A Girl and a Backpack: diary of a travel addict: IPMax Law Firm

I can't believe a month has already flown by and I'm about to leave the city which has become my home. Even though I've only been here for a month, I feel like this place has changed me.

Thao, one of my coworkers at IPMax, told me that in Buddhism, they believe that someone comes into your life not by accident, but because you have met in a previous life. She told me with absolute certainty that I came here for a reason - because we have met before, and that we will likely meet again in another life. That was one of the most touching things someone has ever said to me. Looking back on it, I wouldn't be able to tell you why I chose Hanoi as my home base for my trip, but can only say that it was meant to be.

I will keep my IPMax family, all the friends that I've made, and all the people in this city forever in my heart.

Until we meet again, Hanoi.

Now on to another adventure: Thailand!

One week into my new life here, I am settled in and already falling madly in love with this crazy city. I know the maze of alleyways leading to my house like the back of my hand, I've made friends with the young boy at the café on my way to work (who loves to laugh at my horrible Vietnamese skills), and I'm slowly tasting every steaming bowl of Pho in my neighbourhood!

I started work on Monday at my internship placement: IPMax, a small boutique law firm specializing in intellectual property law. My coworkers - Son, Thanh, Ninh and Thao - are all so happy to have me here and really make me feel like my work here is deeply appreciated, even though I sometimes feel useless. My job pretty much consists of reviewing English emails and documents that the lawyers prepare for their clients, researching the vietnamese IP laws, and preparing a presentation comparing and contrasting the canadian and vietnamese legal systems, with a special focus on the national IP laws of both countries (which will be presented to Vietnamese lawyers and law students at the end of my one month internship!)

The highlights of my job though are the daily english "classes" that I lead. Not so much classes as conversations. Every day, I go for coffee with one of my coworkers and just talk to them to help them improve their conversational English skills. They talk to me about everything and anything - their family, their lives here in Vietnam, and they teach me about their religion (Buddhism). I have already learnt so much from them in such a short amount of time. If I could, I would talk to them all day, learning about a way of life and a culture so drastically different than my own - unfortunately, we can only take an hour off from work!