Shopping Spree

We slept in this morning! 6:30am baby! Woohoo! We were out the door around 7:30am to take the bus to the orphanage to take the girls shopping.

We were about half way into the ride when the ticket collector kept saying something to us. I think she thought (as tourists) we should have gotten off by now, but there was a man in front of us who spoke some English and helped us out. We explained we knew where we were going. Soon after, we stopped and were just waiting while the driver played with the radio. Ken asked our new friend what was wrong and the guy (nicely) told us we were talking too loud! I couldn’t believe it! We apologized and said we didn’t know, and he just said something about how because it was public transportation you shouldn’t talk??? It was VERY different and I was kind of surprised.

Ken told the ladies (the 6 that work in the big room) that he wanted to take them to get a nice outfit. Sunday is their only day off, so off we went! We picked them up and got on the bus so they could take us where they wanted to go! We were thinking it was going to be a market but they took us to a department store! Almost better than something you would find in the states! The first floor was a supermarket and the second was, well just about everything else! They first looked for jeans, so I took some time to walk around. I ended up finding Bingo cards for animals and fruits so we got them in hopes of using them for games at the boy’s shelter. I also found a Rubik cube that I got for my boy! I don’t know if it is going to be too hard for him, but I am going to have Khaly explain he needs to match up the colors. Even though we don’t communicate (he doesn’t talk and we don’t understand the same language) he seems to understand if I show him and he is VERY smart (something that his body doesn’t show). My goal is to at least stimulate his mind. The kids play for a bit but other than that they are just laying around. So I am going to see how this goes over and take it from there.

The ladies got their jeans and were so excited! Ken said he spent under $100 which is great for 6 pairs of jeans! Next, shoes! Some got heels, some flats and one girl got sneakers. I felt bad because her feet are SO tiny the only thing that fit were sneakers. That came to under $100 as well. Ken was planning on spending $300 so he told them they should get shirts. But, they were very polite and refused and said they already spent too much. Khaly and I wanted to take them to lunch but it was too early so we suggested coffee or something. They commented on how they don’t eat out much (if at all). I believe they are from at least 6 hours outside of Ho Chi Minh and they come here to work because there are no jobs where they are from.

We found a coffee shop but it was strange because it had rooms. We went to the top floor and it was very classy and they put music on (some Christmas songs!) I got a strawberry smoothie which was very good! It was fun to hang out but it is so hard because I don’t understand. Khaly understands it all (and is SO good about translating for me) but I still am always “behind”. Like if someone says a joke and THEN I get it (which is pretty typical anyway since I am blond, ha!) But it does make me a little sad. Ken understands most of what they say but just doesn’t speak as fluently as Khaly. So after Khaly and I treated, we left and took the bus home.

We stopped at a “mall” food court because Ken found a meal he loved! They had a KFC and since my tummy was not feeling well from the bus ride (so HOT and bumpy and stop and go) I decided I didn’t want anything spicy. KFC was delicious.

I came back to cool down and then I was off to get a massage. I had read about a place called The Vietnamese Traditional Massage Institute. The people who work there are blind. It was pretty cheap so I decided I would check it out. It was in most guide books and I liked the idea the money went to the blind. I had read it was a bit shady and nothing special, and that was exactly right! It was just ok. I didn’t mind that it was bare minimum, but the massage wasn’t that great. There was a big room with 6 cubicles and I went into one of them with a curtain pulled. I NEVER would have stayed if I hadn’t read about it (although maybe it wasn’t THAT bad) but I definitely won’t be returning. I gave it a shot though!

Jemma had mentioned a place nearby that showed movies! She said there were couches and a smallish screen but they played current movies. It is called Bobby Brewer’s and all you have to do is buy something off the menu and you can watch a movie! We all decided this would be fun and made plans for tonight. We met at 5:40 and Ken’s friend he met at the orphanage came too!

We stopped for a quick dinner and this is when Jemma told me she DOES read my blog. So I guess I will HAVE to say how wonderful, funny and beautiful she really is!!! We made it to the movies with plenty of time and got seats in the front! Woo hoo! I got chocolate ice cream (I mean I HAD to buy something to see the movie!!!) It was amazing because I got a treat, comfy seat AND a movie for $2.50! What a deal! We saw Funny People with Adam Sandler and it was a little different but I actually really liked it! I definitely think we will all be going back!

Also, I added videos to my website of exercise in Beijing and the Pandas! Definitely check them out this week. I can only have 10 videos up at a time so next week I will start uploading videos from Vietnam!

Hugs and kisses from 6 happy ladies with new clothes!