January 28, 2012

WOW. I've been here a week already! This is my home away from home for quite a few more weeks. This is a picture taken off of our balcony here at the Somerset Apartments. It's in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Ron and I have never lived in a big city before, and the sights and sounds on a daily basis are quite different from where we live in Lubbock, Texas!

My leg is still too sore to run/walk on the treadmill. In fact, yesterday my whole foot was swollen and black and blue. I tried hard to keep it elevated with an ice pack all day and today I think it's getting better. I'd show you the picture I took of it, but you might be eating your lunch! Consequently, I swam this morning while Ron ran on the treadmill. We have a beautiful pool here and they keep everything so clean.

We took a cab to the Co Op market. What an experience. The last time we were there, it was right before Tet and very, very crowded! Today, even though it's Saturday, it wasn't too bad. The picture is of the fish market section. We bought some pork, produce, cheese, bread, etc. I also needed some body lotion, and what I bought says Nang Dong Ca Ngay Voi Lan Da Tuoi Tre. So I'm not sure that's exactly what I've got. Oh well. I also had trouble deciding which milk to buy. One said Sua Co Duong and one said Sua Khong Duong. I thought maybe one was skimmed, but Carie said she thinks the Khong one has added sugar. They did have Coca Cola Light, Seven-Up, and pretty good wine. We bought a red wine from Dalat, and a white Sauvignon Blanc from Chile called "Passion."  Buying eggs was tricky, because they aren't refrigerated - just in a display in the middle of the store. And I had to make sure I was buying chicken (ga) eggs, and not duck (vit) eggs!

                                                       This is Ron buying thit heo (pork).

Tonight we're taking Carie and her mother to a seafood restaurant call Ngoc Suong. Ron has taken his students there when they're here for Study Abroad, and he said the food was excellent. The restaurants here serve food family-style. You order several things, and then share with the whole table. I like it that way because I always order the wrong thing at home and wish I had what the person next to me ordered. This way, if I don't like one dish I can just help myself to something else!