Saigon: The City I Love to Hate (And Hate to Love?)
So, a little background on me: I’m a Củ Chi kid, born and raised.
I lived in that suburban part of Saigon until the end of 9th grade,
which is when I decided to pack up and move to a nội trú (boarding)
school right in the heart of the city.
Because of that, I never really had the “normal” Saigonese schedule . I wasn’t part of the daily grind until I hit university.
The Saigon Traffic Shock
Man, was I in for a shock. The first time I had to commute regularly, I couldn’t believe how people go to work, go to school, or just… exist on the road. It is total chaos. A completely mess.
I honestly feel like just surviving the commute to school or work exhausts all my energy for the entire day.
Which brings me to my main thought on Saigon: It is the worst place to live or work. The traffic is just unbearable.
The Nightlife Paradox
Đi một vòng Sài Gòn
Hết một vòng thì mình càng lớn
Đâu thể gọi là đi về muộn
Nếu lúc đó là sáng sớm
— Một Vòng Sài Gòn by B Ray
At night, Saigon is so much fun. There are endless places to hang out. It’s awesome… you know, if you got the bag for all the fun stuff.
I’ve spent the last two years of uni trying all the fun and enjoyable places. Time flies when you’re having fun, right? But lately, I’ve started to feel… empty.
My life has been stuck in this loop:
Go to school -> Go home -> Wander to some random place.
That cycle has been on repeat until now.
The “Bừng Tỉnh” Moment
Recently, I just… woke up. I had this bừng tỉnh (awakening)
moment and a huge thought hit me:
What next?! What am I supposed to do next?
Now that I’m turning 20, I suddenly realize I want more. I want so many more things out of my life.
So, I guess it’s time to find a job and start making some bread for my future. I need to fund all this fulfillment I’m chasing.Maybe have a car or move to another country IDK LOL
Hope this little blog will keep all my life archived. Whether I end up successful or not, looking back on all this when I’m older is going to be Legendary.
>> Home