Monday, December 29, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Of Spikes and Smells
Behold the durian, King of Fruits:
This fruit is widely available across Vietnam. Practically everything about the durian is distinctive, from its large size to it's numerous thorns to, above all, it's powerful and dangerous reek.
For durian smells bad, and there's no way around it. If there is a single durian for sale in the supermarket you will smell it the instant you walk in the door. Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain employed a rather vivid simile to describe it: 'it takes like you'd buried someone holding a big wheel of Stilton and then dug him up two weeks later'. Travel writer Richard Sterling goes even farther, claiming that the smell 'is best described as pig-shit, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock.' I'm not sure if I'd describe it that way but the message is clear enough.
So, how does it taste? Rather like a mix between mango, Gouda, and cream custard. Does that sound disgusting? I rather like it, but not raw. Only in smoothie or ice-cream form does it become palatable.
This fruit is widely available across Vietnam. Practically everything about the durian is distinctive, from its large size to it's numerous thorns to, above all, it's powerful and dangerous reek.
For durian smells bad, and there's no way around it. If there is a single durian for sale in the supermarket you will smell it the instant you walk in the door. Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain employed a rather vivid simile to describe it: 'it takes like you'd buried someone holding a big wheel of Stilton and then dug him up two weeks later'. Travel writer Richard Sterling goes even farther, claiming that the smell 'is best described as pig-shit, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock.' I'm not sure if I'd describe it that way but the message is clear enough.
So, how does it taste? Rather like a mix between mango, Gouda, and cream custard. Does that sound disgusting? I rather like it, but not raw. Only in smoothie or ice-cream form does it become palatable.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Oh Those Scamps
The other day in my 9th-grade class I was playing one of my favorite games, which apparently is called 'Hot Seat'. To play is simple. You Have one student stand with his or her back to the board and write a word behind. Then the rest of the class must help the student in the hot seat figure out what the word is.
BUT, sometimes after the students have played for a while I let them turn the tables and write words behind my back. Usually this is OK, but this time one girl wrote a word and much giggling ensued.
One of the boys raised his hand "Teacher! It is a baby cat".
At this point I got nervous. "Is it 'kitten'?" No, it wasn't.
Kids say the darndest things.
BUT, sometimes after the students have played for a while I let them turn the tables and write words behind my back. Usually this is OK, but this time one girl wrote a word and much giggling ensued.
One of the boys raised his hand "Teacher! It is a baby cat".
At this point I got nervous. "Is it 'kitten'?" No, it wasn't.
Kids say the darndest things.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Better Know A District: District 7
Last Saturday I found myself in District 7, aka Saigon South aka Phu My Hung (for some reason every district has to have at least three names) to see a Christmas Concert. I never got to see the concert, but this gave me plenty of time to wander around.
District 7 is located south of the Saigon River, passing through District 4 from the city center. It is also known by yet another name, 'Koreatown', because of the high concentration of Koreans living there.
It is important, however, to realize that most of these Koreans are not simply people of Korean descent living in Vietnam. Most of them are expatriate businesspeople, and by the look of things they;re doing pretty well.
Because, you see, going to District 7 from my apartment I found myself transported out of Ho Chi Minh City into a Korean version of Bethesda, Maryland. Tall buildings, wide well-kept streets, expensive restaurants and a fair bit of greenery. It was pleasant enough but seemed rather unreal.
District 7 is located south of the Saigon River, passing through District 4 from the city center. It is also known by yet another name, 'Koreatown', because of the high concentration of Koreans living there.
It is important, however, to realize that most of these Koreans are not simply people of Korean descent living in Vietnam. Most of them are expatriate businesspeople, and by the look of things they;re doing pretty well.
Because, you see, going to District 7 from my apartment I found myself transported out of Ho Chi Minh City into a Korean version of Bethesda, Maryland. Tall buildings, wide well-kept streets, expensive restaurants and a fair bit of greenery. It was pleasant enough but seemed rather unreal.
Friday, December 05, 2008
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Things That Go Bump in the Morning
Whoever lives in the apartment above me must be running a woodshop or something because from about 8 AM to 6 PM every day I hear sawing and hammering. I should complain, but I'm not sure getting into an argument with someone who probably doesn't speak English and owns alot of power tools is a good idea.
Also the weather has gotten much colder recently, as a result of which I have a persistent cold. Baaahh....
Also the weather has gotten much colder recently, as a result of which I have a persistent cold. Baaahh....
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