Rant of the week: 

Vietnamese people have an amazing ability to make you feel terrible about yourself in the nicest way possible. It's ironic because on a daily basis they also make you feel like you are a queen, and it seems there is no middle ground. Example: My roommate, one of the sweetest people I have ever met, looks at me with the most genuine smile while she tells me that I have gained weight since I have been here.  They don't mean to be insulting, they are just very blunt, and there comes a point when you want to scream at them for so politely pointing out all of your flaws, but you can't because they are simply stating the facts, and like I said, in the most polite way possible. It's a very strange thing to learn to accept. But at the same time they are always telling you how amazing you are and waiting on you hand and foot, and it is much like being a celebrity/politician, but where is the middle line? Why can't I just be ignored on a daily basis like everyone in America who generally disregards everyone around them? 

Second rant of the week:

It is generally considered rude to not eat what is given to you when at dinner with Vietnamese, especially in their home. When I went to my friend Kieu's house with my roommates, I was startled that I didn't recognize anything on the table, except for the centerpiece of a chicken, was was easy to label because it had the claws and everything. I've gotten incredibly good at trying things I don't understand, even though not knowing freaks me out. But the one thing to remember is to never finish your plate, unless you want seconds, because they will always give you more. I was serious about the being waiting on constantly, every time I put something in my mouth, it seemed to have been replaced before I went back for another bite. The problem comes, well MY problem comes, when I am full. They seem to just not care. After I ate more then my fair share of the meal, I was stuffed, and so was everyone else at the table. But then comes the fruit (fruit is custom after every meal) and they say it's not filling, which I understand, but they were saying they were full and making me eat it! I said "I'm full too!" A million times and it was like they didn't even hear me. THEN came candies and chocolate. (Candy is eaten a lot at this time of year, to bring in a "sweet new year." But the fact that I didn't/ couldn't stomach anything more was irrelevant. Followed by sunflower seeds, which we seemed to be eating just for something to do. None of this would have been that bad, if I didn't have to go to a second dinner with Thao and her friends, but I did. And then my roommates (the ones constantly feeding me) wonder why I'm gaining weight. It's all so ridiculous.

Well anyway, it's officially a new year. It is kind of nice to get another chance for resolutions, just in case you messed up the first three weeks, here's a chance to start over. It's the year of the Ox, and there has been a lot of celebrating around here. A few customs: Tet usually lasts around 15 days. There are fireworks on New Years Eve, which I mentioned, and the three days following are days of celebration. The first day is reserved for your family, when you all get together and eat a lot of food. The second day is for friends and the third day is for teachers, which is today, and I am going to Thao's house tonight with Julia, Alice, and Alice's parents who are visiting, it should be a nice time. Before Tet, all of your debts must be paid off (great custom, if you ask me) children usually get "lucky money" which is a red envelope (red is the color of good luck) with new money in it, and as the name says, it's known to be lucky. Children also get new outfits, and as was custom in the past, although the new generations have succumb to "Western ways" everyone turns a year older at Tet. Most of my students celebrate their own birthdays nowadays, but some of the older generations don't even know when their "Birth day" is, they just turn a year older in the new year. They also completely clean their house (think spring cleaning) and decorate it with things that bring good luck and fortune. There are a million "good luck things", like a butterfly flying into your house, and whoever is the first to walk through your door in the New Year is suppose to determine the rest of the year. My first guest was Thao's friend Anh, who drove me home after the fireworks, and everyone giggled because a boy was the first person to enter my house. I'm not sure what that means exactly, but they said don't worry, it's good (giggle). 

Don't let the rants through you, I'm having a great time. I start teaching next week and I'm happy to be done with vacation, because I feel like I haven't done anything in a verry long time. I have had a ton of time to read and write though, and I've found some really interesting things online. The latest blog I've added is Ben Casnocha, a very young, (and very good looking, which is irrelevant) entrepreneur. He touches on a lot of interesting points, and he knows how to speak to my generation, so it helps me relate to 'the business world' in a different way. He's worth checking out. 

I've been listening to classical music and jazz, and it's been a great switch. I like it because I can listen to it while I read all of these blogs/random things I'm finding on the internet and I'm not distracted (lyrics completely steal my attention and its hard to read something worth paying attention to while singing) My friend just sent me a Ravi Coltrane album, which you should check out of you're into Jazz. And a little Mozart never hurt anyone...