Fat and ugly

So I wanted to take a minute to write down an interesting cultural phenomenon. Maybe it's in part due to poor english, but the english teachers here continually comment on others' weight and stature. They called Todd "fat," even though he just likes to lift weight. They called the other woman on the trip's husband "ugly, like my husband... fat and ugly." This same woman said of one of her fellow teachers and closest friends: "when I first met her, I thought she'd be very mean because she's soo ugly!" The woman she's talking about is totally friendly, does have a tiny bit wider face, but is a nice and attractive person!! Also, another teacher called her fat simply because her face is slightly wider...
 I get complimented all the time, but of course, on my height, weight, and beauty. Naturally! The other day a teacher asked if I was planning on gaining weight. Well, no, that's not a goal of mine.. She herself weighs about 40 kilograms and is very small in frame.

To sum up my current day: I spent it in saigon with the other two americans. I just had some pretty good indian food (low in flavor but good in quality and freshness) and am going to the airport in an hour. We had a great tour this morning, but of course when you pay for something here you never quite get the quality or duration of experience that you expect. I met two irish travelers our age who were fun to talk to - they are traveling for 5 months and taking time off from work to do so! Apparently that's common in their circles. Most people on the tour seemed like they were 19-year-old Austrailians and were pretty obnoxious - like still in high school. Once, when I was actually walking in the cu chi tunnels themselves, the Austrailians in front of me had a little panic attack and quit the tunnels early, meaning that everyone came out only half way through the 1/5 mile tunnels (100 meters?). It was kind of amusing.. but I was right behind them and the lights were dead the rest of the way. The crawl space was very small - you're on your legs, but knees bent and ducking down towards the ground.

Write more later! Crazy crazy!