Love is far away (Vietnam)

The young chef in Hanoi’s Japanese area spoke good Japanese. She said she had lived in Tokyo previously. I asked her what neighborhood. With a momentary forlorn look, she replied “Takadanobaba.”  I asked her about her Burmese lover. Her face lit up, she was curious about how I figured it out.

I said the Burmese part was easy, as Takadanobaba has many people from Burma. I used to go there for Burmese food when I lived in Tokyo. Vietnamese often stayed in Shin Okubo or other parts. It is highly unlikely that a Vietnamese will move to Takadanobaba. And the lover part, I am all too familiar with the “love is far away” look.

I sometimes feel that when we become older, we become a “large experience model.” We can pick up on little expressions that people have, and almost extrapolate their lives.

More from Hanoi’s Japanese town. This is my home in Hanoi.