Tongs, a Vietnamese man and a Drag Queen....

A question I got asked alot when I told people I was moving out here was "are you going to come back with a husband" And my answer was the same everytime... 100% no.

And there are a few reasons for that:

I now, have incredibly high standards. Some of you may laugh, but it's true. In my previous relationship I was treated like a queen honestly, and that set the standard.

The second reason, a foreign boyfriend would be a logistical nightmare. Although I know New Zealand isnt the end all and be all, for me it's always where I plan on living,having kids and all that jazz. Getting involved with someone from another country would mean compromising between countries, between families and just straight up something that I dont want to deal with.

If things are getting dire I could expand, but for now it's not something I see...

in saying that, I'm not looking for a relationship outhere but... I would chat to a corpse in a morgue regardless. This takes me to one night a few weeks ago, doing our regular stroll up Bui Vien street when a absolute bro comes over to tell me that someone was trying to pickpocket me. I thank him as one would and asked if he wanted to come get a drink with us. He accepts and we are on our way. Sitting outside our regular spot we chat all the arbitrary pleasantries as one does. By the time I check my watch its 5am and well past my bedtime. I tell him I'm off and it was nice meeting him (which it really was) As he was not only very attractive, but very much my type. He offers to pay for my taxi home, but I reassure him I'm a big girl and I've got it. He asks me to text him when I'm home so he knows I'm safe, which at the time I thought was sweet. So we swapped numbers and I was on my way. Shot him a quick "home" message and then passed out. When I woke the next morning I was absolutely shocked. I re-read the message I had received to double check I wasnt making it up "Goodnight, I love you" Hold up mate. This was a lot, like a lot a lot. This was shortly followed up with a "I'll move to New Zealand for you" At this point I was so done. I tried to let homie down gently with a classic "aww you seem nice but I think we want different things... blah..blah..blah" He didnt like that too much so I blocked him, had a chuckle with my mates and drew a line under it. Fast forward to a week later and we are back to our same old antics on a stroll through BV to get the best Banh Mi in Saigon. Waiting impatiently for my hunger to be satisfied I hear an unfamiliar voice behind me "Why did you block me??" I turn around to see Mr commitment himself. As he approached I still wasnt too sure what was happening. He came straight up to me and took my wallet out of my hands "Let me buy this for you" he demands. "Nah mate, I'm good thanks" I reply. My friends next to me are equally confused. This is where he starts to get a bit more aggressive. He grabs my arm and asks for a kiss. At this point a million things are running though my mind. What happened next truley blew my mind. The Banh Mi lady, a random Vietnamese man and a Drag queen (you cannot honestly make this stuff up I swear) are literally at my defense. The Banh mi lady Is waving her tongs, the vietnamese man is standing between him and I and the drag queen is going off! My mate grabs my wallet, then me and plops me on the back of a grab that's headed straight for home. Sitting in the back of the grab it finally hits me what happened and I have a little cry, all still while eating my food. My grab driver notices that I'm a little upset and is driving very cautiously (which is also very rare for Saigon). After dropping me off at home he looks straight into my soul and just says "safe". Looking back at the situation now its completly okay. I wasnt alone and the amount of people that came to help me was unreal. It would have been easy enough for everyone to ignore what was going on. Just a few foreigners having a domestic. However they all read the situation amazingly and knew it wasnt ok (which in a second language is a feet in its own). I've had no problems since and it hasn't put me off, or made me frightened or anything major. I debated writing this story to be honest, but after running it past my parents and a few friends I thought I aught to. While it was a bad situation, it truely highlights the hospitality of Vietnam. It shows that people are looking out for you no matter where you are. To me, when I look back at that night, I remember the amazing people that came to me, not some stage five clinger that didnt take no for an answer. That has really been the only time out here that I got my back up a little, but no matter what that could happen anywhere and it hasn't changed my views on this country at all! The Corona virus on the other hand... Choi Oiiiiii