A semblance of normalcy, and adventures in taking the bus

I haven't blogged as much recently because there hasn't been much to say.  After three weeks at E&C Center, I finally feel like I've started to gain a regular daily pattern. That doesn't mean I'm used to the terrifying traffic or the constant noise, but it doesn't phase me as much as it used to. This past week I finally started to make some real progress at work.  I submitted some initial inquiries for grant applications, and finished translating some documents into English. Today is my last day of work for two weeks because of the Tet holiday, but I still plan on doing a little bit of work while traveling.

The worst part of the day is taking the bus home.  In the morning I get off at a major bus stop where lots of people get off and more people get on, so I never have to worry about the bus not stopping.  However, coming home is a different story. First of all, I take Bus #201, but there are two #201s and only one of them goes to my street. So every day I have to ask the money collector if the bus goes to Tay Mo. Sometimes I get a definitive "yes," but other times the guy just sort of grunts or ignores the question altogether.  Those are the bus rides I hate, and I'm incredibly tense until I figure out whether or not it's going towards my stop.  Luckily I've always gotten on the correct #201, or I've realized early enough that I was on the wrong #201 and had time to get off and transfer buses.   I just figured out a few days ago how to tell the difference between them, so now that part will be easier.  But there's a second part to the bus ride home: making sure the bus actually stops at my stop.  I get off at the crossroads of a major highway and the small street my dorm is on.  There is no sign, the bus driver only stops if someone yells at him to stop. I tried yelling in English a few times, but he just completely ignores me. So now I try to make sure the money collector knows I need to get off at Tay Mo, and he will usually tell the bus driver to stop (and I use the word "stop" lightly...the bus doesn't actually come to a halt, it just slows down and you jump off). Then there's just the ten minute walk down our one-lane dirt road with no sidewalks and tons of trucks and motorbikes driving by in both directions, and I'm back at the dorm! It's always such a relief to walk to through the gates of Coma 6 alive and unharmed.

                   View of the road from the roof of Peace House

                                          Coma 6!