Ben Thanh Market!!

This morning started out with seeing more apartments with a new realtor. She seems to be more in tune with what I want and like. She also just seems really on top of her game. She arranged for me to see about 6 apartments this morning alone and I think she could have kept going....but I found the one I want :D It is 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, hardwood floors, modern furniture, some dishes included, a full-length electric piano, great bathroom with storage, and a lovely window seat in the living room. Also, it has wallpaper...not necessarily my style but it definitely beats the white walls I've encountered so far. I felt extremely comfortable and at home in this apartment. I walked in and said "this is the one." I am waiting to hear back from her if the owner agrees or not. She is going to try to negotiate the price down a bit but I will take it for the asking price if he won't go down. It is more than I hoped to pay but it is worth it for all that I get with it. I should hear in the morning if it's mine and hopefully I'll be signing the contract tomorrow morning/afternoon and moving in this weekend! I will attach pictures as soon as I know :)

Another new teacher and her family are staying in the same hotel as me and they called me this afternoon to have some drinks and chat. They then invited me to come with them to Ben Thanh Market in District 1 tonight. I said "absolutely!" It is great to have someone to go there with. Going alone would be REALLY intimidating! This place is INSANE. The entire market is in one huge building. The main aisles criss-crossing the market are fairly wide....but all the other aisles are barely the width of your body. As you walk through them people grab you and try to put things in your hand. I definitely need to learn how to haggle because that's what you do here. First I need to go to more stores to find out what things SHOULD cost. I really have no idea what prices I should be haggling to so I'm not very good....but I fear that I'm going to get so used to haggling that by the time I go back to the states I'll refuse to pay full price for anything. I'll be trying to haggle at Wal-Mart haha. Well, the market closes around 6 and then that's when the fun really starts. The street next to the market is closed and all the tents roll out. The market comes outside. They also roll out restaurants! It's incredible! We ate there on the street and ordered calamari, fish, spring rolls, fried rice, 4 beers, and 2 bottles of water....what did it cost? About $15. Yea, be jealous! It really was an amazing experience. I will be taking anyone that comes to visit to Ben Thanh Market...if you come to Saigon you have to witness it....especially at night!

Also, in the next few weeks I will be learning how to drive a motorbike and then I will rent one of my own. Yep, I'm going to drive a motorbike in Saigon! I really hope this isn't a mistake....haha. I fear that I'll come back to America and forget how to follow the laws.....so it would probably be safe to say don't let me drive for a few days/weeks when I get back.

Umm....I can't think of anything else to post tonight but it's late and I'm exhausted so I've probably forgotten something. I'll let you know if I have an apartment tomorrow!