Basic information

After seven weeks I have a daily routine. I get up at quarter to seven and have breakfast and a stroll through my quarter which is busy with people going to work, to school or work out. There is a lake and a temple and soft morning light. School starts at 8.30 but I ususally show up earlier and have tea with my teachers. The scene is dominated by the jovial and charismatic Dr Bảng who is supported by Mrs Hà, Mrs Thù Anh and Mr Bình. They all care much for me and they are very patient and dedicated when explaining me Vietnamese. Although progress is small, the language fascinates me. Learning a tonal language is like discovering the third dimension. They also show me how to worship at a temple and how to cook nêm spring rolls. Often we have lunch together at a cheap food stall. During noon the whole city sleeps. At two I get up and go exploring the city. Or I go swimming at a nearby pool, a shithole says my house mate Gary. Maybe twice a week I meet a girl from the neighbourhood to speak German and Vietnamese. The day gets exciting when my beer-thirsty friends Andreas, Ivo and Axel have finished work. When Axel has finally got permission from his wife, we usually go to a bia hơi beer garden where beers and time fly by so we will probably not go anywhere else that evening. Sometimes we go to a club or bar but most evenings do not end any later than 12 as the party police has still not relaxed their tight regime. Thursday is a highlight when we play football together with some expats and locals, organized by Teamchef Raimund and his Teamcheffin Klara.

Having a routine really helps to feel comfortable. Sometimes I still have to be upset about some flagrant Vietnamese manners but mostly I enjoy. I feel not like moving to Saigon in a month.

Today's lesson

motobike xe máy
stolen mất

Arrgh! Oí!
nervous breakdown đột qụi thần kinh
to curse chửi rủa

last night tôí qua
to forget quên
into vào
house nhà

to cry vi khóc
self-doubt hoài nghi
idiot ngơừi dần
stupid little boy em bè dần dộn
irresponsible vô trách nhiệm

to change sửa lại
lifestyle kiểu sống
less ít hơn
party di chơi
more hơn
responsibility trách nhiệm

to feel like thấy
smashed đàn áp
to ở trên
ground sần

evening buổi tôí
landlady chủ nhà
to bribe mua chuộc
police station sở công an
500.000 VND nam tram nhìn dồng
to bring back trả lại
motobike xe máy

utterly relieved giản đơn quá
bank ngân hàng
repay borrowed money trả tièn cho vay

to knock at door đập cưa
answer trả lời
unclear không hiểu dược
to open mở

landlady chu nhà
lingerie quàn áo lót
utterly embarrassed dau dón quá

5 min later vài phút nua
landlady chủ nhà
to give cho
sweetend yoghurt sữa chưa có đường
to smile cười

coverage video project

People like to have projects nowadays. I feel like starting this video project called coverage. There will be videos of anything worth covering. So no politicians, celebrities and other irritating folks. And you feel free to send in any material or links of videos you feel worth being covered. Thanks, and thank you Raphi for installing all this useful software on my pc. I only have to figure out how to use it hehe. Expect to see Robert de Niro on coverage soon... ah no celebs! Now please see the FIT - Crew stomp the ground in front of the Lenin statue in Hanoi. Maybe this is what we mean when we say credibility. Thanks and big up, FIT!

Breaking news, taken from Hanoi Today, Aug 6, 2007

26-year-old missing in Ba Vi national park

- HN - A 26 years old German is said to be missing in Ba Vi national park, Ha Tay province. His landlady in Hanoi says he left the house on Sunday morning for the hills and has not come back since. Police could only recover his photo camera on a little frequented trail in the forests of Ba Vi. Beside some pictures documenting an obviously fun motobike ride to the hills and stunning panoramas, there is also a videoclip on it.


The scene ressembles footage found in a recovered film camera in 1999 near the small town Blair/Maryland. It was supposedly taken by a group of teenagers who wanted to spot the ominous "Witch of Blair" and eventually disappeared in the forests. They have not reappeared since.

There have been regular reports of dissappearances in the woods around Ba Vi mountain. Locals believe the woods are roamed by the ghost of national hero Ho Chi Minh protecting them from over-curious tourists. They worship Mr Ho in a temple on the mountain top.

The head of the provincial police has ordered an intensive investigation in the forests of Ba Vi which are now closed to visitors due to the incident. The affair has revived talks in the capital about Mr Ho being still alive. Our news service will keep you in the loop about the issue. (MF)


Stunning panoramas during the motobike ride - into a "dead end"?


Mr Ho's temple on the mountain top - is he still out there?