Viet-microphone feedback- Nam!

With all apologies to the movie Forrest Gump I’m here today to write about Viet-Fu<microphone feedback>- Nam!  (The rally at the Washington Monument Pool scene).

Yesterday, after the pool and a hair trim, we all sat and watched the Somebody Feed Phil episode on Netflix of Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).  Kiddo was super excited after seeing it and she is thrilled to get a chance to see another country and also to see Vietnam.  

We are leaving a few days after school gets out and we’ll be gone most of July.  We decided, however, to keep plans loose.  To go with the flow of it and just take it in.  There a a few places we want to eat, but mostly, it’s that we want to explore and experience (there’s that word again) the people and culture of HCMC, Hanoi, and Da Nang/Hoi An while we travel and take it all in.  

Kiddo is starting to ask questions and put it together in her mind that we are taking a vacation, but it’s not to Thailand or a different area, but a whole new place.  Seeing the show, she said it looks a little like Bangkok, but also different.  She’s 6, so I think she was just having trouble verbalizing it and putting it into words, but she is getting excited and wrapping her head around how similar it could be, but yet, it’s like a whole new place.  She was also taken back, only a little, that it would be a whole new language.  She brought it up twice last night during her Dada time.

Thankfully, Poley should be able to help.  I have a feeling that he will be learning some basic Vietnamese and talking about salmon Pho and salmon Banh mi and how he would be really excited to try those foods.  I mean, if a polar bear can like the food and learn to say Xin Chao (hello - pronounces like Seen Chow) and Cam On (thank you - pronounces like Come on), I think Kiddo will get on board pretty quick.  Besides that, she’s a quick mimic, so once she gets it, she’ll have it.  At least in the pronunciation of the words.  

It’ll also be fun to see her mix in some Vietnamese to her style.  She’s got some California in there.  Some Miss Mabel in there.  Some BKK and Thai in there.  Some Nanny Beer in there.  Maybe she’ll pick up something Vietnamese and add it to the unique palate that is Kiddo.  Also, with a lot of the food being more French influenced with a lot of coriander (cilantro) and basil, also mixed in, I have a feeling that she won’t complain too much at the food and trying new things.  Also, she was the one requesting Ramen this past weekend, so Pho should hit her in a pretty sweet spot.

As for J and myself - Viet-Fu<microphone feedback>- Nam!!!!!!!!! Or, to stick with movie quotes, let’s borrow from Shawshank - I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. (I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. - just to give credit and finish the quote; it is a good one!).  We fly out in 7 weeks and 3 days.  I just hope I can sit still and keep the thoughts in my head until then.  

Aside from that, we had a lazy Sunday that included the pool and Lil Miss acting perfectly six and turning her six year oldness up to 11.  Heck, some days she turns it up to 15!  I mean, just look at pool Kiddo hammin’ it up.  After rest time, her and J headed down to get a hair trim and I did some dinner prep.  After that, it was a show together and then dinner and the night.  Pretty lazy and chill.  Besides that, it’s been dangerous hot (40/41C was the high yesterday - about 104/105F) and that was another reason for the lazy.  Tuesday or Wednesday the heat should finally break and we can get back to 33/34 during the days (92-95F) and be a little more bearable.  Also, I’ll call it now, we’ll see some rain Wednesday.  Tomorrow, I think the temps will drop, but not as much as forecast and it’ll still be 38ish (100F) and humid.  If and when it does rain, it’ll make a huge difference.

Let’s go, Kiddo… We’ve got our summer planned.  Now, we just have to love, video game, play, laugh, and be us because a lot is coming quick.  End of the school year, a summer vaca, and then you will be a First Grader (I’m not crying, those are allergies) and Mumma and I will be working towards where and what situation we will be in for your 2nd grade year.  We are, both, really excited to show and explore things and new cities with you, but we are also very proud of you and how you explore, accept, and want to experience different people and places.  We love you.

PS.  Our American friends and family… Please be safe and we hope you aren’t a victim of gun violence.  I mean, what the actual <microphone feedback>???