First Day in Country

Today was our first day in the country. It started bright and early, and jetlag was pretty inexistent for me. We took a bus through HCMC and ended up at the University of Economics and Finance (UEF) where we were finally able to meet our Vietnamese counterparts. Just like us, they had to apply to this program and we get to meet up with them everyday. It's cool because they help us with all things Vietnam, and we get to help them work on their English (which they're all very good at - its the primary second language, and taught in most schools to the kids).

There was a welcoming ceremony, with beautiful dancers and great speeches. Dr. Berman even gave his speech in Vietnamese, something that surprised us all a little. We spent the morning conversing with our new friends, taking pictures, and eventually ending up in a classroom where they began to teach us the language. Vietnamese is one of the hardest languages to learn, because tone determines many things. One word can have 6 different meanings depending on how you say it. The meaning of the word "ma" changes depending on the accent over the a. It could mean "ghost," "which," "horse," "grave," "mother," or "rice seedling." My partner helped me through this lesson and we also practiced basic conversations.

We had dinner at Nha Hang Ngon, a very nice restaurant. We were taken through the kitchen of the restaurant, which was an outdoor - almost assembly line - style. We got to have a good sampling of many different Vietnamese dishes. The food here is really really good. I found that its best to eat first, and then ask what you just ate. That way I don't mentally psych myself out. So far its been a great strategy.

These are the drinks at breakfast. The left is coffee (really strong, hint of chocolate, thicker consistency than American Coffee). Vietnamese also mix condensed milk in their chocolate sometimes, which makes it taste like a dessert. On the right is orange juice, and in the center is corn broth.... which tastes exactly what it sounds like.

Edziu and I with some of our new friends. They welcomed us off the buses with lei's, which were made of real flowers.

My partner and I in Language Class, where we began to study Vietnamese.

Picture of the street, where motobikes constantly move in waves. The best way to describe the streets is "organized chaos."

The kitchen of Nha Hang Ngon, which was long tables lined up in along both sides of the restaurant.