This will probably be my last post for a while... it's not that I'm giving up on the 'travel blog' world, but since the last time I was travelling it was to Phan Thiet to be fitted for another maternity dress, I think I ought to be realistic with myself. I'm re-locating to the following address: alisagreenwood.blogspot.com Thanks for checking me out over the past year, for your kind comments and words of encouragement, discouragement and support! I hope to see you all soon. [View Full Entry]

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To quote the great Gandalf, a wizard is never late, he always arrives precisely when he means to. If I was a wizard, I would throw the whole wizarding world off kilter for sure. It's been months since I've last updated my blog. Sure, I could say I've been busy (cause I have, a new job, a new house, etc.) or I could go into more details like, "with my new job it's harder to find the time or the internet connection to update my blog regularly". But neither would be the truth, and I don't want to be un-truthful anymore. [View Full Entry]

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It's been a roller coaster of a time here in Vietnam so far. I've been on many beach vacations, river boat vacations, to water parks, zoos that made me cry, made lifelong friends, lost friends who've moved away, and made new friends. I've eaten at street stalls on blue plastic chairs while I was surrounded by an army of rats ready to take me out at the knee caps for finishing my meal without sharing. I've learned to drive in the worst traffic in the world, without understanding a single street sign (not that anyone pays any attention to them anyways). [View Full Entry]

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It's been an interesting past five months. I've learned to like myself more... I've learned to like dentistry! Cockroaches and Rats don't scare me anymore. Don't get me wrong, I am not going to jump at the chance to sleep with one in my bed, but I don't jump as high. I have learned to communicate without speaking... and understand someone even though their words are foreign to me. As a 'nguoi nuoc noi' (foreign person) who stands out because of her curly hair, I've even learned to love the people who look at me strangely, and smile back.. because I'm [View Full Entry]

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It was a hot evening... I had lived in Vietnam for nary a month, and we were sitting under an umbrella at Highlands coffee behind the opera house in down town Ho Chi Minh City. My roomate Martina and I had just finished a 1.5 hour bickram yoga class, and we were still sweating despite ourselves. I was unfortunately dressed in my classiest pair of trekking shorts and oversized t-shirt, she still in her yoga pants. From beyond the gates came a bounding bundle of excitement... Esther Arthur, 5' something and shimmering all the way. She met her own description to [View Full Entry]

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My mother sent me an e-mail the other day... and she commented on what I am doing with my life. She said, it seems very exciting and that there never seems to be a dull moment. I have been thinking about this and have came to a conclusion. I think it's impossible for there to ever be a dull moment. If you pick any moment in time... RIGHT NOW for instance, and you really think about it, this exact moment and every consecutive and previous moments before have been experienced by each and every person in the world at the same [View Full Entry]

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I think the pictures speak for themselves. LOL - Alisa [View Full Entry]

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I have been putting off updating this blog because of too much craziness at work, and trying to figure out what my grand plan is. (stay or go? live or love? eat or drink?) Sometimes it's hard to think about the big picture... there are so many little pictures. However, alot of people have messaged me since my last 'introspective' post, and asked if I was feeling okay... if I was sad or lonely? Rest assured, of course I miss Canada... but while family, friends and the feeling of curling up next to a warm and sentient being when I got [View Full Entry]

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The following words are exerpts from my personal diary. March 15th 2006 In the distance a stray or kept dog barks steadily, seemingly guarding against the encroaching enemy. The parallel between rats, cockroaches and humans is begging to be made by someone. All three capable of survival under the most dire circumstances with their habitat consisting of cement trees, paved rivers and the odd oasis of a rubbish pile doubling as lunch or dinner. Even monkeys need trees and fresh air. Even the birds need a body of water to satisfy their thirst. What satisfies my thirst? What is it that [View Full Entry]

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Today Former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley to Maple Healthcare for some treatment. He is in HCMC on business and we spent 25 minutes talking in the lobby while his wife visited the dentist. Imagine, traveling to Vietnam to get your dental work done... Word has apparently spread about how high quality but cheap it is. Anyways, very interesting guy (Ottawa native, graduate from Carleton, Deputy Prime Minister etc.) We talked about his career, he asked how I ended up here, and he even gave me an update on canal conditions during Winterlude 2006 back in the Capital. So, despite the [View Full Entry]

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