Black teeth in the Air!

Do you remember that scene from the Titanic when Leonardo was teaching Kate Winselt how to hock up a loogie of spit? Well, basically that is what everyone in Saigon sounds like. I always wondered what was up with that until recently when I wanted to spit up my lungs too. My voice sounds like I am going through puberty and it’s constantly hurting like I am sick. For a while I thought it was from yelling at my children all day until I did some research. Vietnam has the one of the highest rates of pollution in the world.  With motor bikes being the only way of transportation and the remnants from Agent orange following the Vietnam war pollution is a major problem. Also, the whole “Go Green” phenomenon is the least of their problems right now. Ho Chi Minh (Saigon) has an accounted population of 8 million (It’s said to be closer to 10-12) and 7.8 million motorbikes on the streets,  if that puts things into perspective. Friends of mine who have been living here for a year talk about their hair falling out in clumps from the pollution. Millions of fish are wiping iup on the shore dead. Due to the Vietnam war and the effects of agent orange farmers can no longer grow anything organic. The soil is permanently ruined , forest degradation, water pollution and air pollution are a major issue. You can literally feel the pollution in your throat, skin and inside of your body. I come home and use the saying “I have to go shower Saigon off of me!” People and myself carry around baby wipes to keep their skin moderately feeling clean and to avoid breaking out. I should also mention the rate of Diabetes  in this country is on an increasing and dangerous high. Sugar here is equivalent to being ignorant to the dangers of smoking in the previous decades. The people, do not realize how much sugar they are using nor how bad it is for them.  Condensed milk, about 5 Tablespoons of it is used in an individual cup of coffee. It was good for a while until I literally felt it clogging my arteries. They pour sugar into their drinks, foods, and everything you possibly consume here. I would die for some Kale right about now. My children’s teeth are black. Mainly from the sugar, possibly the pollution in the water but also because the superstition they believe. I was told by the Vietnamese that they let the baby teeth rot otherwise they will not fall out and therefor the children will never grow adult teeth. I know,  yes it’s true. Even some of the educated and wealthy population still believes in this.  You will also see families of 4-5 on the motorbikes. The adults will be wearing helmets but never the children.. I asked multiple sources why the children, even infants, I am talking about, are never wearing helmets? I  found that it is a superstition that if they put helmets on the children it will stop their skulls from growing!! I know, this culture! The things you can only learn by living here!! The learning just never stop!! AHHH VIETNAM I LOVE YOU--- BUT PUT HELMETS ON YOUR CHILDREN!!!!

NAMaste with some Vietnamese culture for you!