Student Picked 2: What would I wear to Vietnam?

 2/2/2021

Thoughts during Apocolypse Now

What would I wear to Vietnam? It's a conceited and superficial question I suppose but in the midst of Apocalypse Now I have no idea what it would be like to be in any Asian country let alone Vietnam. I've never been to any third-world nation, excuse me, developing nation before. My mother has taken mission trips and ‘language learning’ trips to Guatemala, so I suppose I have some understanding of what goes on there and what it looks like but no personal experiences. But of course, Vietnam and Guatemala are two very different nations. She always talked about how poor they were but how happy they were. I have a hard time imagining any life other than my current reality of course but I have my fantasies and dreams, but no nonfiction country has ever sparked my interest enough to allow me to imagine any life other than right here right now. Part of me wishes that I was ridiculously skinny spending every day lounging in the sun and eating and drinking whatever I want with no concern, but I also recognize that this may be time wasted. But hey maybe you can learn from always lounging about? But again I wonder how people so poor, so sick, or having been given the short end of the metaphorical straw, can radiate such positivity. Perhaps simplicity and routine somehow allow for a peaceful entrance and exit on Earth. Or perhaps we living in privileged Nations full of problems, grievances, and political discourse, really have drawn the short end of the straw and are suffering under materialistic possessions rather than basking in blissful ignorance. However, the philosophical discussion doesn't distract me from the fact that I still don't know what I would wear if I ever went to Vietnam.


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