The intersections here are a bit of a free-for-all. And the way the traffic is structured, there may be as many as six or eight different lights at an intersection. The locals, of course, understand the system and road structure even though they sometimes ignore both. The White Monkey, however, can get a little confused. I was surrounded by bikes the other night, and one of the lights where I was waiting turned green. All the traffic moves and I follow, like a good monkey. But the bikes all turn right and I'm going straight. So ... I go straight, and apparently run through one of the five or six red lights I ignored. Of course, there are two cops waiting for me as I run through the red. As soon as I pull over, one of the cops shines his flashlight on me and starts yelling. My Vietnamese is only a little better than it was 16 months ago, but I did understand him when he screamed red. He was the "bad cop". I ignored him and turned my attention to the "good cop". I explained in crystal clear English that I saw one of the lights turn green and got confused. He stared at me for a few seconds, then waved me on with a disgusted look on his face. Now that's a good cop. Once again, following the crowd gets me in trouble. I know people complain about cops, but these guys did OK by me.
One aspect of life here has changed for the better -- I bought a real bed. Spending money is a joyous occasion. I love it, and I love my new bed. I do my work on the bed, sometimes I sleep there, and best of all, I don't have to climb to my feet from a mattress on the floor to get something in my room. I can just stand up. White monkeys do that from time to time.
Yesterday, I was in my living room counting money in my wallet because I needed to buy some printer ink. I look up and see my neighbor -- in his living room across the street -- watching me count money. He gives me a thumbs-up and a whoops loud enough for me to hear through two sets of closed glass doors. Amazing.
Speaking of printer ink (always a hot topic at the coffee shops), I had to go to five stores yesterday before I found my brand -- the very obscure brand name of Canon. The store where I got the printer doesn't carry the ink anymore. Ugh!
My coffee shop is still rockin' and classes are very good. I'm off today, so I'm just going to lie (I don't think it's lay) on my bed and stare at the mirror on the ceiling. I don't have a mirror on my ceiling.
