The first day in Vietnam was very eventful. To start off the morning, we were treated to the delectable breakfast options they had in the cafeteria area (minus the ants). As soon as breakfast was over, everyone had to get in line to get sized for the tailor. The suits in Vietnam are very cheap relative to American prices, so it is a no-brainer to get one. After most people got sized for their suit, we had some time to kill. Emerson and I decided to go on a little journey with one of the UEF students to get macha at a place near the hotel. Personally, I am not a big fan of mocha, but decided that I need to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. Luckily, it was very very good. I don’t really know how to describe it, other than it tastes like grass and just feels clean to drink. Regardless, it still tasted pretty good and was very visually appealing.
After the morning barrage, all of the students got on a bus to go meet all the other UEF students and to have a ceremony. They were very welcoming and polite which seems to be a part of the culture in Vietnam. I felt very accepted and the students at UEF genuinely wanted to get to know you as a person and how your life is. We were introduced to many students and staff members and took many pictures to commemorate the occasion, which made everything feel more special. In the ceremony, nominees thanked both programs for allowing this opportunity to happen and the students got to know one another by chatting and playing the games they set up.
After the ceremony concluded, including lots of pictures, all of the Pitt students and some UEF students got onto the roof of the bus to take a tour around the city. The city was beautiful, and there were so many different buildings and people to see. The globalization was apparent with all of the international brands in every nook and corner of the streets. One street has Gucci, Louis Vuitton, just designer brands, while the street next to it contained Vietnamese restaurants and bars. It was very intriguing to see the difference in shops and restaurants just going street by street. I took some pretty amazing pictures, but I think these two are the best.
Once the tour was over we had a little bit before the dinner. That time went by very fast, and the day was very tiring, so dinner was looming, Dinner was very good, and after that everybody had the night to themselves. The customs of the people were the same, very polite and courteous towards guests. Overall, it was an amazing experience meeting new people in a new place.