The "season" is over and it's time for a break. The expat community is preparing for summer, which generally means that the wives and children go home for a month or two and the husband stays behind. He gets to join them for a few weeks, or perhaps a whole month if he is lucky. That's what long school holidays and short company leave does for a family..

We're not so different.. I'm off "home" today, and Erik will join me in about a week's time. We're staying away until the beginning of July, when we'll both be back here. It's a little early; I think we are the first ones to leave, but with a school reunion and a 60th birthday to celebrate the choice was easy.

 

Quite a few things have happened since I last wrote. All good, fortunately.

 

First off we went to Vietnam for a few days during the Mayday break. It was a really good experience. A truly fantastic country!

We went only to Ho Chi Minh City (former Saigon) this time, but we will definitively go back to see more.

The people were warm arnd friendly, with a great sense of humour.. I never saw them lose their temper even in the worse traffic jam.. And we saw a bad one (we arrived in the middle of a thunder storm and the streets were completely flooded. Not a good thing when a few million motorbikes are trying to get home..)! The just laughed and waited patiently. That would not have happended back home...

Visiting Saigon was quite an experience.. There was still a lot of buildings to be recognised from the time of the war, and the scars were still visible some places. We didn't see it ourselves, but were told that outside of the city there are large areas still devastated from the napalm and Agent Orange used during the war.

It is still hard to imagine what it must have been like at the time. It is such a modern city, despite its apparent sleepiness. There were new coffeeshops set up everywhere, fancy boutiques, trendy bars, and the hotels could rival any major city.

And the people does not seem the slightest bitter. That was probably the most amazing. We saw several American tourists being welcomed with big smiles by the locals. Young people speak English, wear clothes with the American flag on it, and listen to American pop music. Perhaps it is all a facade, but I choose to believe it is not. 

I could rant on forever about the great markets with their colourful people and produce, the great bargains to be found, the food, the drink, the spas, the tours... But I think you should go see for yourself.

 

After getting back from Vietnam there's been a few celebrations amongst the Norwegians here in Singapore (and elsewhere for that matter).

The 7th May was confirmation Sunday. We were lucky enough to be invited to Trine Lise's celebration, who is the daugther of our friends Åse & Tom. Trying very hard not to remember how long it is since it was us wearing the white gowns, wondering how much money... I mean, how many presents... I mean, reflecting over the seriousness of the moment.. ahem.. 

The church service was followed by a very nice dinner with speaches and songs, and we finished the evening by watching football before retiring way too late.. But at least Arsenal ensured their place in the Champions League next season..

 

More will follow later.