Salut and à Bientôt

 Salut, I think the title has been my thesis for the last month or so. I think I was surprised by the whirlwind that orientation felt like, only to experience huge whiplash upon my arrival in the province. The first few days I was here, Chi Anh told me that all good things take time. She meant it in many ways: learning Vietnamese, connecting with teachers and students, becoming familiar with the community and the city. The hardest part, and often the most strenuous step, is the first one and the beginning. ​ I finally got a new e-bike. One much smaller than the one they gave me at first, which is all in all good because the first was a bit of a safety hazard. Mr. Hoan says it is small, and I am small, so therefore it all works out. Ms. Trang said there are women out there in Vietnam who are shorter than me and manage to ride those big e-bikes. Touché, I guess. It is slower than the other one they lent me, but I am okay with that; I would rather be safe with a smaller, more manageab...