May 1 - First Day of Training Today

Hoian was fabulous. My friends treat me like a Queen - so do their parents. I've been invited for lunch, dinner, stay at their place instead of the hotel.....They love that I'm here doing charity work in their country and they've rolled out the red carpet for me!

I came to Danang yesterday and met the girls I'll be working with. (All except for my roommate so far). They range in age from 20 - 50 plus. Seems like a good group. I'm waiting to get picked up to go for my first day of training. The house I'll be at has 5 bedrooms for 10 of us. Two big beds in each room and not much else.
Two women are on staff to cook 3 x a day and there is a security guard who sleeps on a mattress in the hallway by the front door. Hopefully I won't wake him up too often. Ha ha ha.

Here's a few insights from my last couple of days. Maybe you'll get an idea of life in Vietnam:

1. Can deoderant really melt??
2. Why wash a glass when you can dump what's in it and leave it in the dish rack for the next person?
3. 'Yes' from someone in Vietnam means: Yes, No, Maybe AND I don't know. It's a fun guessing game. I'm not very good at it yet
4. I can swallow vitamins with orange soda
5. I know how to drive a motorbike and I have my own helmet and face mask
6. Could I live on $100 a month?? I read that woman is living on $0 - getting everything, including room and board on trade. Most people here live on less than $100. Hmmmm
7. I can 'P' while barefoot, squatting over a toilet, standing on a wet floor. (I hope that's water I'm standing in...)
8. BYO. T.P. - Everywhere you go.
9. I ate squid rings but passed on the 'full squid'. looked too much like a huge snail out of the shell.
10. Babies will smile at you - regardless of the language you speak
11. I've become very patient teaching friends English phrases - It took me 3 Damn Days to master - "See you later" so I could be understood.
12. Nobody is in a rush. 10minutes means 20 plus.....
13. Beeping horn on motorbike is for: Passing on the right, Passing on the Left, Hurry Up, Move Over, Hi I'm here, I'm bored what are you doing?
14. I can get a coke for 45 cents. I paid $3 at Riva Grill in Tahoe - those bastards
15. I can teach locals to dance (Cracks up the moms)
16. My new favorite fruit is a Pomello (I have no idea what that is ). It's a 'buoi' in Vietnamese.
17. I can get my nails painted for less than a dollar. (I have to ignore the dog hair on the floor though. Apparently it was his turn for a hair cut)
18. I'm loving every minute of it