Thieves try to break into our house; Joanna turns 2; Phuong's brother delivers ticks to our house with tank

Thieves tried to break into our house Wednesday morning at about 3 a.m. They pried open a bathroom window but encountered metal bars behind the window. Apparently, they gave up, just like they gave up trying to be successful members of society. They were successful getting into our neighbor's house, unfortunately, and stole a backpack with some cash inside. Crazy shit. People don't call the police here over stuff like this. Not sure why, but maybe this sort of thing happens a lot in Bien Hoa and police don't have time.  If I encountered someone in my house, it wouldn't be a good thing for me or the intruder. In my view, this is a dangerous, grimy and unpleasant city. Thieves kill guard dogs and break into houses routinely, people burn plastic and throw their trash into the streets routinely, and people ride their motorbikes into each other and on the sidewalks ... routinely. No need to discuss manners or weather. I really worry for my daughter, especially because everyone here is obsessed with the fact that she looks different than the other kids, and they willingly point that out to us. Geez, I never would have noticed if those kind people didn't tell Phuong and I about Joanna's "different" appearance.  Hopefully, Phuong can get a visa to come to the U.S. sooner rather than later. 

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Joanna turned 2 years old last week and my wife Phuong worked her butt off to produce a wonderful, happy and special birthday celebration for Joanna. Phuong got pizza, hung streamers, selected wonderful presents, and did everything that a loving, caring and dedicated mom does for her child. Phuong's nephews and a neighbor joined the party. They played soccer in the living room, and Joanna tried to play as well. It was a wild scene and everyone had a great time. After watching me blow out the 'No. 2' birthday candle on her cake, Joanna copied and successfully blew out the candle. Cheers all around. Phuong's mom came over with a present, but that's it. Birthdays aren't huge events here, like in the U.S., but they're celebrated and they seem to be getting bigger. This was a pretty low-keyed affair, all things considered, but it was cozy and pleasant. It's difficult to determine exactly what Joanna understands at this point. However, it was easy to tell she was having a great time and she seemed to understand the activity was on her behalf.

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I know the late Anthony Bourdain loved Vietnamese food. Me? Not so much, especially the main courses. Pho is OK and the chicken is excellent, but I'll take a Charcoal Pit burger or Grotto's pizza from Delaware in the U.S. any day. It's just how you're raised and what you consider comfort food, I guess. That said, some local fruits and vegetables I've had in Vietnam are the best I've ever had. Bon bon has become my favorite. It's the size of a kumquat; you peel and eat and sometimes you can eat the seed inside. It tastes like a mildly sweet grapefruit with the texture of a firm grape -- or something like that (I ain't Anthony Bourdain). I've written about them before, but they're so darn good and they're "in season" now, so they deserve a second mention even if they can make your hands sticky for a long time after you peel them. 

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Phuong's brother gave us the big fish stand and tank, and the package included -- at no extra cost -- about 300 ticks, which were inside the legs of the stand and the tank. We kept finding ticks everywhere and when I realized the tank and stand came from Phuong's brother's garden, the mystery was easily solved. This is the same guy who gave us the killer catfish and Tet tree with two scorpions. I told him no need to get anything else for Joanna's birthday. He's an incredibly nice man, though, and he has no fear of God's creatures great and small.