As I near 11 months on the road, I have a newfound appreciation for the impact of weather on both my mood and the city I am living in (Hanoi)~! Like many cities, Hanoi seems to light up on sunny days. It’s a late Autumn afternoon in October and my first Fall season outside the United States. Although often described by a chill in the air, Halloween and a time of transition, this October feels oddly familiar.
This morning, I went to buy some succulents. For months, I swore I would not buy plants but after passing “Plant street” as it is nicknamed one too many times, I finally caved. I bought a large beautiful Burro’s tail and an array of smaller cacti. I wandered along the busy street in search of plants. Along the way, I saw fish, animals for sale, and local vendors selling the usual range of flowers, fruit and knickknacks. However, on my bike ride back home, I was distinctly reminded of Sweden and the Danish concept of ‘hygge’. The word ‘hygge’ refers to the idea of acknowledging and appreciating the special or charming moments in life no matter how mundane they may seem. I recalled the sunny afternoon walk on a promenade in Malmo where I bought a yogurt-based raspberry ice cream and people watched with a view of the Oresund, a famous bridge that connects Denmark to Sweden. The feeling of ‘hygge’ resurfaced. Today, the feeling of hygge came about while buying plants from local vendors in Hanoi, while sitting in a small cafe drinking egg coffee and writing this article from a taco shop in Old Quarter. For me, this feeling has come to clue me into some of the best moments of my life. Hygge moments serve to demarcate experiences of joy, reflection and calm that I’ve felt while abroad and back in the United States. The recent moments of hygge in Hanoi have reminded me of my love for this often ‘difficult to love’ city. While often discussed in terms of traffic or pollution, days like this remind me why Hanoi is truly a beautiful city to call home.
The life of a teacher in South East Asia is, albeit sometimes challenging, one of the most interesting things I have experienced thus far. As I gain a deeper sense of comfort here in Hanoi, I find myself grateful for the lifestyle that being an English teacher can afford. Although wages are high here for native speakers, I am mostly referring to the work-life balance. The United States is almost seemingly revered to the extent that when I speak about why I wanted to leave, I am often meet with confusion. However, the ability to develop professionally in addition to personally remains at the forefront of my mind. I find that from a place of gratitude, I am able to relax in a way I often failed to during my educational / university years. I find that I am able to challenge many of the ideas of American society related to work, relationships and being that I had (both part knowingly and) unknowingly carried with me.
Stampchaser Photography 