I had an amazing time on the back of a motorbike driving around the entire city of Saigon with two locals. My new pal Hung took me to an extremely old pagoda, but since his English is atrocious, he did me the favor of calling up his friend Oanh who taught herself English 10 years ago. She did a lovely job as a tour guide as well as a Vietnamese teacher. I actually felt like I was on some sort of school field trip, she kept pointing to things and introducing new vocabulary, then making me repeat it until my accent was just right. A bit more intense of a Sunday than I had expected, but I really did appreciate her effort.
Outside of all the pagodas were stacks of bird cages jammed with tiny finches. Apparently, people buy them and carry them into the pagoda where they then release them while reciting a prayer or making a wish. Although they were "lucky birds", I was feeling rather sorry for them.
The three of us ended up in District 7 (other side of the city) sitting in fold out chairs along the riverside eating peanuts, drinking coffee, and chatting. I was able to pick up Oanh's great sense of humor since her English is so advanced. It was nice to throw some jokes around and be sarcastic with a Vietnamese person, since humor is pretty much the first thing to go when dealing with a language barrier. Oanh said she would lend me her bicycle for my month in Saigon so I could get around a see more of the city. She also offered to take me with her to the countryside over the weekend, since she goes to visit her family there. The promise of a fishing trip down the Mekong and views of expansive rice paddies is extremely enticing. The city is so incredibly busy, polluted, and fast-paced; I am really looking forward to slowing it down a bit and kickin' it farmer style. Bottom line, Oanh and Hung's generosity is extremely typical, the Vietnamese people as a whole are so incredibly kind, I've really never experienced anything else like it. The most they let me do today was pay for our riverside coffee, both claiming that speaking English and learning about America was more than enough pay for my citywide tour. I will definitely be keeping in touch with them...
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I found myself in a similar situation naught but a few days ago.
ReplyDeleteAfter wiping human fecal matter off a bench alongside the Schyukill River, I sat down to enjoy some American foods, such as hamburgers and a whole apple pie, only to have a "local" come sit next to me.
As I strained to make out what he was saying through his accent he grabbed my bike and rode off.
I believe that much like you, he is borrowing the bike for a month so he can look around the city a little easier.. Until then I shall wait at this bench for him to return.