You know its time for Holiday break when....

....one of your lesson plans is submitted as "Balls."  That infamous last week of school before the holiday break is upon us and at this point I don't know how I'm going to get through it.  I think this will be the longest week ever, especially because we have our holiday concert   My room is transformed into a winter wonderland that they children will destroy given the chance in my class.  So when I am totally ready for a break I have to dig deep for some creative juices for activities this week, this is where "balls" came from. 

But on the positive side after this week I have three weeks off, PAID.  I could totally get use to this whole teaching thing :-)  Although I am not going home to see my family for the first time in my life I know I will have a blast traveling and seeing the world with my angel Amber.  We are going to Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and Singapore together.  Then Nell and I are getting a beachfront bungalow on Phu Quoc Island for some relaxation for 4 days.  And then finally Jen, Danielle, and Aly get here.  I am so excited to see all of them, especially Jen.  It will be great to give them hugs, especially because I know Jen went to see my mom and Meelo, it will be like I'm hugging them too :-) 

I know this week can't be worse than last week, if you didn't hear Sophie and I both got food poisoning (cause unknown still) and I wasn't really functional until today, it was not a fun time to be had.  Now I am glad to have good health insurance here but going to the doctor is just a tad bit different here.  When they took my blood last time I was only 3 feet away from another dude getting his vitals checked, talk about client confidentiality. 

So fingers crossed this week goes fast!  Also that I start to get more excited about my solo trip, beach vaca, and traveling with the girls because I'm still having a hard time knowing I am missing Christmas back home.  I think I might need to just think about it as any other day, but that is sad in itself because I love Christmas.  But listening to Christmas music while walking down the street sweating is not quite the same as driving through a winter wonderland like back home.  One of the hotels downtown has flying styrofoam balls to stimulate snow, maybe I'll go sit in front of their window for a few hours :-)

Vomit, Being Blonde, and 12 Bars of Christmas

Blonde or Brunette?

Roomies in our Santa Hats!

As many of you remember during my student teaching at Battle Creek Elementary School I saw many "accidents" in my gym just in two weeks time, my cooperating teacher was gonna nickname me Crete as in excrete.  I couldn't believe I saw every bodily fluid in two weeks time, and yes every!  Well It took four months before that happened here in Vietnam in my own classroom.  It was with the kindergarten class and we were playing with the parachute.  Now it all was fine but if that little boy would have puked one foot to the left he would have hit another girl and the parachute.  Man all I could see was vomit getting bounced around the room!  So glad that DID not happen. 

Last week I got two packages from my mom, one came in 2 days the other 4 weeks, got to love the postal system.  Just so you know Fedex is the one that made it in two days.  It was great, she sent games for us to play in our apartment like balderdash, apples to apples, bananagrams, suduko.  She also sent Xmas decorations and Thanksgiving decorations, now if the package wouldn't have been swam over I probably would have gotten those decorations before Turkey day.  But she sent things for me, my roomie and my friend Steph, so we had a little Xmas party and opened the package.  We need took a christmas photo in front of our tree with our stockings (sent from the US) in my speedos over our clothes.  Not sure why we decided this but I think wine was involved.  Yes, yes it was.  I do remember us actually calling the cafe downstairs to deliver another bottle to us.  Getting letters and packages from home is one of the best feelings because it makes you feel closer to home because you know that someone back home touched that letter/package and sent it just for you.  I treasure getting things in the mail as all people do I bet. 

Now on to being blonde.  It has come to my attention that all  my coworkers think I'm blonde, and no not "acting blonde" but actually have blonde hair.  Now I find this hilarious because I'm a brunette, I mean I know it is light brown, but come on now.  But it isn't just one person that has said this.  I need feedback on this topic.  I went to get my haircut two weekends ago and they said that too.  Now I was sitting in the chair and looking at it and it does look like the ends of my hair are pretty light (I refuse to say blonde).  The thing is I'm not out in the sun, so it isn't getting bleached out.  I find it funny though because for over 8 years I highlighted my hair blonde and now I am au natural and it is turning blonde, very interesting. 

More on that haircut.  I heard that Vietnamese don't know how to style or cut hair and we all know how anal I am about my hair so I waited 4 months but the ends of my hair were getting really dry and tangly so I knew I hate to get it cut.  I made an appointment where everyone else has gone and headed in.  My apt started with me getting to lay down and get my hair washed/head massaged for 20 minutes.  Then the stylist came to ask what I wanted.  Knowing I wasn't going to get my perfect cut like back home I just told him an inch on the bottom and cut it straight it across.  He did as I asked and it looks alright, still some hair needs a cut but I'm ok with that, the worst is gone.  He actually only sniped the scissors 4 times.  After that I had two people blow dry my hair and straighten it.  I know I have straight hair but dang it was straight after that, WOW!  So all of that for the price of....dun...dun..dun.....$4.50.  You read that right, ha!  Crazy.  It wasn't a great hair cut but the head massage was awesome. 

Now as many of you know last friday was 12 Bars of Christmas back in Minneapolis.  Well I did it last year with my friends and had a blast.  I know what you are thinking, Jenn you're an alcoholic (Really Dad I'm not).  But all the money raised went to the Children's Hospital.  But yes it was a blast seeing thousands of people in matching shirts doing around town.  I made it to all 12 bars last year and knowing I was going to miss it this year I was pretty bummed.  So I decided to make a 12 Bars of Christmas in Vietnam.  I wasn't sure how it would go over, but I had Sophie and Stephanie on board for sure.  Well the night started with our Staff Christmas Party and after lots of people wanted to join.  At first I thought people would hit up one bar for a drink and call it a night, but everyone started to get into it.  We had a pretty big group through 8 or 9 bars, from there Sophie and I finished it out, actually hitting 13 bars.  Now you can imagine what it looks like to see thousands of people in matching shirts in a city, well there were just 8 of us, kind of dressed up from our Xmas party singing Christmas carols through downtown Ho Chi Minh City.  Sophie and I had on awesome sparkly santa hats (thanks mom).  Steph and Vicky had on Birthday style hats with Santa on them and Frank had a balloon of Santa tied to his wrist.  I'm sure we made many people's nights, we were "those" people.  But it was a great night! 

A little shout out to old and new friends!  My friends back home (Jen especially) knew how sad I was to be missing 12 Bars of Christmas and all of them and they actually brought pictures of me with them on the pub crawl and took pictures with me.  Now those are some amazing friends that I have.  I don't think they know how much that meant to me.  Brought on the happy tears!  Also I'm very thankful for the new friends I've made here and for them joining in the craziness with me. 

Now as many of you know I will be staying here for Christmas Break and right now I'm having a kind of hard time with it because I really do miss my family and friends so much.  I think the reason I am having such a hard time is because almost everyone else here is going home.  But I'm staying strong and planned a little solo travel trip for me and then gonna hit up the beach on Christmas with Nell.  Then Jen, Danielle, and Aly get here, so I know I will have a blast and just need to stay positive.  But know how much I miss and love all of you!

End of November

Sorry it's been awhile, I've been pretty busy with teaching and getting things together for accrediation for the school. As a start up school we have lots to do and at times it is overwhelming but all seems to work out in the end. I have a curriculum to work off of but I was able to make up my unit plans and themes for PE which is pretty cool, I love having the creativity freedom to try new things. I came up with 6 yearly unit themes for my Kindergarten thru Third Grade classes, they are Manipulative Madness, Take Turns & Tag, Fitness Fanatics, Throwing Rolling Kicking, Scooter Sensation, and Rhythm & Movement. I like have a fun name to the unit theme for the kids and under these topics I can cover so many skills and concepts. The students love coming in and seeing what the daily theme is up on the wall with my posters too. My curriculum director thought the idea was great and liked how I think outside the box and make it more fun and motivating for the students. For my 4th and 5th graders I am doing sports theme units such as soccer, football, etc. It will get interesting towards the end of the year because I don't have volleyballs, basketballs, badminton, tennis, so my creativity with really have to come out. Also with school we are working on WASC accrediation, it takes a few years but we have to compile lots of documentation that we are fulfilling the requirements to be accredited. So all of this plus grading for report cards makes one busy Jenn.

Last week was quite weird, it was the first time ever that I worked on Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Thanksgiving wasn't too bad here, it wasn't till friday here that I got a little sad and thought about how back home everyone was together celebrating. We had a Thanksgiving Potluck with all the foreign teachers at Mary's apartment, it was delicious and very nice. I had to eat at the little table in the other room, so it was just like Thanksgiving back home, always at the kids table. But this time the wine was in our room :-) Black Friday was a long long day, many of us were just not really there, it was weird knowing all our family was together and no one was working. But I was able to connect with my mom many times that morning and it was almost like I was part of Black Friday with her, so that was great.

Oh I almost forgot I got parasites last week. I had to take a sick day last monday and go to the doctor here. After numerous tests they figured out I had an infection and parasites, great. I was put on 3 different meds, one of which made me really nauseous but by Thanksgiving I was better finally. My doctor visit wasn't too bad and my health insurance here covered it so that was nice. But I do not want parasites again, painful and not fun!

So only 2 more weeks of teaching after this one and then my 3 week Christmas break, I can't wait. I am planning on going to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore by myself for a few days then Nell, the librarian and I are going to Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam December 24th-28th for some sun and relaxation for Christmas. Then Jen, Danielle, and Aly come on the 30th and we go off traveling in Cambodia and Thailand. So lots of traveling coming up and I'm super excited. If anyone has any suggestions on places to go or stay let me know. Also any words to the wise for me. I did travel alone in Europe for 9 days but any advice is appreciated. I love and miss you all so much, last week was hard being so far away and thinking about Christmas makes me sad too. That's why my break is filled with traveling to keep me busy!

Did I mention....

Yes I am wearing shorts & sunglasses in the snow!!

.....it is 1998 here in Vietnam, seriously. I have heard so many old school Britney Spears songs, NSync, and Backstreet Boys that I sometimes have to look around and make sure I'm not in the halls of GHS. At first I just thought it was the Pearl Cafe, but no at the gym, at random stores, it is bizarre and a blast from the past.

....when it rains it dumps buckets, within minutes. Last night I was downtown at the Market doing a little Xmas shopping and grabbed some Japanese before hailing a taxi back to the apartment. I get in the cab and tell him my address and he tells me no, too much rain, flood. The next one said the same one, I had to wait till an SUV/van type taxi came by. It is literally so bad on the street by our apartment complexs that motorbikes flood, it gets knee deep sometimes, crazy. I saw two people on motorbikes get hosed by a truck the other day, kind of laughed and then realized that could be me. I'll still to cabs in HCMC, people drive like maniacs here.

.....there are no rules when it comes to driving. Ok there are probably some, but from watching people drive here, I would say no, none. You can go down a one way, you can drive on the other side of the street, cut people off. It is all about how can "I" get to where I need to go the fastest, take the sidewalk, yep I think I will.

.....crosswalks are non existent, even if you find one that means nothing. The traffic never stops and it is never "your" right away. I've learned that if you look at the traffic and try to cross they keep on coming and you have to dodge them but if you take a leap of faith and look at the traffic and then just start walking looking forward at the other side of the street, they go around you. It's a risk but it has paid off so far. Also people put up their hand to stop the traffic and then cross the street, looks so funny but I tried it once and think it worked.

....Vietnamese is the hardest language ever. I mean think about it, in the U.S. we all speak english and look at how different we sound. Now if you equate that to Vietnam we would all be saying different things in their language. Heck when I say thank you here I might be saying rice cereal sometimes, who knows. I never realized how much spanish I actually knew until I came here, sometimes I just want to try spanish.

.....the workers at our school are clueless as to how a school runs. Case in point. I come into the Multi Purpose Room (MPR)to teach and they have the huge rolls of carpet out and are setting them out outside the room for Halloween the next day. I tell them I have class and they nod like they understand but keep on going on with their stuff, they almost took out one of my 3rd graders. I just have to laugh it off and say, oh Vietnam. Also today they decided it was time to start jackhammered the stage in MPR while I'm teaching my 2nd grade class. Oh, Vietnam!

.....how tiny the people are here. Like not just short, they are tiny, tiny people. Like I was bigger in 6th grade than most of the population here.

.....Vietnamese children are adorable, I just want to wrap them up and take them home with me. The kids at our school really are the cutest, it is hard to get angry with them because they can give you that cute little smile. Oh but they know Miss Jennifer has an angry side and know they don't want to go there.

.....I went to Snow World this weekend at a big park that had a beach, zoo, amusement park, etc. It cost $2.50. We get in there and they give us a winter coat, rubber boots (felt awesome with bare feet, all wet) and little gloves. We then go into this big freezer with snow (stuff they make at ski resorts). It was so cute, they had a sledding hill. It was great, I felt like I got a little part of home that day. First time I went sledding in shorts.


.....that giraffes have the longest tongues. I got to pet and feed some at the zoo saturday. Their tongues are insane, wow. I also saw a white tiger at the zoo, that was pretty cool.

.....it is still HOT here, yep that's right. Hard to think it is almost Thanksgiving back home, I feel like it is still July or August here.

.....the Cowboys suck, Love the Packers!!!

Until next time.....

New Beginnings

Mud Bath in Nha Trang

The ruins in My Son

Working hard

The Forbidden City in Hue

I know it has been a long time since my last blog post so I'll try to recap everything that has happened in the past 2 plus weeks. Two weeks ago was our fall break, it was definitely needed. I went to Hue, Hoi An, My Son, and Nha Trang with Avis. We did a lot of sightseeing in Hue looking at the tombs and pagodas and seeing the forbidden city and former capital of Vietnam. There was so much history there, it was pretty incredible but I really enjoyed riding on the back of a motorbike around the city to see the places. In Hoi An we fell in love with the cute quaint town and the abundance of tailors. We had many shirts, tank tops, shorts, and sandals made, it was awesome. I am definitely going back there. The town had an ancient city to explore and cute little streets where cars couldn't drive, it was so beautiful. From there we went to My Son and some what was left of the temples, many were in ruins from the Vietnam War, or as they call it the American War. It was like Angkor Wat but much smaller and not as impressive they said. It was pretty remarkable, it was in the middle of the mountains/jungle. It was a hard day to be an American because they talked about how most of the historical site is gone from the bombing, I actually saw bomb craters there. I was glad to have Avis there with me because alone it might have been to much to bear, it is hard to not feel personal about it. But it was still pretty cool to see, at the end we saw a dance performance by the people that live in the My Son area, it was really cool.

From Hoi An we took the night bus to Nha Trang, 11 hours in a bus, wow that was interesting. The bus was actually nice, we had our own little sleeper units, you were basically laying the whole way and got a blanket. We bought silk sleeping bags and used those as well. It was definitely the cheapest option but I didn't sleep very well and we got to Nha Trang at 6am all disoriented. It was overcast and icky when we got to Nha Trang and we were both out of it so we relaxed, napped and read in our hotel room most of the day. The next day we decided we were going to rent motorbikes and go to the mud baths in Nha Trang, we followed a guide on the way there and then on the way back we went solo. We both got the scooter type where you can put your legs together up front. It was quite fun, but those things are way more bulky and heavy than they look. Driving in HCMC is crazy and not sure I will ever try to drive alone here but Nha Trang was quieter and we were out of the city. The mud baths were great. We showered off in cold mineral water, then sat in the mineral mud bath next was sunbathing until the mud was hard. Then a cool mineral water shower and power blasting, after we got to sit in the hot mineral water tubs. It was pretty cool and after we could lay by the pools as long as we want. On the way back into the city we decided to ride the motorbikes up the coast to feel the sea breeze and just look around. It was really cool being the only ones on the road. We were almost back to the our hotel when there was a traffic light, we both started to slow down and out of nowhere a Vietnamese man clips Avis and she tries to avoid him (which is quite hard with these scooters), she goes down right in front of me and I'm in shock, I pull over and start to walk my bike to the side when I accidentally rev the engine, my scooter than shoots out of my hands and flys forward and over. I leave it and go to Avis, the man that clipped and cut her off, just drove off (figures). We get her bike off to the side, she is pretty beat up but says she's ok. If it was me, I would have been bawling my eyes out or cursing up a storm. We took a little break and then brought the bikes back. We paid only $5 to rent the bikes for the day and both had to pay $15 for the "damages". I just wanted to get out of there at that point and get some stuff for Avis, she is one tough cookie. The next day we were suppose to do a motorbike tour with these guys we rented from but obviously had to cancel. Well the jerks said we couldn't get our money back, lesson learned, don't rent from guys on the street, go to one of the shops so you can get your money back if you need to cancel. So the next day we went to the beach and got two chairs under a canopy and read books and watched the huge waves before our flight back to Saigon.

Overall it was a great trip, I loved getting out of the city and doing some traveling. We saw so much and met lots of cool people. There were backpackers of all ages and from all different countries. I can't wait till Jen, Danielle, and Aly come in Dec to do more traveling.

This past week was long and tiring, hard to get back into the swing of things. But I joined the gym in our complex, which is way more convienent and will have spinning classes. Also the machines are the newest models. You can plug your ipod in and it charges it, plays music, plays videos on the machine, or you can watch tv. Also it has nike ipod so it will record your workout to your ipod and you can access the information online, awesome.

As many of you know I've been struggling with my weight for some time now but especially the past 6 months and haven't been able to get myself back into workout mode. Well I finally feel hope again. I worked out Tuesday which was great, but it was really yesterday and today that gave me that courage that I can do this. I downloaded the new season of Project Runway on itunes and put some episodes on my ipod. Yesterday and today I did an hour on the eliptical watching the show. I finally found a way to motivate myself and trick myself into getting back into shape, this added incentive is perfect for me. We all know I love working out, especially running and hopefully I will get back to that place of habit. The Terry Fox run is coming up this month here and it is my goal to run it, actually I will run it, my goal is to get in better shape for it.

Honestly I've had many obstacles and struggles while here but overall I am so happy I came here, once you see some of the pictures of my students and me teaching you will see the happiness. My biggest downfall is my weight struggle, it is messing with my head a little so having this feeling right now that I can get myself back into "jenn" shape is encouraging. I know I have a long, long way to go. But right now I'm just trying to enjoy working out again, because once I do that, the weight will come off. So please send me your prayers and happy thoughts that I stay on track, because my life is pretty amazing. I have the best family and friends, I love my job, I have supportive co-workers and slowly I am going to get myself back completely - mind, body, and spirit!

Fall Break here I come!!!

Well folks, my flight leaves in 3 hours so I'm headed to the airport to see some of this beautiful country. Avis and I are going to Hue, Hoi An, and Nha Trang for the next week. I can't wait to see the Imperial City, French Quarters, get some tailor made clothes, and of course relax on the beach! I'll take lots of pictures and blog about my adventure when I get back. I am leaving my computer behind because I'm on vacation, whohoo! But I will have my cell phone with me if needed! I'm so excited!!

Canadian Thanksgiving

Last night I was an “honorary” Canadian, really I just wanted to be able to have at least one Thanksgiving dinners while here. It was delicious; it was the closest I felt to being home, all the yummy Western food. It was also free flowing wine and beer, too bad it was a Monday night. I went with 9 other people from ISSP and we had our own table, it was a great time.
I know I worried a lot of people after my last post, I think I should have titled it differently, I wasn’t necessarily homesick, I was more fed up with the situation. Don’t get me wrong I miss my family and friends a lot and the securities of home. I just hit a wall after the equipment debacle. They are telling me now that I am going to get the rest of my equipment, but it hasn’t been placed so I don’t know about that. But last Tuesday I was finally allowed in the multipurpose room, my gym. The floor is less than to be desired, but I’m just glad to have my own space to use. I am not sure if we are keeping this floor or what is happening, it is kind of like a rubberized track, but not as nice or thick. I asked for a hard wood floor like a gym back home but they went this route, just not sure it will last long. When the kids fall down they scrap off skin, the floor is not smooth so it just makes me cringe when I see the students fall. Also I have these four HUGE pillars in my room, they are padded (I told them I wouldn’t teach in there unless they were) and the children love hiding behind them. In fact all of the Pre-Kindergarten class can fit behind one of them. It is really tricky teaching with these in there; I can’t see the whole class from any one spot in the room so I have to constantly be moving. Also there are concrete stairs with wood paneling over them jutting out from the stage, another safety problem I am trying to work around. Part of the floor on the other side wasn’t covered so that is another spot of concern. I am not so much as complaining as stating facts about my “space.” I just want to provide a safe learning environment for the students, that is my number one thing as a PE teacher and it is challenging but I am finding ways. The workers that are still in our school are trying to make it harder though. They like to start cleaning the floor right before I have a class, they turn off my AC (big boo) and do work in my room at night and don’t clean up. They actually started installing speakers in the room until I asked them to wait till after class. Ahh Vietnam! But the biggest thing is the students enjoy coming to my class and love learning and being active. You can throw more obstacles at me and I will keep on finding ways to teach these students because it is my passion. Just this past week one of my 3rd graders that still can’t jump rope, finally got it in long rope and we looked at each other, both kind of shocked and excited. I live for those moments, it is what teaching is about and when I get obstacles in my way here I just try to keep that in perspective.
I love my job and I know there are people out there that think physical education in a joke and that I don’t do anything. It hurts that people, especially teachers feel that way, because we all need to work together to make things come together in our school. We are all important, all subjects in school. I work hard at thinking of ways to teach students how to be active and learn new skills. I reinforce things they learn in class as well. I am just going to keep on doing my job and people will see that I really do make a difference and until then I am going to do my best, because that is all I can do. You can’t make someone see something differently if they don’t want to, but you can do your best!

Homesick

I'm officially homesick. I have at times missed home before but today I had a "What the heck was I thinking coming here?" moment. I seriously just want to dig a hole and hide in it for awhile. I finally after two months got my PE equipment, except what I was told I was getting and what I got were two different things. Up until they delivered the shipment on friday I had this order form given to me saying what I would be receiving in the order. I was pretty stoked and excited because I knew I would have so much to work with and that finally it would be a little bit easier. But today I opened all the boxes by myself and low and behold didn't get a 1/3 of the thing I had ordered and was told were coming. They gave me a new sheet today with the order that was placed. I am just angry that I was told for months that I was getting this order and then I get a completely different one. Many of the things they said can be made in Vietnam, well then why aren't they made and at the school already, I placed this order at the end of February. I mean they even got rid of my gym mats and jump ropes. Both can be made here, but I don't see any gym mats! Also the jump ropes here are terrible, I bought some when i arrived to use temporarily and most of them have broken, I just don't understand why they would take jump ropes off the list and not even tell me. My first request on the order was for this ultimate scooter game pack and yes they did order it but it didn't come. I am just so angry and frustrated right now. I wanted this so bad and really I am so happy here, the children are amazing and my coworkers are great but I've never done this before. This is my first time teaching and I still don't have a "gym" after two months, the equipment I was told was coming, isn't, and I just feel like no one gives a rats....

I don't want to complain about it more but I am just so frustrated. I just want to teach the children and have the tools to do that. I really think I have a great boss who knows what she is doing but this whole working for a corporation as a school thing is tough. Especially when they have never done it before and don't know really want we need, just that they need to cut costs and do it where they see fit.

Today I am just sitting here wondering why I got myself into this. I mean finding a job back home would have been hard but at least they would have the tools needed to teach. I just feel so let down after opening up my boxes and seeing the final order. I just don't see how they plan on having a physical education program out of those items, especially when about 3 grand of equipment didn't even show up.

I'm so conflicted right now. Being type A and a perfectionist is really kicking my butt right now. I just want to do such an amazing job teaching and feel I am letting people down right now. It is just so hard to be all excited to get to work when I'm in a little room that echoes so much with random equipment that is falling apart. I really thought that once I received the equipment I ordered I would be better and once I got the "gym" I would be smooth sailing. I just wish I would have known that what I ordered was tossed out and replaced.

Really needing the love and support of my family and friends right now. Just hard right now being so far away, what I wouldn't give for a hug from one of you!

Birthday in Nam

Here are my birthday buys!!

Well I'm another year older, at the point where we don't need to actually say the age anymore. But I did have a wonderful birthday here in Vietnam, it was more like a 4 day celebration. On friday night there was a group of 20 of us that went to Barbeque Garden to eat. We ordered lots of yummy food, me mostly meat (of course) to grill at the table. It was a great chill time. After some people went out to party but I was hot and tired and wanted to save myself for saturday night. I know I can't party two nights in a row anymore.

Saturday I went out with Stephanie, Sophie, Todd, Avis, Frank, Nell, and Stacey. We went to four different bars. Started off in the backpackers district for a fish bowl for only $8, yummy. The dj even played happy birthday for me. Then went to a cowboy saloon that had a phillipino cover band playing metallica among other awesome songs. They were hilarious, it was a great time. I made friends with a regular and got 3 free gin and tonics. Also met the manager of the bar and band and he had them sing happy birthday to me (AWESOME) and they gave me a gift. So I am now the owner of a beautiful cd case that has a picture of Seventeen Saloon on it saying "Best Music in the Town" I used it as my purse for the rest of the night, my little wristie. I partied like it was my birthday that is for sure. I had a great time and finished up the night with street pho at 4am. It was my first time having street pho and it was delicious. It was so odd sitting on little plastic stools with different plates and silverware than each other, rats in the background. But really it was amazing and ONE DOLLAR, crazy huh?

My awesome birthday partying definitely hit me hard on sunday, let's just say I had a rough morning errr day. I might not have changed out of my pjs all day! It was rough but worth it. Monday brought me back to school for my actual birthday. It was super sweet, the kids sang me happy birthday and some of them gave me gifts, one 4th grader brought me cookies, another made me a card, it was so cute. Avis made me chocolate chip cookies, they were spectacular and made me think about my mom and how she always made me birthday cookies. So the day went well. I tried to tell the younger classes that my birthday was a holiday, not sure if they believed me. After work I went to dinner with Diane and Vicky at Restaurant 13, it is a yummy place right on the Saigon River, they surprised me and treated me to dinner, it was really sweet. After I went to Fanny's for dessert with Avis and Stephanie and had a yummy crepe from them on my bday. I didn't expect all the love and caring from my coworkers because we haven't known each other that long but I really really appreciated all that they did for me from dinner on friday, to drinks sat, and going out on my bday, monday. It was a great time, it was the first time I was really far away from home. I had a blast and even got to see my mom and dad sing me happy birthday on skype! Not sure what I would do without skype, I can't believe I lived in London for 6 months and only got to hear my parents voices on the phone, skype is incredible. You all need to get it stat. My name is jenniferahuff, find me!

So today I decided to go treat myself for my birthday and do a little shopping. I am still having some trouble going into the little shops because the people are like "one size" or "that is too small for you." I know I am bigger than I use to be and of course bigger than the people here but they have no tact at all, it gets frustrating and I still haven't gotten my skin thick enough to not let it bug me. But I found some awesome deals and a shop that had "Big Sizes" ha ha! Even though it is frustrating to hear those comments and find things my size, it is a steal shopping here. If you guys need a new winter coat, snowboard pants, north face anything, come here. They have all this stuff, new and cheap. Also they have banana republic, zara, gap, dkny, calvin klein, you name it. Basically everything you can buy back home is here. It is here because if they print the wrong size on the label or the cut of the top is a little off, they give it to people here, cheap. So here is what I bought today at Lucky Plaza: white capris $5, North Face backpack $5, DKNY top $8, black tank top $6, pink shirt $4, 2 pairs of Nike shorts $6 each, Project Runway Seasons 1-6 $10, The Blind Side dvd <$1, Knight & Day dvd <$1, a wooden map of Vietnam for our apartment wall $9. Bringing the grand total of my shopping spree to $60. Did I mention I love shopping here?

So yes I'm another year older, but I had a great birthday here in Vietnam and it wouldn't have been so special without my coworkers here. I also really felt the love from back home in emails, facebook messages, and on skype, thank you!!!!

Getting around Ho Chi Minh City

Traffic here is the oddest and craziest thing I have ever seen. I'm starting to get use to it actually so I thought I better write and tell everyone how it is here. You know what stoplights and stopsigns are right? Well here that seem to be optional. Sometimes people stop, usually its can I get through the intersection and then they just go. I use to think that if someone did that back home they would be in a huge fender bender, but that is just how driving goes here. It is even worse on motorbikes, there are no one way streets, its how can I get from point A to point B the fastest and if that means going the wrong way, so be it. People even drive on the sidewalk when the traffic is backed up on the street here. Traffic jams take a whole new form here, they happen because no one wants to let someone else go before them. I just think about when you go to a aporting event and after their are thousands of cars and you take turns getting out of the parking lot, street, etc. Their is no your turn, my turn here, it is MY turn all the time. We went to get massages tonight and we had an extra 20 minutes added to our time in the cab because of a traffic jam. Instead of just waiting in the two lanes of traffic, the cars formed 6 smooshed lanes that only made it worse and then the motorbikes start to weave in and out of cars, it is mad chaos. The right of way doesn't seem to apply here. It is just fascinating to watch people drive cars and especially motorbikes. I thought driving and texting was bad back home. I see people on motorbikes texting in this crazy city, now that takes talent :-)

Tonight we went downtown to get massages at Zest (becoming our regular spot) and after Diane and Vicky headed back to Saigon Pearl but I was hungry and wanted to grab something before heading home. I started walking, I got a yummy milk tea drink and then decided to see if I could find the few places I knew of in the city. Of course I know no street names and there are very few landmarks that are distinctive but I managed to go from the massage place to Ben Thanh Market to where our hotel is we stayed in when we arrived. I was pretty impressed with myself and it wasn't that long of a walk. The sad part is I still don't really know which way is north when I am in the city, I actually am not sure in our apartment either :-( But I'm pretty proud of myself for navigating the streets solo and not getting lost.

Walking around tonight reminded me of living in London. These cities are completely different but in some ways similar. I feel really safe here, just like in London. I was not worried walking alone at night as a woman. I know there are places I should not do that here but overall I feel safe in HCMC. I'm starting to feel like this is my home and that I'm not a tourist anymore. This being said I know that I will always look like a tourist. I enjoy just walking and seeing all the different shops and restaurants and the people. It felt good to feel independent again. I know coming here was a pretty independent thing to do but since I've arrived I've been pretty dependent on the other teachers. I feel myself settling in and getting my bearings. Now that I finally have a gym membership I can workout when I want, it feels great.

In other news, my work permit came in this week so they can apply for my temporary residence card. Also I got a copy of my labor contract in Vietnamese so I can finally go to the bank and transfer money back home. Ah the joys of being a grown-up and having bills to pay.

Tomorrow night we are going out to celebrate the Sept birthdays, mine included. There are 4 of us international teachers with birthdays within 10 days of each other, pretty cool. We are going to barbeque garden, my fav place here so far. I'm sure it will be a fun weekend!!

When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure!

As everyone has probably heard, my Grandma Huff passed away last Wednesday night surrounded by 9 of her 10 kids and many grandchildren in Green Bay, WI. It has been a rough week for me, and my faith and perseverance has been tested a lot. The hardest part is accepting that she is gone. She was only in the hospital for a few days. I was lucky to be able to talk to her the day before on the phone. She asked me about Vietnam, her mind was all there right until the end. I am so thankful for that conversation and being able to tell her I loved her one last time and hear her say it back to me. When Grandma Graves passed away I was away at Knox and it was really painful as well, but I was able to come home and say my final goodbyes. I have struggled being so far away right now, so many emotions. I am lonely and sad but also angry and feel helpless. I have been talking to my family a lot and that has really saved me, being able to hear my dad, mom, and brother's voices has saved me. Greg brought his computer with to Green Bay and I was able to talk to all my aunts, uncles, and cousins on skype after my grandma passed away and I will always treasure being able to share our sorrows together in that way.

You would think that through all this my faith would have been lost but I've never felt God so strongly. When I woke up at 6am on thursday morning I called my dad and he said grandma was still fighting even after everything and to call back in the afternoon. After I lay in bed and Amber and Grandma Graves told me that she was going to be ok. I called dad back at 6:20 to tell him to tell Grandma that. I called back right when she passed, it is like she knew.

I think deep down that both my grandmas both just really wanted to go to the beach and that is why they passed when they did. Grandma Graves passed away right before I went to Mexico and Grandma Huff before I went to Mui Ne Beach. I think they really just wanted to come with me on vacation. It was a relaxing weekend and Mui Ne was awesome but it was also hard being there knowing everything going on back home.

But I know that God is there for me. Ravi told me he was praying for me and thinking about me a lot and at church he looked at the front of his hymnal and it was the book my parents had dedicated to me. That made me smile and I just knew how much love and prayers I had coming from far away to me. As a kid I always tried to find that hymnal and never could. Ravi always gave me this quote, "When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure." I really love that quote and i hold that dear to my heart.

I'm doing alright now, I am kind of numb now and past all the crying (for now). I am just really sad to know that I won't have any grandparents see me get married someday. I never met my grandpas but I know they were probably pretty great because my grandmas were incredible. But I had dad put a white rose with Grandma Huff just like Grandma Graves, it is my way of having them there for my future wedding.

I know I made grandma proud because whenever she had visitors even two weeks ago she had them read my blog posts about what I am doing over here. That is really touching and I'll always treasure that. Now grandma Huff gets to meet Amber and see why she had such an impact on my life.

I know that when I go home and visit Green Bay I will experience all the pain all over again. Being here it is easy to pretend it isn't real because I shouldn't be seeing her here, it is when I go back home. Although the distance makes it hard, I really appreciate all the love and support from my friends and family to me here. My roommate Sophie has been great and I really love how sweet and caring she is. I can see us becoming even better friends.

Love and miss you all back home!!!

Feeling the distance

I woke up this morning to find out my grandma is in the ICU. She is the only grandparent I have left and I'm really feeling the distance from home right now. My dad drove over to Green Bay already and I was able to talk to my grandma and tell her I love her and miss her. I also talked to a bunch of my aunts and uncles and cousins who were in the hospital with her.

I knew coming here that things would happen back home while I was gone but these first 6 weeks have really tested me. First my dad has surgery for prostate cancer, then Joyce (my psuedo grandma) has a stroke, my best friend Kelly got engaged (hugs) and now my grandma is in the hospital. I knew life would go on without me back home but lately it has been really hard. I am so thankful that I went to visit my grandma the week before I left to come to Vietnam. I knew seeing her it could be the last time, but it is still so hard.

I just keep hoping she pulls through yet again, she is a Huff after all, stubborn and strong :-) It breaks my heart to think that I might not have her at my wedding. She is all I have left, that makes it even harder.

Not only am I far away but I have/had a full day of teaching to do today. Luckily being with the kids makes me feel better and kind of get away for a bit. But my heart is definitely back home right now.

I made this choice and I don't regret it because ever since I lost Amber, I knew my life was going in a different direction than most of my friends and family. Because of Amber I knew to live for today and make your dreams come true because we never know how long we have here. My ring is a constant reminder of this, "The journey of a lifetime begins with one step." And luck have it, I'm wearing one of Amber's softball tournament shirts today. She really is the best guardian angel one could ask for.

So I ask that you all pray for my amazing grandma and take time to tell the ones you love in your life how much they mean to you, because you never know what tomorrow holds.

"Don't let the fear of striking out, keep you from playing the game!" (Always with me Amber)

Fabric, Techno, & Rain

Here comes the rain!!!

Fabric Store

Well I survived my second full week of teaching, it actually went by pretty fast I thought. I am being told I will have my gym after this next week (fingers crossed). I still don't know when my equipment will come but I'm pretty excited about having a gym soon. All of the teachers are busy getting their rooms ready because we have open house tomorrow night for the parents. The ELL teacher made a bulletin board and asked the students in 3rd and 4th grade what their favorite part of ISSP (International School Saigon Pearl) is and three of the students said something about me and PE. It felt pretty good to see that up on the wall. I really needed to see that especially because I'm stressed that I'm not doing the best because of the limitations I have, so that was a great boost for me.

Last saturday we went to an expat bar called Buddha Bar, it was actually pretty dead (we were there thursday and it was packed) so we went across the street to a spanish bar that has a pool, pool table, and foosball (all free). We played foosball with german men in lederhasen (sp?), it was pretty fun. After the bar closed (most of them close by midnight) we decided to try out one of the clubs, Diamond Club. We walk in and are of course the only non asians (minus Frank) there and they take us straight to the VIP area above the dance floor. We had a fruit plate, beer, and a hooka at our table, it was pretty cool. The music was all techno, but we had fun and I did a little dancing. We had a fun time but I still think I could feel the beat when I got home.

Friday we went to Barbeque Garden again (ate here on our 2nd night in HCMC). It is one of my favorite places so far. You cook the food on your table, it is pretty cool and yummy. After we went to this frozen yogurt place where you can pick your flavors and toppings and man did they have a lot. We found this african safari themed bar after for a few cocktails and then headed to a place called The Drunken Duck, where there were tons of expats, including my future husband :-) He was tall, cute, and BRITISH and I totally chickened out in talking to him :-( Next time.

Saturday we went to the fabric district to get fabric to bring to the tailor. I bought fabric for 7 pairs of capris and 4 tops all for $25-$30 bucks. While we were there, the monsoon rain came! Wow, we had to cross the street in 1/2 a foot of water, it was nuts. We saw motorbikes stall out numerous times, it was just crazy. But I learned that you get what you pay for at REI, my raincoat is amazing!!!

Today we went to the tailor to tell her what we want down, there were 4 of us with numerous projects so we have to wait three weeks, but I'm pretty excited to see how the things turn out, we just show her a picture or give her a pair of pants to copy and she makes it all for about $7 to $15 an item.

We only have three days of school before we have a two day holiday break. I am going to Mui Ne Beach with Vicky, Diane, Avis, and Jill. We are staying at an awesome resort in a villa. I am excited to see another part of Vietnam and relax a bit.

First Full Week is in the Bag

I finished my first full week of teaching. It is a pretty cool feeling. I think this week actually went faster than last week's 3 days. I didn't do anything really exciting this week but work on lesson plans and have dinner with a few co-workers. My equipment still hasn't arrived and the floor won't be put down for awhile in my room so I'm still in my little classroom. But I did get some jump ropes and the kids absolutely love them. It is pretty cool to know that I helped some of them learn how to jump rope, among learning other skills. And the fact that most of my students speak little or no english makes it even more meaningful. Our enrollment is growing weekly. Back in June we only had 25 students enrolled and now we are approaching 100. The only down side of that for me is being in that little room with so many children. I'm slowly getting all the kids names down, I thought learning the names during student teaching was tough, man was I wrong.

I am in the process of trying to join a gym because the one in our building is not finished and we aren't sure when it will be (Vietnam time is next month). I think they have been saying next month for about 6 months or so. But the place close by has a big initiation fee that you don't get back. It is cheaper with others signing up but no one seems to want to make the commitment or pay that much money down. I just need to get back on the treadmill, eliptical and pool. I seriously miss it so much! So hopefully this week I will get some others to join with me or bite the bullet and just do it alone and hope that the gym here doesn't open until January so it is a wise decision.

I stayed in last night and watched some bones episodes on my laptop, it was nice to just veg out. Tonight we are suppose to meet some of the guys doing the after school sports program and they are going to show us some of the places they go in HCMC.

So a pretty uneventful week but I can't stop thinking "This is my job" because I absolutely love it.

Sushi

A bunch of us went to a sushi restaurant tonight, everyone was eating sushi, except me. I had chicken, rice, and edamame. I know I know, but the though of eating raw fish/meat makes me want to vomit, i did try a cooked roll from Sophie and I did enjoy it, minus the seaweed (not a fan).

School is going well. I still sweat insane amounts and at times think I cause concern to the other teachers (I blame my parents and being from the Midwest :-)) But I made it through my first 3 days last week and I'm already 2 deep into my first full week. Monday was my longest teaching day of the week and it went pretty well. I still don't have my equipment order from the states or a gym or pool but I'm making it work. It is just so great to be teaching, I love it. But it is exhausting.

The gym in our place isn't ready yet, it's on Vietnam time, which means double what they say and then don't hold your breath. So Vicky and I went to check out another gym in The Manor which is pretty close by, it is really nice and pretty pricey but at this point, I need a gym and the price is worth it so hopefully by next week I can sweat off some stress on the treadmill.

One last note before I call it a night. Jen and Danielle bought their tickets to come visit me in Vietnam for December 28th-January 11th. I'm super excited for my first visitors, we plan on going over to China for a bit to see Beijing and the Great Wall of China, among other things.

Now for some cheap DVDs :-)

First Day of School

Well I made it through my first day of teaching alone. I think I did an alright job, could have went better but definitely could of went worse too. I had five PE classes to teach today: Preschool, 4th/5th Grade, Pre-Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, and 1st grade. I went into the Preschool class at 8:15 to kids screaming and crying, parents everywhere, it was just mad chaos, poor Vicky. So my first PE lesson ever consisted of me helping to get the parents to leave and the children to stop crying and find a game or puzzle to play with. In that 40 minute “lesson” two kids threw up and one never stopped crying. It wasn’t how I envisioned my first PE lesson but I was glad to be in there and helping Vicky out, no one should have 15 3 year olds in a class.

So my first real lesson was my 4th/5th graders, there were only 6 of them so it was a small group, but overall they did a good job. I wanted to have fun with them but also go over the rules and when some of them started to talk out of turn or not lesson I made sure they knew that I was in charge. It was pretty cool to be in the classroom alone with the students, finally felt like I’m a teacher, pretty cool feeling. The rest of the lessons went pretty well too, the Pre-kindergarten class was pretty antsy but did a good job for not being able to move around.

If I haven’t mentioned yet I don’t have a gym or any outdoor space to use for PE. I’m in an empty classroom that has a sink in the corner (???), 4 ceiling fans, and the internet router stinking out of the wall. Also none of the equipment I ordered has come in. I’m using the stuff we bought from another school, which isn’t much. So my teaching creativity is being tested right from the start. I love the challenge but I’m so limited in that little classroom. I want to let the children run and do relays. I really hope that gym floor is put in soon. Please cross your fingers, that classroom gets loud.

After school we were all exhausted but I wanted to do something to celebrate my first day of teaching So Diane, Vicky, and I went and got some Thai food and then went to Zest, our home away from home. We got a 90 minute full body massage and 30 minute fish massage for $20 (with tip). And when I say full body massage, I mean full body massage, it was insane and probably the best massage ever. They did legs, arms, head, back, feet, butt, groin, oh yes. She was walking on my back and kneading it with her knees, I swear her legs could come in front of her arms, it was quite impressive. After, we went back to the “fish tank” for round two of trying to get rid of my heel. They made some more progressive on it tonight.  All in all it was a pretty good day, a long one but I made it through and treated myself to a great spa night.

Fish & Motorbikes

Today was our Student Orientation for all the new students and their parents to come tour the school and meet their teachers. I served as a tour guide of sorts taking students to their rooms and introducing myself to them. It was pretty cool getting to meet lots of the families and really made me excited to start teaching. Today it really hit me that starting Wednesday, I'm in charge of my own classroom, no cooperating teacher, no supervisor watching over, it's mine. Pretty scary but exciting too. Mostly scaring because for probably the first month I'll be in a regular size classroom teaching phy ed. The room has a sink in the corner also and four ceiling fans, so really limits what I can do. But I have faith that the floor will be put down in my "gym" and the pool will be finished in September.

After working 7 days straight we were all pretty tired and my feet were killing me. A group of us went to this Thai restaurant and Todd ordered us lots of dishes to try. He lived there for 7 years and can speak thai. The food was delicious and actually tried everything, even a green vegetable. I really enjoyed all the dishes, well except the morning glory veggie one, yuck!

After Vicky and I really wanted to go try out the fish massage at this place Diane went to. So some people went shopping, others went home and we headed to the fish massage place. Wow, what an experience. It was the weirdest, coolest, creepiest feeling ever. You put your feet in this pool of water and the fish just swarm to you, it is crazy and we just couldn't stop laughing for the first 10 minutes about. It was really funny with two Vietnamese people came in half way through. Watching them experience what we did, was hilarious and we were all laughing together and we didn't speak a lick of the same language. And the fish actually did a good job getting rid of most of my crusty heel, all for 5 bucks for 30 minutes in the water.

Next we walked a little bit, we grabbed some ice cream at this fabulous place that makes your dessert look like a masterpiece, all for about $3.50. Then came the helmet shop. Vicky and I were like we should buy helmets in case we ever ride a motorbike taxi. So I got a cute blue one and her a matching cute yellow one. All for about $11 each. (Don't be mad mom, I bought the more expensive and nicer one). Well then we are like, well we need to take a motorbike taxi home to try out our new helmets (Sorry Mom). So we find two that are suppose to take us together back home. Well when we first take off, I'm like "Oh crap!" But after a little bit, I'm like this is awesome and lots of fun, until we lose Vicky. Soon we are going the wrong way and I have no idea where I am and he stops and is like "Here" and points. I'm like no, and pull out the card for the school. At this point I'm thinking he is going to take me away and kill me or something and start hearing my mom's voice in my head. Well e turn around and stop again and he asks some security guards how to get there and I tell them the address as well. Finally we are headed in the right direction. I figure by this point Vicky is already home and wondering where I am. We are cruising down the road and all of a sudden, "Oh my god, Jenn!" and Vicky goes flying by me. They got lost too. Both of us and our drivers are laughing. Finally we get home, all for $2.50, totally worth it. Needless to say this was a long a stressful week and tonight I laughed more than I have in a long long time and it was a great time.

Texas BBQ & Boom Boom

So tonight Stephanie, Vicky, and I wanted to go out to eat and then just come back home and crash because it has been a long and stressful week at school getting things ready and we will all be working tomorrow and sunday. Linda suggested Texas BBQ and we were like sure, why not. Well I ordered a hamburger, hoping this place wouuld actually give me one, everywhere else a hamburger is a meatloaf sandwich basically. It was yummy. Vicky had her Texas shirt on and me my Wisconsin one so we started to a table of people (one turned out to be the owner) and got some ideas for other places to eat and places to shop for items from home that are hard to find. The place was so much fun, it was kind of like a dive bar back home, even had country music playing. Another man we told us about places to go bought us all a beer and chatted with us. It was just a really friendly place that we definiately want to go back to.

After we decided to walk a little bit in the rain and we were looking at a few cute restaurants and then see this cute little alley and decide to go check it up. I'm looking at the places and thinking wow that places looks cool, I'd like to eat there and check out that place. Then we all realize we are in the prostitution alley. There are ladies in the same dresses in each place and some even had numbers on them. Needless to say it was an eye opening experience. Can't imagine what people thought seeing three tall American girls walking down the alley looking around.

So tonight I had some Texas bbq and got to see the boom boom rooms ;-)

The school is coming along slowly. I found out today that I won't be able to use the mutli-purpose room (gym) when school starts until they put a real floor down and that I need to find another place. Kind of hard when there is no grass around our building or development. But detective Jenn found a ballet studio on the third floor that is almost finished that I can use for the first month of school. The pool also won't be done until at least september so I will have the kids three times a week for pe. When the pool opens up, it will be PE twice, swimming once for all the ages except nursery, they get swimming twice and no PE.

I've been making signs to put up in my room when it is finished but really need to crack down on lesson plans tomorrow. It is going to be tricky having the kids in a little ballet studio and also the older classes don't have many students so that should be interesting. Haven't really made lesson plans for a class of 4 and 6 but I'm up for the challenge. Oh on a high note I got more pe equipment in, not the stuff I ordered yet but some good stuff that I can use. Also they put a floor in my office/storage area and lighting, whohoo!!

Oh and I've discovered that I like Sauvignon Blanc better than Chardonnay!

Vietnamese Hospital Visit

Today I went to the get my health check up for my work permit. Last week we toured a very nice hospital in the city that is covered by our insurance and I’ll be using. But today we went to another one because the school decided to pay for our check-ups.

Wow, it was quite an experience. First we had to get our blood drawn to check for HIV and other diseases and of course luck have it, I had to go first. The girl that is terrified of needles is the first to go. So I go into the room where you can actually see out little blinds to the people waiting. There in the room I have another guy sitting seriously 2 inches away in another chair while I put my arm out to give the blood. The needle came out of a pack and then I just looked away.

After I was given my cup to pee in, I walk down the hall to the bathroom. The bathroom has 3 stalls, 2 are holes in the ground and the third a real toilet with no toilet paper. I take the toilet. There is a lady cleaning the bathroom with a hose when I go in. I am in the stall and you can see out blinds and I can see people waiting in the waiting room, lots of privacy. So here I am trying to pee in my cup and the cleaning lady is spraying my feet with a hose, talk about performance anxiety. After I walk down the hall with my pee cup past everyone still waiting to see the doctor. We also saw the ear, nose, and throat doctor would just took his hand and moved my ear to look into it and then talked to me about where Wisconsin was located in the states. Overall it was an “experience.” But I’m alive and kicking still so that is good.

Last night I went out to dinner with my roommate Sophie, and Stephanie and Vicky. We went to this place that has these pancake meals the size of huge plates. We each got one and two beers, two smoothies, and two waters. After tip we spent $15. It was nuts. We probably could have done with only two of the pancakes too. It was pretty good though. We walked around after and looked at some shops.

My gym is coming along, the floor won’t be put in when we start but the rest should be done but lots to do. There are 4 pillars in there that I told them they must put mats around. Since it is a multi-purpose room they don’t have a “gym” ceiling with rafters. This makes it hard to attach climbing equipment that they bought. My office/storage room is still without electricity or completed floor. Part of the room has a ceiling that is only 3 inches taller than me. But on the bright side I did get some equipment today. I have some soccer balls, basketballs, jump ropes, rubber chickens, soxtail balls, and the savior – the parachute!!!! So I’m feeling better about that but it would be nice to actually have an office and storage area that is finished. But it is coming. Still sweating like it is my job though! 

Time is Water

We were told in Vietnam that time is like water, there is always more of it. It is hard to get use to not being prompt and right on time all the time. I still show up early and I’m all alone. I’m still struggling with the weather. All the ladies are wearing capris and shirts and don’t seem to be bothered by the weather but I’m in my shorts and tshirts and dying. Everyone seems to have lots of cute “teacher” clothes that are really cute and classy. I feel like a tomboy, but then I remember I am a tomboy and even back home I am not as dressed up as everyone else. One teacher who has been here for a few years said that we should all live the life we are meant to live and I really think that is true. I am trying to not worry about my “normal” clothes and just be me. I am the girl that would rather be in sweats and wears shorts and tshirts for work. I’m the phy ed teacher.

Today we went to a young international women’s networking group in the city. I met women from New Zealand, Australia, Finland, and Germany. They were really nice and I hope I can go again to this gathering. After was the International Ladies in Vietnam weekly get together. They were really awesome and a great group to be a part of, I think I will join just for the networking and connections I could make. I met women from all over the place and the group has an evening meeting for the teachers that are here.

After we went to a restaurant called Nam Son, it was kind of scary walking into. It is the type of place that you don’t use the bathroom and you sit on stools at a table. It isn’t the cleanest place but they specialize in ostrich and beefsteak. I had beefsteak and an egg sunny side up (how they do it in Vietnam). It was really good, I’m glad I broke out of my shell a bit and tried something new. Last night I even had a mushroom, and for the record, I still HATE them!!!

Things are going well, but I get real tired around 7-8pm. But all the other teachers are really awesome and I am enjoying getting to know them. Last night we had dinner at Mary’s apartment, it has an amazing view and the decorations look great. One thing I have learned is that all of the teachers like to drink. We will sit and have a glass of wine or beer (errr cocktail for me). Well time to wake up and get moving!!!

AC is my savior!!

The view from my apartment!!!!

Apparently it is unusually cool for the summer right now and I'm dying in this heat. It is like going from a nice cool comfortable room to the beach, yet you aren't at the beach. But I'm getting use to it, I hope or think.

My apartment is amazing, the view of the city is incredible and just unreal to think this is what I will be looking out at for the next year or two years. Still haven't really unpacked. I'm living in the one of the smaller rooms for the first half of the year, but I get to use the other room as well until we have guests. Sophie is in the master bedroom which is huge and awesome. I will hopefully take some more pictures and post them soon. But we have orientation from 7:30 to 3:30 everyday and at night I die. We are going on friday to get stuff for the apartment. Yesterday we went to a place that is kind of like sam's club and I bought a few things for my room and bathroom but we need to get more stuff. Unfortunately we have to pay first and then get reimbursed by the school later but things are pretty cheap here. You can get mixed drinks for about 3-4 bucks and beers for 2 bucks. All of the teachers and the head of our school went to dinner at this Viet bbq and we ordered tons of apps, food, and drinks and it was only $160 for 16 people, $10 each. I had an app, a smoothie, bottled water, glass of wine, and a combo plate of bbq. It was amazingly delicious. It kind of reminded me of melting pot but you had a grill in front of you.

I am still nervous about washing my clothes because they don't have dryers here and it is so humid I bet it will take forever to dry clothes. I can't find a drying rack yet but hopefully on friday when we do more apt shopping. House help is really cheap here though. I had a maid come through our apartment before we moved in to clean the floors, counters, wipe down everything, she did an awesome job and it cost $8. I can totally afford that once a week! Well time to go unpack some stuff before dinner at the head of the school's apartment.

Good Morning Vietnam

Hey guys,

I'm starting this back up again to tell you about my adventure in Vietnam. I arrived at 10pm saturday and had to change my watch to 10am sunday morning. It was 90 when i got here with high, high humidity. The flights over weren't too bad. The first flight was tough because I was still a little emotional from saying good bye to everyone but once I was en route to Taipei I started to get excited again. I met one of the other teachers from my school on my flight from MSP to LAX so we chatted in the airports, which made things easier and more comfortable.

I have met a few of the other teachers and walked around and went to lunch with 3 of them today. The food was amazing and delicious! We went to a few markets and shopping centers and walked around the area. I didn't make it too long until the jet lag really set in. But all in all, it is so gorgeous and exciting. I've never seen so many scooters and motorcycles. They told us "don't hesitate" when crossing the street or they will hit you. It was a little scary and nerve racking crossing, just kept my eyes forward and walked.

Tomorrow I get to go see the school and how construction is going and hopefully take a look at our apartment. I can't believe I will be living on the 26th floor of a high rise, so crazy. I am sharing a 3 bedroom furnished apartment with Sophie, she is the art teacher. She is from MN, my age, and a new teacher so I think we will be a great fit and I'm excited to finally met her in two days. Well it is 2am here and I have orientation at 8:30am so I should try to sleep some more. I miss everyone but appreciate all the love and support!!