After
waking up the next morning I decided to begin my search. Again, I was stricken
by the strangeness of this country. I felt like a foreigner. As I walked out
from my hotel room, I was greeted by this sight. "Well, Toto, I guess we're
not in Kansas anymore," I muttered to myself.
Whilst
walking the streets of Hanoi, I saw this old woman who seemed to be on her way
to the market. I stopped and stared. Could this be my grandmother? I haven't
seen her since... well, truthfully, since before I can remember. The woman walked
on, seemingly undisturbed by my stare. I don't think it was my grandmother.
It was probably just my imagination trying to place me in this strange country.
After
wandering around for several hours, and finding myself lost in the narrow streets
of the town. I decided to see if someone was able to help me.
This
friendly man was willing to help me. I found his English very understandable.
Almost better than my mother's in fact, who has lived in the U.S. for so many
years now! I showed him my postcard and he explained the address on the back
was not in Hanoi, but one of the villages not far from town. I would need to
take a boat trip down the river to find it. I prepared to set sail.