Looking out the window and listening to Linkin Park's "New Divide," a perfect song I thought for the occasion, I watched as we descended into Ho Chi Minh City towards the runway. I wasn't even out of the plane yet and it just looked hot and tropical, which was totally fine by me coming from freezing cold, snowy Wisconsin. Minutes later I heard a Cathay Pacific flight attendant announce "Ladies and gentleman we'd like to welcome you to Ho Chi Minh City where the current time is....," which got me even more excited and anxious to finally be in Vietnam. After more than a year of applying, planning, waiting, and even more waiting, I had landed in the country I have been destined to study in and explore.
Off the plane, I passed through immigration and customs where my student visa was examined, passport stamped and waved through. I waited next at one of the most unorganized baggage claims I had ever seen. It was kind of hilarious when every five minutes the conveyor belt would get choked up, clogged with suitcases, as handlers jumped in and began absolutely throwing luggage out of the way. Bag, well, big heavy clunky suitcase in hand I went through another customs checkpoint and out the door, into Ho Chi Minh City. The next scene reminded me of my trip to Guatemala four years ago, walking out of the airport to hundreds of smiling, excited, and curious faces holding up signs and shouting names. I saw "Robb DeGraff Loyola" scribbled on a piece of paper being held up by my to-be Vietnamese roommate, Giang. We had been chatting on email back-and-forth so it was so cool to finally meet him. It was a bit intimidating at first, but once we started talking I felt a lot more at ease and the ice had bene broken. Our next task was to flag down a cab and head to our guesthouse, and like in big American cities, this was a task that took a few times. Finally a little Toyota Yaris pulled up and we were off!
They wash them, customize them, haul around their entire family or loads of cargo, and even use them to deliver ice cream, blaring an animated cartoony soundtrack from a sole loudspeaker. I'll do my absolute best to get videos of the traffic here in Saigon because it really is unbelievably fun to watch first-hand. I'm writing this blog post right now from the mezzanine balcony of our government-run hostel (guest house). On the shaded street below I see a man riding a motorbike that's towing a big trailer behind it, a security guard spraying down and detailing his motorbike, and another man cleaning the rims of his with a toothbrush. As the months go by, I'll do a more in-depth post about the cars and transportation of Vietnam later.
He likes photography too, which is awesome for me because we've already had many great chats about cameras. Once we arrived at the guesthouse and moved into our room, #207, I gave him a Green Bay Packers shirt and a bag of my favorite American candy: Red Vines.
I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am and how incredible it is to be here in Vietnam right now.
Robby
