That's Hanoi

Yesterday when the kickstand of my bike ran over my foot if left a small cut. Since I was at my friend who happens to be a doctor, I asked him what to do (facetiously). He then showed me his toe which has been fighting an infection, from a similar small cut, and this reminded me that in Hanoi things don't heal. So we had this big medical session, involving H2O2, Neo-something-American-named, bandaids and bandages. FOR A CUT ON MY TOE! That's Hanoi.

When I was sitting at lunch yesterday, and my friend was trying to make an appointment. "Name is David. Yes, David. D-A-V-I-D. No, a D. Yes. No. Yes. D for DOG. Yes. No. Yes. D-A-V-I-D. Ok. Yep, last name Cameron...." That's Hanoi.

When my housekeeper told me that my landlady was a VERY bad person for wanting the house to be cleaned out when I handed the keys back. That's Hanoi.

When a couple of weeks ago, I got a flat tyre on the way to work, and there were no repair shops along the way because it was too early in the morning for them to be open. And this guy stopped and took me through all these back streets to find a place that could fix my tyre. Totally took 10 minutes out of his life, which basically rescued mine. That's Hanoi.

A taxi driver who told me that since this last person I met was also Australian. I must know them. That's Hanoi.

My friend at school telling me that Hanoians call tourists big fat chickens in Vietnamese. Especially when they think they can have the person buy something from them, or that they're new in town. Of course, those words take a little while to learn in Vietnamese, but, that's Hanoi.

Being cheered on when running, being yelled at on a bike, being sworn at by some youths, being harassed by some sellers, being adored by some kids, being jeered at by some workers, being laughed at by some women for no apparent reason (maybe for the above reason?) being waited on by the best staff ever ALL within 3 hours. That's Hanoi.

Being told by a friend that you need to lie, and say you are leaving Hanoi and going home to your husband and children, as this will make the local Hanoians happy, and then you do and you feel a little bad about it. Well, until they rub your belly and grin, then you just feel annoyed! That's Hanoi.

Sitting with your neighbours who breed roosters and pretty tropical fish, drinking water and eating nuts, while they discuss life issues and you input important political debates which show off your extensive understanding of the language such as:

"In 2 days I go to Melbourne"

"Is that your friend?"

"I have one brother and one sister"

"No thanks."

When all you really want to say is: "Can you shoot that rooster because I'm sick of it waking me up at 4 am." That's Hanoi.