Wow…..what a bunch of mistakes on the last blog. I am new to this software and I am almost positive that it does not let me spell check. Plus, after being awake for so long…well, I think I could be excused. I am sure everyone got the point I was making.
Before I start talking about the trip to Vietnam, I wanted to mention something that I just remembered about Incheon’s airport which I have not noticed in other airports in the US. As soon as you get out of the airplane, they have several WET carpet rugs on the runway that you are supposed to step on and they are labeled DISINFECTANT RUG. Apparently this chemical they put on the rugs is supposed to keep South Korea safe from international “cooties”…who knows?
Anyway, my flight to Vietnam was also interesting. To start off, I flew through Korean Airways (or something like that) and the cute thing of it all is that as described to me by Cathy Smith, all the flight attendants look impeccable in their outfits. All of them have their hair pulled back in a bun and they have to wear a feather piece on their hair that sticks out to the side. They also have to wear a very starchy ironed piece of cloth around their necks with pointy ends. I wish I could have taken a picture…they look very cute. Once every one got seated and prior to starting the safety instructions, they all gathered in the middle of the airplane and in unison bowed to the crowd – not something I was expecting.
In regards to the flight, I learned that if I were not Puertorican, I might as well have been born Vietnamese. These people have absolutely NO patience whatsoever while traveling. The poor flight attendants fought constantly throughout the flight because people kept on getting up in the middle of turbulence even though they kept on saying over and over to sit down and buckle up. They were moving all over the cabin and needless to say, very few of us got to sleep. The flight attendants had to also tell people over and over to turn their cell phones off. Not sure what was so difficult about that. For the meal, they gave us some tasty chicken with rice and black seeds. Along with the chicken, they also served us an interesting salad – again, the identification of vegetables got lost on me and I hope my body does not regret it later, and some tasty grilled spinach. For dessert they gave us a piece of juicy and sweet pineapple – GOD that was good; and finally some block of what looked to be tofu at first but upon closer inspection, in small print, the item read Bean Custard (you are supposed to add some soy sauce to the block of custard). I wasn’t sure what that was all about and I was not about to experiment so early on my trip so, I quickly looked to the side and noticed that the guy sitting next to me was super hungry. So, I offered my bean custard to him and in return, he gave me his Korean beer (he wanted Budweiser and they did not have it). I hope that speaks well of the type of trading skills I will develop while in Vietnam. By the way, the beer was also tasty. 
Once we arrived in Hanoi, the flight attendants once again gathered together, but this time outside the cabin. As peopled passed by, they bowed in unison once more and thanked us for having chosen their airline. That was truly a humble experience. Once inside the airport, I noticed the drastic change in weather. There are no AC’s anywhere and on top of that it is raining so all the humidity and the heat goes right inside the building. While walking towards customs, I sweated like a pig –this trip has certainly tested my hygiene obsessive compulsive behaviors. Immediately after that, I picked up my bags (yes, my dreams did not come true) and found my ride to the hotel.
The trip to the hotel seemed a little scary at times even though the lines of traffic from the airport to the main part of the city were clearly divided by yellow stripes. Nevertheless, you see people on cars, motorbikes, bicycles, and EVEN WALKING on the street. I also saw several people just getting off their bikes and pushing them (not sure if they ran out of gas or if they had arrived to their respective destinations) in the middle of the night. In some instances, even families were riding on the bikes, and what I mean by family is that you could see up to three and in one instance four people (two children and two adults) in one motorbike altogether. The driver had his full lights all at all times to say the least. I also noticed that several of the motorcycles were heavily packed with boxes – some of them with vegetables, some of them with flowers, and some of them with what seemed to be live animals. Apparently, a lot of markets open late in the evening so that restaurants around the city can go and buy the items they will cook the next day – at least this is what the driver conveyed to me.
I think I am about done for the evening….but will leave you with one piece of information that I thought absolutely amazing. From the National Geographic book I borrowed from Cathy, I learned that the Vietnamese culture is not one that expects TIPS for labor. However I think after tonight, I have made a few friends here at the hotel and I feel safer. Good night!
PS. Expect pictures to pop up very soon!
