After more then 24 hours of travelling, I have finally arrived to Ho Chi Minh City. The rain arrived shortly after we touched down and didn’t stop until this evening. The air is heavy and humid but has a smell that takes me back 11 years to the first time I experienced south east Asia. I’m not sure how to describe it as it seems to be a smell unique to this part of the world, but it’s a good smell, filled with great memories and excitement.

After arrival, I spent more time in the airport then I had intended. Waiting around the baggage carrousel had never been an anxious one for me. As all the bags flowed out I was happy to see one bag come out fairly quickly, but the second bag, a back pack filled with my shorts, t-shirts among other items was taking a long time. It wasn’t until a metal sign labeled “last bag” confirming my fear. While this is a part of travelling, it’s something I have been fortunate enough to never have to experience before.

After completing my report with the baggage claim services my travel companion, Amber and myself headed out to crowd of people waiting to greet their family, friends or customers -tourists. The drive to the hotel was around 30 minutes through the hectic traffic of Ho Chi Minh City. I was thankful to be a passenger, and not the one trying to navigate my way between the buses, taxis and brave pedestrians darting across streets as if they were able to anticipate the move of every driver around them.

After getting checked in, going for a short walk to get some necessities that didn’t arrive with me, I had a nap for a few hours prior to headed to dinner with Nguyen, the program officer for WUSC in southern Vietnam. The dinner consisted of a shrimp and mango salad, pork, a dish of a variety of cooked mushrooms, squid, spring rolls and (as some may have guessed) rice. I also enjoyed a bottle of freshly squeezed passion fruit juice sweetened with honey. It was a great first meal in Vietnam, and I am looking forward to trying more local food tomorrow!

Tomorrow will be an early day, Breakfast is scheduled for 8am and then it is off to the WUSC office which conveniently is located on the campus of the school I will be working at. This is about a 30–40 minute cab ride away. So with that, I will say good night! I look forward to sharing more tomorrow!