Today we met and were welcomed by UEF (University of Economics and Finance) in an incredible ceremony! It was a ton of fun meeting students and getting seeing part of the Vietnamese culture as well as getting to eat some incredible food! The biggest difference in culture I noticed today was the driving culture. I don’t believe I have ever seen so many motorbikes in my life! I’m glad I’m not the one driving while I’m here because I would cause a massive crash with all the weaving the motorists do on the streets. Another big culture shock I learned about is how much schooling Vietnam has. In America, we get about five months off over the course of the year but in Vietnam they get about two. It makes me wonder how our educations differ and which systems work better for different aspects. The tour of the city was a ton of fun as I got to see some incredible sights as well as chat with UEF students as they told me all about the city. The heat was really getting to me at that time but I found the power to carry on. Back in Pittsburgh, the hottest days of the summer are the average day in Vietnam. It is a good thing I brought a full bottle of sunscreen as I will definitely be needing it throughout my stay here!

I’m not sure how typical it is, but during the lunch and dinners the most surprising thing was being served so much food! In America I would get an appetizer and an entree but here I am given a whole slew of options to eat from. I presume most of the food is shared here with those you eat with, which is a big change from America where everyone gets their own food. I like being able to share meals with people but I think I like being able to get exactly what I want a little bit better. The food was all delicious and incredible! I haven’t really eaten any Asian food before this trip so everything I’m trying is brand new to me. I can’t wait to see what kind of food is next for me to try. There are signs of development all around us but especially during the bus tour as I could see buildings being built and forested areas being cleared to make room for more buildings. I was also told that Ho Chi Minh City’s metro has some sections complete but it is going to expand in the near future. It was really awesome to see a city so large only getting bigger.