Changing Money

 Dec 2^nd

Time to change money. We got to an official place, passing on everyone’s advice to go to gold shops. We’ve picked up a pre-arranged English speaking guide who shepherds us around. The money changer is crazy. It’s packed two or three people deep. Everybody is throwing money on the counter and different shaped money is being returned. I try to change $600 in crisp $100 bills. One of them gets rejected. “Why” The money changer jabs the bottom of Ben Franklin in the ear several times. “Details,” she says. I compare the suspect ear to all the other ears. They look identical to me.  Despite my protestations that I am an American and surely in a better place to judge Ben Franklin’s pinna, I repocket the suspect bill and am handed 2.5 million Dong. I am finally a millionaire. Going through the money I find one bill where Ho Chi Mihn has a tiny tear on his ear. Quite proud of myself I reject it and am given a new one.