Hanoi 2020 – Giraffe Gaffes

Kintsugi

It’s colder here. The air is crisp, the ground muddy. I hadn’t seen mud for nearly a year. It’s darker here too; literally. It is home, though. Edinburgh. Returning is… comforting but jarring. Especially in 2020 – there are no welcome pints in a dimly lit pub. No mass gatherings, marching side by side withContinue reading “Kintsugi”

In Hanoi, I’m Staying in the Hoose

April has all but disappeared, the entirety of the month spent predominantly inside, apart from a trip to the supermarket (1km walk) every two or so days, for supplies. I could cut down the frequency of these trips but, if truth be told, I intentionally ‘forget’ items so I have to go back again. ThatContinue reading “In Hanoi, I’m Staying in the Hoose”

Qualified Teacher, New House, Hospital Visit, Beer

I’m now a qualified ‘English as a Foreign Language’ teacher. Our CELTA course finished last Thursday 19th March and I got the result today. I passed with a ‘Pass B’ which is a pretty decent mark (around 67% of people ‘pass’ 17% achieve ‘pass b’, 5% ‘pass a’ ) the rest either fail or dropContinue reading “Qualified Teacher, New House, Hospital Visit, Beer”

A Letter to Everyone

Despite the above guidance from the organisation named WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, I feel that those in power and to an extent everybody else has decided to ignore their advice.

Less than three weeks here…

Read aboot my heed.

8hr Walk, Tattoo, $90 Motorbike

It’s been an interesting few days. On Friday I fought the hangover and the hangover won ♬. Sometime during the week I was messaged by a Vietnamese woman named ‘Van’ on Facebook. Van has lived all over the world, 16 countries to be precise including Cork, Ireland where some of my family hail from! VanContinue reading “8hr Walk, Tattoo, $90 Motorbike”

Corona, Kidnapping & KFC

Days 3/4 WEDNESDAY started off with me ordering a ‘grab-bike’ (think uber motorbike) & heading into the centre of Hanoi to meet the couple I’d mentioned in my first post (from the Facebook group). We met around 11:30am and had hoped to try some of Vietnam’s famous ‘bahn mi’. It’s like a baguette with differentContinue reading “Corona, Kidnapping & KFC”

First Full Day in Hanoi

Today I spent my first full day in Hanoi. After arriving yesterday around 13:30 I headed to my accommodation, a traditional Vietnamese house up a wee alley, then headed out to the West Lake to explore. As seems to be the case with many Scots I found myself in a bar and indulged in HanoisContinue reading “First Full Day in Hanoi”