mystery!
Well, I'm off to Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday for a British Council conference and I'm really looking forward to it. Primarily because I get to meet up with the other volunteers who I haven't seen for three months and it'll be great to catch up (and also give my phone bill a rest!) I'm also interested to see what HCM City is like as I have heard mixed reviews about it. It is definitely far more cosmopolitan and westernised than any other city in Vietnam and the traffic is supposed to be worse than in Hanoi (although that is hard to believe!). The great thing is that it'll be hot, as it's getting quite cold in the north now and I'm in my pyjamas, thermal socks and big duvet at nights. I have also found out that the hotel that the conference is being held at has a swimming pool, sauna and steam room so I'm packing my swimming cozzie!
Then I'm back to England and I can't wait! I like being in Vietnam but I do miss everyone terribly. It is a very strange experience to be in a country where there is no build up to Christmas, as I am used to christmas songs and shops packed full of santas from about August onwards. It's actually quite nice to miss it but be thrown in at the last minute to do my Christmas shopping. And I can't wait for my first mince pie!
I also get asked some unanswerable questions and had one conversation which went like this: 'Who washes your hair?' I answer, 'I wash my hair'. 'Why do you wash your hair? I answer .................'I don't know, who washes your hair?!' I later found out that most Vietnamese women go to a hairdressers once or twice a week to get their hair washed. I was invited to have my hair washed and have to say that it was a very relaxing experience as there was a long head massage and my hair has never felt so soft. However, my western hair needs washing more than once or twice a week unfortunately!
Another question that stumped me was, 'When do you have a shower?' I answer, 'I have a shower in the morning and a quick shower before I go to bed.' 'Why do you have a shower in the morning?' I answer ..........'Because I do!'
I think they find my excessive washing quite a mystery!
Well, I'm off to Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday for a British Council conference and I'm really looking forward to it. Primarily because I get to meet up with the other volunteers who I haven't seen for three months and it'll be great to catch up (and also give my phone bill a rest!) I'm also interested to see what HCM City is like as I have heard mixed reviews about it. It is definitely far more cosmopolitan and westernised than any other city in Vietnam and the traffic is supposed to be worse than in Hanoi (although that is hard to believe!). The great thing is that it'll be hot, as it's getting quite cold in the north now and I'm in my pyjamas, thermal socks and big duvet at nights. I have also found out that the hotel that the conference is being held at has a swimming pool, sauna and steam room so I'm packing my swimming cozzie!
Then I'm back to England and I can't wait! I like being in Vietnam but I do miss everyone terribly. It is a very strange experience to be in a country where there is no build up to Christmas, as I am used to christmas songs and shops packed full of santas from about August onwards. It's actually quite nice to miss it but be thrown in at the last minute to do my Christmas shopping. And I can't wait for my first mince pie!
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