like a crazy bunch of devils

hey you got girlfriend vietnam? mesohornymeloveyoulongtime.

riiight, so now that i'm in nam, i can't stop thinking about apocalypse now, full metal jacket, etc. i'm totally loving this socialist country and feeling the same glorious sun ho chi minh once did. after this, i won't be too surprised when customs pulls me aside on my way back into the US and another red scare gets going. i mean, obviously they know about my potential skills as a dictator and who better to start a revolution for something that hasn't worked in the past than a 5'0" white girl from the suburbs of california?

it turns out i'm on completely private tours for the whole of vietnam, so i'm on my own except in the mornings when i'm visiting places. finally, i can go where i want when i want, not have to walk so damn slow, and get attention by showing off my beaver.

i don't know how this trip can get much better than today. i got to play war at the cu chi tunnels!!! i may have been playing war with myself, but damn it was fun. i held a meeting with my fellow cu chi guerillas, avoided mines and bamboo traps, and totally owned my ak-47 (thank you soviets). before entering the tunnels, a video was put on that was made just after the war. it's about time i heard things from a different perspective. vietnam may have been the winners, but they didn't really write the history of the war as the winners tend to do. honestly, i think the war was mentioned briefly in a paragraph of my american history textbook and we mostly focused on john lennon and the hippies. then again, my american history class consisted of eating, going to starbucks for my teacher, and passing the smart kid's test around. oh yeah, the movie! hahahah "they were like a crazy bunch of devils, shooting pots and pans, the ground, even buddha statues!" "they wanted to see cu chi a dead city, but it will never die!" "she became an american killer hero" "we honor him for killing the most americans. he was the first american killer hero!" i know it's not funny that men died, but this movie portrayed everything in such an anti american fashion, i couldn't help but laugh. the other thing i appreciated about the tunnels is that i really had the opportunity to see why we lost. the tunnels are an absolutely brilliant system. the town survived entirely underground. there were schools, doctors, lounges, everything anyone could ever want. they went all the way to cambodia at one point and certain points emptied into the river for easy gettaways. in the off chance an american did find an entrance to a tunnel, he wouldn't fit inside or he would be caught in one of the brilliantly hidden traps. these guys would step on a pile of leaves and next thing they knew, they were impaled on bamboo sticks or getting their legs amputated from landing on a fish trap. not only were the vietnamese much more resourceful, but they were so damn determined. i think the film puts it best, "little girls became soldiers to seek revenge on the american enemies who killed their fathers." i did some other stuff today, but it all im'pales' in comparison to the cu chi tunnels.

i'm so in love with se asia right now. it might have to do with all the flattery that is surely an ego boost, even though it's only due to the fact that i'm really white and have blue eyes, neither of which i can control. seriously though, the people are incredible. everyone i've come across in these three countries is helpful, friendly, and always smiling. it feels good to be away from the anxiety of la freeways and in a place where people actually appreciate things. when i was riding through lao, kids would run out of their shacks on stilts and wave, yell hello, and put their little hands out for high fives. i may have an intense dislike for american children and yes, i still don't really like them anywhere overall, but it's hard not to smile when those little guys are beaming with excitement. even the adults would wave, smile, and make me feel welcome. i know i'm not all that sensitive, but it really just felt nice. ahh man, now i'm all weirded out i have this blog thing. whatevs, it keeps me from getting too homesick. woah, all these weird things i never feel! homesick, 'nice'?!?! i've never been homesick before, but i totally miss california and my friends. despite that, i'm not letting that get in the way of enjoying every single second here and taking advantage of every opportunity. off to the streets of ho chi minh!!