Looking back to look forward
When you live abroad for a good chunk of time, coming home for a visit can bring about a flood of emotions. I love seeing my family and friends, but I always feel a bit like a stranger or even a foreigner in my own country. Living without has been my m.o. this last year and so stepping into a life full of excess always feels a little awkward. That and all of those drug commercials on TV. What the heck? Of course one visit to Target usually helps me get past my judgement on these superficialities as I can happily stock up on really necessary stuff like flavored coffee and a cabinet’s worth of hair products. And after my first cheeseburger at InNOut, I can sort of fall back into the American way of life. (OK I tease. That’s not going to happen anytime soon, but I do enjoy my vacations home!)
Vietnam is also a country and experience which is hard to describe to people without sounding completely negative. Everyday of my life is filled with a multitude of small to complex challenges. And this past year was a rough year of transition for me. Vacation came at a really good time. I needed to refresh and refill.
During my holiday, one of my favorite friends I’ve visited with is one of my oldest and dearest, Holly. The best way to describe how I feel when I visit with her and her family is NORMAL. Not a very exciting word, but at the heart of the emotion, I simply feel like ME. And remembering where I come from and the person that I am, having a good chat and a laugh with a friend I’ve known forever is really good medicine for a wounded soul. 2009 was a rough year for us both and I am grateful to have the chance to jump these hurdles together. We should never forget who we are and how far in life we’ve come. Thanks for the reminder, Holly. Love you oodles!
My peeps, yo yo!
Whenever I make a visit home, I always split my time between San Diego and Los Angeles. L.A. is like the other place I grew up in the sense that the five years I lived there were really remarkable years of growth for me both professionally and personally. And it was in L.A. where I met some the most important friends in my life.
The tough part about making a visit these days is splitting up my limited time between everyone and having those too-short moments be meaningful. But I think I managed to do well this visit. Even stopped by the City Club and after a good chat with Larry, remembered exactly the stuff I’m made of – important during this challenging time in my life.
Worst part of Los Angeles – the traffic! THAT, I do not miss. It took me two hours+ to get out to my friend Sheryl’s house. Absolutely maddening. Even in the slower lanes, you have the jerks who get right up on your tail and ride your bumper. And for some reason, the drive between San Diego and Los Angeles seems to have gotten longer. Well, driving in the pouring rain up to L.A. probably doesn’t help the situation any. But for as many times as I’ve driven that route, it seems to have been stretch out a bit! It has – right? ;p
One of the fun things I got to do in L.A. was go see my hair stylist. Josef is my favorite. And I’ve gone to him for years now. Even living abroad, I usually plan a visit to Umberto’s in Beverly Hills. I’m not really a Beverly Hills kind of girl, but I have always splurged on my hair. In Japan even, I found a great stylist in Howard and would visit him on my visits to Tokyo. My hair is kind of my thing. And I let Josef do whatever the heck he wanted, because the look on his face when he first saw me said it all…The no bangs, one length thing was NOT working for me! And you know he made a good point. Bangs point to the eyes and if you have a pair…well then. So the bangs are back and my hair is all layered up and ready to grow…let’s hope that it will continue to grow quickly and get past my shoulders soon! This photo here shows off the new look the day after it was cut.
With two of my dearest friends in L.A. I discussed the issue of SKYPE. I’m telling you now, this is a fabulous tool to stay in touch and communicate. It doesn’t matter if you have video or not. Just to be able to talk live and hear your voice – that’s a lot of goodness right there. I use it all the time for work, as our offices are spread out over SE Asia. We chat, speak, hold conference calls and even send documents. So please….please please please. Load up skype on your computer and let’s stay in better touch – I MISS YOU!!!
She’s the cutest little girl!
This little girl is quickly becoming the highlight of my vacation – and only on day three! My cutie-pie little niece, Laniah will be two in April and boy is she full of personality already. This picture is from one of the many moments we spend in the front yard. NiNi loves her little chair and umbrella. She is never without her sippy cup and her “nummy nums”.
I am delighted to have the time to bond with this little one. I had about 8 months with her before I moved to Vietnam and while I know she recognizes my voice, I want her to remember me…cool, wacky, fun and playful Auntie Shanna.
My sister, Angie, will have her hands full with this little one in year two. Laniah is very clear as to the things she likes and doesn’t, the things she’ll do and wont. NO is said very distinctly and with lots of conviction. But for goodness sake, don’t tell this child NO – ever. Say this to her and her lower lip goes south, her hands are on her cheeks, her head slightly bows and she looks up at you as though you are the meanest person on the entire planet. Say NO to her for something particularly important to her and you get these gestures coupled with her elbows propped on her knees and a fake cry. Diva-licious!
I hope two weeks will be enough to get my fill of this little love-bug. But my hunch is that I could spend all day every day of my vacation with this adorable munchkin and not quite get my fix. Maybe I need to get one of my own? ;p
WOW! THANK YOU!
This morning I realized that the hit counter on my website said 9995. I posted a note in my facebook status, wondering who would be number 10,000. Pete totally cheated and logged on three times. Jeff claims he would have had it had Pete not cheated. I made sure I didn’t log on for hours, as the last time I hit a milestone, I was the one who was the lucky “winner”. Oi.
At some point during my life in Japan, I created a blog, On The Bright Side. Last year, shortly before I set out on my travels in March 2008, I established this website to more easily and thoroughly communicate with you the life adventures I am so fortunate to enjoy.
I just want to THANK YOU for stopping by and taking time out of your day to visit On The Bright Side, check in with me and keep in touch. It means a lot to me, as I really enjoy posting these stories – sometimes great, sometimes silly, sometimes even a bit sad. They are just bits and pieces of my life and I am happy to share them with you. Now, if I could just get you all to leave more comments! That’s the goal for the next 10,000 hits!
In all sincerity, though, thank you. I’m grateful for your friendship and for your continued clicking. May you be the lucky one who logs in hit number 20,000! : D
On the Bright Side,
Shanna
Dinner with the Landlords
The family who owns my new apartment building also happens to live in the duplex on the second and third floors. They’ve been incredibly kind in helping me get set-up in my new home. In fact, they have focused all their efforts in the two apartments they rent, and not so much on their own space.
The oldest son, Trung knocked on my door this evening and invited me to dinner. The family was enjoying the Vietnamese traditional food, Pho, a hot noodle soup dish. Inside their kitchen, they have yet to install the cabinets and many of the conveniences. They are waiting to build the internal stairs, as the lumber is not ready yet. They have no living room furniture, except a large, flat-screen TV and a cabinet to put it on. The dining area contains an old and simple dining table and chairs. They are sort of like camping in their own home right now. But they wanted to share a meal with me, and when a Vietnamese family invites you into their home, especially your landlord, you accept.
This is when I wish I could speak Vietnamese. In moments like these, all my Japanese comes rushing forward and I can only think to say all sorts of pleasantries in Nihongo. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu! Sore wa oishi desu ne! Omorshiroi desu yo! Ah, sou desu ka?! But that sure wouldn’t get me very far! Fortunately the older son, Trung, does speak some decent English. And I think both he and his younger brother are keen to learn. The family knows that I was a teacher in Japan, and I’m guessing that as I live in harmony with this family, we will learn a bit from each other. To tell you the truth, I saw living above the family as both a positive and negative. Positive being a good cultural lesson for me. Tonight was a good start.
The Pho was delicious, and our conversation flowed easily. I reverted to my uber-simple English so that Thuy and Lien, the parents, could try to understand. We talked about food and popular dishes in our countries. We talked about the apartment construction; apparently the cabinet maker is very popular in Hanoi and builds things for some of the big hotels, too. I also learned that what stood on this property before this brand-new building was a century-old, traditional Vietnamese, 1-story home. The house had been in their family for ages. And instead of demolishing it altogether, they took it apart plank by plank, roof tile by roof tile. Once disassembled and numbered, it was hauled off to Danang to another relative’s property and put back together. Apparently the neighbors (especially the elderly ones) were a bit pissed off at them for taking away this historic home. Frankly, I wouldn’t have minded seeing it!
Of course, as always, the universe aligns and I get questioned about my marital status and mommyhood dreams. No and not yet. Geez…everyone wants to see me married! With kidlets! Of course, no one is offering up The Dude, so until that happens…No and not yet.
I’ll look forward to the next chance to get to know my neighbors. I should probably invite them up for dinner and serve a hearty pasta with garlic bread and some delicious wine. Good chance for them, too!
On the Bright Side,
Shanna
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