10/14/11 2:20 pm. Ha Noi, Viet Nam. School

It's been quite a while since my last post. Last week our class took a trip to Sapa and Ha Long Bay; both were incredible, but vastly different experiences. Sapa was the equivalent to a Vietnamese ski town, with the exception of actual snow. The view of the mountains was unbelievable. I had never seen terrace farming in real life before, and you can't fully appreciate it until you do. The land stretched on for acres and acres as far as the eye can see. Although at night, the black void was unavoidable. Looking off the balcony in my hotel room I stared into this abyss of nothing for hours chatting and smoking with my roommate. Complete darkness is hard to find in this metropolitan world, and you don't think about it until you're staring it right in the eyes, and it has already engulfed you. During the day we hiked through villages, and met some of the local women who were eager to share their lives with us as an incentive to buy their products. Trust me, these chicks hustle hard. After a long day of hiking hills, climbing mud paths, and harvesting rice we sat down for lunch in a makeshift hotel. At this, the local women bombarded us to purchase their handcrafted scarfs, bracelets, and other woven goods. They pleaded, pulled, and bargained with us, and it was futile to try and stop them. What we have to remember though, is those people are still there today, right now. They will never leave. We went back to our nice hotel, and left two days later, but they are still in the fields living a completely separate life from our own. I watched kids and couldn't help but to think of what they will be like in ten years when they are my age, and what I will be doing at that time. Things like that just tickle your mind. The next stop on our trip was to Ha  Long Bay, and although it rained mostly the entire trip, I was glad. Kids complained, but for some reason or another I though the mystic view of the water and rock cliffs protruding though the ocean was the best way to see it. I got soaked sitting on the deck of the boat as it rained and most everyone else stayed dry below. "To be at one with the wind is to be at home in the world, free of mortal judgement." - First You Have to Row a Little Boat  As time passes the excitement never ceases. Before I left my brother took me to another dubstep show, except this time I knew a bunch of kids there, and was able to make new friends fairly easily. These are the things I really live for. This may not be the experiences I expected coming here, but they are definitely the ones I'll always remember. After the show we went to a tattoo parlor/bar and had some drinks with the DJ and some other kids. If that wasn't enough; Monday night I went to the craziest birthday party I've ever been too. A family had rented the top floor of a bar, and there were probably 60 skate style kids getting down to a DJ and just having the best time ever. The people here are actual free spirits, where in America the kids just think they are. Unfortunately this party life doesn't come without costs, and karma bit me in the ass. Wednesday I got fairly sick and missed school. I'm not sure what it was, but my stomach was killing me. Today is Friday and I feel much better, just in time for the weekend! I'll try and post more often, but the internet is very weak everywhere I go. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read these blogs. I wish there was a more accurate way for you to see what I'm actually doing, but this will do for now. It helps a lot to know that I am not alone in the world.