Attack of the aliens

16 Western TEFL trainees arrived at a high school in Saigon this morning and were greeted by astonished stares and gasps. By the reception we received, one would have thought that our group had scales all over our bodies and horns growing out of our heads. Because the country only opened up to the international community about ten years ago, many Vietnamese have had little to no contact with foreigners and find the experience to be quite overwhelming.

As we walked through the campus, we were followed by hundreds of pairs of eyes that absorbed our every move, our white skins, our Western clothes, our large bodies. It was a daunting cultural experience that made me realize how Western my neighborhood is in comparison to the rest of the country and how little exposure Vietnam has had to foreigners. It's exciting to think that our very presence is still causing the commotion that rarely exists in today's touristy world.