An exploration of space: New Urban Development - Nguyen Phong Sac

The project-reminiscent apartment buildings

This expedition set out to explore a non-traditional space in Hanoi, and that is exactly what it was. The neighborhood Team Cucumber explored was filled with very large and tall apartment buildings apparently filled with people who were displaced, probably by the building of the giant mega-cities around the periphery of Hanoi. My group members from Hanoi said that poorer to middle-class families live in these high-rises, though they greatly reminded me of the projects in New York where the poorest inner-city families live. However, these buildings looked newer and were apparently built in 2007. I wonder when the apartment tumors will start appearing on these buildings after more and more families start occupying each apartment. There were a fair number of cars in the apartment parking lots but we suspected that they belonged to the construction firm on the bottom floor of the building and not of the actual residents.
The area we walked around in was very deserted. Instead of the constant flow of people and businesses spilling out onto the sidewalk, we were able to easily fit 3 people in a row and walk uninhibited down the sidewalk. The only businesses that were inside-out (or even really there at all) were cafes. There was a bookstore there, which I was pleasantly surprised about, which had a sort-of library in it where a few academics were studying and doing research on Southeast Asia (I think). We visited in the afternoon so there might be more activity on the streets when people start coming home from work and school. I noticed restaurants had their chairs stacked up and would probably be set up closer to dinner time.
Though this was definitely not a traditional space the larger roads surrounding our area felt more Hanoian with more businesses and more people on the street. We had to find most of the food at a Minimart that was within walking distance, but there was not an open market or any fruit/vegetable vendors around. We were unable to find any knife sharpeners or show shiners and though people said they were around we did not encounter any. Instead we found an "adult store" that just sold a few brands of over-priced condoms, which means that birth control (at least from that shop) is basically unavailable for many of the people in the area. There were also trees around but they were all encased in cement so if you wanted to sit under one you either had to be very uncomfortable or pay for a seat.

Our group wandering Nguyen Phong Sac

I would not want to live in this section of Hanoi. It felt like a distorted version of American neighborhoods I have been in, and I wouldn't even have wanted to live there. The neighborhood for the most part felt nothing like the Hanoi I have experienced thus far. While walking around my group was lethargic and we felt unwelcome, as opposed to other sections of the city where you feel energized or stimulated when walking around simply from the life exuding from the people and streets around you. This neighborhood felt empty, life-less, and like a spot that should have been temporary but had lasted past its time. I'm not sure if that makes sense, especially since they are fairly recent buildings, but it looked so out of place and I wonder how the residents of the giant block apartments feel about their neighborhood. Too bad we did not see anyone on the street who wanted to talk to us, and we couldn't enter the apartment buildings to speak to anyone inside. I fear this is the future of Hanoi, especially as the Doughnut Effect begins to take hold around Hanoi, similar to Ho Chi Minh City.

Our map in progress

An exploration of space: Luong Dinh Cua and Hoang Tich Tri

Pho Hoang Tich Tri

The space around the intersection of Pho Luong Dinh Cua and Hoang Tich Tri is a hustle-and-bustle area, full of people and stores and constant motion.  Even during the hottest part of the day, on a very hot day, more people are moving and selling than sleeping and resting.  The sidewalks are covered in wares from the many stores that encircle the blocks.  Life is definitely lived inside-out here.  It looked like the specialties in the area were houseware items (like piping, bowls/plates, cleaning supplies, etc.) and cafés of which there would be numerous right next to each other.  And of course there was a market where fresh meats (live and pre-killed), fruits, and vegetables could be purchased.  The market section of the area was the only area starting to die down as the day progressed, with the meat sellers retiring in the early afternoon, hopefully because otherwise the meat would begin to go bad in the sun and heat.  Another form of industry that seemed successful in the area, because there were so many of these shops, were secondhand clothing and shoe stores. This is interesting in comparison to all the boutiques that lined the streets surrounding this neighborhood, but only these kinds existed in the area we explored.  Maybe this is an indicator that the people in the surrounding area do not have as much wealth as those in adjoining neighborhoods, but it could also symbolize that more locals do their shopping here instead of relying on the patronage of shoppers from outside the area.

Badminton courts!

The people were very friendly and willing to help us find our way around.  All of the places we were assigned were within walking distance, except for the hospital, which was about 1km away from the area. We assumed that this hospital could be reached by xe om, but after an ambulance passed by we realized that the nearest hospital was the French hospital were most of the people in the area would probably not visit in the case of illness because that hospital mainly caters to foreigners and richer folk.  The other option was Viet Duc Hospital which was relatively close by, but also must be reached by xe om.  

We also found that the shoe shiners and knife sharpeners were transitory occupations, so though we did not meet people with these jobs face-to-face, we were told that they are in the area and their services are available to the people who live there.

Elementary school

I felt very comfortable in the neighborhood and welcomed, even though I did notice people were watching us map the space and were curious about it.  However, no one was openly rude to us except a meat vendor who explicitly did not want us talking to her or taking her picture.  I plan to return to the area and explore further, sit under one of the many trees and probably visit some of the secondhand shops.  Places similar to those shops are where I do most of my buying in America, so it is a little comforting to see similar places here.  I would definitely live in this neighborhood. There is a cute elementary school for whatever children might be in my future and all the necessary amenities within walking distance.  And as mentioned before I felt safe and comfortable so I would not rule out the possibility of inhabitance.

Autobiography of Micaela Georgina Galedo Bacon

Berkeley and Beyond

I came to this world at 6:30am on December 27, 1988. My birthplace was Oakland, California the town adjacent to the town where I would spend my childhood, Berkeley. I grew up mostly alone, though I have two sisters. They are 9 years and 20 years older than I and named, respectfully, Yolanda and Miel Bacon. My parents are Lillian and David, and they have supported me throughout my life, trying to help me with all my ambitions (lately: making my way to Hanoi, Vietnam!). I am ethnically Filipina-American but was never too terribly connected with the Filipino community, though my mother was very involved working to help recent Filipino immigrants find a comfortable place in America. I used to blame my non-involvement on the fact that not many Filipinos live in Berkeley, but that’s not altogether true as many of my best friends are Filipina-American. I think that’s one reason I came to Southeast Asia, if not specifically Vietnam, to feel more connected to a culture that is not American and has roots and traditions much older than 250 years.
Throughout my pre-college life I was a gymnast and classical musician. I fell in love with gymnastics after the 1996 Olympics when the Dream Team won gold and inspired thousands of other little girls and boys to start their own gymnastics dreams. I loved the sport and when I was finally awarded a spot on my club’s team I would work-out all the optional days as well as the required ones. This did not necessarily mean I was good at gymnastics and in fact it took all that extra work to start scoring higher than 6.5/10. Eventually however my hard work paid off and I was able to make my way to Level 7 out of 10 before I quit in the middle of high school. I’ve always regretted quitting but it was necessary to continue with other parts of my life. Gymnastics can consume all of your time as well as much of your spirit if you let it, and it was time for me to let go. However, I am still active in the community and I still teach gymnastics to this very day. It is a passion I will always have, similar to music.
Since placing a clarinet in my hands at the age of 9, I have been in love with music (ALL kinds) and being able to play music is an amazing feeling. Even throughout college I tried to continue playing but unfortunately, at UC Santa Cruz you are only allowed to participate in music if you are a music major. This was a devastating discovery and even now, I am searching for a community band who will let me participate. Personally a life without music is not worth living, but thankfully music surrounds everyone and is everywhere, you just have to find it. As corny as that sounds I am a firm believer in it.
When the time to apply for college came around I was itching to get myself out of California and out of the optimistic bubble that Berkeley creates around its citizens. My first escape was to Seattle, Washington where I attended the University of Washington, Seattle for my freshmen year of college. This was an unbelievable experience where I met so many people who helped me find my true self and shape myself into the person I am now. I would still move back after college and spend the rest of my life there.
It was during my stay in Seattle that I found another calling in my life: politics! During younger years I would stay as far away from politics as I could since my parents were so active in it, and Berkeley politics (unapologeticaly liberal and loud about it) were constantly being showed down my throat. But my first political science class was like my first breath of cool, fresh air. I had found my calling in studying other cultures, as well as my own, and figuring out how they worked. Politics encompasses many subjects in one and is constantly changing so my attention is constantly being engaged.

My besties and I, kicking ass as usual

This is part of why I came here to Vietnam. I want to immerse myself in another culture that is very different than my own and see how it functions. Vietnam also has a very strong and proud history that I want to learn as much about as I can. Though I didn’t know it when I applied, we are here in Hanoi at a pivotal point in time! The 65th Party Plenum announcing the next 5-year plan for 2010-2015 is this year, as well as the celebration of Hanoi’s 1000-year anniversary. This was the best time for me to come here, and I feel as if fate brought me to this amazing city and country. In the next 4 months I hope to learn as much Vietnamese as possible and meet as many Vietnamese as possible. I want to be able to get myself from one side of this giant, bustling city to the other without getting lost or at least anxious on the way. I also want to make connections so that when I come back there are familiar faces to see and people with which I can enjoy a cup of café no da.

Gig: Response

Telemarketing Supervisor

Jason Groth is a telemarketing supervisor, meaning he hires and supervises a group of telemarketers who sell products for various companies.  His job is to keep people inspired and prepare them for the ugly responses that are awaiting them on the receiving side of the call. 

This article interested me because I was once a sort of telemarketer during my freshman year in college; but instead of calling on the behalf of a company or product I was calling on behalf of school departments who were soliciting donations from alumni to help support scholarship programs.  And despite the more noble cause, people were still as rude to my co-workers and I as they would be to someone selling magazine scholarships.  It was a job I sincerely hated, simply because I would leave work feeling rejected and downtrodden after everyone’s rude comments.  Occasionally, I would get an alumni who would let me get through my script then calmly tell me that they did not desire to participate, respecting the fact that I was calling because it was my job to.

Upon reflection, this experience was a reminder to not confuse people with their work.  The meter maid who gives parking tickets is just doing her job, as is the cook who makes our food.  Sometimes I feel it is easy to assume that people are in a certain field because they enjoy their work or like having power over others, which could very well be true, but from my experience most people do what they do because they get paid for it and it helps them live a certain lifestyle.  This is not a crime or a justification for bad treatment, which is something I often forget myself.  However, I do feel there are certain ways people can abuse their positions or become corrupt, and then it is appropriate to dislike them.  Abuse of power might be especially tempting in positions where one IS treated horribly by co-workers, bosses, or the people one is serving.  Maybe we can all help reduce the amount of corruption and negativity by treating everyone and their work more respectfully, but maybe that’s just a little too idealistic for the world today.

Mission Statement!

This blog is to remember all that I do, all those I meet, and to chronicle my experiences in the great Republic of Vietnam.

Chao!