In the begining...

Geist = "a German word usually translated as mind, spirit, or ghost but can also be associated with drive or motivation. Some English translators resort to using "spirit-mind" to help convey the meaning of the term. Closer approximations include the Greek word πνεύμα(pneuma), the Latin animus and anima, and the Chinese medical 神 shen (all quite similar in meaning)."

- Wikipedia

36 hours into my "migration" and it feels like I've been here for weeks. I'm not convinced that's a good thing. My brain needs to slow down and process, much like my gut is doing with the local cuisine... which looks and smells fabulous (I'm only a couple meals in). Motorbikes everywhere, honking friendly warnings to my knees as the spokes whiz by. I was honored by the acsent of a giant turtle today at the historic Hoan Kiem lake. I'll take that as an omen to come out of my shell more often. Or to slow down, to enjoy the novelty of my situation. Day by day, one step at a time, and not to end up on my back.