Day 35

Today’s the last day at school so after leaving Thach Thao and Phuc at school, Xuan and me have breakfast at the lady next home and drink our soybean milk and today’s food is spicy, too spicy for me but I have to get used to it, here everything is done with chillies and peppers.

At classes the teacher speaks about showering and how we should scrub and moisturize our skin and it’s practice time. After a bit, we leave as Xuan as to meet the accountant but before we stop at the supermarket so the fridge will be filled when Carlos arrives.

The accountant arrives and I wanna go for a walk so Xuan takes me ‘till An Dong market and when I finish I can walk home while Xuan heads back home after taking me there. I’ve been in the market before with Carlos, Till, Xuan and Maxi but this is the first time I go alone. In the beginning I feel very confidant and start walking around doing some “window-shopping” and mentally deciding what I want to buy when I go there again with Xuan. After a while I start feeling intimidated because, even if I was getting used to be looked at, here was too much, too many eyes on me and on my movements and so… I didn’t run but walked very fast out of there. I rambled around places I already knew and it’s very amusing having people asking me if I want a motorbike or big “oohhh”s to my tattoo along with thumbs up. In the streets of HCMC you can find everything you need… even a car motor part… or a dress with misspelled words…

Anyway, around noon I head home stopping first at the coffee shop near the cinema and drinking iced tea and cà phê sữa đá while taking a couple of pictures to the people who were passing by. Time for lunch and at home Xuan tells me we should go eat because after we go to the massage and the accountant is going with us.

Quick lunch and there we go. I get my lovely massage girl, most known by number 17, and I can’t get tired of complimenting her skills: she really seems is inside my head, knowing exactly where I’m sore or where pressuring more so I feel more relaxed. After the massage, the girls and me go for a steam bath and then for a cold milk next door.

At home I don’t even have time for a shower because a couple of minutes later we have to pick up Thach Thao and Phuc. And there we go, Phuck runs towards me when he sees me and then we go meet Xuan and Thach Thao. At home’s gate Thach Thao and me enter and Xuan goes with Phuc to buy a car at the market. While waiting for them to arrive both of us lay down n my bed and start watchin’ the movie Happy Feet. Thach Thao loves it and even dances while the penguins are singing and dancing.

In the meantime Xuan and Phuc arrive and so it’s bathing time. We stop the movie and while the kids bath and Xuan works, I go for a deserved shower with hair washing included and water running down my neck. It’s time for the kids’ dinner so I head down and while they’re arguing and crying about cars I try to make them stop by confiscating the cars. =) And it works! Little by little I give them back the cars and they’re happy and finish dinner quick so they can go and play with their toys.

I head back to my room and search for things to see in HCMC as I know when Carlos arrive, he and Xuan will have lots of work to do and I’ll have lots of free time in hands. The hours pass by and Xuan calls me so we go for dinner to one of the best places in town: barbeque corner! The guys and girls there already say Hi to me and let me choose the table I want and once more, my food arrives as soon as I seat. Guess I’m too predictable… =)

After dinner we go to Xuan’s brother’s house to pick up a removal cream and when we arrive his daughters plus their cousin come running at me and kiss me. I wasn’t expecting that one! They’re always very shy but this time they were very friendly and after a while I finish playing with them to the tickle monster: I run after them to tickle them and they run away, if I catch them I’m allowed to tickle and give many many kisses. Who knows me knows I’m not very fond of children but these kids here are different, in fact cultural background and education can change people.

It’s getting colder so we hop on the bike and head home; we buy an iced tea on our way and when we arrive we feel too tired to do anything else besides taking ourselves to bed.

I’ve just felt asleep… ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz…

Night night everyone, don’t let the bedbugs bite!