The Day Before Work Starts...

So it's my second day here, the day before I actually have to wake up and do things. Though, tomorrow we just have a short teacher orientation for an hour and a half plus lunch so that isn't too intimidating. It is only noon here today so I will probably add to this post later but my day has already been pretty amusing.

Since it was somewhat familiar I went back to the bakery and cafe that I went to with Scott yesterday. I picked out a different pastry this time though and it was an equally great choice (see picture!). Then, at the cafe I was thinking of trying something different so I tried to motion for a menu but the girl didn't understand me and then I didn't know what she said and so I shrugged and then she came back and put a ticket down on my table (my bill). The guys at the table next to me started laughing and I just smiled back. I'm sure I do seem pretty ridiculous... So apparently I had ordered something? She must have remembered me (I'm sure it wasn't difficult to remember likely her only white female customer from the day before) because she just gave me the same thing Scott ordered me yesterday. No complaints here!

Then I headed back over to the grocery store where more people stared at me as I walked by and said hi. For some reason I find the grocery store to be really fun...maybe because almost everything there is different than what I would see at a grocery store in the US. I wanted to be more adventurous and buy some crazy fruit but some of the stuff I wasn't even sure if it was fruit or a vegetable so I decided I'd do a little research before picking something out.

Dinner tonight was fun! I went out with my neighbor again and he took me to a different place he frequents. The server was a drag queen who seemed to flirt with Scott. Scott seemed to be able to communicate with them and he ordered for us. I was impressed it seemed he understood them but then our food came out and two of the dishes were not what he meant to order. No big deal, so instead of spring rolls we got some tofu dish that was okay. Then, instead of shrimp we got this thin, long, grilled fish on a stick. That was pretty tasty, actually. Then we had the fried rice and more of that morning glory aka water spinach with tons and tons of garlic (my favorite!).

So, here are some pics from today

 Motorbikes whizzing by.

 I don't know what this building is but it's pretty and my school is the other tall building on the right.

 Hula Hoops...? (I doubt it but I don't know what they are!)

 Craziness

 This suspicious-looking building is where I live!

 Ok this picture sucks but this is a really cool looking cafe!

 Ok I'll chill on the food pics soon but this was amazing fried rice and then some guava with spicy salt.

Local beer.

 This was a fun discovery ... this is what my mattress looks like under that green sheet. "Happyday!"

 Iced Coffee, Iced tea, and some egg and meat pastry :)

 So many motorbikes everywhere!

 View from the cafe.

 Latest purchase - Cheap Vietnamese beer. Should be interesting. Update: It basically tastes like Heineken (which they also sell here). The first sip was pretty gross but after a few sips it just tastes like dirty water.

Strawberry shaped ice cubes! This is no longer coming back with me - it broke the first time I tried to get ice out! Oops...good thing it was cheap