Word of the day: ridiculous

I just had to take a moment to jot down some ridiculous things I have seen lately before I forget all about them. I tend to run into something ridiculous at least once a day, and it's getting pretty difficult trying to remember them all.

1.) Obama Obama Karaoke.
--> It's awesome that they love Obama here, and it's even more awesome that he gets a Karaoke bar in his name. Better yet, they use it twice, so that really is somethin'.

2.) Flip's new apartment located behind the Hanoi School of Music
--> My friend Flip lives right behind the dormitories for the Music University, so every time I go to visit, I hear people singing opera or people playing the trumpet/piano/guitar/accordian (you name it). He says it is not nearly as entertaining when they start practicing at 5am...

3.) 3 people on a motorbike doing wheelies
--> Driving in Hanoi is scary enough, but three men on a motorbike doing a wheelie, that is just plain ridiculous. The guy on the back was almost brushing the pavement with his head... !!!!

4.) The Vietnamese concept of "yours and mine"
--> Culturally, it is incredibly different than America. A very accurate example of this is how my cleaning lady just takes my bicycle, or my towels, or my sandals. It's nothing I can get upset about because everybody here just shares everything. It doesn't do too much harm, I just have to keep an eye out to see where my things have been moved to.

5.) My tofu lady at the market
--> I have gotten into the habit of getting fresh tofu from a lovely old lady down the street in the market. She is super interested in America and asks me lots of questions every time I visit (although I can't understand too much of it... I heavily rely on the 'smile and nod'). Two large chunks of tofu cost me 3,000 dong... or 15 cents. Now is that ridiculous or what?

Gosh, I have so many more absurd things that happen daily, but they are becoming so common place that they don't even strike me as ridiculous anymore. My students are getting back to class in a minute so I have to go, but I shall put some thought into some things that may strike people from back home as absolutely strange. Until then-