Embracing tradition E-Mart

Today I join in the tradition of going to e-mart for morning coffee followed by going to the Korea supermarket. As our community house is hosting Mass and a dinner tonight I was given a shopping list in Vietnamese and english — well sort of english minus the descriptive part to identify items in row of many!

Anyhow the adventure can be broken down into stages, like a video game sort of… well it felt like we were in a video game at one or two moments. Tim kindly gave me a practice run of going on the back of the bike. We went to the other community. We got down our alley okay and feeling slight bit of comfort the next thing a truck bends around the corner taking the whole road making me breath in as if to say - oh yah we can fit through the crack with less air. Fighting the urge to put my hands over my eyes. Whew we made it! Onto the next bike for the longer adventure. It was a little more hairy at moments, weaving in and out. I can see new light to fitting a camel into the eye of a needle. 

At first it was a little alarming mixture of the cool air blowing through my clothes, people racing around us, unsure if the red light actually means - stop. Driving down the street small stalls on the sideways, one lady kindly cleaning her fish stall with us driving through a mist of fish water. A few intersections where I don’t think the blinking yellow light on the bike actually means too much in the world of no lanes, no traffic rules. 

Arrived at e-mart in one piece. Promoted to second stage. 

First stop, cuppa tea. Hot glass of freshly made ‘real’ earl grey tea. Yummy, a soul renewal along with conversation in great companion in a language I know. I can understand why and how this small tradition came about. 

Afterwards was time to adventure to the bookshop. We required some ink, and looked at books to assist with the daily english lessons. Following this was the trip to the supermarket. 

It is divided in two halves, one side like the household cleaning items, beauty and merchandise while the other half is food. Then at the end is a large market place, with fresh fruit and veggie, cooked items even pizza. Meats and fresh fish - like so fresh they are still swimming. In some aspects you could be in any supermarket in the world, while other aspects - like the full row of instant noodles, you know there is something different about this market. 

This girls gave me a list, saving them coming to the supermarket and getting veggies from local market. Rosie also had a list of items to get for the community, so we pace around the aisles in search for the requested items. 

Once mission completed time to return to the community by taxi, meeting Tim for another bike ride with all our bags home. What an adventure. First bike ride, first outing as per say, exploring the streets and seeing ho chi minh city alive. While the adventure required me to wear jeans opposed to the normal skirt I wear, I was pleased to return home to get changed into lighter clothes. In saying this it was soo worth it. A delightful morning. 

On return to the house the girls awaiting for me to have lunch. We shared in the meal then retired for the minatory sleep. 

The evening is going to be full of more adventure with everyone coming together. Look forward to it.