Why It's So Cold in Central Viet Nam

As I sit here shivering in my normally comfortable room, I wonder to myself: Why the heck is it so cold in Viet Nam?! No one warned me about this! I was told that South Viet Nam has only two seasons: sunny and rainy. However, no one prepared me for Central Viet Nam's weather: hella sunny and hot; hella hot and rainy; hella cold and rainy; and hella cold.

This is where my mom would be reading my blog and thinking, "Omg, what do I need to bring her? I told her that it would be cold!" Yes, mẹ, you actually did warn me about this, and you were right. For the 22983743987th time. Con xin lỗi, nha?

But no worries, everyone! I've got it all figured out. I will list my solutions toward the end. Now you Bay Areans and East Coasters -- you might be thinking, "64 degrees F? That's NOTHING!" Oho, lemme tell you why it's like living in a refrigerator here:

Reasons Why It's So Cold in Central Viet Nam
1) You had no idea what clothes to bring. Every time I've been here, it's been hot. Little did I know that my summer and spring breaks don't give me any clue as to what the weather would be like in Central and North Viet Nam in the fall and winter. So I thought to myself, one pair of jeans should be alright. Even those were close to the suitcase cut-off to ensure that my dresses (that I rarely get to wear) made it to Viet Nam.

2) There's no insulation anywhere. Most buildings in Viet Nam allows the wind to flow through, which is appropriate 9-10 months out of the year. However, the cooled tile, drafty room, and chilly breeze can be a bit of a nuisance when you just got out of the shower (which ran out of hot water 2 minutes in) and you're down to your last pair of clean socks, sweater, and shorts (because your jeans are currently drying under the fan).

3) You gotta dry your clothes via room fan. When you hang dry your clothes in the summer, your clothes dry in 3 hours flat. When you dry your clothes in the winter, you gotta bring the clothes rack inside and put both fans (if you're lucky enough to have two--which I am currently not) on full blast, hoping that you can wear your only pair of long pants within the next 24 hours. Until then, I'm left here to blog in my shorts next to the only fan that works as it dries my only pair of long pants. (As you can tell, I'm resenting the fact that I only have one pair of long pants.)

4) You're outside (pretty much) all the time. Whether you're transporting from one place to another, sitting in a cafe or restaurant, or meeting up with a friend, the likelihood that you're outdoors or at least exposed to the open air throughout the day is over 90% (unless you've given up on life and have chosen defeat under your thick red flower-designed blanket. I ain't mad at cha). Thinking about my American lifestyle, I spent most of my time in a heated classroom, heated car, heated restaurant, or next to my portable heater at my desk or on my bed. If I wasn't in a heated room, I was getting my temperature up by speed-walking to my next warm destination or running around the neighborhood in warm, Dry-fit clothing.
Most Vietnamese people get around via bicycle or motorbike (so common that some even claim car sickness if they sit in a moving taxi for over five minutes), and their main shield from the rain and cold is a poncho. When you get seated in a cafe or restaurant, it's likely that you have at most three walls surrounding you, with one open wall to allow customers in. When you meet up with friends, you're most likely meeting outdoor before you bike off to the next place. Even for some people's workplaces, their windows and doors remain open at all times. When I teach, the wind and rain are usually louder than I am -- and if you know how loud I get, that's saying a lot.

5) You're too cheap to buy more clothes to bundle up. I mean, c'mon... I could tough it out for a month or so extra. There's no way I'm wasting my money on pants and sweaters that I have to lug back home to America and am likely not going to wear for another 7 months.

Okay, not necessarily the right mindset, but I'm working on getting it right with baby steps:

What You Need to Do to Conquer the Cold
1) Go to the Vietnamese marketplace with a fashion-savvy, best-bargaining friend to buy some winter clothes. Hien offered to take me to the market tomorrow. She was on point in helping me find sandals that fit my abnormally large feet, so I fully trust her with my upcoming winter wardrobe.

2) Eat hot food and drink hot drinks when you're outside. Cafe den doesn't always come hot, but if you have another hot option handy, order that and get that cup in between your quivering palms ASAP. Maybe buy some cute glove and mittens to solve that problem, too.

3) Dry your clothes when you're not in the room. Or wear the giant blanket while blogging. No point in shivering and complaining when the problem's fixable. (Be a solution-oriented thinker.)

4) Choose the appropriate times to do certain things. Showering early in the morning or late at night is not as refreshing as it was when the remnants of perspiration would keep you warm during and after the shower. Shower midday. Go for a run when it's cold and not raining. Take advantage of the slightly chilly weather and run errands, and do indoor things like blog, read, and calculate grades when you're absolutely stuck inside your dorm due to the winter cold and rain.

5) Go hang out with friends at a place where you can bundle up and laugh off the cold. No better way to conquer the cold than to spend it delightfully warm company. =)