The Attack of the MOLD!

The flags were out in my neighbourhood to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

I am thinking of what memorable moments stick out for me in the last couple of week and I have to say it is finding MOLD on my good clothes. Yes, yes it may seem like I dwell on the Hanoi weather, but from the winter season to the spring the moisture in the air I am sure has reached 99%. Our house was literally sweating on the inside – our marble staircase, walls, fridge were drenched and dripping of perspiration because of the yucky humidity. I was warned that I will find mold on my clothes and anything leather and I was quite skeptical of this warning. When I came back from Thailand shirt by shirt, pants and jacket had nice old fuzzy mold on it. And the worst part is even though I put everything in the wash, we do not have a dryer and nothing can dry in this humidity. I feel like I live in a rain forest, which may sound cool but please be assured it is not!

So I am almost over this mold issue but I am not liking the beginning of the rainy season. It has rained everyday and been grey for the last few weeks and it is just depressing. I was fortunate to get a break from it when I was in Thailand, but it is definitely just crappy out. I know I sound pretty sore right now but I am really enjoying my last month in Hanoi. I am trying to think of something positive to say about this weather … hmmm, I don’t need to wear chapstick since my lips are staying nice and moist …

Karaoke, oh course!

I have discovered Skype which in pretty much like having a phone over the internet. Vinny introduced it to me a few years ago but no one else had it back then so I never really got into it. But Sharon, reintroduced me and it is great! It is so inexpensive to call long distance you just need a microphone and make sure you know your time zones. I was able to call my mom (although I think I woke her up) and talked to Sharon in Brisbane. How did people travel before with no internet, email, or messenger?!

Town of Phuket from my Thai trip.

I been meeting up with a lot of visitors this week. Jonathan’s dad (Caper who I ran into in Laos) was in town and last night I had dinner with a Dutch couple who I also met in Laos. I went on a hike with the Hanoi Hashers last week and got to help set the trail for the walkers. I also been to karaoke a couple more times (I wonder if Ottawa has any good karaoke bars?) and went to trivia night at Finnigan’s with my roommate Lora and I was definitely not the ringer on the team…. would you know what anteaters prefer to eat (and it is not ants) or the author of Angela’s Ashes?


It’s been almost 6 months since I been here. I am no longer an intern and working a short-term contract with FCM right now. I keep thinking how strange everything is going to seem when I get back to Canada. I am going to think everything is ridiculously expensive and will keep converting prices into dongs. I haven’t really cooked or cleaned since being here and been spoiled with having a housekeeper. Poor Kate, thinks I am really going to make coffee for her in the mornings!