10 beautiful things about Hanoi

There are many challenging things I can say about Hanoi, but instead I will only give you 10 beautiful things which will be what I remember most vividly when the tough part passes.....

1. Walking along the edge of the lake on a hot, humid day and being enveloped by dragon flies that dance around you and collectively fan you with the flutter of their wings.

2. A small child, held by a grandmother who sees me holding my dog and we simultaneously smile, giggle and perhaps wave, forgetting for a brief moment that we do not speak each other's language, yet we perfectly understand each other.

3. How simple and affective a smile can be. The poor are very poor here and it is my way to connect. Many times I only see fear or severity, but when the smile and timing is right...it is the best feeling.

4. Cold beer made colder by being provided with a glass of ice. So simple, often criticized, but on a hot day....like heaven.

5. Being woken in the early morning by a thunder storm. The rhythmic rumble followed by a torrential downpour. You are safe in your bed and you wake up to a cool morning.

6. Being told more times in the last three weeks than in 15 years of our little dog's life that she is beautiful, rather than ugly.

7. Finding and being able to see the most beautiful things that are left in ruin, decay or broken.

8. A culture that considers everything fixable, reusable and seeing the value that most developed countries would simply discard.

9. The juxtaposition of the tackiest, ugliest piece of architecture next to the most stunning. Also, may I add the dilapidated next to the refined and the counterfeit neighboring the original.

10. The most stunning plants and exotic fruits that are simply common here and would be classified as rare and expensive elsewhere. It also works in reverse too.

I do not have a lot going on this week and need to study to prepare for school next week. I want to make a point of sharing my experiences, thoughts, fears and joys. There is so much stimulation and not all is good, but as in life, there needs to be balance and try, try, try to see the beauty, the humor and the joys above and beyond the ugly, the scary and the fears.