First few days in Hanoi - extended version, now with photos

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Ok, I have a few hours now to tell you some more about my life here. So starting from the beginning...

The flight was very long, but I slept most of the way so it wasn't that bad. Unfortunately there weren't really any good movies to kill the time with, and the food was really bad, as always. When we got closer to Hanoi I changed to a seat next to the window where I could see all the rice fields and Vietnamese people wearing the traditional hat. Then we got to the airport, which, I was told, is just a little shed, but it is actually really nice and very organized. All our bags arrived, thank god, and we just picked up by two people from the office. We immediately realized that the traffic is crazy, motorbikes everywhere driving in all directions, all over the place. As I mentioned before our house was kind of disappointing, but we cleaned up last night, and now it actually looks ok. We're still missing furniture though..

So the first three days we were taking around the city by Vietnamese volunteers, some better at English than others. Hanoi is amazing! At least the first day I was very impressed. The next two I was too hot to enjoy anything 😞 But I've gotten used to it now!

Yesterday was meant to be our first working day at the hospital. After a 30 minute bus ride and a 15 minute walk in the heat (and after having gone to the wrong hospital) we finally got there and were told that we could not go in because we didnt have application forms, which no one had told us. So no hospital for us.. But it looked like a very nice place, although seeing all the sick kids yesterday made us realize how hard it is going to be. We saw a woman carying a baby with a drop (or whatever you call it) coming from her forehead. 😞

We wont get to work the next few days either, as we are going out to the country side to prepare for a big party with 300 kids, the "mid autumn festival". We are making masks with kids in a kindergarden. I cant wait.

Going out for lunch now, Bun Cha (my favourite meal so far - noodle soup and grilled pork). Talk to you soon.

PS for those of you who speak danish, here are the other girls' travel logs:
www.travellog.dk/elisabethringgaard
www.travellog.dk/karolineolsen
www.travellog.dk/carolinek
www.travellog.dk/dueogkat

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Photos

Traffic
Motorbikes on a street in Hanoi, and this isnt even that bad..

Our house
Our house as seen from the street

"living room"
Our empty living room

Our room
Very tidy, isnt it?

My bed
Doesn't it look comfortable?

The lake
Caroline and I at Hoan Kiem Lake

Bun cha
Delicious

Phil on his motorbike
Which I went on with 3 people! Dont worry mor, im ok

Ling
Our guide on the first day

Fish
This fish was staring at us during the whole meal at a restaurant

Mission to kill the lizzard
We go through hard times to kill all sorts of animals in our house

Comments

[Janne Franck]

Hi Julie, this is amazing to look at, we are looking so much forward to go to Hanoi next month and have you show us around. Hope, you will soon go to the hospital to cheer up all these poor little kids. Looking forward to the next entry. Love Janne

[ayso]

travel blogs are funny. uh yeah so sounds like you are having fun and stuff which is good to hear and you havent fallen sick yet which is also cool. i am still expecting a letter from vietnam ok. and in contrast to your extreme heat, its fucking freezing here. im waking around in my winter gear. alright keeep on having fun and work hard on teaching those kids.

[Ben]

yaay
You have a blog! Woooo! And it all looks so exciting :) The when-I'm-back countdown is a bit depressing, though.

[Arnau]

Shit im so jealous of you, out there in the east expanding horizons. But where are all the communist monuments and symbols? hehe

[juliefranck]

Hello
Hehe I went to Ho Chi Mihn's mausoleum, will put up a picture today! Are you going to China in the end?

[Dad]

Cool
Cool blog Julie. Loved to speak to you and learn that you are well! Talk to you soon again. Thanks for the birthday present. I'll send you a pic. Love Dad