Being "happy to meet you" is exhausting.

So I hate being the center of attention. And being the center of attention is one thing that I’ve had to unwillingly get used to while over here. Maybe it’s not so much being the center of attention as it is just being noticed. I blame it on being an only child… after years of having no one else to divert my parents’ attention to, I’d rather not have all eyes on my every move. It’s nice to hear, in a selfish way of course, that some of my friends currently abroad are also facing this charming dilemma. Aaron (teaching English at a commune in Indonesia), thanks for sharing in the venting J

I think I’ve gone on and on about the many paradoxes here. Now, here’s a new one: Vietnamese tend to be extremely friendly to strangers, yet extra critical about friends and family members. And, moreover, they prefer their privacy, yet when it comes to others… they want to know EVERYTHING. And they are not afraid to ask any question. I’ve probably explained my whole life story more times than I’ve ever thought about it in 23 years.

No privacy. And no private place in your head where you can just zone off and not have to worry about paying attention to what people around you are saying. I look anywhere from Korean to Japanese to Chinese. You’d think I could blend in more with my surroundings than, say, a “white” American with blonde hair. Yet everyone HAS to ask where I’m from and why I look the way I do. How the heck am I supposed to know? Now it usually depends on department or hospital. In the ER I’m Japanese, in the ICU I’m Korean and elsewhere I’m American. I now say that I’m Japanese, from Korea and living in the States.. and just happen to know Vietnamese. That usually shuts them up for confusion sake.

One of the few downfalls of staying over here for as long as I have, I really can’t complain too much. I love being in Vietnam and I absolutely love meeting so many new and interesting people. But, I’m tired. Introducing yourself over and over and over again and just merely talking to so many people in 1 day takes a lot out of you, especially switching between 2 languages. Again, maybe it’s the only-child syndrome.

Being “happy to meet you” all the time is exhausting.

I’ll be happy to be hidden among the crowd again soon. April 8^th, can’t believe it.