Life in the Monsoon Lane

Posted by Fiz

So we lied in the last post, you can get on Facebook in Vietnam... it's just that 'facebook.com' doesn't get you there.  I'm not actually sure how to get it up as a page, it was up on the computer I sat down at lol. Perhaps there is a government re-direct here.

Anywho, pertaining to the title of the post, I got to watch people walk through an inch of rainwater in the streets today (It couldn't have been raining more than 30 minutes) for the first time ever. I can now say I have been in a monsoon! and man is 'raining' an understatement, it should be called 'sky-falling-so-hard-even-old-ladies-are-run-ing'.

I kid you not, businesses had to turn on their electric signs to be seen from the street. Water was coming down in sheets. It was interesting though, because before it started to come down, an old shop keeper came out side and cleaned the drain in front on his shop,  as soon as he finished unclogging the grate the first drops of rain hit.


As the rain started getting heavier people stopped what they were doing for a second and pulled ponchos out of seemingly nowhere and continued what ever it was they were doing. The pace of everything, picked up dramatically, but it seemed that the only people who hid from the world was the two of us, and every other foreigner around.

When the rain stopped, 30 min after it started, an old lady, came outside of her shop and took advantage of the inch of rainwater by cleaning the sidewalk in front of her shop. 

Not being so fond of getting drenched, it will be interesting to see how I take advantage of the regular rain...

Hiding From The Rain

Posted by Fiz



We have been in Vietnam a grand total of thirteen hours, as I'm writing this, and I already feel ill-ish. Though I think that is due to the shot of super echinacea  plus or whatever the hell it's called. I also had some osha root in the same mouthful... For those of you unfamiliar with these two tinctures, they are vial and horrid, especially on an empty stomach. But they work. I had this dry cough a couple of days before we left, then on the long ass plane ride from JFK to shanghai the seat in front of us was occupied by a grandmother and her granddaughter who was had this deep super wet cough and was clearly sick. I woke up this morning and i was starting to sound something like her. The plane also looked like it was bought used from Indian air

Upon arrival at our quaint guesthouse we tried to log in to Facebook Vietnam and found it is mostly old US political figures... like Ben Franklin and Abe Lincoln.

totally random...

In the time it took me to type this post it went from raining harder than it has this year back home in ma to not raining at all.

On A Jet Plane

We were flying low over the rice patties of Hanoi. The air was warm and the sound of the chopper... woke me from my sleep. It was then I realized that I was actually on an airplane, not a chopper and there were no rice paties to be seen, literally, it was pitch dark below us. Only small little lights glimmered here and there to remind us there was ground below.



We are officially in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. Can't say yet what's it's like as it's been a grand total of two hours and it is 2:30 AM here. What I can tell you is this is a city that sleeps. Not much of nightlife on a Wednesday from what we can gather, and no Facebook access :(



The flights were thankfully uneventful, long, but otherwise fine. We both slept through most of the first(14 and a half hour) leg. I don't think I could recomend China Eastern, the food is terrible and they don't have those nifty personal entertainment systems that let you watch old re-runs of House for hours. But everyone was pleasant.



Glad to be on the road again, the scent of Tropical Asia is heavy in the air. Its an aroma that I love dearly, cigarettes, concrete and the musky odor of palm trees, humidity and sweat. It reaks of paradise.



To sleep now so we can go out tomorrow.

The Move Begins

It really feels like we are moving now. I wake up in the mooring full of nervous energy and have to spend the rest of the day running around doing things in order to get it all out. They design it that way I think.

Almost everything is packed, we are renting a truck tomorrow. Everything for the trip is in a huge pile at the end of the bed waiting to see if it will fit in our bags. There's still some small things to get before we leave. Like a lens cap for my camera and travel insurance, you know little things.

I always get travel amnesia when I get back from a trip so by the time I go to leave again I am surprised at how much effort and work it takes to get  trip off the ground. The sheer paperwork alone is overwhelming. Copies of passports, getting visas, permissions, copies of important documents and print outs of room reservations. I have multi colored folders just begging to be labeled.

At this point I consider planing a long term-independent trip like this one to be about as much work as planning a wedding. Sure some things are easier, nobody is trying to influence what clothes I bring, but the paperwork! Canceling subscriptions and making doctor's appointments ( we've each had three in the last three weeks), buying the annoying things that you need for travel but will never use again, like pack-covers, is just as time consuming.

I have to remember its a labor of love. Truth be told there's a always this wall that we hit where we just want to leave, "the tension is building, lets go!" and I have defiantly hit that wall.

Looking forward to Hanoi, mainly because I will be able to say things like " When I was in 'nam"  at inappropriate times. I should probably go buy that health insurance now.

Local Art Local Food

This morning we began packing. But before we resigned ourselves to spending all of the gorgeous summer day inside we strolled around the Amherst Common.

Amherst, like many places in the Pioneer Valley has a lot going on. Saturday is the Farmers' Market May through October and so we indulged ourselves wandering around looking at all the wonderful organic vegetables and the ripe berries out on display. Local food is so important to a healthy people and healthy earth, and I like getting the chance to eat locally grown.

 I really wished that I had had my camera, silly that I always have it on hand when I'm traveling but never when I'm home. Shame on me for that their were some spectacular looking things.

Next to the farmers market was a craft fair which we browsed through. There are so many talented artists who live and work in this area, it really blows my mind. There were two that really stood out amongst the offerings.

One was Seed to Stem " Connecting humans with their roots". They were a creative and whimsical design studio that makes living sculptures by putting plants in clear blown glass terrariums filled with sand and crystals and water.  If we weren't about to move halfway around the world I would have bought a dozen. They come in all shapes and sizes and look good on old cabinets. They ermine me of something out of a magical emporium.

The other was glass artist Noah Rockland-Miller, a local kid who is making spectacular art. There are many many, perhaps too many, glass artists in the valley but his really stood out. They were blows glass but not your typical stoner-glass offerings. Instead there were perfume bottles and drawer pulls and necklaces along with pure sculpture and other jewelry. His art is highly evocative of nature with simple lines, earthy colors and much attention to detail.

Both are worth checking out, if only for the pictures. But if you are looking for a special gift, remember to love your local artists!

Calvin Who?

I've just finished my third day of teaching 60 Honduran church leaders 2,000 years of church history. It was amazing to me that many of them had never heard the stories before. My last day of class I asked how many had heard of John Calvin and not a single person raised their hand. I asked again just to make sure they were hearing me right- but no, not a single person! I thought to myself, "It's (pre)destined to be a long class today! My translator tells me that for most of these students Christian history is a blank slate. For many of them the experience has been transformative.

One of the students told the class that after hearing about churhc history he can now see that his approach to ministry has been all wrong. One of the beneifis of learning about past mistakes is that you learn not to repeat them.

The lessons of our Christian heritage teach us that men and women have died for important belieffs and that many of the beliefs that we now take for granted came with an incridble price. They teach us that the truths we have and even the Bible we hold in our hands have been passed down to us because precious blood has been spilt and heavy costs have been paid. When we know our history we learn to better appreciate that truth.

I come away from this experience with a great impression of what Global Action is doing in their pastor training probram. The students I have taught this week are mostly lower class with very little education and from a wide array of backgrounds. And yet what they have in common is a passion for the gospel. Many of them have started churches and God is using those churches to reach the lost. THese classes are like gold to them. They come early eager to learn with a kind of joy that is infectuous. I have heard many inspiring stories.

Like the man who works in a Honduran prison for gang members. Because of his relationship with Jesus he now sees his work as a mission . He has started a church for these former gang members who have been convicted of drug dealing and murder and violent crimes and now has several hundred members. Or like the woman in the class who is a former prostitute and who once owned her own brothel. He life has been so radically transformed by the gospel that she is now a dynamic leader in her church. The woman has an amazing charisma and glow about her. She would often shout "hallelujah" when some story in hisoty inspired her throwing her arms in the air as if signalling a touchdown and shout "yes!!" (You don't get that often in history classes in the states!)

I am more convinced than ever that if we truly want to change the world and advance the Kingdom of God we must equip and truin the hundreds of thousands of house pastors that God i sraising up around the world. These are people who do not have the means or the backgournd to attend theological seminaries or Bible colleges. And yet they need the equipping and the accountability. Global Action has provided the means for this and is putting together the structure to accomplish this great task around the world in Africa, India, China and South America.

13 Travel Tips from the Desk of Travel Vicarious

Look at places as though you were moving there, remember people as though you were coming back and shop like you’ll never be there again.

    Try to take in as much detail as possible. If you look at a place like it may be home you’ll start to notice more than the traditional sights and integrate more into the culture. Check out supermarkets and cafes go to hardware stores. The less touristy places are often very interesting and its amazing the neat things you can find.

    When you talk to people make and effort to remember their names and their details, you never know when you may run into somebody again. But when you shop, seize the moment. I can think of several things that I wish I had bought( A red velvet coat in London, a splendid painting in Chiang Mai). Though it seems like a pain to carry or a little more than you want to spend, chances are you will wish you had picked it up.

Take pictures even when you feel awkward

    You may feel awkward but really, it will only last a second. Especially if you are taking a picture of a thing, the awkwardness you feel is all you. Of course there are times when this rule doesn’t apply and if you ever feel like you are stepping out of line you can always ask politely if a subject minds.

Dress Comfortably: Whether its in jeans, freaky clothes or local garb don't be afraid to be comfy. Don't put on airs because you are traveling. Observe local standards and you shouldn't cause a fuss but don't try to fit in because no matter what you will look like a tourist.

Go back to the same place more than once (if its good): Showing up to the same café or restaurant can be really nice. It allows you to make a connection in anew place and the owners will probably be delighted to see a returned customer when mostly the see revolving faces.

Take public transportation and ride trains third class: Air-conditioned trains are basically the same all over the world. The reason you travel is to experience something different right? Public transport is exciting and allows you to interact with more people. One word of caution, there are certain bus routes known for killing people, be adventurous but don’t be stupid. If you feel like it’s a bad idea, listen to your gut and don’t push your luck.

Eat the street food and be wary of water: Many people miss out on the joy of street food for fear of getting sick. Here’s the thing, in a restaurant no matter how clean it looks in the dining room you can’t see the kitchen. On the street you can see where the food is prepared and how its prepared.  It’s “ clean you can see” and boiling oil kills most things. Go to popular spots where the food is hot and the lines are long.

    Never automatically trust bottled water. Especially in India its common practice to recycle the bottles fill them with tap and then superglue them back on. Inspect your bottle’s cap and smell the water before you drink it. If you have any suspicions don’t put it in your mouth. Carry a backup water purifier like chlorine tablets or if you live large one of those cool hand held UV water purifiers.

Pay more than the locals and don’t gripe about it (unless you are in Europe then go ahead): You dear traveler have money. I know you are broke and you don’t have any room in your budget and its not fair the locals only have to pay $1 and you have to pay $3 but you know what? Deal.

You by virtue of coming from a well-developed country have more money than 90% of the people you meet. Your daily budget is probably what some people make in a week, or a month. So if you have to shell out a bit more do it good naturedly. Remember to be grateful that you have had the chance to travel and that back home you would never get such a good deal.

Support local artists: I love art, so maybe I’m bias but buying a locals produced work of art is so much cooler than any other souvenir. Whether it’s a painting, a photo or a textile local art is one of the few things you really won’t find anywhere else.

Always have a meeting point in case of emergency: Just like when you were doing fire drills in elementary school. If you are traveling with other people there is always the chance you can get separated and if you don’t have cell phones that can be really scary. Designate a place, the hostel or a museum or a restaurant someplace well light, open late and welcoming where you can meet up in case you get separated. Make sure everyone knows what it is.

Learn a few words in the local language: You are probably to going to master Cantonese or Bengali or Thai in the short time you are there but knowing a few words, like “ hello” “thank you” and other niceties is always a plus. It’s polite and it shows that you aren’t just some drunken foreigner looking to cause a ruckus.  If you can pick up “ How much” and “ no” as well those are always handy when negotiating.

Keep a journal: You will forget little details Even if you think you won’t, even if you take pictures, even if you swear you will write it down later you will forget. Make a point to write things down, from observations to quotes people say. Collect business cards and brochures and write what they are. It will make your scrapbook heavier and your memories clearer if you do. No sense in traveling if you can’t tell your grandkids about it.

Get out of the cities and go to a national park, wildlife reserve or forest: Hike a mountain, go bike riding, walk through a field, go to a beach Nature is wonderful and diverting and you will be surprised by how different the earth can be in different places.

Act environmentally responsible: Often when traveling we come against a clash of cultures, depending on where you are trash may be discarded out fo car windows or left on the street. Recycling may be unheard of. Do your best to set a high standard.  Even if others are throwing their trash by the wayside hold onto your until you find a trash can. Recycle if you can and don’t be wasteful just because you can afford to be.

Always remember that setbacks and mishaps are part f travel, they open up new chances to adventure. Stay open, stay positive and enjoy!