Respecting Happiness

It has been such a long time since I last updated this blog, however I feel recent events urge me to write about this topic and share my perspective. It has been close to three years now since I decided to become a vegetarian, and as many people, I was inspired by someone else who shared their own logical reasons with me. I will hope to share some of the reasons I have heard from others and also hope to share some of my own reasons as well. Before getting started I would like to say that in no way am I out to convince every living human they should become a vegetarian, however I do believe it is the most ethical decision that can be made, in terms of diet. In my world, the most important endpoint in life is to find happiness and increase happiness in both our own lives and the lives of others. Let's begin.

Happiness

The first idea I would like to share is the idea of happiness itself.  It seems this single word, in my opinion, is at the basis of each human's ultimate goal in life.  Whether their goal is for world domination or for bringing about world peace, the idea of achieving a state of happiness is what most of us work towards in our lives.  However, I do not feel this idea should only extend to human beings. In my opinion, eating meat introduces many people's lives to a set of obvious contradictions that are often manifested in their own moral beliefs (this will be discussed later).

If one can agree on the fact that happiness is a satisfactory and ideal endpoint, then ensuring happiness for anything that can feel this emotion should be a common goal.  "Love your neighbor as yourself (because he or she can feel the same range of emotions you can, including happiness)". If upon reading this one begins to doubt whether animals can be happy, sad, grieve or feel pain, I ask to you think back to all the times you have seen your own dog's face as you leave the house, or on the contrary, his or her face when you return home. Or the time you've seen one dog who grew up with his best friend (another dog or human) only to lose him prematurely in an accident, death or whatever it may be. With this in mind, one should take notice that animals such as sea lions, geese, bears, monkeys and moose are also able to process this emotion of losing a loved one, and of course a sense of happiness. Such things as killing elephants for their tusks, sea lions for their fur and monkey's brains being eaten alive as a delicacy in east asia, primarily Indonesia, are all possible ways of not only robbing the animal of its happiness, but also taking it away from one that may be its partner. This, consequently, has now affected the lives of two animals, not just one.

This idea of happiness and the human emotion of "love" can be broadened to other animals such as cows, pigs, and other animals with similar anatomy. 

Pain

Another point that should be touched upon is the idea of pain. If we can agree that happiness is a desirable endstate, then pain (primarily physical) would be an obvious indicator that such a state is not currently in effect. Many of us have seen videos of animals being skinned alive, cooked alive, and even eaten alive.  The amount of pain their brains are able to process is entirely similar to the pain we would feel if we underwent similar torture. Coupling this undeniable fact with the idea of taking this animal away from one that may care for it are obvious indicators that a deprivation of happiness and suffering is taking place. 

Contradictions

One of the main reasons I made the decision of becoming a vegetarian is due to the amount of contradictions that exist in the lives of people who eat meat.  One good example, and one that hits close to home, is related to the existence of domesticated animals.  A vast amount of people these days have animals in their homes and many go so as far as including them in their families.  The amount of money spent on them for food, toys, medical care, and clothes is sometimes astonishing.  But in this their lies contradiction.  If, for example, you lived on a farm and grew up with a cow and pig your entire life, there is a good chance you will become attached to them. However, if one day I decided I wanted to eat some beef and asked if I could please kill your cow, you would most likely object. This would be based on the personal emotion you have developed towards the animal. Most would default to the option of suggesting you eat another cow or another pig, one that you yourself don't love and care about.  However, this in itself reveals the selfishness associated with this act and unethical decision making process in action. Because this cow is yours, so you won't give him or her up and allow him or her to be skewered.  But because this one isn't mine one can surely take his life and do whatever one pleases. 

This example can be extended to cats or dogs, or birds and gerbils, and any such animal you keep your house that you care about.  I know some may say, well, we don't keep pigs in our house, nor do we keep cows. However, the basic idea I am describing here is the human ability to make possession so important that one may not realize they are contradicting themselves.  

Another prevalent example can be found when people eating meat wouldn't kill the animal themselves, but happily eat it when someone else does the killing. This is such a blatant disconnection from reality that I sometimes wonder how people allow themselves to live this way. Though I have done no research on this outside of my life experiences, I can confidently say that the vast majority of people I know, if presented a cow, cat, dog, gerbil or any other live animal, specifically for the purpose of killing and eating them, would have difficulty doing so.  Furthermore, if this was an animal they had a personal attachment with, one could argue the majority of people wouldn't have the heart to actually kill the animal.  If this animal was a calf and one knew that mother cows have been known to spend huge amounts of time and walk miles looking for the calves, and one was to have a relationship with this cow, most humans would not kill it. However most people will say, since it was not them who killed the animal, it is not them who has a relationship with the animal and since they have not thought about the implications associated with this kind of act, therefore they have no problem eating it.  It seems to me that after arriving at this kind of conclusion one is presented with only two options: you admit it is unethical and continue eating it (a life choice) or you admit it is unethical and decide not to continue eating meat (another life choice). 

Conclusion

It is well established that animals are unable to speak "human" and that their ways of expressing themselves can only be done in ways they are capable of showing, as limited by biology and evolution.

The well-being of any conscious creature that is capable of suffering and able to be deprived of happiness deserves the respect of humans. One may ask why, and I will happily answer that question for you. One may say, "In nature animals like tigers will hunt other animals for survival, so why shouldn't we eat meat?" Tigers themselves have a shorter digestive tract that is unable to process nutrients from vegetables, so they must eat meat to survive. However, animals such as bears are able to eat large amounts of vegetables and survive on diets of only vegetables and fish.  Another beautiful distinction that both atheists and theists could agree on is the wonder of the human mind and body.  We ourselves, whether designed by natural selection and evolution or by a omnipresent creator, have been provided with a mind unlike any other creature on this planet. It seems to me that the difference lies here. Our bodies are very capable of not eating meat and our minds are very capable of being presented with facts that clearly tell us we shouldn't eat meat. The well-being of all conscious creatures is of utmost importance, and I personally would like to use the brain I was given to increase the happiness felt by all conscious beings, capable of being happy. So, animals deserve the respect of humans because we are not wild creatures with minds limited to mere survival. Let's not limit happiness only to humans. Thanks for reading, I'd love to hear other people's opinions. If you have time please check out a friend of mine who has recently written about why he became a vegetarian. You can find his blog by clicking here.

Wisdom

As the sweat trickles down my face, the salty drops find their way into the corner of my mouth. They act as a vibrant reminder of the overbearing heat and humidity beating down on the island.  The damp air licks at every inch of my body and I feel as if I’m in a big room, filled with people, but with no ventilation. The sweat on my forehead, sliding down my face, is halted by a thoroughly soaked white bandana that is tied at the back.  I curl my toes inside my cloth made shoes, the same kind older Chinese men wear.  Simple, inexpensive, but practical, their soles are just thick enough to offer support, while still allowing me to feel the changing ground beneath my feet.

I rest my arms on a stone railing that provides an onlooker the view of a seemingly distant destination.  Looking out, I discover a small valley below that is entirely covered in lively, bottle green trees and various forms of foliage.  Peeking through the thicket of trees rests a Buddhist statue, light in color and beating with an unseen vibrant energy. 

My destination. 

It has been my destination for many months now, but each time is an entirely new experience.  It is often easy to forget about individual and beautiful events that take place on the way to one’s ultimate ending point. One time, for instance, I found myself on an unbeaten path staring at a graveyard of Chinese tombs, shrouded in dried pine needles and lingering with a still and breathless silence. Or the time a flock of birds followed me, hopping through the trees as if taking an almost human-like interest in me as I walked on a stone and dirt path parallel to them.

Putting one foot in front of the other, I become lost in thought and find myself at the entrance to the area surrounding the statue, as if no time passed.  Each time I arrive at this place I take a moment to stop and feel the cool breeze whip at my face.  I take a deep breath and allow myself to fully enjoy the beauty of where I am, an ephemeral existence. There is a small path cut through a multitude of overgrown, light green bushes.  They have not been cut in many months, so they have grown to cover the path once again, as if keeping such a peaceful place a secret from the world.  One glance at the path and the trees hanging overhead makes me feel as if a different world awaits on the other side.

Reaching the statue, I stare into the eyes of the Buddha, almost expecting it to come to life and tell me the secrets it has learned over many years of silence and observation.  The statue’s right hand is held up, bent at the elbow, with the two middle fingers gently pressed to the thumb, the hand held sideways. The left hand is resting in his lap, gently cupping a round, unmarked ball.  It is said this ball represents wisdom. I slowly begin to notice the skin of the statue is moving in some areas, flowing with an indescribable constant motion.  The line of ants marching down the Buddha’s cheek seems to slide down at the same time sweat dribbles down my temple, continuing to my cheek and ending on my jawline.  Upon looking closer I discover many ants speeding around in an intricate and organized fashion.  I notice they are carrying something.  A deceased wasp is being hoisted from the foot of the statue to the level plain the Buddha is sitting cross-legged on.  Their sense of unity, selflessness and compassion for each other soon teaches me an important lesson. They are considered unthinking creatures, but their actions display qualities one considers congruent with wisdom achieved over a human lifetime. 

I turn my attention to the Buddha statue in its entirety and am once again lulled into a world of fantasy, feeling like I am in a place where time is frozen.  My mind wanders as I stand across from the statue and stare into its eyes.  An indistinguishable amount of time passes and my attention is drawn to the ball of wisdom, cupped in his left hand. An audible gust of wind ruffles the back of my shirt and I can feel the sweat on my face slowly beginning to dry. 

Suddenly, the ball falls from the Buddha’s hand.  It rolls to the base of my feet and comes to a calm stop.  I am compelled to pick it up, but upon doing so, it becomes completely unmovable.  The sun pierces through a row of trees located to the right of the statue, leaving an illuminated sliver of light on the stone tile floor, directly leading to the ball.  A row of ants march in unison, lit up by the sun’s peeking presence.  They surround the ball and slightly lift it off the ground, but do not move in any direction.  I once again reach for the ball, and find it lighter than any object I’ve ever held.  It becomes clear to me that wisdom does not come from one, but from many.  The one who holds wisdom in the palm of his hand is one who has achieved such a state by the aide and guidance of others.  I snap out of my daydream to find the wasp’s body placed peacefully on top of the ball, with no ants in sight.  

If I am walking with two other men, each of them will serve as my teacher. I will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points of the other and correct them in myself. 

-Confucius

Why God Doesn't Matter

Before sharing my ideas on this topic, I would like to first clearly state that I respect each and every single person's individual opinions and beliefs and in no way mean to offend anyone with this post.  The beauty of words is the ability to use them to discuss topics and share ideas. That is all I am doing here :).

Now, in relation to the title of this post I would like to first start by saying that whether or not God exists is completely irrelevant to the world we live in, in my own opinion.  Ever since I was young, in one way I was introduced to a higher existence in a far less formal and unstructured way, that I feel had positive influences on my personality and way of thinking.  On the other side, I was also introduced to a near-fundamentalist view of religion that was far more structured and ordered, with little flexibility in thinking and living everyday life.  Growing up I was certain that a God existed and truly valued a connection with a higher being that I believed had a strong influence on my everyday existence.  In fact, I often worried at times thinking what I would do if I did not "shape up" soon and choose the right way to live my life.  Questioning my focus in life, I began to pay more attention on making the right choice to satisfy my own salvation, rather than turning my gaze to the very reality in front of my face.

What I soon realized was that an upward gaze was not sensible.  But rather, serving the people around oneself and tailoring your life to improve their existence was by far more practical and brought a stronger sense of happiness.  We all strive to be happy, right? I think almost every person in the world can agree that wanting to attain a state of true happiness is a universal feeling.  When I put into perspective the idea that one being situated above me in a mystical place was the one who told me I had a life of tough choices between the different ways I can make Him happy and show thanks (the many religions), I realized something rather strange.  Would I prefer to spend 30 minutes of my day, one day a week or even, as some do, my entire life worshiping an entity that is all-knowing, all-feeling, all-understanding, all-everything...or would I rather spend all my time filling my life with positive energy, thoughts and actions towards people who share the same struggles as me?  If He truly is the creator of everything and understands everything we as humans can possibly imagine, then surely his intellect, sense of compassion and selflessness is on a level far greater than ours.  Why would He need anyone to thank him, pray to him or offer any sort of repayment?

A small example.  If the world was to elect what we, as a people with a population of 7 billion, were to consider as the "best person in the world", and she or he was to embody everything that represents righteousness and justice, how would he behave?  If he was to have a small population of life and offer them many choices to repay his gift of existence, would we still consider him moral, just and doing the right thing?

These are just a few thoughts I have on the topic of God, but what it truly boils down to is such an existence of a greater entity is irrelevant to daily life.  As a member of the human race, our duty exists on this planet and to each and every person we meet in our lifetime.  If I live my entire life being thankful for what I have, show genuine compassion to each person I meet, and always strive to be the best person I can, then I feel I have truly lived to the highest level a human being is capable of.  If I do encounter a higher being and she or he, on this day of judgement, tells me I must pay for not solely worshiping and thanking him or her...then that simple fact alone can prove a sense of selfishness that I feel a being as all-knowing as him or herself should not feel a need to satisfy.  Thanks for reading, feel free to share any comments or ask any questions!

"Treat everyone as if they are the most important person in the world." -Chin Song

To Vietnam and the Reunification Express

As I begin to type this blog post I am sitting next to, what I would guess to be, a 70-year-old Vietnamese woman who has fervently insisted I put my laptop on the small table we share in our 4-person berth, as we all ride the Reunification Express.  Her reasoning, from what I was able to deduce from hand signs and vocal inflection, is she does not want the laptop leaving temporary marks on my mid-thigh, possibly because it is uncomfortable and unnecessary when there is a table nearby.  Besides a striking resemblance, her incredibly kind and warm-hearted gestures remind me of a woman I once interacted with in the past, of approximately the same age and from a city very close to the one I am leaving now.  A touching piece of nostalgia as I prepare for a 27-hour train ride to Hanoi in the north, which marks the end of my journey in Vietnam. The Reunification Express, as previously mentioned, is what is contemporarily referred to as the train line that connects Hanoi and Saigon (north and south) and was constructed by the French in 1936. It is known to be a powerful experience that introduces one to the beauty of Vietnam’s countryside and more rural areas.

The last two weeks spent in Vietnam have, without a doubt, been an entirely new and fresh experience. Traveling in China has been nearly effortless in comparison, as Vietnam has certainly posed it’s own challenges due to an inevitable language barrier.  However, first and foremost, I’d like to make sure I express my unending thankfulness for being fortunate enough to see such a wonderful country.  I will discuss this later in the post, but in short, Vietnam and its people have impressed me beyond all imagination. 

The Places:

My journey began in China’s southern city, Nanning, largely used by travelers who are waiting for their Vietnamese visas to process before they start to travel south.  Nanning itself is a city with only a few places worth visiting, however in contrast to what one can do it Vietnam it is the most boring city in the world.  The highlight of my visit and stay in Nanning was meeting a local couple who took me around the entire city in their car for the day and afterwards treated me to two dinners and late-night snacks.  I'll tell you...the people I meet are always so generous and friendly beyond imagination. After four nights in Nanning, I headed off to cross the border to Vietnam.  Here is a video worth watching at Nanning's night market:

This guy has some mad skills...and he's playing one of my favorite songs ever haha!

My first stop in Vietnam was the northern capital city of Hanoi.  To reach Hanoi from China I chose to take an 8-hour overnight bus ride that would place me close to the center of the city upon arrival.  As most of my travels seem to pan out, I met a man on the bus ride who was Chinese-born, but spoke both fluent Chinese and Vietnamese.  After I arrived in Hanoi, he assisted me in sorting out where to lodge, aided me in exchanging money, and offered any other help I needed. He also treated me to dinner and spent time explaining how the Vietnamese people are culturally and some of their differences in relation to the Chinese. Who would have thought I would be learning about the Vietnamese from a man speaking Chinese. Crazy. In Hanoi, I only planned to stay a few days due to the “cold” weather and my strong urge to enjoy the beaches and warm weather of southern Vietnam. I stayed in a small hostel for two nights and enjoyed the city by visiting a few museums and aimlessly walking around seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting and touching my first impressions of Vietnam as a country.  Hanoi seemed to have the same feeling as all large capitals, so it suffices to say the city didn’t leave an incredibly deep impression.  However, I was excited to be there nonetheless.  In this post I hope to share more videos of where I went, since I believe it to be a better representation of what my experiences were actually like. Here is one video and some pictures from Hanoi:

On the back of a motorbike

Typical street in Hanoi with loads of motorbikes

The woman carrying the two baskets on her shoulder is entirely representative of Vietnam.  The Vietnamese say the geographic shape of their country resembles a woman carrying two baskets on her shoulder. 

Hoan Kiem Lake "Lake of the Restored Sword" in Hanoi's historical center

Turtle Tower in the middle of the lake

Small structure with Chinese characters on it that people seemed to be interested in...so I took a picture, too.

They have a lot of these trees in Vietnam, convoluted and intertwined from the roots up. I think they're fascinating. 

Went to a temple that clearly had a lot of Chinese influence. This was located next to the lake in the city center. Called "Temple of the Jade Mountain"

View of the lake from the temple

Following are random shots from around the city:

I did not dare go in...in fear of being disappointed as to how they feel we are represented by our "things"

You know, if I could balance a heavy basket full of goods on my head, I might just stand on the street with no shoes just as she is and let people take my picture.

Vietnamese street cleaner.

One of the first places I visited was the museum of fine arts.  Certain areas were of litte interest to me, however some of the statues were amazing, in my opinion. See below.

The Temple of Literature is a prominent historical spot in Vietnam, as it was the first university and used to educate the elite class in ancient Vietnam (1070 AD). After be destroyed many times and wrecked due to wars and other causes, it still stands today as one iconic symbol of the country. It is featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnamese bill. A few pictures below:

Video of the above picture:

Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum:

Random piece of abstract art.

Some of the weapons and items used in the Vietnam War

I read the description of this piece of art and apparently it represents a vibrant new, youthful, generation of the world.

"Uncle Ho" as he is called in Vietnam.

Coffee in Vietnam...best I have ever had. Had one nearly every day while traveling.

During the new year celebrations you will often see shops like this full of various new year related goods.

While waiting for the bus departing Hanoi, I befriended a 20-year-old Chinese guy named Bailey.  Bailey’s itinerary looked almost identical to mine, so it was apparent to both of us we would be traveling together.  Also, on the same bus I also befriended a guy from L.A., named Eddie, and he composed the third person of our now newly formed group.  At this point traveling alone turned into traveling with friends.  The Chinese would call this type of relationship缘分 (yuan-fen) or predestined relationship that brings  people together.  So, from Hanoi we all set out on the same bus to a city called Hue.  Hue represents an older part of Vietnam, as it used to be the capital from the years 1802 to 1945.  You can see some of the pictures below to get a feel of what the city was like.  We only spent two days here, as that was more than enough to see the city and experience what it has to offer.   

Sleeper buses are a popular way of travel in Vietnam, for foreigners.  These are called "open tours" meaning you can get on the bus and it will stop at certain cities, then allowing you to stay at any of those cities for an indefinite amount of time.  You simply need to book your ticket for the next bus a day in advance and you are off to your next destination. Incredibly convenient!

To date, the best hostel I have stayed at. Hue City Hostel was full of great people, a relaxed environment and I even made new friends with the staff. Definitely going back in the summer!

Any guesses on what everyone was watching? Super Bowl haha!

Below are different parts of Hue city:

The entrance to Hue's Forbidden City, which was very similar to China's. Bailey (Chinese guy I met) said the Vietnamese apparently copied the Chinese. Regardless, it was structurally impressive and beautiful inside. 

After so much hard work doing nothing, we decided to have some delicious Vietnamese coffee with condensed (sweet) milk. 

Bailey!

Very common way to get around the city. Not quite sure how honest the prices are, but sure looks comfortable and offers a great view.

The next stop, after Hue, was the city of Hoi An.  Hoi An is a world heritage site and is a seaside town that offers a nice blend of foreign and local influences.  Just a few pictures from this place, as most of our time was spent riding motorbikes in the city (very small) and drinking coffee or $0.20 beers.

Not the clearest picture but check out the intricacy of this tree.

This picture is priceless, to me.  They have a nice little tune that is played when the trash collectors come around.  It reminded me of our ice cream truck melody from when I was a young kid!

Beautiful countryside of Hoi An.

Bailey...is so...Chinese haha He's got his inflatable head cushion, camera, small fanny pack and he was wearing capris.  Love the guy.

The following pictures are from a small tour we took in Hoi An. It took us to a few different locations, including a small rural island inhabited by various hand carvers.

Amazing.

On the way to the Mỹ Sơn ruins!

Waiting for the electric car to pick us up, I decided to get a picture of this dated military truck. 

Our tour guide. He actually spoke some Chinese, with a very heavy but understandable Vietnamese accent.

Brief description of the Mỹ Sơn ruins. They were originally a place of Hindu worship to the god Shiva and stand as the longest inhabited archaeological site in Indochina.  Unfortunately (really, very unfortunate), they were vastly destroyed by U.S. carpet bombs during the war. An extremely gorgeous place that provides a strong vibe of peace and tranquility. We are lucky we still have the ruins to enjoy its beauty.

Enlarge this picture if you can. I saw a lizard eating a dragonfly and tried to get a picture of it. You can just barely see it!

Inside one of the buildings

Good amount of pretty flora in Vietnam.

I should pat myself on the back for getting so close to this obviously bred-to-eat-young-men-around-24-years-of-age spider. Crazy web structure!

On the way to the small island inhabited my hand carvers!

During lunch they gave us some vegetarian food and a banana...or I guess a Vietnamese banana. SO small!

Great advertising.  Not only would I love diamond rain, but everyone loves the U.S. right? Sarcasm intended. 

What better way to get across the water then to load all your motorbikes on a boat and sail away!

Entrance to the small island.

One of my favorite pictures.

This man was unbelievably talented.  All hand-carved from a single piece of wood.  If anyone wants to get me a present, this kind of item will do.

This is when I strayed away from the group and started taking pictures of different parts of the island. 

Seconds before this picture was taken, this woman gave me a huge glimmering smile as I took her picture. =)

Other random shots from around the city of Hoi An:

And so begins the exploration of the city's countryside on motorbikes:

I was one small step away from slipping on these pieces of bamboos and being pierced -_-

Thought this was a cool picture of a man walking on the road with the smoke at his back.

One of the most memorable cities I was able to visit is called "Nha Trang".  Now, this place is widely regarded as very touristy, however I was taken in by locals who have a hotel by the beach.  In college, I was fortunate in making friends with a girl named Haley, who is from Nha Trang and spent most of her life growing up there.  When we first met, over four years ago, I told her how I had always wanted to visit Vietnam and she said she had a place for me to stay.  So, when she heard I was visiting her hometown she let me stay in her hotel! Pictures of my hotel, the view and the surrounding area below:

Gorgeous sunset when I first arrived. 

My view.

Theater

Truly gorgeous beaches, hot weather and nice water.

Haley's mom was incredibly hospitable and treated me to a day tour, on boat, of four surrounding islands:

Some cool Vietnamese men fishing. What a life.

At the aquarium!

This fish resembled a rock.

The water was sapphire blue, less salty than the ocean in the U.S. and pleasant to swim in.

I was having the time of my life cruising on the boat, working up a tan and smelling the fresh air. Reminds me of the house boat trip I went on as a kid with Mason's family!

Our tour was called the Funky Monkey tour, primarily because the guys on the boat had a band called Funky Monkey! They played a little bit before technical difficulties ensued.  

My future home!

Eddie hanging out on the beach. Living the life!

Fruit at the end of the tour. Delicious. 

Now, as I previously mentioned the Reunification Express is a train line that connects the northern and southern regions of Vietnam.  Below you can see a video of the countryside and see some of the people I interacted with while aboard the train. Nothing like meeting locals and being confined to a small space with them.  Truly the best way to learn and understand different cultures.

Most adorable little girl I have ever seen. 

Mrs. Feng sitting on her bed talking to her husband, I believe.

Chinese hot and cold water dispenser, which has a place for cups to rest for the next user.  Never seen this in China and certainly have never seen free cups in China.

They treated me to some delicious Vietnamese oranges.  

=)

End of pictures!

The country, the people and the food:

In all honesty, I have undoubtedly left a part of my heart in Vietnam.  One of the most recognizable differences between Vietnam and China is the cultural differences that have arisen in Vietnam due to Western imperialism and influence.  The Vietnamese people are far more laid-back, approachable, less formal, and are some of the most cheerful and sarcastic people I have ever met.  They are able to “invade your personal bubble” but do it in a way that makes you feel entirely comfortable and welcoming.  To this day, I can surely say that the Vietnamese I encountered on this trip are the people I feel most comfortable with and, if I had to choose, enjoyed being around more than any other.  I found myself constantly recognizing small, but far more progressive qualities of the Vietnamese when compared to the Chinese.  For example, the small things like not being shy when speaking broken English, starting conversations even when neither of us can understand each other, and even just having toilet paper in the bathrooms (something that nearly never happens in China even though there is always a toilet paper roll holder in the bathroom) makes the living situation more enjoyable.  Nearly every person I met gave me a sense of security and a warm welcoming smile, even when they were older and clearly aware I am from America.  The Vietnamese seem to be a people who are truly happy with the way their lives have worked out and seem to be very accepting.  I saw farmers, owners of large and very small shops, babies, teenagers, adults and grandmas and grandpas, and would simply smile and say hello, and received a brimming smile as they returned a greeting.

Vietnam, as most all know, has experienced a difficult past that is surely not forgotten by some of the people still living there today.  However, I did not once encounter a sense of distaste or blame from a single Vietnamese person while I was in the country.  Everyone was entirely welcoming and pleasant.  I was able to enjoy a new culture and lifestyle, without the burden of a haunting past that without a doubt is still in the memories of some Vietnamese.  While in Vietnam, the main food item I consumed were $0.60 sandwiches on fresh baguettes, which included cheese, mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, pepper and delicious spicy red sauce.  My record was 6 in one day (haha!). I also made sure to try vegetarian pho and enjoy as many fresh spring rolls as possible, of course with homemade peanut sauce.  Overall, the culinary experience proved to be, what I consider, more healthy then my typical diet in China eating Chinese food. 


Ending thoughts:


This summer I will be doing a limited tour of Southeast Asia with Mr. Mason Schoen and will surely be re-visiting Vietnam.  Seeing the way the Vietnamese live and the almost unbelievable amount of happiness exuding from the common folk, Vietnam has left a great impression. Each country I visit allows me to expand my cultural awareness, patience and understanding.  If I have relearned anything from the Vietnamese it is to not take life too seriously, and to enjoy the present moment.  The hostel in Hue had a shirt that read:


"Don't take life too seriously, it isn't permanent."


Thanks for reading!