Day 2

10:44PM, 23 degrees Celsius

Currently taking it not a day at a time but a breath at a time.

I did not have a good sleep last night. Wish I'd brought ear plugs because it's so noisy at the roads downstairs even at 4am in the morning. Roosters? Auction sellers? Or just Vietnamese men screaming and shouting across? I have no idea but it's intolerable and I barely had a wink last night. 

Woke up at 815AM without the help of any alarm and took a shower which was so nasty. I dread having to spend more than 10 minutes to wash my hair now. 

Breakfast was edible. I had a bun with an omelette and a few strands of carrots. And then the new volunteers and I had an orientation before pho beef noodles for lunch. Still okay, but I was still thinking about going home. 

And then MJ, the other Becca, Mirka, Rachel, Hannah and I took the bus to a supermarket where I bought Pringles. Such comfort. We then decided to walk back instead of taking the bus and I really regret that. There were roasted dogs in full from head to tail being hung out in the open and it was a revolting sight. I can't explain but it was a horrible sight and I just can't accept it. I never will. Even if I didn't have a dog at home, I'd still find it gruesome and unacceptable. I am still traumatised and I really don't know how I'm going to keep this up, seeing puppies being caged up and ready to be roasted as a delicacy.

I have been grouped up with Ollie, Millie and Hannah to teach English and my placement starts tomorrow. I don't know how I feel about it but I'm just slightly disappointed that we won't be teaching young kids, but university students. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Millie, Mirka and Sophie have been really nice, telling me that they too cried on their first night but adapted well after a few days. I really hope I will learn to like Linh Nam or rather, to be fair, Hanoi in the next few days. Since we are scheduled for an English lesson at a university tomorrow, I look forward to meeting the Vietnamese students as well as going downtown where it's more touristy and should I say, civilised. I sure hope they don't hang roasted dogs there.

Hurry and impress me, Vietnam. Because I still want to go home.