UPdates galore

Being busy makes me a very lazy blogger. Ah well, we can't have everything.

Things that have happened in the last week and a half...

First, last night I was woken up at 11:30 with these words: 'Lizzie, the police are here'. Apparently, since we are still in the process of getting things together to register in our apartment with the police (something all foreigners must do), they came around for a 'routine check' at nearly midnight on a Wednesday. We gave the group of four men in various uniform dress our passports and visas, then waited around until they had finished marveling at the eagles and things decorating them. It was a very interesting encounter. I'd have taken a picture to commemorate the event, but it's illegal to photograph the police. Don't ask, i have no idea.

Speaking of irritating issues with the VN police, our sing-along night has to be delayed due to the shelter's inability to get a permit from them in time for the weekend. I am very confused about the way things work here, and have no idea why you would need a permit for a sing-along, though I suspect it has something to do with foreigners entering shelters. Who knows. The police/government are a complete mystery to me. They get stranger at every turn.

I got a (very) part time job doing voice over work for a financial and banking TV station. The pay is basically symbolic, as I don't know if it would even pay for a night out on the town, but I figure it sounds cool and why not? I've only done one session, but I now know all about VN gold bullion, plans for the national coffee trade, and all about old buildings in Hanoi that don't meet street codes. It's a very interesting experience, and really takes very little of my time. But, I get to spend a good half hour in a tiny studio reading from scripts into a microphone, then sit outside and wait for the producer to cut to satisfaction. At the end of my first session, she told me 'it wasn't that bad'. Still not used to Vietnamese bluntness. Hoping it will thicken my skin and not break my spirit. The people don't really seem to mind; during a game of 'change chairs' in one of my classes, one kid goes 'change chairs if you are fat'. A handful of admittedly fat kids stood up, including girls (10-12 year olds, mind you), and when one kid didn't stand up, everyone yelled at him until he did. The thing is, no one seemed bothered by it in the first place. Could you imagine a group of American kids being ok with that?

Heading to the US in 2 weeks, and I get to spend a whole day's layover in Japan. My first time in Japan, and I have already been advised by multiple people to not leave the airport. All I have to say is, I hope it's a freakin sweet airport. Maybe some interesting vending machines/those weird cubicle hotel room things. Who knows what I may find.

We bought a convection oven the other day, so can now make things like a normal western household. The other day Tracey made us a lovely roast pork with steamed veggies (so much better than boiling veg!) and even a nice english gravy. Sometimes living with Brits is quite nice. I now really feel like i live here.

We found a delightful market quite close to our building last week, and you can buy literally anything you want-clothes, fruit, shoes, kitchen supplies, towels, vegetables, meat, fish (located right next to the river, so in the morning they just unload from the river to the market), dry goods, etc. Having a lovely time exploring my new digs.

We got more TV channels, so I can now sit and get just as depressed watching the world news as I could  back home in the good ol' USA.

Time to take a nap.