Being a tech person and familiar with computers I like to offer solutions when I think I can.
Hương needed a new printer and also wanted her daughters' computer, in a different room, to be able to use the printer if possible. We went to a local store and looked over a number of printers. She settled on an HP M1132 printer, copier, scanner with my help.
The solution to printing from another room? A print server. We bought a D-Link DPR-1020 print server at the same time as the printer.
Vietnam amazes me with services available for little or no cost.
At no additional cost, purchase was about $250US, a technician delivered the printer and print server and set them up!
Unfortunately the print server didn't work reliably. Hương's laptop has Windows 7 and the daughters' computer Ubuntu Linux. According to D-Link's web site the print server works with both. A little digging on my part and I discovered the problem was the print server's compatibility with the printer. I found plenty of posts that it didn't work with the particular printer regardless of Windows or Ubuntu on the computer sending the print job.
The typical reaction I'd have would just be "return it." Not so fast. Seems in Vietnam merchants accepting product returns is not a common practice. So first Hương called to make sure we would be "allowed to return it." Her words, not mine. Once that hurdle was cleared we went back to the store with the product and the receipt. Then things got interesting.
First we went to the purchase desk where payment for a purchase is made. From there we were directed to the merchandise pickup desk where purchases are delivered to the buyer. They looked our paperwork over and directed us upstairs to the testing department. Testing looked the print server over and sent us back downstairs to the purchase desk. They filled something out and sent us over to merchandise pickup again. Merchandise pickup took the device back, gave us some more paperwork and sent us back to the purchase desk. They filled out some more paperwork, called someone, and we waited. The "called someone" came to us and we followed her to the 3rd floor and waited outside an office. After a while she came out of the office and gave us some paperwork. It included a new receipt without the print server on it. Now, at last, we went back downstairs to the purchase desk, gave them the paperwork and got the refund!
I told Hương that next time she's in the US we're going to buy something and return it just so she can see how easy the process is here.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Stuff I Ate In Vietnam
My first trip to Vietnam I was really intent on trying foods that are unique or uncommon compared to common fare here in the US. On my fifth trip I really didn't do gastronomic exploration. Even so I had some opportunities this time that I didn't plan for.
This particular lunch Hương and I were meeting a friend of hers for some chit chat and to talk about introducing her to a friend of mine.
As I often do I asked Hương to make the order for me. My Vietnamese is very limited and I only recognize some dishes at this point. She'll generally ask if I like this meat or that, what sort of noodles I want, etc. and then make the selection.
In this case she asked if I wanted to try pigeon and of course I said sure. This is a portion of what was delivered to the table.
It really is quite tasty meat. I was surprised at the breast. I like dark meat best and am always eating the legs and thighs of chicken instead of breast. The breast was the meatiest part of the pigeon and really quite dark. It reminded me in many ways of a good chicken thigh. Tender and savory and dark. Not at all dry.
The thighs and legs were good too. Being a pigeon though there really wasn't that much too them.
For good measure, and not to miss an opportunity eating unusual food, I ate the head too! How do you eat the head?! Just put it in your mouth and bite. It's like a soft little ball. The skull gives no resistance and doesn't break into sharp bits of bone like you might think. The brain is about the consistency of chicken breast but doesn't have the fibers. I didn't notice the eyes separately at all. I didn't eat the beak but did get the tongue.
Certainly the way this was prepared I'd eat it again, head included.
One other thing before I forget we also got a serving of pig uterus. Sorry I didn't get a picture. I think most of it was eaten before I knew what it was. Suffice to say it was tasty also and for sure I'd have more prepared the same way.
As I often do I asked Hương to make the order for me. My Vietnamese is very limited and I only recognize some dishes at this point. She'll generally ask if I like this meat or that, what sort of noodles I want, etc. and then make the selection.
In this case she asked if I wanted to try pigeon and of course I said sure. This is a portion of what was delivered to the table.
It really is quite tasty meat. I was surprised at the breast. I like dark meat best and am always eating the legs and thighs of chicken instead of breast. The breast was the meatiest part of the pigeon and really quite dark. It reminded me in many ways of a good chicken thigh. Tender and savory and dark. Not at all dry.
The thighs and legs were good too. Being a pigeon though there really wasn't that much too them.
For good measure, and not to miss an opportunity eating unusual food, I ate the head too! How do you eat the head?! Just put it in your mouth and bite. It's like a soft little ball. The skull gives no resistance and doesn't break into sharp bits of bone like you might think. The brain is about the consistency of chicken breast but doesn't have the fibers. I didn't notice the eyes separately at all. I didn't eat the beak but did get the tongue.
Certainly the way this was prepared I'd eat it again, head included.
One other thing before I forget we also got a serving of pig uterus. Sorry I didn't get a picture. I think most of it was eaten before I knew what it was. Suffice to say it was tasty also and for sure I'd have more prepared the same way.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Kids parties and fire hazards
We just celebrated Hương's oldest daughter's, Nhật Mai's, birthday.
The celebration was in a multilevel building narrow and long. One corner of the rectangle was devoted to stairs, another to a bathroom. The rest of each level consisted of low tables with legless benches around them and throw pillows on the benches.
We arrived and were seated at a long table on the 2nd floor which, in this place, was actually the 4th floor by my count. There was another larger square table and shorter rectangular table in our seating area as well. At first we were the only ones there, ten girls 11 1/2 to 12 1/2 years old, Hương and me.
Kids' fare was served including pasta and a kind of omelette. The signature item at this place, different kinds of milk tea with tapioca pearls, was served as well. Hương and I had also bought a birthday cake.
The girls all seemed to have a good time and later Nhật Mai told Hương this was her favorite birthday party.
While we were there the other two tables filled. Mostly girls at the large square one and boys at the smaller rectangular one.
It got quite rowdy. The kids at the other two tables were loud and running around the tables quite a bit. I was waiting for someone to crash across our table because the quarters were so tight and the kids seemed totally oblivious to the surroundings.
Then at the boys table someone broke out sparklers! That's right the kind made from metal bits that burn hot, shower sparks and have metal rods down the center. I watched with real concern as they were lit and showered sparks over everything at the table and onto the pillows as well. And once they went out a few more were offered up to keep the pyrotechnics going. I finally relaxed a bit when they all went out and no more were offered up to be lit.
Once all that was over the other girls' table started smearing the cake frosting on each other's faces and a bit on the arms. Then the boys' table started the same. Hương told me smearing cake frosting on each other's faces is something that has become quite common at kids parties.
Our table of girls didn't run around and didn't smear cake. A relief for me. I was near the maelstroms but not in them.
The celebration was in a multilevel building narrow and long. One corner of the rectangle was devoted to stairs, another to a bathroom. The rest of each level consisted of low tables with legless benches around them and throw pillows on the benches.
We arrived and were seated at a long table on the 2nd floor which, in this place, was actually the 4th floor by my count. There was another larger square table and shorter rectangular table in our seating area as well. At first we were the only ones there, ten girls 11 1/2 to 12 1/2 years old, Hương and me.
Kids' fare was served including pasta and a kind of omelette. The signature item at this place, different kinds of milk tea with tapioca pearls, was served as well. Hương and I had also bought a birthday cake.
The girls all seemed to have a good time and later Nhật Mai told Hương this was her favorite birthday party.
While we were there the other two tables filled. Mostly girls at the large square one and boys at the smaller rectangular one.
It got quite rowdy. The kids at the other two tables were loud and running around the tables quite a bit. I was waiting for someone to crash across our table because the quarters were so tight and the kids seemed totally oblivious to the surroundings.
Then at the boys table someone broke out sparklers! That's right the kind made from metal bits that burn hot, shower sparks and have metal rods down the center. I watched with real concern as they were lit and showered sparks over everything at the table and onto the pillows as well. And once they went out a few more were offered up to keep the pyrotechnics going. I finally relaxed a bit when they all went out and no more were offered up to be lit.
Once all that was over the other girls' table started smearing the cake frosting on each other's faces and a bit on the arms. Then the boys' table started the same. Hương told me smearing cake frosting on each other's faces is something that has become quite common at kids parties.
Our table of girls didn't run around and didn't smear cake. A relief for me. I was near the maelstroms but not in them.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Elevators and floors
Vietnamese floor numbering is an adjustment. A building that I would say has five stories they would call a four story building.
However... get in the elevator to go to the fifth floor, press 5 on the panel, the rooms and suites on the floor the elevator opens at will be numbered in the six hundreds!
This really threw me for a loop when visiting mẹ in the hospital. It wasn't only that I pressed 5 on the elevator panel but also when the doors opened there was a large column in front of the door with a giant shiny 6 on it.
I paused before stepping out and confirmed the floor number the elevator stopped at was 5. Very strange feeling to step out of an elevator that stopped at the fifth floor and step onto the sixth floor!
Sometimes it definitely feels as if I've taken the red pill.
However... get in the elevator to go to the fifth floor, press 5 on the panel, the rooms and suites on the floor the elevator opens at will be numbered in the six hundreds!
This really threw me for a loop when visiting mẹ in the hospital. It wasn't only that I pressed 5 on the elevator panel but also when the doors opened there was a large column in front of the door with a giant shiny 6 on it.
I paused before stepping out and confirmed the floor number the elevator stopped at was 5. Very strange feeling to step out of an elevator that stopped at the fifth floor and step onto the sixth floor!
Sometimes it definitely feels as if I've taken the red pill.
More about hospitals
The hospital mẹ is in has a design common to buildings in Vietnam. It has many vertical vents from the lowest floor to the sky to allow ventilation and help keep the interior comfortable, at least for Vietnamese.
In the case of the hospital two of the vents, one at each end, are actually large courtyards on the ground floor. The floors above are open to the sky and so have hallways that oversee the perimeter of the courtyards. Attractive open configuration actually.
The less savory features are in the details. Hương and I entered the hospital through the first floor, not the ground floor. To exit it seemed if we used the ground floor we might get more directly back to the motorbike. So down to the ground floor we went.
Walking towards the direction the bike was parked brought us through one of these large courtyards. In it I saw two cats. Cute, I like cats, but they didn't appear to be pets and besides what are cats doing in a hospital? Then I saw a rat. A big one. Big enough I thought the smaller of the two cats might actually be at risk if it tried to predate the rat. And of course I didn't think "cute" when I saw the rat. I thought "what's it doing in the hospital?"
We continued walking and came across several exit doors. All were locked from the inside with a padlock that went through flanges that had been attached to the doors after the fact. They weren't integrated into the doors, they were bolted on. I thought "fire safety hazard" and "how do people get out in an emergency?"
At this point we had to retrace our steps and go out the way we went in. Our alternate path out of the hospital was blocked.
In the case of the hospital two of the vents, one at each end, are actually large courtyards on the ground floor. The floors above are open to the sky and so have hallways that oversee the perimeter of the courtyards. Attractive open configuration actually.
The less savory features are in the details. Hương and I entered the hospital through the first floor, not the ground floor. To exit it seemed if we used the ground floor we might get more directly back to the motorbike. So down to the ground floor we went.
Walking towards the direction the bike was parked brought us through one of these large courtyards. In it I saw two cats. Cute, I like cats, but they didn't appear to be pets and besides what are cats doing in a hospital? Then I saw a rat. A big one. Big enough I thought the smaller of the two cats might actually be at risk if it tried to predate the rat. And of course I didn't think "cute" when I saw the rat. I thought "what's it doing in the hospital?"
We continued walking and came across several exit doors. All were locked from the inside with a padlock that went through flanges that had been attached to the doors after the fact. They weren't integrated into the doors, they were bolted on. I thought "fire safety hazard" and "how do people get out in an emergency?"
At this point we had to retrace our steps and go out the way we went in. Our alternate path out of the hospital was blocked.
Hospitals
Hương's oldest brother, Ban, was admitted to the hospital this past weekend. He was having shortness of breath and other issues that seemed like heart problems.
And then her mom, mẹ, got admitted Thursday.
Seems things will work out for everyone. Ban got out the day mẹ was admitted. And mẹ, even thought she asked to stay in the hospital for testing, is comfortable and expects to be out in a few days. Imagine being kept in the hospital for observation because the patient asked.
Hospitals and health care here, at least what I've been exposed to, are completely different then at home.
The hospital Ban was in is brand new and specializes in cardiac medicine. It was barren. The halls were empty. The floor he was on had wide empty halls. There was no nurses' station, no medical personnel in sight. Stepping off the elevator there was something that could have been a reception desk with nobody there. And no "stuff" around as if people were usually there and just were away at the moment. It was barren.
In the room there was no equipment on the walls, no hookups for patient monitors and no nurse call button. The bed was a heavy frame hospital bed that could raise or lower at either end but it was mechanical not electrical operation. There were no side rails to keep the patient on the bed. Plus, and seeming somewhat odd to me, the door had a key lock and the keys were in the lock on the room side of the door.
I also observed Ban getting some treatment. Someone came in to give him a shot. No gloves, didn't see an alcohol rub, didn't see a band aide applied. Knowing how we are in the US about transferring contamination, even in a doctor's office much less a hospital, this all seemed very strange to me.
Hospitals and health care here, at least what I've been exposed to, are completely different then at home.
The hospital Ban was in is brand new and specializes in cardiac medicine. It was barren. The halls were empty. The floor he was on had wide empty halls. There was no nurses' station, no medical personnel in sight. Stepping off the elevator there was something that could have been a reception desk with nobody there. And no "stuff" around as if people were usually there and just were away at the moment. It was barren.
In the room there was no equipment on the walls, no hookups for patient monitors and no nurse call button. The bed was a heavy frame hospital bed that could raise or lower at either end but it was mechanical not electrical operation. There were no side rails to keep the patient on the bed. Plus, and seeming somewhat odd to me, the door had a key lock and the keys were in the lock on the room side of the door.
I also observed Ban getting some treatment. Someone came in to give him a shot. No gloves, didn't see an alcohol rub, didn't see a band aide applied. Knowing how we are in the US about transferring contamination, even in a doctor's office much less a hospital, this all seemed very strange to me.
Mẹ's hospital was much the same in the room. The hospital's halls were much narrower though and there were plenty of patients. Some were watching TV in the hall and there was a small nurse's station at the intersection of the main hall and the hallway to mẹ's room. Me's room was a double. She asked to move to a four person room because her insurance covered that. She didn't want to pay the $17/day room charge for the double. That's right $17US/day!
Hương has also gone to the hospital on at least one of my visits and she's brought the girls for treatment of cough and fever over the year and a half we've known each other. It's pay as you go.
The hospitals Hương's been to, different from Ban and mẹ's, have had a receptionist that she pays for service. We get a receipt and only then see a doctor. However you see the doctor and get treatment quickly. I've accompanied Hương to the hospital and she's been treated and released in 30 minutes!! At home I've waited that long in the emergency room just to be seen by the receptionist so we can start waiting to be seen by a doctor.
Hương has also gone to the hospital on at least one of my visits and she's brought the girls for treatment of cough and fever over the year and a half we've known each other. It's pay as you go.
The hospitals Hương's been to, different from Ban and mẹ's, have had a receptionist that she pays for service. We get a receipt and only then see a doctor. However you see the doctor and get treatment quickly. I've accompanied Hương to the hospital and she's been treated and released in 30 minutes!! At home I've waited that long in the emergency room just to be seen by the receptionist so we can start waiting to be seen by a doctor.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Plumbing problems
The sink drains worked very slowly. One barley flowed at all. And there was a slow leak under the sink. I decided to fix things.
Sound like trouble?
First order of business disconnect all the pipes. Easy enough, hand tight plastic nuts on flexible plastic pipe.
All the seals were bunged up. Looked like whoever screwed the nuts on didn't bother to be sure the seals were seated flat on the coupling. I tried to flatten one so it would seal and hopefully not leak under the sink. Just the little twisting I did to turn it flat caused it to tear. Uh oh! Now I've decided to replace the seals rather than flatten them.
I was prepared to go out and buy replacements. Hương said she'd call the building superintendent and they'd replace the seals. She called, someone came after a bit. He said he'd be back in an hour or so. When he came back he replaced the pipes, not just the seals.
However he didn't replace one pipe. The one that almost didn't drain. (dramatic music now...)
I disconnected it and found it was almost completely plugged. So I started shaking it and a sludge sausage started working its way out. The more I shook the more came out. This was encouraging.
So I kept on shaking. More kept coming out. Then the pipe cracked. Sigh. Brittle. And now began an adventure trying to find a replacement. I walked around Ho Chi Minh for about three hours stopping in every plumbing shop I saw. A few shops had longer pipe but nothing in the needed length.
There's plenty of shops. All small or very small businesses. No one had a replacement. Hương came home and we drove to a market that specialized in tools and parts and we couldn't find anything there. Then we went to where she bought the sink and they said it couldn't be bought, they'd have to send the broken item back to the factory and a replacement could be ready in a day!
Finally we went to one of the shops that had a too long piece and bought that. I installed it and everything's draining again.
Moral of the story? In Vietnam it isn't always easy to get what you want. Your experience with Home Depot, Lowes, Sears, Joe's Plumbing, etc. gives you expectations that don't apply here, even in Vietnam's largest city.
And another thing, sellers don't offer alternatives. If they don't have it they're likely to say it can't be bought rather than suggest another shop or another solution. It's like if they aren't the solution they'll tell you there isn't one.
Sound like trouble?
First order of business disconnect all the pipes. Easy enough, hand tight plastic nuts on flexible plastic pipe.
All the seals were bunged up. Looked like whoever screwed the nuts on didn't bother to be sure the seals were seated flat on the coupling. I tried to flatten one so it would seal and hopefully not leak under the sink. Just the little twisting I did to turn it flat caused it to tear. Uh oh! Now I've decided to replace the seals rather than flatten them.
I was prepared to go out and buy replacements. Hương said she'd call the building superintendent and they'd replace the seals. She called, someone came after a bit. He said he'd be back in an hour or so. When he came back he replaced the pipes, not just the seals.
However he didn't replace one pipe. The one that almost didn't drain. (dramatic music now...)
I disconnected it and found it was almost completely plugged. So I started shaking it and a sludge sausage started working its way out. The more I shook the more came out. This was encouraging.
So I kept on shaking. More kept coming out. Then the pipe cracked. Sigh. Brittle. And now began an adventure trying to find a replacement. I walked around Ho Chi Minh for about three hours stopping in every plumbing shop I saw. A few shops had longer pipe but nothing in the needed length.
There's plenty of shops. All small or very small businesses. No one had a replacement. Hương came home and we drove to a market that specialized in tools and parts and we couldn't find anything there. Then we went to where she bought the sink and they said it couldn't be bought, they'd have to send the broken item back to the factory and a replacement could be ready in a day!
Finally we went to one of the shops that had a too long piece and bought that. I installed it and everything's draining again.
Moral of the story? In Vietnam it isn't always easy to get what you want. Your experience with Home Depot, Lowes, Sears, Joe's Plumbing, etc. gives you expectations that don't apply here, even in Vietnam's largest city.
And another thing, sellers don't offer alternatives. If they don't have it they're likely to say it can't be bought rather than suggest another shop or another solution. It's like if they aren't the solution they'll tell you there isn't one.
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