Day 2

Today we got more intense into our learning and studying of Viet Nam. It started off with breakfast again where they served Singapore Noodles. Didn't get a chance to try it but the next day it is out I will have it. After breakfast we headed to the University in our little van. Van rides are getting hotter and longer because they are not as exciting as the first few times we went in one. The motorbikers are still very very intense. We were able to drive through rush hour which probably was slower than if we walked. It took around 8 minutes just to go one block. So anyways, at the university we had a presentation on the business and industrial facts about Viet Nam as a country. Surprising they have a very low (5.3) unemployment rate. The informative lecture was boring at times but it was good to know about some facts that pertain to the country. The lecture was over in about an hour and we then continued our language classes. Today we learned more words like what to say when you are talking to your friend or your teacher. All the 6 or 7 phrases we have learned are already running together in my head. But i'm pretty sure that i've got thank you and hello down solid. After language class ended we went to lunch at the cantine again and had more Vietnamese food. It has yet to get boring and I have fallen in love with it.

So I have come to realize that a very important part of being in Viet Nam is drinking water. I probably have 5 to 6 water bottles a day and most days that still isn't enough! I drank a lot of water at the school but when I got on the bus to travel to South Saigon to meet with the leaders of Phu My Hung, I got so car sick. So my lesson of the day, water water water water. Now Phu My Hung put on a great presentation. Being an engineer, I was really into how they were engineering this "new city center". What Phu My Hung is doing is building in what used to be swamp lands a new city center for Ho Chi Minh City. The point is to bring people out of the congested "old city" and into the well maintained and less crowded new one. My thoughts on the project: it will only bring more foreigners into Ho Chi Minh because of the high cost of living that the project already brings to the table. There plans are to reduce pollution in the air and congestion in the streets. I hope there goal is reached because if not, the project could end up costing more for the city in terms of pollution and disorder.

So after Phu My Hung we travelled back to the good old Victory Hotel to eat then hopefully go out for the night. We ended up ordering pizza (very different from american pizza) then taking a taxi to a club called apocalypse now. It was interesting to say the least.

So that was my day two... 12 more to go and I cannot wait to see what's to come!