Reflections On Month 2 In Vietnam "Mad Libs"

The second month was a challenging one. Daily life was, and still is, like trying to read a blog when the author just started leaving out all of verbs and adjectives. I can see what is going on around me, but the meanings of everyone’s actions are obscured to me. While in America if a word/piece of information is missing from my context my brain automatically fills in the blank, or I ask, "what's going on? Why are you doing that? How are you feeling about this?" There are so many unknown meanings in life when living in a foreign place. It is a fight to live in the discomfort during this learning period, and not just let my brain strain itself filling in the numerous blanks with my experiences of the familiar. Which would just add to feelings of frustration and of being stranded. 
I have learned in Vietnam, when life gives you bitter coffee on a hot day, just add sweet & condensed milk with ice to wash it down. 

First Reflections

For the first month Vietnam was a stream of motion. If one is not careful and intentional it is easy to be swept away as a twig in the stream. There is so much to soak in, it can be taxing on one's self if there is not enough time left for basking in the newness. It has taught me to a new depth my need for being still and quiet, without which my character grows thin. Compassion, humility, contentment and other such qualities are like grass, it can take being trotted on only as long as it has daily time of stillness to grow. There is a Concept here that sums it up, "don't be hot hearted, but cool hearted", as a picture of not being boastful, temperamental, anxious, prideful, flustered; rather being gentle, humble, patient, and meek. It is one of the major pillars of the culture here. It can even be seen in the traffic of Hanoi where the streets look like the migration of salmon (motor-bikes) up stream, there is an air of calmness among the honking drivers. The culture values communal joy (so people smile frequently during interactions), and generosity (through actions particularly as well as monetarily; so they view saying "thank you" frequently as cold, distant, distasteful, and rude). The young women at the front desk at the hotel we were staying at for 4 days hugged my wife as we were getting into the taxi to leave; the people at the airport didn't charge us for over weight bags; tailors put buttons back on shorts for free; shop owners do minor bike repairs free of charge; and we have been invited to numerous outings. The compassion, care, and consideration of many of the people here has been genuine, sincere, profound, and moving. 

The beauty of the cool hearts of the individuals is echoed in the breath taking landscape of Mai Chau. From the seas of brilliant green rice paddies to the lush midst wrapped abstract mountains, there is tremendous power experienced in the peaceful and bountiful countryside.