stuck in saigon

I’ve spent two weeks waiting in Saigon for my debit card to arrive, after my bag was stolen by motorbike thieves.

The first card my bank sent never came. I called, and they said they’d send another. I got off the phone, so frustrated to be stuck waiting.

My friend wrote to me: “Sometimes life is funny and makes us slow down.” It’s been an odd twilight zone time frame, never knowing for certain when I’d be able to leave. But being “stuck” has allowed me to experience what life could be like if I built it in Saigon, and I’ve become enamored by a city that’s both exciting and unexpectedly comforting. The nonstop bustle echoes what I love about NYC. People I’ve just met welcomed me with incredible generosity and openness, and so quickly became familiar friends.

My debit card arrived today, and it‘s bittersweet to have a reason to go. On my trip, 14 days is the longest I’ve spent in one place. And now, it’s become the place on my journey that feels most like home.