Hanoi, Vietnam:

My experience as an expatriate in the country of Viet Nam has begun. I arrived here two days ago and unpacked the largest compilation of belongings I've traveled with in over 8 years. At one point, I was forced to repack one of my suitcases in front of the ticket counter at LAX, as the bag weighed in excess of the weight limit by twenty-five pounds. A strategic [and very fortunate] reorganization enabled the bag to be accepted at one half pound below the limit.

Traveling here was different this time, as I knew there was more of a permanence to my journey. In the airports, I felt hyper-aware to the people around me. Though really, I think that was only in the Tokyo-Narita airport where there seemed to be an inordinate number of less than intelligent people. [Maybe I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, and allow a claim of jetlag.]

First, there were the two guys in line behind me as we waited to pass through security in the transfer area. The possibility that we were in the correct place seemed to be completely unbelievable, and I spent ten minutes listening to them discuss out current location. Next, there was an assorted group of people in the departure lounge that spent twenty-five minutes discussing the expense policy for their organization. Apparently there was a high level of confusion concerning whether or not a taxi constituted a reimbursable expense. [See, you do not even want to hear about it. Imagine my reaction after a twelve-hour plane flight]

Here, I've begun the process of looking for work. Not an easy process, but there are moments of hope. We shall see how that goes.

- posted by Unknown @ 7:48 PM