Won't you be, my neighbor

Andy, Tuyen and I went to a soft opening of a new restaurant in Da Nang last night.  It was somewhat hidden on a small street about 7.5km away from where we live (that’s far for us).  Three times, we had to stop and ask local VN people on the street for help with directions.  They readily stopped what they were doing and explained where to go as if we were friends in need. 

The restaurant was very nicely decorated with outside dining (helloooo mosquitoes!) and inside lounge dining.  We were literally sitting on new sofas while eating the only two food items available:  BBQ chicken and BBQ pork ribs.  There was live music and overall a really comfortable atmosphere. 

It was raining when we left, so on went the ponchos as usual, except Andy’s bike would not start.  The bike guards noticed their trouble and came over to help.  This small gesture turned into twenty minutes of three guys making it their personal mission to get his bike purring.  When one guy’s efforts wouldn’t work, the next would take a turn at the kick start or a push and rev until finally, they got it going.  I watched with amazement at this friendly hand from complete strangers.  I got the feeling that they would not stop until the mission was complete.  There was no, ‘well, we gave it a shot.  Time to get it towed or push it to a mechanic.’  Time and time again I witness this can-do attitude in various forms.  When I couldn’t reach a window near my ceiling to shut it, a (shorter than me) Vietnamese man put my efforts to shame with ninja maneuvers up some shutters.  When our fish tank light wouldn’t switch on, my landlord’s cousin, who appeared to be twenty-something, came over and dissected the light, removing and replacing only the switch, which then worked perfectly.  Willingness to help no matter how long it takes.  MacGyver abilities.  ‘Nuff said.

Today we got a small taste of a typhoon moving past the coast.  Fortunately, it didn't hit our coast straight on, and instead we were brushed with heavy wind and rain for an afternoon.  I need to stop wearing flip flops on wet tile as I slipped and slid down five or so stairs leaving work, but other than that, it was fun watching what weather can do, and leave behind.