Luke Williams
Thirteen years ago I never understood what any of these sentences meant, yet they both ask the same question; where am I? Literally I am living in the Cầu Giấy District of Hà Nội, Việt Nam. I am at the point where I am growing into an adult. Part of that growth has been the pivotal moment of getting on a bike for the first time.
When I decided to spend senior year enrolled in School Year Abroad-Vietnam, I planned on challenging myself academically and culturally. In my first weeks in Hanoi, my sole mode of transportation was taxi. However, viewing life from behind a window removed me from the flow of this vibrant city. My experiences revolved at the end-points of my cab ride; school and host-family. I envied my peers and their stories of people they met or foods they tasted while riding around on their SYA-subsidized bikes.
Right now I am a six-foot senior unsuccessfully trying to execute turns and attracting the added ridicule from both passersby and peers. My greatest challenge wasn’t just the coordination of riding but the self-conscious vulnerability I felt. These roadblocks ended up creating a physical and mental battle with the bicycle, but one that was overcome with scrapes and laughs. I now have access to the exciting streets and alleys of Hanoi. This is where I am now. That “monster” is now my best friend and I am now one with the city, flowing and bending with the heavy traffic.
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