A Long Day with Long

I slept in this morning and it was a beautiful, beautiful thing. As I made my way to the bathroom, I saw my friend, the salamander. This is a little mini salamander, different from the other two I have previously spoke of. Now let me tell you the deal about him.

I came back to my room the other day and he was looking perfectly content in the middle of my room. I had no desire to hurt him, but I had a lot of walking around to do and he was clearly in my way. I walked over to him with a water bottle and tapped it beside him..but he wasn’t fazed. I then clapped (loudly I might add) all around him but he still wouldn’t move. I finally decided I would just shoo him along with my foot. I lightly made my way closer to him, until finally he moved, but there was a problem..a MAJOR problem. In the craziness of everything, I think..well..I de-tailed him! I took off his tail. Ugh it was AWFUL! I didn’t even step on him..I literally just shooed him along..but all of a sudden..he was scampering off tail-less and his little tail was left on my floor..STILL MOVING! GROSS! Not only did I feel awful for doing this, but now I was left with a moving tail in the middle of my room. I quickly stepped on the tail to put it out of its misery and prayed that salamanders regenerate and he would have a brand spanking new tail! So today I saw him in my bathroom..but I swear I did see a little “stub” beginning to grow back!

I quickly brought my laundry to the shop before I met Long and Ken in the lobby. Long, if you remember, was our tour guide for our city tour. We absolutely loved him and I have been keeping in touch with him over email. He had invited us to hang out, but unfortunately we have been so busy. I finally decided I would meet up with him this Saturday and Ken was free so came along as well!

We took the bus for 45 minutes and arrived at his house. He lives with his parents at a college, but not the one he attends. I think he was saying since his uncle works at this college they were able to get cheaper rent. The first room is Long’s room (so strange to think you walk through his room to get to the “house). The second room I think is his parent’s room, but also the living room and dining room. The next room is VERY small but is the kitchen (although the refrigerator is in the large room) and then there is an outside area for washing dishes, preparing food, laundry, etc.

It still amazes me that people live like this all the time. I think I have taken for granted the amount of privacy I have in my own home. In both China and Vietnam people have no personal space.

His parents were very sweet and welcoming (although they spoke no English) and we had tea and bananas. We then were on our way for the campus tour! Since Long doesn’t attend the school he called one of his friends to give us a tour. I am not sure how it all happened (I think 2 of his friends were just walking by..) but suddenly there was Ken, myself, Long and 4 of his friends! We took a tour of the campus (MUCH different from Stonehill..not NEARLY as beautiful) and it was funny to see everyone’s laundry hanging out their windows. We did visit the library which was just a big room with chairs and tables..nothing “comfy”. We stopped by to see a classroom (large classes..40 to 50 people) and had a bit of a “teaching” session where they asked about expressions they didn’t understand and things like that.

We then left the group because Long’s parents called to say lunch was ready. We stopped to buy some fruit on the way back for his mom! Lunch was actually delicious. We sat on the floor (and my legs fell asleep) and had homemade spring rolls. I really enjoyed them. It was also nice to talk to his parents through Long, and his sister and her husband also joined us! I definitely had to stop and think, “I am in Vietnam eating spring rolls on the floor with a true Vietnamese family”. Pretty sweet life huh? These are the experiences I love..the personal ones..not so much the average “tourist stop”.

We then left to meet back up with Long’s friends to go to a water park! Long had told us how the biggest park in Saigon was about 10 minutes from his house. They also had a water park, and since it was about one million degrees it sounded like a good idea. We took the bus and when we arrived we were getting ready to take a group photo when we found out the water park wasn’t even open! Boo! I guess in the “winter” they only open on the Holidays. Now, if I was in New Hampshire..this would make sense. But it was 90 degrees and I was ready to swim! We decided to go across town (about 2 hours on bus) to ANOTHER water park! I was exhausted at the thought. Long’s friends were so nice..and I didn’t mind that they wanted to practice English, (because I asked them all about their lives and life in Vietnam) so I got a lot out of it as well. But I have to admit it was an EXHUASTING day. I hate days where I always have to be “on” and paying attention and never relaxing!

However, the bus ride was a bit exciting because I was VERY famous. The guy about 3 rows ahead kept turning around and taking my picture and then he came by to give me a lollipop (it was SO good!) Then, the boy in front of me started talking to me. His English was not very good..but Kha (Long’s friend sitting next to me) helped to translate. He was SO interested as to why I was in Vietnam, what I was doing, etc. He asked for my email and phone number. It was only about an hour later I got my first text which said, “Can I go drink café with you? You really cute?” I dunno Steve..sounds like competition to me! I don’t know what I am going to do when I go home and nobody stares or takes pictures or asks all about me anymore!

The water park we ended up at was actually really cool! It wasn’t too big but had enough to keep us occupied for a bit. The first slide we went down was the scariest one of all! It had two dips, and didn’t seem that bad..until the end! It shoots you out into a pool so you get a major wedgie and water up your noise. Not exactly my idea of a good time..but hey..we did have fun! We didn’t spend too long because it was getting later and the sun was setting (since it took us forever to get there!)

It was a long ride back as well and all I wanted to do was CRASH! But I had to pick up my laundry..print boarding passes, etc. I am SO excited for my trip to Hanoi and Halong Bay with Khaly and it will be so nice to rejuvenate!

Hugs and kisses from my Long day with Long.