Walking around Hanoi...

Today I made my first walk around Hanoi alone. It was a little bit daunting to say the least. There were hundreds of people EVERYWHERE and there is definately a lack of street signs...so my map is basically useless. I got around by mindlessly wandering and taking taxis from point to point if I got really lost.

I accedentally wandered down a street where all the stores sold homemade beer...and I wanted to try some...but then I looked around and noticed that everyone on the street was male. I was definately out of place and in my rush to get off of that street I found myself in a botanical garden, which was pretty cool. I definately will go back there. And, I definately will try some of that beer...I'll just wait until I have someone to go with.

I also took my first ride on a scooter in Vietnam today. This was also a crazy experience...and kinda scary!

I also found myself in the old quarter and wandered around the lake in the middle. (pictures)

I can't wait to explore more of Hanoi...next time I'm going to map out my journey first so I don't get so lost...but sometimes getting lost is the best part! :)

...in a while, Crocodile!

Good Morning, Vietnam!

I woke up to the WORST lightning storm of my life...yes, THE WORST!...and I'm from Florida! But after the smoke cleared...this was the view from the apartment!

1st Impressions...GREAT FOOD!

After the longest flight in my life...I finally arrived to Hanoi on Thursday, May 13th, 2010! The airport in Hanoi is actually 45 minutes outside of the city and is in the middle of rice paddies. It is amazing to see how green and colorful everything is! Mr. Dung (pronounced Zuung) picked me up at the airport and handed me my itinerary for the first few days...and my internship begins! I went strait to the office where I met my new boss, Jeanne, and the rest of the office staff. After meeting everyone, we went out to lunch to try my first taste of Vietnam.

My first impression of Vietnam is that they know how to eat!! The food here is AMAZING!! Soon, I will start putting pictures up of all of the delicious things that I am eating...BE JEALOUS! ;)

Other than eating, I have been sleeping a lot to get over the jet lag that I have been experiencing. It's not too bad, however, I have no clue what time it is ANYWHERE!! It could be dark outside and someone tell me that it is noon...and I would believe them!

I have also been reading a lot of briefing material so that I can be up to date to start real work on Monday. I'll elaborate more on this later, but Vietnam is an amazing country when it comes to agricultural trade and I think that I am going to learn A LOT at this post!

It definitely is a different world here! There are laws dictating that you can only have 2 children and that you cannot date until you are 18. I am interested to learn many of the laws that effect the people of Vietnam on an everyday basis.

...In a while, Crocodile!

Memories of Summers Past

I don't know if Vietnam can beat last summer...8 months in Argentina taking Spanish courses and working on an Argentine purebred Angus and Hereford Ranch (Estancia El Encuentro)!

Te extrano mucho, Argentina!

...In a while, Crocodile!!

The Beginning...

Dear All:

A few of you have mentioned that I need to start keeping up with all of my stories...because I have so many...and most of them are lies...so I better start writing them down! Lawyers that can't keep their facts strait aren't cool! :) Just Kiddin...but am I?? Well, you all may have just been kidding when you said that you were actually going to READ it...but here it goes!

Anyhow, I should have started this a while ago because I find myself, at the ripe ole' age of 22, to be forgetting some of the craziest and most fun times of my life. Those memories resurface by looking at old pictures, getting random phone calls from friends, and just getting time to day dream...which with exams, I haven't had a whole lot of time to do lately.

So, here I am to cronicle my next big adventure...VIET NAM!!!

I will be leaving on 11 May 2010 to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and will be living in Hanoi for 3 months working for the US Embassy's Office of Agricultural Affairs.

I began my preparations for Nam months ago, with VISA's, Contracts, and Plane Tickets...and now, just a little over a week from departure...I am getting more and more excited!!

Look for more info soon!!

...In a While, Crocodile!