stress

It’s a long story as to why, but considering I wasn’t granted my vacation time this month, I’m very eager to travel for business this fall and thankful my job includes such opportunities.  I’ll get to spend two weeks in Laos, a week in Singapore, a week in London and most exciting, a week in Morocco – Marrakech, specifically.  I can’t wait.  I need a break.  If not an actual break from work (which it won’t be, save a few extra days in Morocco), I need a break from Vietnam.

After nine months of living and working in Hanoi, I have taken just 2.5 days of vacation.  One was an extension of my trip to Berlin in March (work). And the other 1.5 (the .5 being a Saturday) was a long weekend in Bangkok in July, as you remember, where I did a health check and shopped for business clothes.  Nice break, but not exactly vacation.  I was on a shopping mission – for work.  That’s pretty much what has consumed me..work work work.

I’m sorely disappointed in my lack of free time, in my lack of knowledge of the culture and the people here in Vietnam, other than the expat community.  While I have made many wonderful friends here and am gaining excellent professional experience, my life is not as well rounded as I would prefer.  I just spent today, Sunday, my only free day of the week in “recovery” mode.  I woke up super late – past 11am.  I am exhausted.  I’ve enjoyed my coffee, done some writing, watched two movies, received a visit from my friend Mette and am now back at my computer with the movie 27 Dresses on TV (love that one) in the background and writing again.  Not super productive.  And now feeling guilty that I didn’t attend to work at all today, but refuse to feel guilty for not doing work on my one and only day off.  But when tomorrow comes I’ll regret not doing work today and then…..Vicious cycle.

Anywhoo…I apologize that my blog has not been that exciting lately.  I am just as disappointed as you are.  I am disappointed that I haven’t kept up with all of my friends as I like to do…I am WAY behind in my e-mails and letters.  I’ve been a sucky friend lately to those of you who live outside Vietnam.  I wish I could share all sorts of exciting things, cultural differences, strange foods, travel stories, etc., but the fact of the matter is, outside of the office, not a whole hell of a lot happens in my life right now and I’m sort of stuck in a rut which I desperately want and need to find my way out of. My blog is titled “On The Bright Side” not just because my last name is Bright, but because that is truly the perspective I want to keep in my life.  However, the only bright side I can see is – that which doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.  Yet I’m more tempted to say – that which doesn’t kill barely lets you breathe.  And sadly, that’s a little more how I feel than the usual Ms. Peppy, Ms. Positive, Ms. Bright. I know I’ll bounce back. I know I’ll find my rhythm.  I just don’t want it to take another nine months of my life.  Nine months! Aaarrggghh!