Chúc mừng Ngày của Mẹ !

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY from Viet Nam

We are here and safe in our hotel... We are staying in Old Hanoi at the Medallion Hotel (http://www.medallion-honoi.com)  I loved watching the students' reactions today as we came into Hanoi. The first thing I heard was from Garrett, "Why do they paint lines on the roads if no one uses them?" and then from the back I heard, "Oh no... we are going to hit them (gasp)".  Ladies and gentlemen.... welcome to Hanoi!

Most of the group was a bit hungry so our guide said we would drop off our luggage about 2 blocks from our hotel and then the bus would drop us off at a restaurant for Pho (fur). A bus cannot get to our hotel due to the tight streets and massive people, so the bell staff met us at an intersection where we dropped off the luggage. Obviously they weren't suppose to stop in that intersection because within about 4 minutes we have quite a few police surrounding the bus and yelling back and forth with the driver. After some arguing, the driver got on the bus saying something we could figure out even without a translator and then got some money and paid the head officer and away we went to eat.

I was very nervous and yet excited and proud when our students actually crossed a road this evening in Hanoi. That may not sound like much but it is an extreme adventure. There is a continuous stream of motorcycles and some cars. There are no street lights, you have to simply step off the curb and begin weaving in between all the moving vehicles. The key is not to cross the street like an American,  stopping every so often for traffic to pass or because you're scared. Vietnamese see you crossing and assume you will keep a steady pace, if you stop you will get clipped. Here is an example of a successful  crossing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4ud844wlAg&feature=related 

This will be my last post to the blog until Wednesday evening here in Hanoi (Wednesday early morning for those back in the U.S.) We will be taking a three day tour to Ha Long Bay on the east coast of Viet Nam. We will be living aboard a boat for the next couple nights with no Internet connectivity. As soon as we return, I will post and upload a ton of photos. We will be touring with the following company: http://www.orientalsails.com/ Ha Long Bay is where the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies was filmed... remember the stealth boat?

Lastly, thank you parents for emailing your children... it really matters to them and it helps them get through this long trip.

Take care everyone... will post again in three days. 

 Dr. Duerr and myself wish both our mothers and wives a wonderful and blessed Mother's Day. We love you.