10 July 2010 at 2:40 p.m.
Here we are in China, with its wide streets, clean and accessible sidewalks, easy access to quick eating ….but we miss motorbikes and a language we at least partly understand (never realized how much Vietnamese I understood before coming here and understanding nothing) and chicken (or beef) and rice.
We’ve had an amazing time here and it is definitely vacation-like (which is precisely what I wanted for the kids). Tommy and his parents have honestly treated us like royalty, providing us a place to stay and getting us tickets on the train to Shanghai, feeding us an astonishing array of Chinese and Western food (Pizza Hut? Whoda thunk). I can never express my gratitude for all they’ve done and are doing for us. It’s been amazing and I hope to forward that generosity on; I am again in the debt of others’ kindness.
Our last evening in Hanoi at Fanny Ice Cream Parlour
We’ve noticed, though, that every step of the way we inevitably compare it to the Vietnamese way. Oh, the girls are wearing short sleeves! Where are all the motorbikes? (Banned by law, I found out.) In Viet Nam, they’re very worried about getting dark. Yes, people in Viet Nam eat every bit of the animal, too, but it is the first time I’ve seen deep-fat fried chicken head.
We can’t seem to help it. Everything gets compared, both positive and negative (depending on the situation and the person). I can’t help but think it will continue for a long while after returning to the States, as well. Sorry, folks, you’ll have to deal with it.
There are bits of both countries that we like, but Ha Noi has my heart. Toi yeu Viet Nam!
Continue reading… World Travels in Shenzhen