Our lives re-imagined, re-engineered, redesigned...just some random thoughts from the other half (John); including an update on my flight to Hanoi. 

What an exciting adventure but all of the work not to mention the time apart is very difficult! Especially the goodbyes and the distance. The empty feeling of being away from the one you so dearly love and rely on (and yes, sometimes take for granted); is right now unbearable. After a life time of so many goodbyes, so many "leaving on a jet plane’s, you would think it would be a bit easier; but it’s not, if anything much more difficult. Much much more difficult.

Dawn and I keep telling each other that we just have to keep looking forward, two months will fly by and we will be in this adventure here together. What an amazing opportunity, once in a lifetime to explore and to absorb another culture.

The flight here... one word to describe...long. Actually more like excruciatingly long. Seattle to San Francisco am nice short 2 hour flight, 3 hours lay over, and then off to Tokyo 12 hour flight, then a 3 layover before the 5 hour finishing leg to Hanoi. So roughly a whole day plus in the air or airports...exhausting. Doesn't help that I don't sleep well on planes but to United's credit, the flights to SF and Tokyo were smooth, in fact on the entire SF to Tokyo flight except for taking off and landing the seat belt sign was kept off (that never happens); the flight attendants seemed relatively friendly (or doing a good job of faking it) and the food... surprisingly edible. The Japan Airlines flight was a good one too and the service level genuinely exceptional but....  the food, not even close to edible... too bad but Dawn had packed a care 'snack' package for both my colleague and I (complete with sandwich, snack food and a liquor); and so I didn't starve and (probably) thanks to the vodka I was able to sleep a couple of hours.

Second day of three in Hanoi before heading to Haiphong for a week of meetings. Much as I remembered it from my trip in November of 07 except much hotter…in the 90s with a matching humidity. The word stifling comes to mind… hard to get used to but hopefully running around in this heat combined with eating “greener” will make for a healthier me. The people as I remember them, very nice and hospitable, had a couple of great interviews for my project assistant position yesterday. Two of the 3 candidates were very impressive, good start!

The city a very crowded, dense sea of old and new, beautiful and worn (but not dirty), little markets everywhere and throngs of people selling their wares (from food to clothes) walking down every street. Every type of shop selling everything you can imagine from touristy items to expensive clothes and everything in between. And the cooking and eating outside on the sidewalks with families and friends gathered around (in the heat); eating and chatting away. The food looks very good but I’m going to take a while to figure out what I like. No snake for me (not yet anyway).

A subject that stands on its own merits or de-merits is the traffic. The phenomenon of watching thousands upon thousands of scooter and bikes and cars (mostly small scooters) converge on intersections and merging in a scary chaotic but somehow (for the most part) safely synchronized dance, is quite remarkable but not for the weak of heart. Sometime 3 or 4 at a time on a scooter, little kids and animals included; most wearing helmets but some not all. And plenty of close calls but I haven’t seen an accident (yet).

Great walk today, except for the sweltering heat; wandered mostly and managed to keep from getting ran over. But I also met a group of Vietnamese college students that were working on their English and a survey of tourists. They ended up interviewing me about all kinds of things from everything about the U.S. to food, family and politics. It was a very interesting discussion with some very bright young people.

I will try to take as many photos as possible, it’s the only way to do this story justice.