-^-for posterity-^-

i am studying vietnamese at the university of social sciences here in ho chi minh city. the other day my class received an invitation to attend a talent show. we were told that it was basically a show for foreigners and that it would be very interesting.

a guy i my class named ben thought it would be fun to go. he is built tall and has a circular face. i would never have gone if it wasn’t for him. boy would i have missed out.

we met at the local theater-type place and asked around until we figured out where we were to go. we entered the large theater and seemed to be quite out of place. my face twisted to the side and i whispered, “i think we’re in the wrong room.” ben was already sitting down and the show was beginning.

the show consisted of mainly korean, japanese and some vietnamese students singing songs. between the songs there were two comedians that would walk onto stage and slowly read jokes from cards. everyone would laugh. the stage was large and many colorful lights were used. it all seemed like a big joke.

by talent show they meant a karaoke contest. a normal song would go something like this: the music starts and there is no hiding the fact that it’s a synthesizer with a drum kit. the singer walks on stage slowly. the crowd claps politely. it’s a young boy with hair dyed blond. he has a very plump face and a baseball cap on. the lights furiously light the stage: purple pink and light green. colors that furrow the brow and cloud the mind. the person would start singing, softly and tenderly while always glancing about. the singer would walk to the edge of the stage and reach out to the audience with passion. he would reach the climax of the song and tilt his head slightly backwards. he would hold his note long, high, loud. the crowd would erupt with applause and people would stand up. the singer would bow slightly and girls would bring him flowers and everyone would laugh. euphoria.

me and ben were “enjoying” this talent show until two young students decided it was time to talk to us. they walked up to our aisle and asked the two people to our right if they wouldn’t mind moving to another row. for some reason they moved. our new friends has us right where they wanted us. the young boy started, “do you mind if i speak english with you?” he asked right when the show was getting good. some men had come on stage with big sticks and were pretending to beat a drum. my new friends didn’t notice the drummers, so he continued. “i am from vietnam. i am a student and i am a future journalist.” interesting. “who are you?” “i am jon.”

at that moment they were passing around some type of offering. it seemed to be an opportune time to leave so we quickly slid out. we returned and found seats on the other side of the auditorium. the building was about 100 seats across and we were far from our earlier friends. half way through the second part of the show i was passed a note. it said: “ben and jon! we’re sorry cause made you feel (they have a large blank here. guess they couldn’t think of a good word)! we’re really sorry! so, we’ll be the journalists in the future; talking with u will make us do practices so better good. if you’re not busy, i want to talk with us and take a photograph! do you agree with me?! hope you will agree! see you after this performance. wait 4 me! thank you very much!” and that was it. what a wonderful note to be passed in the middle of a hilarious karaoke talent show. everyone should have the experience of being singled out in a crowd of that size and given a note that had that many exclamation points.

the show was about to end. the crowd was restless and i was tired. tired of the lights and the singing and just ready to go home and sleep. everyone walked out on the stage together and the crowd thundered. people were standing up and running on stage to give flowers. then, as if from the heavens, music began churning.

we are the world, we are the children… the performers all rocked and swayed to the music and there was a wonderful solo by a large danish man with huge sunglasses and an ill fitting suit. the crowd continued standing and, unbeknownst to me, the last chorus of the song had to be sung with ones arms above their head swinging from left to right and back again. my arms were raised for me by helpful neighbors and me and ben swayed to the music.

we are the world. it is a terribly annoying song but it did sum up what i was feeling at the moment. everything’s culturally relative.