This week we hear from International Business 2018 student Meklit, on marking one month of the IGL experience in Hanoi Vietnam.
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Break week is officially over and nothing refreshes our time in Hanoi more than an extended absence from it (this is likely true for any place). Thus far, I have found that living abroad has not only allowed me to have a better appreciation for aspects of another culture but also aspects of my own culture. In my post today I will share a few ‘cultural’ experience from my time here in Hanoi.
Cat poop coffee
Your eyes are not playing tricks on you, you read the heading correctly. Vietnam is the second largest producer of coffee in the world and Kopi Luwak is the world’s most expensive coffee. The cost of Kopi Luwak can range from $100-$600 per pound! The main factor of its high price is the uncommon method of its production. The production process involves coffee beans which have been eaten and digested (aka pooped out) by a civet cat. The feces are then collected, finished and sold as coffee. Some of us were so “fortunate” to be able to try this coffee and get a truly local experience.
"Backstreet Boys"
Hoan Kiem lake is in the historical center of Hanoi and on the weekends it comes to life! Many of the roads in this area close, due to the high volume of pedestrians (locals and tourists) to enjoy a peaceful walk by the water. I was fortunate enough to visit the lake during a festival which featured a Vietnamese pop group/ wannabe Backstreet Boys band. Watching them perform was an experience, they had everything you would expect to see at a boy band concert including synchronized dance moves and mobs of screaming fan girls. We also saw another performance by a past winner of Vietnamese Idol which I would equate to a version of Justin Bieber. It was amazing to see how musical experiences around the world, although different could also be so similar.
Shopping
A few weeks ago we came across a boutique store close to our hotel that was having a sale. Not being able to resist a good sale regardless of where in the world we are, we went in hoping to get some deals. The store was packed with people, arms filled with clothes and incredibly helpful salespeople dealing with the chaos. After finding some items that peaked my interest, I headed back to a makeshift change room. There were ladies going around and opening the curtains of the change rooms, changing and coming out, grabbing more clothes and entering a different room. After waiting and watching the chaos, we never thought we would get into a change room. We asked a nearby salesperson how we can get a change room and she said “share”. Apparently, it is quite customary to go into an occupied change room and share with strangers as they try on clothes. This was defiantly not something we were used to, but it also had an endearing quality to see how everyone interacted with one another and were so open to sharing with one another.
Overall trying to adjust to life in Vietnam in the most mundane sense has had its ups and downs. The adjustment thus far has been trying to find food that our bodies agree with, figuring out how to get from point A to point B while avoiding scooters and not knowing the language. Despite these things, they are what makes the IGL experience. We have been fortunate enough to be exposed to a city which has a unique blend of cultural, historical and traditional values.
Until Next Time!
- Melkit