Mild anxiety and anticipation
12/17/2008
These days I wake up in the morning with a million thoughts running through my head. What will my first days in Vietnam be like? For instance, I've heard horror stories about traffic in Ho Chi Minh City (see right). Will this small-town girl be able to cross the street?
The other night a friend asked what I thought would be my greatest challenge, and I immediately said food. Not exactly what I eat, but how and where I get it, and will my stomach adjust? And then there's the bargaining. It just isn't me, but I guess I'll have to learn. There's also the question of the unknown classroom. I've spent a lot of time preparing classes for students I haven't met. I wonder if I've pitched the courses at the right level, if I'm including the kinds of information students want and need. On the other hand, this preparation is somewhat like preparing for an exam. There comes a point when you have done as much as you can, and you just want to get started.
In my morning email I found more information about the Fulbright Orientation, scheduled to begin bright and early on January 6. I hope I'm not suffering to severely from jet lag, because I know the sessions on cultural adaption and other issues will be very useful. That evening we'll dine at the residence of the U.S. Consul General, and the following morning we leave for an excursion to Cat Tien National Park. According to the entry in my Lonely Planet guide, it is "an amazingly biodiverse region of lowland tropical rain forest."
It was hit hard by defoliants during the war, but both plants and wildlife have recovered. The park has over 326 bird species, 100 types of mammals, and 79 types of reptiles. And of course there are the insects. The guide book advises bringing plenty of insect spray. It also mentions leeches, but fortunately I won't be there in the rainy season.
Our tour includes an 8km walk (approx. 5 miles) on the first day along an ecologic route. That evening we'll travel by jeep for a night-time animal spotting, and the next morning we'll go further into the park and trek another 5 km to the Crocodile lake station. What a fantastic opportunity to gain an appreciation for the country's natural resources!
