This is a short entry as I've come down with a cold and feeling lousy… even left work early.

Since I’ve arrived, I’ve taken an interest in this 'pet’ monkey at Peace Village . Here’s again where the general easy-going attitude of the people here is likely to end in tragedy for this poor little fellow I fear. 

The temperature in Hanoi is about 55 during the day and 45 at night…but it is the coldest 45 I’ve ever felt and not having heat in this house, we all wear our jackets inside and sleep in our clothes. I’ve already gone out and purchased a winter parka and another bed quilt. It’s a short winter season in Hanoi peaking in February, and then most of the rest of the year it’s hot and in the 90’s…great monkey weather.

Well, this fellow lives in a cage outside now sitting on top of wire mesh flooring and I believe he is somewhat old and frail…. Nothing to play with, he just sits all day and night bunched up for warmth. I took on his case the first day I saw him and told some of the staff that he will die if he’s either not brought inside or at least covered & clothed…I even mentioned it to the director who speaks near zero English . "Monkey will die!, monkey will die!" I kept saying. He just smiled and obviously had no idea what I was saying.

I really have never seen a country where it is so difficult to communicate with the people. One older lady, without talking, realized what I was saying. She went inside, came out with a knit jacket and since it wasn’t monogrammed with 'Zippy' on it, I’m not sure it was even his. I said “Are you nuts, I’m not putting it on the monkey” and I assume she knew what I meant. So she went back inside and came back with these 6 or 7 bamboo mats and I decided to wrap it around his cage, at least as much as it could cover.

Each morning I go ito the side of the school to check on the monkey, expecting him one day to be dead…. And nobody else seems to care at the school… I mentioned ‘zoo’ to the director, he nodded his head and smiled and said yes. I tell you, if he didn’t have his white work jacket on, he could pass for one of the students . All he ever seems to do is nod & smile.

Sadly, I don’t think the monkey's future is bright, especially since the teachers and administrators seem to have given up teaching the students and just hang around passing time. Certainly, concern for the monkey is not a top priority and once again, there is such a ‘oh well, that’s life’ attitude here in Hanoi. Perhaps this cute little guy will live, but he’s cold. Save the monkey!
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Finally, one other cute thing I saw this morning. Spelling in English is obviously not very important here as illustrated by this sign and many others I’ve seen. Just struck me funny to see the word ‘Humburger’ on this café sign…. Now, rereading the sign as I'm posting this, I notice it doesn't actually say humburger, but rather humbuger...not quite as funny as when I read it as humburger... then I thought I should check inside tomorrow to see if it was a combination restaurant & massage parlor.... now that I read it, I feel like picking my nose.