I’m nearing the end of my second week here. I’ve finished my first round of interviews and I’m quite happy with the results so far. The respondents were knowledgeable on the subject, and confirmed each others answers. I’m now on my way to Hang Yen province to talk with some local government officials and potato farmers and traders.

My life at university campus is still interesting. I’ve been asked to join English club, a self organized students club which brings together students that want to learn English. There the unthinkable happened, a glimpse was enough, who was she? What was she doing her? Why was there another whitey in the classroom? This was my campus. I then found out that there was en international students dormitory, which housed mainly Cambodians, Lao, but also a German girl, a Belgian guy  and funny enough 6 Mozambiqans, how did they end up here? People still stare at me, girls still giggle and several Tran’s, Hue’s, Van’s and Lieu’s have since asked my phone number. But it’s not the same anymore…

I’ve also picked up motorbiking. And I love it. I adapted to Hanoi traffic quite quick, and even made it to the city center where there are as much motorbikes as there are bikes in Amsterdam. It is more fun outside the cities though, through paddy-rice fields and along the rivers.

Next week I will continue my research in Da Lat, which supposedly is a beautiful area. I’m already picturing myself riding from one meeting to the next. I’ve uploaded some pictures of English club, Vietnamese scenery, the university campus, my weekend-office and a visit to a potato project (click to enlarge).