Final Travel Blog From Vietnam
Trip Start
Sep 30, 2009
1
12
Trip End
Dec 16, 2009
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Obviously I wasn't thinking at all. And you'd be correct in thinking yourself that after all these years a guy would have learned better. I think I had learned this lesson before but I just forgot it. That's my excuse and I'm stickin' to it. All this will be history once I am on that plane flying home to Rhode Island.
Kimmy Le owns Crazy Kim Spa & Gym, Crazy Kim Bar & Restaurant, and Kim's School for Street Kids. I've been told that she is one of the wealthiest women in Nha Trang. She escaped Vietnam as a child. Spent 20 years in America, Canada, and Holland and then returned to Vietnam 13 years ago. I teach at her school six days a week. Over the last five weeks I've gotten to know her a little. Last Sunday she took me to look at a town house that is for rent.
Kim speaks English, Vietnamese, and French fluently. Her boyfriend of 8 years is French. I would guess she is about my age. I would guess that she is responsible for more English being learned in Nha Trang than any other person. I expect that we will have more conversations in the future because she started asking me about my eating habits and she is quite interested in health.
I got a call from my friend Lan, who teaches at POU, but also knows people at Nha Trang University. NTU has 20,000 students and has been around for 50 years. Lan told me she was talking to the Vice Dean of English Language at NTU about me. The result was that the Dean asked for my resume. I'm not holding my breath, things happen really slowly around here. Eventually one of the Universities will do something concrete. In the mean time I absolutely love teaching at Kim's School and it keeps me busy every day.
Despite the ordeal with Lam I've enjoyed my time in Vietnam immensely. And, I've been able to stop feeling guilty about not working or being useful. I'm useful here...and appreciated.
Odds and Ends:
I really enjoy using a motorbike as my means of transportation.
I suppose even living with a saint in a hotel room for two months would have been tough.
If you live in an exotic place for two months it is no longer exotic, you are a little.
If you live with an emotionally unstable person for two months, you are a little.
The End
I am writing this last paragraph from Hong Kong, waiting for my connection to Chicago. Yes, I made it safely out of Vietnam. I made it safely from Lam. Our last day together was one of the worst. Two major tantrums. And then this morning before leaving for the airport she hugs me and says she is sorry. She has been behaving like a baby. I am sorry for her, very sorry. It is hard for me not to have feelings, even after all that happened. At times she was extremely warm and considerate. If only it wasn't true that she did act like a baby and unfortunately at her age I don't think this behavior will change in my lifetime. I left her at the airport with a deep sadness knowing the sadness that awaits her.
Christmas music fills the airport and I'm coming home for the holidays. I wish peace to Lam and all my friends in Vietnam. I know now more than ever that love is the most powerful force on this planet. Merry Christmas!
Comments
Merry Christmas Frank. Peace on Earth, Goodwill Towards Mankind.
What an adventure!
To decompress during your travel home, breathe in the colors of the spectrum one at a time and exhale deeply all the crud that clouded your rainbow of life.