Lessons Old and New

As we concluded our first full day in Vietnam I'm reminded of some old lessons and I'm learning new ones.

1. Jet lag is NO fun...especially when you are five. As I asked in the last post, how do you explain jet lag to a five year old whose body and mind are telling her she's wide awake? She got to sleep at 10 p.m. but woke up at 3 a.m. ready to play. I got her to rest for the next two hours but at 5 a.m. I decided to stop fighting it. We can go to breakfast in an hour so, it gives me time for a quick post that's been going through my mind for the last two hours.

2. I'm clumsy. Mark calls me his dopic wife. This lesson I really didn't want to remember on this trip. Right after my post yesterday I walked out of the business center with Hannah in my arms (see lesson #1). I saw a fish tank and comfortable chair at the other end of the lobby. What I didn't see was the step up to get there. So, down we went, hard. In slow motion I saw Hannah's back go into the chair and then she bounced off and onto the floor. Well, that woke her up, Mark could hear her cries behind the closed door of the business center. So, out he walked and said "No, you didn't". You see he knows his wife too well. In fact before we ever had Hannah he said he would have to carry any baby we had because he didn't want me fall with her.

3. Mommies don't notice anything else when their baby is hurt and crying. I checked Hannah over and realized she was okay, probably more scared of the fall than anything. It was then that I noticed the pain in my throat. When I was carrying Hannah her head was nestled into the left side of my neck. So, I guess during the fall her head was pushed into my neck and throat. I was relieved that it didn't hurt when I was breathing. Swallowing is a different story. If I look straight ahead or to the right the pain is light. However, if I'm looking to the left I feel a sharp pain. Mark asked me to describe it and I really didn't know how. It came to me this morning, it's kinda like a chicken bone caught in your throat. For awhile I thought I would need to find the SOS Clinic, but, so far so good.

4. The rest of the world is not as time conscious as we are in the U.S.. We had about 35 minutes before we were going to meet the other Holt family. We remembered the Highlands Coffee Shop on the corner and decided to have a coffee before we met them. Anyway, forty minutes later we searching for the waitress so we can get back to the hotel.

5. Traffic is crazy in Vietnam. I heard this before we came but, I thought it can't be any worse than Seoul. Well, I was wrong. After living in Seoul we learned to negotiate the traffic pretty well. There were traffic lights and the cars would stop if you were in the crosswalk and staring them down or have your hand in the air. As we were walking yesterday I don't remember seeing a traffic light and I never saw a car fully stop. Mark figured it out. When crossing a street you need to look where you're going and don't stop. Everyone just keeps moving, if another moving object is in the way you negotiate around it. As long as you're moving it's okay, just don't stop. Mark carries Hannah across the streets (see lesson #2).

6. If you have a feet phobia do not get a Vietnamese massage. Enough said.

7. Adoption is a wonderful, crazy, life changing journey. You make many life long friends along the way. I am so thankful to be sharing this journey with each of you.