Feeling totally chilled as all the crazy details of moving abroad seem to be ticked off my "to do" list....in the last 2 days, I've found an apartment, bought some 'wheels', got a mobile phone, complete with all the contacts I should need to keep me out of trouble for awhile. Met lots of members at the workshop, (most of whom I can't yet pronounce their names , let alone remember them.)
I have quickly learnt a few of the Vietnamese customs, like 'everyone must take off their shoes before going upstairs inside a building. Easy enough to remember, because of the nine other random pairs jumbled all over the floor. However, when I get ready to leave my room each morning, I look around thinking."where did I put my shoes" oh yeah..downstairs!!
Thursday night I was a guest at a family dinner..the younger members spoke pretty good English..although Nobody at the table seemed to understand the many times I tried to politely say.."No more thanks, I'm full" ....hence a lot of food was consumed that night.
Such beautiful hospitality...I sat next to the mother, whom I'm guessing was maybe mid fifties..she couldn't speak a word of English yet just kept smiling at me, patting me and putting food either in my bowl or in my hands.. By the end of the night I worked out the only way to stop the flow of food coming my way was to keep something in my hand, like I was still going. I was so excited when yet another 2 trays of food came out from the invisible kitchen, to find that it was sliced watermelon...signalling the meal moving to an end.
Don't get me wrong, it was all Amazing....just ALOT!!
Hugs and smiles all round as we said goodbyes and thank yous.
Then Karen decided to pop in and show me her favourite massage place...quickly that idea turned into us 'getting' a full massage....those poor girls .....I was literally covered in a layer of sweat and grime...yet they lovingly massaged my filthy body..... top to feet (not bottom).
I have also indulged in a one hour hair wash and head massage, complete with blow drying and straightening ....all for the exorbitant price of $5.
One of my co workers had a flat tyre on her bike, so we pulled into a small street bike repair shop, where an old man with a cigarette hanging sideways out of his mouth, proceeded to pull the tyre off, fix the inner tube, replace the missing cap, which was making the air come out, and then Lisa, not knowing how much it would cost, held out an open hand of money, from which the old man took 10,000 vnd... The equivalent of 50c........
I took a taxi from my hotel to my apartment yesterday, as the thought of dragging my 24 kg suitcase 3 blocks in the oppressing heat didn't appeal to me...the cab fare was 12000 vnd (that's 60c) I felt super generous , so I gave him a dollar and said keep the change....haha.
I am currently indulging in a "fresh beer"....4000 vnd....20c
You're getting the picture....right !!!
So as I'm able to help promote the "painting and lantern making tours" that we offer at the "Lifestart workshop" I took the tour and participated in these activities on Thursday...along with 2 ladies on vacation from Malaysia..If you've ever looked at these small items for sale and thought "oh yeah".. Let me tell you, they're a lot harder to do they you,d think.......
Or maybe I just have NO creative bones in my body......eek!
Whatever I am able to contribute to this foundation and these beautiful people of Vietnam...I think it will be far outweighed by All that I will get back...everyone here is like a family. And in my short time here already, I feel welcomed every time I walk thru the door of the workshop. Even as I rode around town this morning heading out to find some breakfast..I passed Karen and Sinh in traffic and exchanged friendly waves and shouts (whilst trying to avoid getting run over by the overlapping chaotic traffic). I bumped into a lovely lady called Margaret whom I served in the shop the day before. And we chatted like old friends...
When you are in Hoi An...you are on Hoi An time, and there seems to be plenty of time to slow down, enjoy good conversation, and really take in the Goodness of life and people....something we easily overlook back home!!!
Hugs All......mumma bear xx
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