Starting my day off with hot pho and Vietnamese iced coffee made the 30+ hours of travel worth it! After the tailor visit and getting measured for the traditional Vietnamese áo dài, we made our way to the Ho Chi Minh University of Economics and Finance (UEF).
Upon arriving at UEF, we were warmly welcomed with vibrant flower wreaths and plenty of photo opps. Throughout the day, we were encouraged to speak with the UEF students, who, unlike the students in our group, were in different grades of school. Each conversation I had introduced me to a uniquely different person, with different aspirations and focuses of study, but I realized that most of us similarly were still unsure of what we wanted to do in our near future.
What I was often reminded by in these conversations was that English doesn’t come as naturally for my Vietnamese peers as it does for me. I noticed there were times I would need to reword what I was asking or how I responded, and vice versa. It made me aware of how distinct languages are in more than just their vocabulary, their pronunciations and accents, and their tones, but also their grammar. It may seem obvious, but when you’re directly speaking to someone who is actively learning the language, you start to understand where those differences are. For example, when I was talking to my new friend Mickey (not the person pictured below)—who I met when we first bonded over the similarities of our names—I asked him when their semesters start and end. At first he told me just six months, but after some back and forth, we figured out that they have six months all together, separated by their two-month break for Tet in January and February. This interaction showed me how unclear language can be, that there is an importance to fully understanding how to properly use its variations depending on the context.
The first new Vietnamese friend I talked to, Thảo!
Since globalization has been a focus throughout this program, it was interesting to note some ways that Vietnam has advanced. Some were obvious, such as being able to use Apple Pay at the convenience store to buy water. Others were noticeable only when I started to really think about it, such as when we watched a Vietnamese band’s performance. Their music was specific to Southern Vietnam, but it was more advanced than some of the sample tracks we had listened to in our sessions prior to our travels. While it kept some of the more traditional instruments, such as the 16-String Zither, it also incorporated more modern instruments, like a drum set and electric guitar. After reflecting on this performance, I realized this was a form of globalization, by involving Western musical advancements into their more traditional music.
A photo of the band performing.
While all three meals we had were both exciting and fulfilling, there were some items I was more reluctant to try. In both lunch and dinner, the desserts they served were drastically different from desserts in the United States. For lunch, we were served a sweet red bean dish, and for dinner, a green bean and aloe vera dish (which is pictured below). I tried both of them, but honestly I don’t think this type of dish is for me. If I am served it again within the remaining time I am here, I will continue to try it, but I do get a little nervous when I see it arriving at the table. At dinner, there was also an urchin served inside an egg shell, which none of us tried (or touched), even our UEF peers.
The green bean and aloe vera dessert.
Urchin served in an egg shell!
Comparing our preparations to what I’ve actually seen, what stood out to me most was the dining etiquette. While this wasn’t directly from our Culture smart book, one of the group presentations during our discussions shared a video about basic dining etiquette. In this video, the girl said something about not licking or letting your lips touch the chopsticks, but when eating with the UEF students, it didn’t seem that strict.
Today introduced me to Vietnamese culture much more than simply learning the facts. As I immerse myself in this culture throughout the next couple weeks, I am excited to see how both my knowledge and comfort will grow!