Saigon To 'Nam: Oh my gah ge'ez!

Marina Bay Sands Resort

Entry #9. April 2, 2012, 10:40 pm. House, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Apologies are in order for my brief hiatus from blogging. The past two weeks were busy and yet successful. Since my last post, I have vacationed to Singapore, obtained a job, taught plenty of classes, moved into a house, found a sufficiently gluttonous ice cream shop, and finished watching the first six seasons of The Office. I just hope I haven’t lost too many readers during my writing interlude.

First we will visit Singapore. I know some of my friends have been there before, so feel free to add any stories or corrections. We arrived late Friday night and once again I was souped up on my plane meds. They help me relax and if I’m lucky, sleep, on the plane, but once I arrive I am usually in a languid stupor somewhere between drunk and zombie. The airport was ok, but the cab ride was a rush of excitement. I remember our cab driver zooming through the streets and taking many unnecessary sharp turns, each time broadcasting, “Oh my gah geez!” He either had too much coffee or was a fan of the white nose candy, or both. However I doubt it was drugs because the visa to Singapore bodly states “Drug Trafficking is Punishable by DEATH.” So poetic. I traveled in a group of five- our South African friends (jovially referred to as the Zulus or Blood Diamonds), Hien (the main LanguageCorps lady in Saigon), and Kendall (a really fun girl from Minnesota). Saturday we woke up and first experienced the spotless subways of Singapore. No food or drink allowed, or else a $1000 fine transpires. We spent the day gallivanting around Little India and Chinatown, two famous neighborhoods in the city-country. Little India was full of vibrant colors and smells, and Chinatown was appropriately busy and energetic. Great places to grab lunch and some snacks. Later, Kendall, Hien, and I went to the Art and Science Museum while the Zulus (they actually are a white, English South African couple) went to go drink $12 beers at Happy Hour at a swanky Singapore bar. More on the prices later. The museum was great; it featured an Andy Warhol exhibit and the 100^th Anniversary Titanic exhibit. I am that guy who must read every sentence in a museum, so luckily my companions turned out to be tolerant troopers. Then, we met up with the Blood Diamonds and explored the massive and famous Marina Bay Sands Resort, which boasts their famous sky deck complete with infinity pool and breathtaking views of the skyline. It also hosts a laser, fire, and water show over the marina, which was worth the wait indeed. Sunday we decided to acknowledge the many suggestions of fellow travelers and go see the Singapore Zoo. Walt Disney could learn from this place. It was in the middle of the rainforest and hosted every kind of animal, with lush gardens and authentic buildings all around. It was surely worth it and I got my fill of baboon rumps. Singapore is a uniquely stylish and progressive city/country, although prepare your wallets ahead of time because it is expensive as shh.

My new job: After three rounds of interviews and a ‘demo teach’ in which I was observed, I landed a job at the best English school in Saigon. I am really glad to be working there, as the facilities are extremely modern and the pay is outstanding, compared to the cost of living. Funny how I had to come to a third-world country to make good money. The salary is just an extra perk, though. I teach a range of students, from little four year-olds to adults. The little ones are a handful- as my mentor psychiatrist whom I shadowed would put it, they are “evil midgets with a great prognosis”. I am enjoying working and I can fortunately say that I love what I do and do what I love.

My new house: I moved into a spacious house off of a lively street in District 3, which is the ideal area to live in by Vietnamese standards. I can’t tell you how liberating it was to finally unload my suitcases and to not live off of its top layers anymore. I discovered many things I forgotten I had packed, including a bonus pack of clean underwear. And the maid came today. Squeeze my nipples and call me Sally, it is such a great service! I thought my room was clean after I organized everything, but then she took it to a new level! My laundry is done, my sheets are clean, the floors are mopped, and the kitchen is spotless. Cuc, you have won my heart. So I have a house and a job, and once I propose to my Vietnamese girlfriend I will be a real man in Saigon. Keep breathing Mom, just kidding.

On a serious note. I finally made time to visit the Vietnam War Remnants museum and never have I been to more agonizing place. I have experienced the National Holocaust Museum in DC, have even witnessed a concentration camp in Germany, saw the killing fields in Cambodia, but none compare to the feelings that occurred in me at this particular museum. Why? Because all the proof of the dreadful, heinous acts of war and bloodlust, committed by the USA, were displayed in the same place. I couldn't help but feel guilty and ignorant of the true atrocities that my country committed. I think every American felt the same way there; the natural patriotism and pride of being an American was sucked out as we saw the pictures of unwarranted slaughters, aftermath of Agent Orange, and wiped out villages. This was why it was the most intolerable of museums. The Vietnam War is a sad tale for America, an even more despairing one for Vietnam, and another reminder that in war, the innocent suffer the most and neither side will win. However, you'll be glad to know that I went with Paul, my marine friend, and I got an in-depth lecture on every single piece of weaponry that was displayed. Of note, when we saw the room that presented the many different guns used in the war and I expressed my disbelief for so many kinds of weapons, Paul responded with "This ain't shit, Jon. You should see what I have in my safe back in Texas." Good ole Paul.

I now have an active routine but still love all my minutes here in Asia. I am excited to take more weekend trips to explore the Far East. My Vietnamese is getting better as judged by my decreasing offensiveness to the locals. I haven’t been accused of being a spy lately, and I actually gave directions to a goofy Chinese tourist with a straight face. I wish that things are just as great for all of you back home.