Stupid Foreigner turns to Begging

Ellyn Writing...
Today I became a beggar when I discovered my poor motorbike gas gauge had drastically dropped to E and would not continue driving for me. Yes, I have gotten a motorbike, which I am so happy with. This last weekend was a very productive weekend. After moving into a house with two fellow teachers, one guy from Belgium, Kristoff, and the other from Scotland, Tony, I decided it was time to make a move and get myself a motorbike for a month and see how I liked it. I figure this may keep away the muggers because I can drive faster so Steve took me out to discover the art of driving a motorbike. After driving in a few circles I went to the rental place and rented a motorbike. My first stop after buying my new motorbike was a helmet shop. With myself driving, I decided I needed a hardcore helmet. Apparently, Elsbeth also thought this was a necessary action so we both now have Star Wars looking helmets to keep us safe. After a few days of driving anywhere and everywhere around town, I have become much more comfortable driving. I have become a pro Vietnamese driver. In fact I have become such a comfortable drive that I have become Vietnamese. While a fellow MInnesotan lady teacher (yes i say MInnesotan! very bizarre! there are several Minnesotans here!) and Elsbeth and I were searching for a place to get a pedicure, we had 3 of us on the motorbike. When a man warned us that we were going to get in trouble with the police because we had to many people on the bike, I explained to him that merely 2 minutes ago we had passed at least 6 police officers on bikes and we had had 3 people on the bike and we were driving on the wrong side of the road. They don't care...it's the Vietnamese way.

But back to my gas gauge. Seeing as I was on a short trip back home from school to pick up some music before work this afternoon, I didn't think I would need any money (bad decision number one). As I got about half way home my bike started sputtering and I start thinking something must be extremely wrong with my bike. But instead I found that I had not looked at my gas gauge for about a day (bad decision number 2). So there I am sitting on the side of a pretty quiet road trying to figure out my next move. As a young teen couple drives past I give them a pathetic sad look and they figure I'm in trouble. They pull up beside me and I signal to them that I am completely out of gas. The girl then jumps on my bike and I jump on the back of their bike behind the guy. They then push my bike to a gas station about 5 blocks away.
This is a typical Vietnamese way of doing things. One motorbike will push another bike. This is done by the driver of the bike placing his left foot on the bike ahead (normally a pedal bike) and pushing it along nice and easily. I have done this numerous times before, in fact I had been a guilty member of the towing club when I had had only my pedal bike to get around. A couple teachers had pushed my around while I was on my bike., but I had not seen this done with another motorbike, but the Vietnamese are very skillful with these bikes (even though we almost got into an accident on the way to the station. When I got to the gas station I thanked these very helpful Vietnamese friends and waved goodbye.
Now for my next move. First I tried to talk to the attendants and see if they will give me gas if I come back, this was extremely ineffective and I decide its time to try something else. So I ask a woman if she speaks English and she say yes and I explain my situation. I say I can pay her back if she gets me enough gas to get home and back but she says no she will just pay for it. No problem! So off I was on my way home with another bizarre experience. This one, however, I do have to admit was completely my fault and I shall keep a better eye on my gas from now on. And I feel complete love for the Vietnamese helpful behavior after this. Or perhaps I should quit and take up begging because it seams I have a knack for it.