Aussie Wendell

(Random images; boy in Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta, one of the floating markets on the Mekong Delta, Lunch main course...Elephant Ear Fish, Kumer & two sons' James and Shawn and myself on the Saigon River at night)

Vietnam has been quite an experience and I've only started to cover the southern region. By the way, I'm pleased to note that I had my first meal in three days this evening. After surviving on Ritz Crackers and the occasional yet obligitory beer, I managed to be oh, such the American and ordered pasta for dinner. Here I am, surrounded by some of the most exotic and delicious foods in the world, and that is the only thing that appealed to me. I guess I found an excuse to go shopping here...none of my clothes fit me anymore!

I could literally post hundreds of photos from Cambodia & Vietnam (of which I have), but will not do that to you (I'll just make my friends in Sydney suffer when I get back). I could equally share with you hundreds of stories (you'll be happy to know that there aren't too many "Wendell Stories" to speak of just yet, but there's still plenty of time to get caught in quicksand again...yes I said again), but I won't do that to you either. Instead, I'm going to tell you one story (true) that happened to me yesterday involving prejudices, foregone conclusions, stereotypes, predilections, call them what you will, but something that made me think twice about the way I/we choose to look at others.

We all have our own of the above mentioned, (whether we admit it to ourselves/others or not), shaped perhaps by political or media influences, but there nonetheless. Where am I going with this? Well yesterday, I went on a boat trip along the the Mekong Delta (and this is not going where you tnink it is); I was the last to enter the bus that was to take us on our three hour ride to the small wooden boat. Seated (in order), an older German couple, a middle-aged French couple, a man of Indian descent and his two teenaged sons, two backpacking girls from Sydney, myself (the only American and yes, the only one traveling by himself) and a rather hard-core looking couple in their late 20's from Melbourne (girl with closely-shaved head and guy with mohawk); a veritable United Nations (and probably more effective than the current one). I must preface this by saying that some of the above mentioned passengers actually lived up to the stereotypes created for/about them...but I won't say which ones. Anyway, during the ride, I immediately formed a bond with the hard-core looking couple, possibly because they were the closest in age to me (I said close, 20's is kind of close...OK, I'm closer in age to the middle-aged couple...uggh), or perhaps because I heard their Australian accents and thought I would have the most in common with them or maybe it was just because they were sitting behind me, I'm not sure, but given the opportunity to interact with anyone on the trip based merely on first impressions, I hate to admit it, but the Indian man and his two sons would have probably been last on my list. Why?...perceived cultural differences, language differences, prejudices...I'm sure if I searched hard enough, I'd find an answer for you, but it's hot, humid and I have to get up early tomorrow morning for Hanoi...any excuse to avoid introspection, huh?

While traveling through the floating markets of the Mekong Delta on our small boat, I started a conversation with the father (now sitting next to me), who as it turns out, lives in Sydney and has for most of his life. His name was/is Kumer and son's, James and Shawn 13, are fraternal twins. The boat ride, and this trip for that matter, would not have been the same without them.

Under yes, the weirdest circumstances, along the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, an unlikely friendship was formed between people from different backgrounds, that as it turns out, aren't that different after all. What struck me most about the three was the amazing bond Kumer had with his boys. He was so much more than just a father to them, but a best friend and since their mother has not been in the picture since the boys were six due to a psychological illness, he's their mother too, raising them on his own. The CFO of a multi-national U.S. based company, Kumer tries to take his boys with him on overseas business trips whenever possible to give them the opportunity to experience different cultures. On a trip like this, where tremendous beauty is juxtaposed against overwhelming poverty, you can already see the humility in James and Shawn and get a sense for the people they will one day grow up to be; with any luck, they'll be like their dad who I had the privilege to spend a few days with in Vietnam; we've already planned our "Mekong Delta Reunion" barbeque in Sydney when we all return.

What is the point to this sory? Does there have to be one? No, it's my blog...just kidding. There is no point for you perhaps, but this experience made me realize that I almost missed an opportunity, almost missed out on a new friendship and almost missed an "epiphany" of sorts due to my own, falsely created first impressions. This trip has changed me in many ways, but this singular experience yesterday was the most surprising yet welcome of them all.

What happened to this blog? It started off so light-hearted! No worries, I promise to post nothing but nonsense tomorrow...off to bed now!