NOTE FROM THE FUTURE: This is the first post from my notebook that I wrote in while on my travels. Plenty of writing contain cliffnotes and references that may not make much sense without some context so be kind. For names, Jack is my brother, Ann Marie was his then Girlfriend, Eve is my sister, Tiger and Mary are my cats (yes, Mary is my cats name, and she is as much a queen of spades as you would expect!).
Lastly, something I didn’t write down at the time but really wanted to was that I met Cian At the London Heathrow leg of the flight from Dublin to Hanoi by overhearing him ask an old lady about Vietnam. He turned out to be one of the Irish lads I would spend the most time with throughout my time in Vietnam, along with Jack, Odhran and Johnny during the initial internship. Prepare to see these names crop up a fair bit.
Enjoy!
05-01-2018/06-01-2018
Jack was good enough to drop me at the airport. He went above and beyond; a fast travel time, online checking in, seeing me all the way to the ticket check in. Ann Marie knew her stuff and said what airlines usually do for long haul flights.
Eve & the cats will be missed. Mary was very affectionate without Mum & Dad, so she has been with me. Tiger got a loving pickup & stroke. Eve’s brownie cake will not be forgotten, she was so sweet & kind to do that.
Granny is delighted I am adventuring. I want to do her & gran proud, exploring the unknown & sending many postcards.
I appreciate how amazing my old life and area was. Dun Laoghaire is beautiful, if bitterly cold and windy during the Winter. I just wish I had appreciated and reflected on things more before this. Still, work sent me off really well, and friends also wish for me to succeed over here. Here is hoping.
Bia Hà Nội = Beer Hanoi
Bia Hanoi tastes like Yanjing, a Beijing beer. I wonder how it compares to Saigon gold. Perhaps the ultimate brewing battle is about to begin?
I am watching Bitcoin, a Vietnamese heist movie about stealing the titular currency. It could do with subtitles, but its well made, even if its derivative. League of legends gamer, an old timey smoker, a Vietnamese cop, a wussy criminal and a young girl steal the currency…somehow. Its still a better concept than the emoji movie.
-I don’t know a single word of Vietnamese. I hope the travel guides have decent survivalist phrases
-Halida, another Vietnamese beer, this time with an elephant on the can. Owned by Carlsberg allegedly, 5% vol.
-Finally, Stella Artois, unremarkable & familiar.
Leaving the Airport was fine, no hassle & $5 USD
Paul's TEFL Adventures 