Guns & food

I've just spent the better part of an hour trying to figure out a way to get around the facebook block, using all kinds of proxies, and nothing is working! I suppose that is a very miniscule effect of the Communist regime, but it sure is affecting my life negatively. Good grief. Basically, the government doesn't allow facebook because a lot of activists use it to organize anti-government communities and demonstrations and such. The article I posted last week is such an interesting look into the underbelly of Vietnam. It's strange that a person can lead a totally normal and unaffected life in the midst of so much social unrest and such an oppressive government. In day-to-day life, I don't see brutality or oppression by the communist regime. Most of what I see is a lot of people in various police uniforms sitting around on the street doing absolutely nothing. Seriously, in any given city block you walk by at least 5 uniformed men either standing with their rifles on their backs (usually outside of consulates or other government buildings) or sitting in plastic lawn chairs, sometimes in groups, and checking out all of the people passing by. They are everywhere, and as far as I can tell, they do nothing. I guess it's nice that they have jobs...

Last night Apollo had a work function for the new teachers at a Czech bar near the school. I know what you're thinking-Czech food in HCM City?! In their defense, they brew their own beer which isn't at all bad, and on the menu they have not only slivovice, but becherovka! In case anyone was wondering. Those are Czech liquors. We drank a lot of becherovka while I studied in Prague. Sadly, they didn't have gulas, so I was a bit upset. It was my first outing with my new colleagues, and even though there are 3 or 4 new teachers, I was the only one who came. People seem pretty cool, most of them are from the US or England, and it's nice to have a night out with people who are completely fluent in English. Made plans for a Wednesday night out to go to a bar which is both ladies night AND 80's night, so I'm pretty pumped about that. Still a bit wary of male english teachers, but some of them seem ok. SOME of them. I may join the Apollo little sisters program, where I would get paired up with a kid who has HIV and hang out with her once a week. We'll see how that goes. Apparently, the people in the program really like it.

more things...
-Fran's boyfriend just moved here. He got in on Friday. On Saturday, we went to a Mexican restaurant called Gringo's which actually had some pretty amazing fish tacos. haha. They just left for a 2 week trip to Cambodia, so I am officially back to square 1 in terms of expat friends for the time being. Luckily, I'm starting to make friends at work.
-brunch on Saturday came with an all-you-can-eat chocolate fountain. So glad my parents weren't around to witness my complete lack of class with that fountain.
-saying I come from a city near Detroit tends to give me way more street cred than I deserve. sometimes I play it up just for kicks. I don't know how anyone would believe I'm a badass not to be messed with on the streets, but throw in a few random facts about Michigan's gun laws, accompanied by the fact that summer camp (just don't tell them it was a family Michigan Alumni camp) teaches riflery from the age of 7, and some people are willing to believe ANYthing.