-^-for posterity-^-

two weeks from tomorrow i leave and i have not had much time to reflect on my time here. the group of students leaves on monday and i will begin to relax and process.

the last three days have been spent in the sprawling city of can tho. it’s something like the st. louis of vietnam, a large, bustling city located in the middle of farmer’s fields. we came to talk about our cultural exchange. we came to sell the university on more of a partnership. time was well spent, but it’s nice to be back home in long xuyen.

i have been, as i usually am, shocked at spending so much time with a group of americans. the mannerisms and perspectives are fascinating. they remind me of a distant place i am so familiar with, one that has stood still for the past two years in my mind and through the internet.

i have been playing a number of roles the past few weeks. i have been a tour guide, a resident, a foreigner, a translator and much more. the diversity of these roles has been exhausting. this all coupled with my sickness.

i had a dream last night that i was swimming up the mekong. the water was a bit choppy and brown. i turned around and could see the town of long xuyen in all its glory. there was the giant television tower, the market, the park and all the matchbox buildings smashed together end to end. i was swimming away and heading between two island rivers covered with vegetation.

all of the sudden there were two giant whales in the middle of the river. they were both grey, the kind of whales that use their mouths as a giant filter. the kind that have a giant under bite and teeth that look like a sponge. they swam closer and closer to me. i swam faster. soon enough they were right behind me trying to eat me. they were eye-less beasts with skin that was as slippery as wet tile. i kicked at their noses and stared at them as they flailed in the water. i starred and fought and looked at long xuyen as it grew smaller and smaller on the horizon.

i woke up sweating, confused.