Party in the USA

I just woke up from my three day nap, getting over an infant cold that has ironically babysat me while I lay restless in my american based bed.

The air is how I had imagined it to be and I cannot hold down the feeling of complete glee despite my runny nose and stuffed face. I remember hating how it starts getting cold in the winter because waking up was a pain and getting out of the shower was like a mission impossible/embarrassing changing into a complete outfit in the tub situation. But going to bed makes up for these and any other excuses. Since I was a child I remember going to bed and would hear the train. It seems it doesn't matter where I go, live, or sleep, I still hear that train. Only when it starts getting cold.

Though I am finally home and catching up on sleep and conversation, there's much prayer and resume drafting to do. I am glad to catch the tail end of October for home feels so much nice when it's been neglected for a less desirable temperature and social network. But I take in the last days of this big month to prepare for what is ahead. I'm very anxious and though my sent inbox is both amusing and abundant concerning job applications, I am willing to be patient concerning all the matters of life, for I feel like it's only been a couple of days since I graduated college. Thankfully I was blessed to travel 4 different countries in 5 months and now the only thing globally abrupt that I'm meeting are the Santa Ana winds.

But I will not make haste in growing up or growing tired of this vibrant lull I am in. As of now, I am growing young since in about 2 hrs I will begin my costume change and start the make believe to honor the inner child spirited holiday, Halloween. And though the only thing that could make my day better is if Anaheim turned into a 700 person town off the coast of Maine, I find delight in this west coast nook most call Anacrime, but I call Old English Fontville-- which luckily and easily translates to definite Halloween vibes.

Looking forward to the rest of this month and it's fellow company. (Nov & Dec)

Hoping there are king-sized Kit Kats,

Cruella Deville

Vietnam the Great

I just finished breakfast at the buffet lounge and at the corner computer quickly informing my abrupt potential end of V blogs. I head to the airport in about 30 and won't have my comp with me.

Friends it has been a wild ride. I have all these lovely and rare things I want to divulge, but again, time is but a visiting friend who has many things to do and leaves me forgetting to brush my hair and teeth. I am so blessed to have experienced such a delightful gift. Seeing my roots and living in a slow and at same time face paced culture.

I'm pretty sure my mind and body can handle anything and I am hoping to be able to adjust to the average life when I get back--sticking in one place, getting a job, not getting bug bites, etc. So when I do have heaps more time, I will definitely be reflecting back on the trip with some of the greatest highlights. From what I can remember what I wanted to post was:

The stores here are funny. The names of the retail stores that is. My favorites so far are two. One men's clothing store called, Men. The other is the urban and updated store called, 2000. Anyways a hoot. Also...

all kids wear uniforms to school. I think I might want to start a private school fashion line for them. No joke. And I also think I can make a career in being a VJ on their "MTV." Srsly, the job board via America is saddening and terribly upsetting. But the good Lord, Not!

Oh and I forgot to present the good news! Goal #1 accomplished. I rode a motorbike with pops the other day. I was calm and collected. Never have I experiences arm to arm contact with my fellow traffic-ees. But I made it, calmly, praying about every other minute or so.

So off to Danang, 40 min. flight with ma. She has a big show on Sunday and is super stoked & she's never even been there so should be good. Again, get back to Saigon Monday morn and leave to U.S. via Korea that night.

All prayers are welcomed and encouraged. I look forward to friends and cleaner air, but this will be tremendously deepening for the spirit. But the Lord has some hold of this very anxious heart. Not sure where or how it wants to bounce. Ahhhhh, got to go.

I love you,
T

Miss Saigon

Going on the tour was so amazing. Again, did things I consider one of my favorite times of my life and I am so lucky to have experienced them all. The last part of our tour was set in a town that felt like Montana mixed with the civil war intertwined with the eerie feeling of a really cold winter. This place is called Sapa and it's known for the Hmong people who are natives to the little town. They solely wear traditional outfits and can be found on every corner selling you a personally knitted purse, bracelet, and/or anything else you never imagined could be knitted. The spoon purchase could of been a mistake. All in all, the sites up in Sapa were stunning. Hiked a lot. Saw a flower garden. Ate yogurt on top of a mountain. Ate grilled corn sold on the street. Slept in a mosquito floral embroidered net. Purchased potential communist style black leather boots, but that's not the point. Among these happs, I was feeling good about visiting so many places in 6 days and 7 nights, but I was about ready to return to Saigon.

Took many means of transportation to get back to the home away from home, but I got to experience an overnight sleep train to end the 18 person tour. But my deepest apologies for vaguely disregarding the details of the other eventful happs of the tour. Here I bestow illustrated treasures of some of the living spree that occurred over the last week.

Ho Chi Minhs living room (also saw his study room and bedroom--always interesting to see how leaders officials live)

First ever university. You get a stone turtle instead of a diploma or something.

The tour is in Vietnamese I remind you. Easily a spoon situation.

Canoeing (possibly a cave fav)

The woman who rowed our boat was maybe as big as my leg but was a real champ and handled her biz.

HaLong Bay. Def. a wonder.

I figured just one picture of me on the deck would suffice as a wonder.

As always more to come. But all in all, I was ready to head back to Saigon. Let me tell you, Saigon is heaps better than Hanoi, anytime you are in the neighborhood. South>North. Broad but bold I'd say I am.

The next day we didn't stop and made use of our time and headed to a little town 6 hrs away where my mom grew up. Our main goal was to visit my mom's parents grave. Upon entering her little neighborhood, which was basically a conglomerate of tree houses (really rad and surprising) we were welcomed to old neighbors/family who knew little of my mom but more of her older siblings. Still conversed and still was able to really get to know my roots. Disclaimer: all my mom's parent's families are of the Islamic faith. Real interesting. Real cool. We prayed over the tombstones, and all I could feel was Jesus during the whole visit. Real interesting. Real cool. And what kept coming to mind during this was, "where were you when I needed to conjure up my geneology tree?!"...The little town experience, not Jesus. But all in all, a huge blessing of a day.

So I'm amidst my last week in Vietnam. What the what.

The agenda?

Right now it's Tuesday night.

Tomorrow: Tennis at 6am. Tour of the President's "White House." Lunch date with pops. Dinner party with mom and her friends. After, see some live music that isn't my mom.

Thursday: Shop. Go visit the big church in the middle of the town square. Go see live music, that is my mom this time.

Friday: Mom booked a last minute and what seems to be huge deal to her, gig in Danang. I decided to go with since it's a flight and our other traveling pact is pretty much bedcity. So it's just me and ma flying a 40 min flight to the north of Saigon city. Mom tells me it's the place known for good music, so hence the big deal I now can read and get. Hang out and peruse the city til Sunday where she performs.

Monday: Fly back to Saigon, last shopping situations. Airport.

Tuesday Asia: 8 hr layover in Korea. Take a complimentary tour with the Koreans and prepare for life post anything that isn't Korean.

Tuesday America: Home. Will keep in touch with details.

Again, it's been such a blessing and I appreciate the thoughts, love and prayers. I look forward to my bed, church and you. So if there's anyway you can bring that here in a bit, great. If not, until next time.

Love,

T

I'm a tourist

I've been on a 6 day tour.

It's been really touring-ful.

I have limited time on this computer in the corner of this lobby while French people crowd around me checking their barn on facebook. (I still love them despite such tendencies)

So what to say in 2 minutes.....

I've been staying in Hanoi, flew form Saigon here, naturally, Saigon has become home away from home so I miss Saigon. Hanoi is a bit dirtier and has less delicious foods. I do though love the accent here. Up north they speak more proper, I'm trying to adopt that tendency.

Today we visited HaLong Bay, it's been proposed to be one of the world wonders. I urge you to check it out, the weather was perfect despite the rumors of rain and muck. The Lord is definitely good since today was one of the best weathered days.

Yesterday, my fav day, we took a canoe type boat and strolled..? (in a boat fashion) around this beautiful lake/ocean area where there were numerous caves. And of course we go to go in them. It was amazzzziiinng. One of my favorite moments of my life I'm guessing. Unfortunately I'm a giant and had to duck the most since there were like eroding spears of rock matter every other foot of two, but I take that genial (I hope that means what I intend it to)responsibility to witness such a work of nature, ie Jesus, ie love.

Aside from that, its been a grand time. I'm glad I found this computer in the knick of time. I hope to update again once we get back to Saigon at the end of our tour. Monday shall be the days.

To dos:
-Ride a moto, STILL.
-Have dad give me a violin or ukelele and maybe my college tuition.
-Sit somewhere like a coffee shop by myself.
-Buy things for other people. ha.
-& write more (journal style)

I'll keep you updated. Fingers crossed.
Btw, the Bible has been a steady companion each day for me, think of any verses or passages, comment or something them to me. Ok, all my love.

Rushed, but efficient,
T

It's been 1 week

Today I woke to find I indeed got bug bites from the visit to the beach.

Vietnam 1, Tracy 0.

Then I quickly got up to get ready to play some tennis. 6am leaves me not on my best game, but I've managed to get used to the time--plus its the only sane time to play because it's pretty humid/hot here. (but people actually pick up balls for us here so any complaining would bring me to a Queenish status)

After tennis the usual continental buffet breakfast followed by my first ever spa treatment. Hellooo foot massage. While I had parts of my aching body hot rocked, I enjoyed complimentary green tea and dried sweetened ginger (mMmm) Again, I can get used to this whole complimentary trip thing.

Just finished packing since tomorrow we have a 6 day tour that starts bright and early. We will be flying to Hanoi which is no more than 2 hrs then we will visit about 5-8 different islands/towns/cities. My mom is stoked, she's never been (which I find odd, but pleased to be able to experience with her) This brings me to my blog situation. I won't be as accessible as I "have been," but I urge you to let your imagination take it's course on the journey I will embark upon.

Tomorrow will mark my 1 week since leaving good ol' USA, I can't believe it. My dad tried to coax me into going to Thailand and extend my stay. I will not but the option is an attractive one. And though I never agreed to home is where the heart is, I do believe [people] is where the heart is, and 99% of my people are not in Thailand.

So here's to you faithful readers who are probably the loveliest of people. I hope October has been good to you, it has to me. Save me some fall leaves and apple spiced cider & I'll bring back a warm hug.

All my love,

Tracy

My feet hurt but my eyes are delighted

Ok, let's be earnest for a second. There has already been entirely too much happs going on since the incident we call Korea. So the blogs might vaguely be more scarce than anticipated and hoped for, but I'll do my best. Just last night, my mom and I had a convo about how it has only been 4 days and it feels like heaps of weeks. But I figure that is usually good news--more treats and meets with the city of Ho Chi Minh.

So far:

-I've had glimpses and scents that have reminded me greatly of India, pretty crazy.

-Pedestrians are brave soldiers. A fond memory was when me and ma had the afternoon to ourselves so we perused the city for some shoppage and decided to take an inconvenient giganturous round-a-bout all the while chanting in unison, "we're going to die, we're going to die," as the crossing occurred.

-I've gotten my hands on the sweetest schtuff $ can buy, quadruple times! (I WILL be featuring an illustration of my thangs)

-The food looks, smells, taste & is priced so much more satisfying than back in the U.S. It's crazy how right they are.

-$1.00 dollar=1,700 dong (roughly)/Had "3 million" in my hand the other day.

-I am bigger than everyone in this country.

-I WILL ride a honda (moto), as you are my witness.

-I'm watching HBO in my hotel room/maybe lady gaga.

-I watched ma perform the other night, she's a rockstar. Figuratively/Literally/Fondly.

-Saw pops. He is not a rockstar, haha, but it was nice to see him.

-Played some tennis which is good considering my rapid weight gain (but I'm not as worried as Italy)

-I'm speaking more Vietnamese, this bodes well for the family tree.

-Drifted in the other side of the Pacific. So warm, so lovely.

-Hiked up some steps to a famous Jesus statue as big-ish as the one in Brazil. Really neat.

-There's been some rain and some heat of mighty, but hasn't bothered me.

-I don't seem to dream here.

-I daydream a lot during car rides in the rain.

-We are going on a city tour this Tuesday for 6 days, should be a treat. (pray for good weather)

-I'm thankful for my life at home.

-But this is incredible and at most, indescribable.

More to come,

T

I've got Seoul but I'm not a Korean

Spoiler Alert: The title of my blog will be the title of my Korea photo album.

Where to begin?

The good news came to us when we arrived at LAX 3 hours prior to our take off time at 1pm, that we weren't flying until 6pm. Sweet. Thus we rejoiced in the delicacies LAX calls, food. Luckily we got 15 dollas allocated for meals on the house on behalf of Asiana. Ah, customer service/"Best Airline of 2009."

The flight was really good (praise the heavens) and the attendants were of the most attending kind--though I give most of the credit behalf on their origin (srsly, Koreans are so kind). The meals were incredible and I was able to watch about 17 movies, one which included finally, The Proposal, which I found lovely and definitely laughed aloud for about 5 minutes straight where to which my octave of laughing over powered and conquered the air vents and baby crying. A delight either way.

Upon arrival to Seoul, Korea, we quickly learn that we actually took a wrong turn to Delayed Nation and are being kept in the ever mysterious country of Korea. The next flight out? About 16 hrs later. (I would go into detail about how my mother reacted and how if Seoul airport workers could make laws for their country, their bill would propose to "Ban Carol Kim Johnson from the land of anti-loud and angry clients." Plus, it will be more entertaining if I tell in person. Haha. Oh boy#bloodpressure.

With such inconvenience we were put up in a siiick resort, which had a kitchen and three bedrooms and a living room and a korean operated touch screen system which ended up keeping me up most of the night due to its remarkable language barrier feature. Here's a pic I found online of the place (ones I took are not uploaded, YET)

Pretty much an unreal ocean view (I keep rhyming throughout my blog & I don't mean to) but I have to admit, a girl can get used to waking up to such a thing. Bed at 1:30, then woke up to what seemed about 15 minutes later at 7am for a complimentary buffet breakfast (which I have to say, if you've had Kimchi before, you haven't, because I don't know many people who've been to Korea!--it's tayyy-steee here). Then we filled our day with a walk around the industrialized part of town/went to graze the sandy water and then the most precious agenda item was upon us. My 1 hr nap.

Anyways, I'm currently back at my what seems to be the Twilight Zone, sitting patiently for our flight out to Ho Chi Minh City which takes off in a little less than 2hrs. Hooray! Should be a pretty standard not too long flight. With this set back we have had time to talk about the places we are going to eat, and places we want to visit and places to play some racquet ball, so we are pretty much amped and placed out.

Already learning though that I have accustomed myself entirely to traveling solo. Ironically, this is an adjustment and learning experience, but I feel this whole trip is exactly that.

Thanks for sticking out this long entry and for the prayers. Keep em coming (especially how I think I might have seen a handsome Asian man or two. Schnikies) ...

Best,

Traveling Tracy

Sitting on Suitcases

Currently 43% packed while watching some Mad Men. It's late Sunday night after a blissful day of the Good Lord, music making, apple cider sipping, fall candle whiffing, blanket snuggling, hot tubbing and alas, suit casing. I leave the country in about 38 hours and I am yet at the point to where I have acknowledged I am sooner than later, picking up my Traveler of the Year Badge.

With traveling comes so many mixed emotions and it's so funny to go through the motions of the human selfishness. "No stop making plans to make pie without me next weekend, you know I'll just cancel my flight to simple ol' Asia." Since October is turning out to be a beautiful weathered month, I can't help but hope when I arrive back it smells just as sweet and crisp, if not sweeter and crisper. I deserve that, dammit.

Already though I've thought about the to dos I will need to DO when I get back. But good news, I have settled my halloween costume, since I would only have two days to prep when I get back. I will disclose when I feel the time is ripe. In addition my student loans kick in soon after I arrive, thus I will use October as a victorious month of booze drinking and gambling/gold mining and horse races. If none of the following exist in the motherland, I shall come up with a plan B.

But for now, I am doing my best to focus on today, present, NOW 2009.

The agenda: Fly heaps of hours from LAX Tuesday at 1:30pm (prayers are insisted and welcome) arrive at Seoul, Korea, then fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I shall keep youz updated with a "About a [Vietnamese] girl," blog. So hopefully I can be faithful to such promises.

K. I. B, keepinblog,

All my American loving,

T