2/28/2018 0 Comments Asia so far...3 countries in less than 3 weeks!! The past month has been a whirlwind, as I went from 12 days at sea with no change of scenery to 3 action-packed weeks in 3 different countries with only 2 days in between each port. I’ve experienced drastically different weather, cultures, and activities and can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! Even though Japan, China, and Vietnam are normally grouped in our minds as Eastern Asia countries, they are all truly so unique and separate from each other. Japan and China both are very old countries, so their history and traditions are very present, even in the modern cities. They are also both more conservative countries, so we were told to expect locals in the public areas to be reserved and mindful of the harmony between people. From what I experienced, this was true, but it showed differently in each country. In Japan, eye contact is considered rude and they do not smile at strangers. But they are some of the friendliest people I have ever been around. On at least 5 occasions when we were confused in a train station, a local would come up and go far out of their way to guide us to our destination. China was quite the opposite… my first impression in China was how bad the staring was! (side note- being blonde in a foreign country is just a different experience altogether, both pros and cons). In China, it is considered rude to say no to someone or to not be able to help them, so if we asked for help and a local didn’t know the answer, they would either ignore us or give us a round-about answer. Also multiple times, even in the airport, when I would speak to a worker I could tell they were bothered that I was speaking to them in English. Google Translate was a major help here! Except for the fact that Google, along with all social medias, are blocked by the Chinese government, so I had to download a VPN app to have my phone work correctly. Vietnam was a different ball game on many levels. The most obvious being that I went from 30 degree weather to 90 degree weather in less than a week. I truly believe in seasons changing your mood, and everyone who knows me knows that anything below 60 degrees just makes me mad, so going into Vietnam, I was in love already for saving me from the winter. As we discussed in Global Studies, the first thing most Americans think about Vietnam is war, and if I’m being honest, I did not know much else about the country and had little expectations. These were the MOST friendly people, though, and after seeing some of the war sites, the way that they can forgive and accept us as Americans into their country is amazing. From my experience, this is the country where the most locals spoke English or were enthused to try and speak English to us when they learned we were travelers. Even though this is a third world country that is new to tourism, I fell in love with everything about Vietnam from the scenery, the weather, the people and anything in between. I honestly cannot wait to go back! And now for the foodies! My favorite food overall has to go to Vietnam (yet it breaks my sushi-lover heart to say this). After eating authentic fried spring rolls, I will never look at them the same in the US. I think I just really enjoy the style of cooking in Vietnam and the type of sauces they use, such as in pad thai or pho. Japan surpassed all my expectations though! At home, I love fried sushi rolls, but in Japan I always opted for sashimi or raw rolls. The tuna and salmon (my fave fishes) were so fresh! I’d give anything to have it again. I did try the sake and will probably pass on it next time. After China, I thought I would never want to eat rice again LOL. Rice is the main course for most meals in both China and Japan, and even if you love it, plain white rice can get old. Also, I knew Chinese food would be different than it is in America, but the whole time I couldn’t stop craving sesame chicken from Mong Dynasty in Fayetteville so it kind of dampened anything I did eat :( The noodle bowls were delicious though in China and in Vietnam! My next stop is Myanmar and then India. I am excited for the differences these countries will bring and how they will challenge what I have learned about Asia already! See you in 2 days, Yangon!
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AuthorCourtney Golman Archives
September 2022
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