Why Would You Want Western Culture in Vietnam?

lirelou wrote:

Chris, did it ever occur to you that they may have received those injuries while fighting on the ARVN side? I've actually met VIetnamese who resent us for having pulled out when we did.

How does that change anything I wrote?  American involvement here spread mutagens and left land mines that didn't check IDs when they hurt people years or decades later.

And I am mostly talking about people too young to have been in the war.  Between my first two visits, in 1998 and 2008, most of the really damaged older people disappeared.

I often buy them from the disabled ones because I figure my country probably had something to do with the disabling, whether from mutagenic defoliants or land mines. Sometimes I just give them a bill and wave away the tickets.

Hmm, as opposed to the traffic accidents, workplace accidents, agricultural accidents, peasants walking through their field spraying herbicides and pesticides from tanks on their backs while wearing nothing more than shorts and sandals? Lack of money to pay for necessary medical care?

Yes, I'm sure America is somehow to blame for all that.

lirelou wrote:

Hmm, as opposed to the traffic accidents, workplace accidents, agricultural accidents, peasants walking through their field spraying herbicides and pesticides from tanks on their backs while wearing nothing more than shorts and sandals? Lack of money to pay for necessary medical care?

Yes, I'm sure America is somehow to blame for all that.

(sigh)

Mutagens don't do a lot after early fetal development, for one.  Second, when it's a child like the kid next door whose thumb dangles unattached, I can rule out all the above.  Did I say that every maimed or disfigured person I see was a victim of a land mine, or Agent Orange?  No.  But many are.

Is this some let's-pick-fights evening on here or something?  I'm not taking this bait.

How does that change anything I wrote?  American involvement here spread mutagens and left land mines that didn't check IDs when they hurt people years or decades later.

And I am mostly talking about people too young to have been in the war.  Between my first two visits, in 1998 and 2008, most of the really damaged older people disappeared.

Chris, And how many of those land mines were laid by either of the two warring Vietnamese sides? What percentage of cripples received their injuries as a result of normal risks incurred in everyday living in Vietnam, as opposed to mines or bombs. And wouldn't it be fair to deduct injuries caused to those attempting to recover old war munitions (again from either side) for salvage or re-sale? After all, they assumed the risk.

As for Agent Orange, we were all exposed to it and I'm still around. But since you're mostly talking about people too young to have been in the war, why bring it up? Why presume it is a result of the war as opposed to the myriad dangers of ordinary Vietnamese life? It just seems a bit overly dramatic on your part, though I respect that you honestly feel that way.

Do you remember the famous photo of the little girl who was hit by napalm? Both sides involved in that fight around her village were Vietnamese, and the aircraft that dropped that bomb was a RVN aircraft. Other than reporters, and perhaps one or two advisors, no Americans were there.

I want to earn by, among other things, getting not just capable in the language but seriously fluent and as capable as I am in English.  It's not going to be easy.

Yes, and that more than anything has earned you my respect.

lirelou wrote:

I want to earn by, among other things, getting not just capable in the language but seriously fluent and as capable as I am in English.  It's not going to be easy.

Yes, and that more than anything has earned you my respect.

Thanks.

It bothers me that people get so pleased when we learn anything in the language, I would think that would be the default expectation, not an unusual thing.  But I've run into a lot of westerners who've been here a lot longer than I have and don't speak a word.

I was really diligent for a while but I got discouraged and angry and dropped it for about a year; never intending to quit but not active at it.  Now I'm back to daily and the forgotten words are coming back.  My hearing isn't very good, and I can't hear some of the things I'm doing wrong.

Vietnamese isn't my first foreign language, nor is it my first tonal language, but it's weird how, unlike all the others, listening comprehension lags behind the other three basics.  People won't slow down, for one thing, and the amount of information per syllable is vastly denser than English.  But it's coming.

Greetings,
I am amazed at all I have learned by reading these posts.  We are well over 200 responses but I fear we may be shut down due to remarks about what is known here as the American War. For some people this is a sensative topic. For myself, I have reflected often on my Country and others behavior on the world stage. Sometimes I too usually after consuming an adult libation get on my soapbox about what at one time I thought was significant events. I will try to refrain and encourage others to also.

Hi all,

Please note that the off topic unecessary personal attacks have been removed from the thread.

ancientpathos wrote:

For some people this is a sensative topic.

Indeed. I would suggest we avoid this subject on the forum.

Thanks
Armand
Expat.com Team

Buying a meal for the ticket seller solves a lot of problems at once.  And half the time you're at an eatery already.  Good idea.  Thanks,

There are a few things that I wish was done differently here such as: side walks for walking on instead of a place to open a business or park; one way traffic that was obeyed; buses and vans for traveling through country or to another country would only pick up passengers according to the number of seats available; and perhaps having toilet paper in public or pay toilets. Otherwise I am happy here....

I prefer the sprayer to TP.  You never have to "proofread" the sprayer.  I even had one installed in my house in the USA but the real estate guy said to take it out.

The Japanese sprayer I find useful but the Vietnamese one scares me. The water pressure that comes out of that thing...

They should have the Vietnamese style ones in the West with the drain included. With the pressure those things shoot out, I just spray my whole bathroom down with that baby. Saves me time and it's cleaner!!!

milkybunnyHCM wrote:

The Japanese sprayer I find useful but the Vietnamese one scares me. The water pressure that comes out of that thing...

They should have the Vietnamese style ones in the West with the drain included. With the pressure those things shoot out, I just spray my whole bathroom down with that baby. Saves me time and it's cleaner!!!

Well sometimes the whole process is ah er um "taking too long" and then I appreciate the pressure.

Ah (plunk) there we go.

Again going to off topic?

As long as I don' awaken three weeks later on a Thai fishing boat with a full beard and missing a kidney, I can handle being censured.