Capitalism is still a work in progress in Vietnam, or at least in Bien Hoa City. The economy is clearly on the rise here, and this is evident in the increasing number of cars on the road. The infrastructure isn't the greatest, but it's improving and there's tons of roadwork and construction everywhere. The country is clearly developing. However, simple concepts such as customer service remain elusive to the locals. Just like in Peru, businesses close anywhere from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and this includes pharmacies. Some people require more sleep than others require medicine, I guess. And I've been denied purchases of items on the shelves because there were no price tags on them. Twice in the past week this happened -- at a bookstore where I wanted to buy puzzles for Joanna and at a specialty food store where I tried to buy chocolate for Phuong. In both cases, the cashiers shouted at me in Vietnamese, as if raising their voices would make their language easier to understand for the White Monkey. Trust me, it doesn't do anything other than ratchet up the tension. And the cashiers grabbed the items out of my hands and returned them to the shelves, where they could confuse future customers. Both planned purchases involved quite a bit of money, but since I wasn't dealing with the owners or people with any tact or social graces, my dong stayed in my pants, so to speak. Sorry, Phuong and Joanna. I tried to get you guys something special. Maybe next time. This has happened about a dozen times since I've lived here, but there's no point in getting angry. They wouldn't understand and they really don't care since it isn't their business anyway.
Last Sunday, Phuong and I had our first tennis match since Joanna was born. And it was the struggle I expected. At 3-3, the never-ending monsoon rains came and delayed the match for 45 minutes. The wait messed up Phuong's game and I won 6-3, but I see trouble ahead. Phuong's serve and ground-strokes are much improved because of her work with Tai, and she still runs like a gazelle. My game is also improved, but I run like a 62-year-old fish. And my right ankle has never really recovered from one of my motorbike wrecks, so I have my excuse ready and waiting when Phuong starts dominating, which I suspect will be real soon. Tai and I had two tough matches over the weekend -- I beat him 6-3 and lost 4-6. I told him I was the overall champion and better human being based on the 10-9 aggregate score in my favor from the two matches. Tai's a good sport ... he smiled.
Joanna actually lets Phuong and I play and she isn't too disruptive. She'll wander onto the court once in a while, but she scoots off when we plead with her. Joanna's cousin Hai tags along and plays with her. Joanna loves Hai, and starts laughing as soon as she sees him. She had a blast playing in the rain while wearing only her diaper during our rain delay.
Phuong and I are looking into traveling, possibly to South Korea. I need to get out of town and so does Phuong. The little peanut Joanna gets bored easily (like her dad) and loves new adventures, so we believe she should do OK on a trip. But with Phuong, there's always the challenge of getting a visa. Canada nixed her and the U.S., well, you know that story. We really do plan to return to Vietnam -- I can't go anywhere until social security kicks in when I'm 66. That's still more than three years away, but time flies when you're getting old.
I'm in the process of putting together all of my blogs and travel photos to make a book about teaching in the TEFL world. It gives me something to do when Joanna takes a nap.
When I say grace before meals and add a little prayer asking for God to bless Phuong, Joanna and Daddy, Joanna vehemently shakes her head "no" and laughs ... every time. It cracks Phuong and I up, and we can't help but join Joanna in laughter. Amen to that.
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