Culture Shock

I am on my way home. I knew I would be sad to leave Vietnam. I was. I watched the people on the streets as our driver took me to Noi Bai. I waved goodbye to Uncle Ho as we went past the Mausoleum. I waved to the cattle running along the highway. It was sad.

Though I love my co-workers and met a lot of friends outside of work, it isn't so much the people that I have met that makes me sad to leave Vietnam behind. It's the people, and the place, and even the time of the place and the people. Vietnam is in a new world, and participating in their innocence and joy at starting a new epoch in history was contagious. I have so many images in my head this morning.... of the hellos and waves from the side of the road while riding my motobike through the mountains, of raucously celebrating Vietnam's victory over UAE in the Asia Cup by racing through the streets full of flag-waving fans, of a young couple with two young children hugging on their motobike while eating ice cream from Trang Tien, and of the fun that would ensue during snacktime in our office when the locals would leave the stress of their jobs behind and revert to speaking Vietnamese, telling baudy jokes and bringing themselves to spasmic peals of laughter.

I've never been anywhere where people have been through such sorrow, but are currently as happy as people can be and with such optimism for the future. It was a joy to be there and participate it in in a small way, and now it is sad to leave it behind.

I'm now waiting for my connection in Hong Kong. I barely noticed the airport on the way here.... it was big and had a lot of shops, just like any larger airport in the US. This time, I slammed right into it. Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi has a little shop counter where they sell "Hemburegers" for 15 thousand Dong... it is a roll with a slice of ham and a slice of cucumber! And there aren't many more eating options besides that. First thing I see when I get off the plane in HK is a Burger King, a Popeye's, and a Starbucks all in a row. HKIA is fabulous, packed with fancy shops and fancy people from all over the world, bustling about on their vacations and business trips. Everyone is in a rush; not in motobike-riding, I-want-to-get-out-of-the-sun-and-red-lights-just-cramp-my-style way, but in a I'm-important-and-have-important-things-to-do way. There is no one looking me in the eye and smiling, no one pointing out the giant "gweilo" to their children as a cautionary take, and not a single person has rubbed my belly. There is no time here... no time to practice english, no time to try to sell me some gum or some postcards, no time to share a smile.

It is very sad.