the world for more than it simply is

Second week here in Hà Nội, and I have realized how terrible my Vietnamese reading skills are. I have been placed in the beginner’s class to begin from the start along with some other students. I should reach a sufficient reading level within a month with the classes everyday and the weekly tutor meeting with Hà Linh.

Yesterday was the scheduled field trip to Văn Miếu (Temple of Literature). Brian guided us on a tour of the place, and provided some unique information on the history of the structure built to worship Confucius. The buildings and enclosed pond were magnificent. There was a traditional performance of Vietnamese music in the rear structure, which I briefly listened to. However, the adjacent enclosed park was closed to the public for the day–I will assume that repairs were underway there.

 
After the visit to Văn Miếu, we took some cabs over to Phố Hàng Bạc to purchase tickets for our trip to Ha Long Bay this weekend. Since Monday is a national holiday, I will be returning from there on Monday afternoon. Our plan is to spend three days and two nights there, with one night on a boat. This trip should include some sea kayaking, trekking on Cat Ba Island, and general lounging on the beaches.

 
With our bookings complete, Hac and I walked down the street to locate our grandmother’s old home. 1 Hàng Bạc has now been converted into a clothing store and is most likely unrecognizable from over fifty years prior. I cannot say that I felt much of any emotional reaction to seeing the place, as over fifty years ago I probably did not exist yet. The memories of the place are not my own, and thus it just feels like one scene out of many that I have no personal attachment to. I think I am starting to understand the greater difference between a visitor and a resident of a location. I suppose that after my four months here, I will feel something when I have to go back to the states. After snapping some photos of the place, the two of us wandered around the area until we located some food vendors selling an assortment of delicious fried foods.

 
This upcoming Friday, we will be consuming a snake dinner at Lệ Mật village on the outskirts of the city. I have never before eaten snake, and am really looking to that too in addition to the three day trip.