Getting started

We made it safely to Ho Chi Minh City with surprisingly little hassle from taxi drivers at the airport, despite our nearly unmanageable luggage load (we checked in about 5 pounds less than the maximum weight allowance). We are staying at Miss Loi's guesthouse which is run by an elegant looking woman and about 7 young girls that serve her and take care of the guests. Yesterday I fell down the bottom flight of stairs. Miss Loi grabbed her chest and dramatically gasped in horror and all of the girls ran to see if she was all right, while I turned myself right-side-up and also stumbled over to make sure she was fine. She just held her hand up and didn't say anything, so we left and when we returned that evening she informed us that she had recovered from my fall. We are house-hunting now and I am trying to learn the language, which is somehow more difficult everyday. The water, time, and diet change caused some illnesses, but we are adjusting. I hope all is well with everyone and I look forward to hearing from you. More later.