After some time living and studying in Hoi An I would like to present some pros and cons of being a development student in this city that I now can call my second home.

PROS
Experience how lucky and privileged I am in comparison to so many others
Getting to know 23 new people and hopefully get long-lasting friendships
Trying out new food
Experience the local community of a developing country
Buffet breakfast and lunch every day
Feeling fit cuz I bike everywhere
Getting surprised by local food festivals or music events
Eating at restaurants every day
Short distances to everything
Learning about today’s world issues
Dancing at tiger tiger club
Tan at the terrace while studying
Travel
Doing fieldwork
Banh Mi on every corner
Walk around in Old town discovering new restaurants, people, and live music
Tailor all the clothes you have ever dreamed of
Visit a rural village
Order coconut water and get the whole coconut

CONS
Almost getting killed in the traffic every other day
Be surprised of a naked man showering in the restaurants toilet, which usually is the same toilet that the restaurants family use.
Mosquitoes leaving red dots on your body
No toilet paper in public toilets
See dead rats in the streets
Karaoke in the building next door, but feeling that the singer is just next to you
Getting use to be sweaty all the time

I’m so happy that I chose to study one more semester with kulturstudier and I’m grateful for all the opportunities and experiences I have had. We are now done in Hoi An, some of us will stay a little longer to start writing the individual exam. Me among others are leaving for different countries to explore. I’m heading to Indonesia with my new friend Cecilie! First stop Uluwatu.

Amalie made a really cool video from our stay in Vietnam, check it out:

 

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