Christmas Is Over....Looking Towards The New Year

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. I guess it always goes by that quickly so it shouldn't have surprised me much. Spending Christmas in a different country was definitely a different experience but one that I am glad I got.

VATC had a teacher's lunch for Christmas. While in District 1 we met up with Brittany and Steph. Carolyn and I were a little greedy with the presents

For weeks before Christmas people asked us our plans for Christmas and everyone suggested going into District 1 to walk around because that's what most foreigners do. The funniest part was that when I asked them if they were going into District 1 they all said it was too crowded and yet they kept insisting that we go. So we did. Some of Carolyn's students picked us up and as a group, we headed into District 1. Now getting to District 1 usually takes and hour but with the INSANE traffic, it took us a little longer. I now saw what everyone had been saying. Traffic here is busy but oh my gosh! I really don't know how anyone got anywhere that night! Anyway, my driver and I got lost from the group but once we finally met up with everyone we began our walk through the traffic. Once we finally got to a no motorbike section we made our walk down the street full of lights. It was almost like the states where we drive around looking at lights but instead we walked around.

Our school had a Christmas party for the students. There was a fashion show and presents from Santa.
In our apartment we hung Christmas decorations and made cards for friends.

During our walk Carolyn and I noticed people selling devil horns. I was so shocked by the site of them that I decided to take a picture which resulted in one of the girls buying me a pair of not devil horns but beast like horns. Yay!!! I have gotten used to people staring at us but I was so uncomfortable with the looks I was getting this night. People looked at me like I was a freak. Carolyn was given a pair too but fortunately for her, hers did not have energizer batteries and they died out. Mine lasted all night! Apart from having to wear beast horns, the night was fun spent with friends and looking at pretty lights.



Also included in the night were snow fights (shaving cream that when sprayed, really did look like snow), handfuls of glitter and a game of Signs. Our group did not participate in the snow or glitter fights but we definitely got attacked plenty of times walking down the street. My hair was pretty much pasted to my head by the end of the night and I pretty much had glitter everywhere but it was a great night. We carried in Christmas day at a coffee shop as we played a game of Signs.

Christmas day, I spent at home, much less eventful than the night before. Carolyn and I exchanged gifts where I got an etch-a-sketch, a book and a pair of earrings.

In the days following Christmas, Carolyn and I have gone to coffee with the same group of students we spent Christmas Eve with and we met foreigners in our district! They are only here for a few days but it was nice meeting them. I also get to spend an hour with some of the DaNang
team.


Traffic on Christmas Eve



Fashion Show

Today marks 4 months

Today, December 19th marks 4 months in Vietnam and 5 months with ESI! I cannot believe we are half way through our journey. At this point in time I do get excited thinking that home doesn't seem so far away but I also get sad knowing that these past four months have flown by way too quickly.

Being here has not been a cake walk but it has definitely been the experience of a life time. It has made me question who I am in Him, it has made me question my ability as a teacher and it has made me question about the future but throughout it all, I know that He knows who I am and He holds my future in his hands.

Right now we are six days away from Christmas. I don't know how it came upon me so quickly but it's here. These times are a little weird being away from home. I miss the Christmas traditions of making White Death and Christmas cookies or watching Miracle on 34th street with my sister. I am definitely going to miss the time with my family and friends but I am excited to share what Christmas means to me here.

This country celebrates Christmas in full force but I know many people don't celebrate it for the reasons I do. What an awesome time to share the real reason for the season!

As a little side note...Saturdays are hard. Carolyn and I both work until 10:30 on Friday night and we have to wake up early to teach class at 7:30. My morning classes are chatty but I was so stoked about my first class this morning. I wanted to play a game with them where the students hide something in the room while one student is outside. When the student comes in they have to ask questions using prepositions, "Is it in the bag?" I think today was there first lesson in prepositions EVER but guess what....they were awesome at it! They were so excited about it which made me excited because now I have a game to play whenever I need to fill up a few minutes!

My first Saturday class. (the ones I played the game with)
From the back to the front is Henry, Kevin and Yang)

Sue, Lina, Sarah, Ruby, LiLi and Lisa

Jimmy is cute but oh is he a talker and not a talker in English!

Vivian

Finally Got My Package!

This story begins a few days ago when I received a slip for a package my mom had sent! I was so thrilled to get my Christmas package that I went home, got money out and took the treck to the post office. Now I should have known something was different about this package because the slip wasn't a normal package slip and I had to go to the post office in District 10 to get it, opposed to our post office over the bridge. Carolyn was not feeling well that day so I decided to take on the adventure by myself. I was a little nervous venturing on my own but I was so eager to get the package, it didn't matter. I hopped on an unfamiliar bus (bus 91) with my bus map and headed out. Because of my pride, I didn't want to ask the ticket collector where to get off but when I did, I was no better off than if I had figured it out myself. I say this because he told me to get off at the first stop on the street I needed to be on...the address was in the 30s when I needed to be at 270! A little frustrated but with the feeling of excitement overruling those feelings, I started the long journey to the 200s! It felt like an eternity but I had arrived! Except, it was closed! I have neevr felt so defeated! By this time, the sun was beginning to set and not being in a familiar part of the city, I turned around in hopes of finding a bus to take me home. No familiar buses passed by. I tried to retrace my steps but not being the most observant person, I didn't know what street my bus had turned from to get onto the street I was on now. Luckily I saw the bus I had taken turn down a street...so I followed. Again, I found no bus stops with any familiar buses so began another half hour treck. I finally found a stop with bus 49! Now this bus doesn't directly take me home, it actually stops right in front of my school, but I concluded that by the time I got back, it would be time to meet Carolyn anyway. I finally arrived, ate dinner and met with Carolyn, empty handed.

The next day I attempted again. This time I knew where I was going and it was during the day. Shockingly however, the bus I had taken didn't take the same route. By the time I realized the bus was not going to get me any closer to my destination, I had already set myself 15 minutes back. When I finally got to the street I power walked all the way to the suuposed address on my package slip only to find that it wasn't a post office at all but a metal shop! Great! So again, humbling myself, I asked someone where the post office was. All they could do was point straight but at least it was a start. However, in my head I was thinking, how am I going to find a post office that has changed addresses, especially when some post offices aren't too recognizable. After walking a ways I stopped in a glasses shop and asked. All this time I was texting Carolyn updates by this time I had texted her that I was ready to turn around but I kept on knowing that this was my Christmas package! Finally, I had reached the Buu Dien! but it was closed...once again. Instead of texting, I called Carolyn this time almost in tears. I figured they were closed for lunch so I had decided to find a coffee shop as I talked on the phone with her. Just as she had asked me if I was sure that was the right post office the Heavens opened and I arrived at a gigantic post office that matched the address on my slip! I practically ran into the office when I saw it was open. When I showed a woman at the counter my slip she pointed me to an office where a woman sat who began miming to me what I was supposed to do. Realizing we were getting no where, she handed me a magazine and rushed to find someone who could translate. A woman came in and hit me with the news. Today, all I was coming in for was to sign the slip saying I would pay the fees for the box. Oh my gosh! I didn't know what to feel at the moment. I was happy because I knew I was one step closer to receiving my package but I was also frustrated as heck to know I had to wait longer! At least they were going to transfer the package to the post office in my District and even though I have not had a good experience there in the past, I at least knew how to get there and how to get home. I was in such a mood that I half decided to walk home. I had brought my helmet so I could take a motorbike home but I rejected driver after driver until I got it in my head that it would take hours to walk home. So I gave and took a motorbike home....again, empty handed.

Today, I came into the office to get my schedule to find that I had a package slip! Carolyn had two as well so we took the bus over the bridge and within a few minutes, I was handed my package! Because my parents were not allowed to wrap anything, I saw all of my presents but I am still waiting to enjoy them on Christmas day. My grandma had also sent Christmas ornaments and crafts so I began on those right away. After days of fighting for this package, I am thrilled it's finally here!

Cute little Christmas tree I made from a craft set my grandma sent

Some other highlights of the week:

Vietnam was playing Singapore in soccer for the Sea Games. The streets and every place with a TV were packed!

The other night I was so fascinated at how quickly they made these wantons. This night she was making them at the table when she stuck a sheet in my hand and told me to scoop some meet in. Carolyn and I both got the chance to make a few each and then we got some for free! This was not the first time we got something for free from her. She gave me a whole meal after I had brought one from another place. I think she wanted to prove hers was better.

Another highlight of my week was visiting the Bien Hoa girls. We had a Christmas party with great American food and ended the night with a viewing of Elf!

Carolyn bought the girls cute ornaments for their tree

The girl in the pink is Vietnamese. Notice the difference in utensils when eating salad between the Americans and the Vietnamese

We found a comfortable way to have back support

New classes, Christmas and weddings!

Yesterday I began two new children’s classes. After looking through the book the night before, I thought these classes were going to be a nightmare but it turns out that I actually like them. They are definitely going to be a rowdy bunch but at least they all respond to their names (unlike one of my other children’s classes) and they enjoy singing the songs! In fact, they ask to sing them again and again and again. And then in the middle of the lesson they voluntarily start singing AGAIN! It is impossible to teach for two hours off of the two pages we are assigned so as many times as I can play a song and have them sing…I will! I do miss one of my children’s classes but I still get to see them which is nice and I am really excited to teach these two.


Oh yeah, our school also decorated for Christmas and I got to sing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

So I don’t know how I am going to do this but I am determined to make one of the girls from a restaurant we frequent, my best friend. I was not working second shift last night so I decided to get some mi sao bo. Normally I get my meal to go and take it back to the school but setting my backpack down apparently meant that I was staying. Even though I was reading my book, I occasionally looked up to find multiple people staring at me, one of the girls who works there, being one of them. But her stare was unlike the, “you have no clue what you’re doing” stare. Instead, her stare was compassionate and she wore a big smile with it. When I finished my meal, I got out my money and looked around for someone to pay. When I looked at her she knew exactly what I was thinking so she called someone over. When I left, I got another beaming smile and that is when I decided I wanted to be best friends with her.

Tonight, Carolyn and I got the privilege of attending a wedding with our landlady’s family. It was definitely an experience but one that I am glad I got to have. When we arrived, we were escorted to one of the front tables, on our way, we were introduced to the multitude of family members. When we finally got to our seats, we waited for the bride and groom to arrive. Before they were introduced, we got to watch two dances being performed….both dances to American songs which I always think is funny. The bride and groom then entered and took pictures on the stage with their parents. I know all of the attention is supposed to be on you during you wedding day, but being on a huge decorated stage in front of hundreds of people, does not sound fun to me. After pictures they toasted each other and cut the cake. These practices sound like a typical American wedding but in Vietnam they are much more showy, with smoke machines, sparklers and tiny explosions of confetti which was, of course, my favorite part. When the bride and groom left the stage, we were served our appetizers, the first dish out of six!

Trinh gave Carolyn the lucky bouquet so she can have a lucky marriage. On the right is Trinh and Phuong.
The bride is at the bottom in the red...that was her third dress.

The bride and groom came out again, in different outfits now and took pictures with the tables. Then began the karaoke! Well not really karaoke with the words but the guests got chances to go up on stage and sing. Instead of dancing like our weddings, they sing and some not well. But it was entertaining, especially when Phuong leaned over to me and said, “he does not sing well” with a disgusted look on her face. I was a little bummed that there was no dancing…the bride and groom didn’t even dance! But I am being optimistic, with hundreds of weddings every weekend (tonight there were multiple at the same location), maybe there will be more opportunities to dance at another wedding!



It's a little shaky but it's because I was jumping with them. I think they got confused when I wasn't jumping.

Thanksgiving and conference in Mui Ne

Hey all! I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving. I know I enjoyed mine! Quick summary of Thanksgiving...plans got messed up and our group couldn't travel to our conference location, Mui Ne, until 8:30 pm. Therefore, Carolyn and I decided to make Thanksgiving dinner for everyone. Preparation began the day before Thanksgiving but Thanksgiving day was still filled with chopping and cooking. We made a nice meal consisting of salad, sweet potatoes, stuffing (personally made by me), rolls and duck! We could not find chicken which was our first option so Carolyn walked the streets and found a man pushing a cart with duck on it. When she ordered he apparently chopped off the head and feet and handed it over. Luckily he had already plucked the feathers!

Our delicious meal!

During the meal we reenacted the first Thanksgiving by assigning people roles of Indians or pilgrims. Carolyn and I had made hats the night before and were happy to find that people actually wore them. After our meal we headed out for District 1. We had a stressful bus expereince or lack there of. The bus we take to District 1 never came so we had to hail two taxis which usually are frequent but for some reason were not as regular when we needed them.



We eventually made it to the bus station and took our own personal bus to Mui Ne. We were delayed a bit due to the rain but we eventually made it.

At conference we studied the word, sang, lounged by the pool and ate American food. It was a great time spent catching up with the rest of the gang. I even enjoyed rooming with a teammate who got a little loopy at bed time. Example....(at midnight some of the staff was playing pool outside our room) Me: "I am going to hurt someone." Suz:"Who the man taking your picture?"

We had a gift exchange! I got a cute Santa ornament

We got to enjoy the most beautiful sunsets

All in all it was a good weekend. I am glad I got to reconnect with my team and have some time away from school to relax. However, by the last day I was getting anxious to be home. Now that I am back, I cannot be happier. I have missed our routine and my classes...I am just waiting now to actually have more than 5!

The gang enjoying a meal together

Aside from having four people throwing up all around me on the bus to and from fellowship yesterday, my month has started off well. I have started a new class, ridden on the back of a motorbike (which was a long time due) and I have received an encouraging email from a student.

Although I still deeply miss my level 9 class, my new level 6 class definitely has potential to take away my sadness. I don't know if they could ever replace them because each class has it's unique personality but these new students are very sweet, quiet, but sweet. I don't know if they don't understand my instruction sometimes but they have the "stare at your book when a teacher asks a question", down pat. And I hated when my teachers did this but I have resorted to calling out names. Turns out...they usually know the answer or can read the passage well! They just need some confidence instilled in them and that is my plan for these next few months. Please lift me up. I know with His help I can transform this class and get them out of their quiet bubbles.

Sorry mom and dad, I know you don't like the motorbikes but really it was the only option. On Wednesday Carolyn and I discovered one of our staff members was a soccer coach and that he had a game the following day. After sending our friend Andrea to the airport, we came back to the apartment and planned to head out the door when we were stopped by a foreign woman in or building who wanted to do laundry....unfortunately we don't have a quick cycle. To make up for lost time Carolyn and I hopped on motorbikes and headed towards the stadium. Luckily for me, I was the first to arrive at the random stadium, in a random district, without cell minutes. Fortunately, Carolyn called me 15 minutes later and she had been dropped off right up the street from me! She had met up with a girl from or school who had invited us to coffee with the team. After coffee, which had been the pre-party, we all took a ride into our district to get lunch. As we were leaving the coffee shop, I figured I would ride with the girl who I rode there with....now I have to admit, she wasn't the most confident driver but I trusted that she could get us there. I don't know if she felt this way too or if she was trying to set me up with a guy from the team, but I ended up riding on the back of a random guy's motorbike. Whenever we would pull up to another teammate they would always look at me, say something and laugh. I really wish I knew Vietnamese to know if I had just made him the most popular guy on the team or the joke.

Hitching a ride with Phuong

The guys celebrating their win

When we got to lunch the real celebration began and beer flowed around us everywhere. Assuming that we are like every other American, they poured us half a beer and stuck it in front of us. One girl saw that I wasn't drinking mine and ordered me another drink. Being the only foreigners and blond foreigners at that, we are constantly reminded that people are always watching us. Showing them that multiple bottles of Sting (a syrupy caffeinated drink) and half a beer was sufficient proves that we are not like the Americans they see on TV. They, on the other hand, consumed more beer than I have ever seen in my life.

The next day was Teacher's Day! A day that we had heard about, at least a month before. This day is not like Teacher Appreciation week in the states. Yes students bring in presents for their teachers but instead of the school putting a potluck together, all of VATC put a production together. Night classes were canceled so teachers could attend the celebration in District 1. I was a little surprised by the whole night. They had singers and dancers which were fun but everything was in Vietnamese! Yes, I know what country I am in but I assumed that at least some of it would be in English since they were celebrating the teachers working at Vietnamese AMERICAN Training College where we teach the students to speak English. It sounds like I am bitter and I am really not. It was a nice event, it was just tough to follow. Luckily Carolyn had the bright idea to ditch out cushioned teacher's seats to sit back with the rest of our staff. This made it more entertaining and easier to follow since one of the guys was translating everything for me.

The pink is made up of greeting cards "from our students". Some students must have written a lot because out of two they were supposed to write, my students maybe filled out one.

Taking a picture with another Phuong from our school

Teacher's Day for me didn't come with presents from the students but I did get a ceremony and a nice letter from one of my students. Remember how I gave out my email address to my precious level 9 class? Well one of my students had taken down my email and written me a sweet note for Teacher's Day. She also sent me her blog link that she has written in English! I was so excited to read it but as I was reading it began to tear me up. This girl is such a beautiful and kind girl who always had a sweet smile. I just figured she was a quiet but happy girl. Her blog however, showed that she was having a tough time in high school with friends. If her blog didn't make me cry then her response to my email definitely did. I wanted to let her know I took the time to read her blog so I wrote to her, trying to send her some encouragement. When she wrote back she told me that I was unlike any teacher she had had before. She said that usually teachers keep their distance from students but that I was different, that I was "special". As I write it now I am starting to cry. That is why we are here. To show everyone we are different because of the transformation He has made in us.

Days before I had received this email I had cried out to Him, asking Him to change hearts and to open my eyes to His will. If her email doesn’t confirm why I am over here, I don’t know what will. Right now we are writing to each other every day but hopefully that can turn into hanging to as well. Please lift our relationship up. All I want her to see is Him working in me!

The weekend ended with fellowship and an amazing Thanksgiving lunch!

Come Monday

So I am a little skeptical to see my new schedule tomorrow. I have ended four of my classes and I don't know what classes I will be taking over. All I have to say though is that at least one of my classes needs to be amazing to make up for the loss of two great classes.

My Level 9 class

The girls, minus a few

The boys minus a few as well + Tran

Example of the awesomeness and the bond I had with my level 9 class (Upper-intermediate)....When class ended I told them they could go and that I hoped to see them again. No one moved. I didn't know if they had heard me so I said again, "You may leave". The response I got from them actually made me stop in my tracks. Some actually said "no". None of them got up. I was in awe! It was the biggest compliment I have ever gotten from a class! I wrote my email down for them and told them they better stay in contact. Once they had that, they seemed satisfied with and they finally began to leave. I have to brag that by the time I got down to the office, every other teacher was gone.

Alex and Tracy. Alex was one of the students who said no

Tracy, Christine and Kate

Jessica, Jenny 2, Jenny 1 and Tina

Chris (the class clown), Tom (who always talked about relationships), Sunny, Alex

Please pr*y with me that I can get a class that is half as awesome as theirs because it will be a tough few weeks if I don't. This class seriously sustained me. Whenever I had a frustrating first shift, I knew everything would be ok because I ended my night with them. Needless to say, next week is going to be an interesting week.

All of the students made me happy but this little group definitely made the smile slightly bigger
Tran, Mike, Tom and Andy

Just a Quick Picture Update on the Past Week

Sunday and Monday Adventures

Janell and Aletta had us over to their house for lunch after fellowship. We had delicious pesto pasta! Monday we went back to District 1 to have lunch with Janell. I decided to be a tourist and take a picture of Vietnam's version of Notre Dame

Getting a haircuts is a lot more interesting and frightening when you have to play charades to communicate what you want...but they turned out well

Tuesday through Thursday

Around town...and my new bedsheets!
I am determined to by a floppy hat but 150,000VND seems a little pricey
It still amazes me how they carry things on their motorbikes...like 100 chairs! The wording also stills gets me...who wants to take a trip to the Beayuty Salon?

Bonding with the locals. Carolyn played with the little boy in the binky as we had coffee at one of our usual spots. We also showed we live here by going on a shopping spree at the Metro where we bought 20 rolls or toilet paper and cereal!

We came back last night from class to find one of our security guards in the tree. They were picking fruit which, to me, tasted like floral soap....ick. But they insisted we have more. Even though we walk pass them every night and attempt to talk to them, I have never felt like we really bonded until last night. We had a fun time laughing as they took their turns in the tree and taught us how to eat the fruit...don't eat the pit though because apparently you will poop it out whole....or at least that's what it looked like from the charades one of them acted out

Sad Goodbyes

This month is the start of saying goodbye to my classes. For me, goodbyes are usually always difficult, like saying goodbye to family or friends....or my classes!

I have said goodbye to many a class and be it a whole year or a few weeks, I always tear up. Even when I don't like a class like one I just finished. I mean they weren't tears of sadness but there were tears....ok maybe that's a lie but they definitely had me singing Hallelujah as they walked out the door. However, it seeing them leave left me thinking...."this is going to be the trend for the next few weeks, classes ending, and hey, I actually like my other classes a whole lot".

So tonight marked my first night of tears or at least being choked up. I had my students doing a speaking activity with partners until two or so minutes left so I think that saved me from the waterworks. If I would have gone into a speech about how much I was going to miss them, I definitely would have started crying. Plus, I have a feeling I will see some of the again...or at least hear from them. Some have invited me to Karaoke this Sunday and it is still up in the air whether I will go or not but we shall see. I also gave my email address out at the end of class, in hopes that maybe one person would want to stay in touch. I told them I was being cheesy and they totally didn't have to write it down...but if they wanted to that would be great! When I turned around after writing my email on the board, I saw everyone with a pen and piece of paper out! Yay! And now come the tears.

To explain my relationship with this class...I have loved them since day one. I never really knew where I stood with them though because they always looked so tired in class and sometimes it was like pulling teeth to get them to answer. I was a little offended at first but after talking to them more, I realized that they were so exhausted. If I am tired teaching a class from 7:30-9:30, they are probably just as tired or more. I mean, they have been at school all day and then they have to come to more class....yeah I don't blame them for being tired. I did really try everything to get them energized though. But like I said, I never knew how they felt about me until tonight. Even though the bell had rung, they stayed behind to finish writing down my email and talk a little while longer....as opposed to the class the night before which bolted out of the classroom without the slightest acknowledgment that this was our last class.

From left to right: Sella, Jacky, Susan, Tom, me, Vicky, Andy, poor Allence didn't get much in the picture, Amy and Kanza who seems thrilled!

Having a class like theirs was definitely hard to let go, but I am excited to have the opportunity to meet new students and hopefully have some impact on their lives too! I just hope my new classes are all like them....but maybe with a little more energy!

What a Difference a Year Makes

A year ago today, I was playing intramural softball with a group of friends. The season was going well, we had won all of our games and we were winning this game as well. Not being the best player, I felt confident sticking to right field, while occasionally switching positions with my friend at second base. Well this night a year ago, was rainy and we were playing at a different time, making it darker than when we normally played which should have been a warning sign. When my friend asked me if I wanted to switch positions, something in my stomach told me no but I had not had any action in right field and I was getting restless, so I agreed. Maybe one or two innings, I thought.

I cannot tell you how long I had been playing second this inning but before I knew it, my inning and my last opportunity to play intramural sports was shot by one throw to second base. The batter had just hit the ball into left field and a runner was coming into second. With my foot on the bag, I reached my glove out to receive the incoming catch from left. Instead of catching it with my glove, which my whole team had thought I had done since there was a sound indicating I had, I caught the ball with my face. Yup, I got a heater thrown at my left eye. It knocked me down and out for a few seconds but seeing everyone around me made me so uncomfortable that I told someone I just wanted to sit down in the dugout. Despite everyone telling me to regroup, I got up and walked back to the dugout with blood dripping down my face, onto my favorite T-shirt. After my protests against being taken to the hospital and once my team realized I was going to stay conscious, the game resumed. I spent the rest of the game being cleaned up by the medic and filling out forms saying I wasn’t going to sue the league as I held ice to my face. Once we had finished the game, with another win of course, my friend took me home and I finally got to see the damage. Picture Quasimodo and you have my face! My left eye was swollen shut and my nose was a faucet, constantly dripping blood.

The next morning I woke up, hoping the past night’s drama was all a bad dream but when I looked in the mirror that morning, washed my face and ate my breakfast, I realized this was not going away. I called school telling them I would not be in (since I was in the middle of student teaching) and decided that it would be best to go to the doctors since my nose hadn’t stopped bleeding. My roommate so graciously gave up her day to take me to the doctor’s office where I was examined and x-rays were taken. This was the day that I discovered that my face was not just swollen but broken….completely broken, from my nose, to the optic bone surrounding my eye (the terms my doctor would use later for my broken bones was “cornflakes”) My parents, who had thought I was “just swollen” as well, came up and took me home a few days later.

Beginning on the car ride home, miracles happened left and right. With a few calls to my dad’s high school friend I got an appointment with SHARP hospitals best END. When I was able to meet with him the next day, I knew I was not only in His hands but I was in the best medical hands I could be in.

After a 4 and half hour surgery and months of healing, my face started to heal and resort back to normal. However, this whole process was not just about experiencing healing physically but emotionally as well. The months waiting for the swelling to go down were the most painful months I have ever gone through. My face, from the moment of impact to post surgery, never hurt once (which is another miracle) but looking in the mirror and not seeing the face I had lived with for twenty two years was excruciating. I did not know how or if my face would ever be normal again. I was literally experiencing an identity crisis. Every day I questioned who this person was in the mirror? It was then that I could only rely on Him. No one else could sympathize with what I was going through, I felt completely alone. I realized I could no longer place my identity in what I looked like on the outside but who He has made me on the inside.

Even though a year has passed, I still have not gotten to the point where I am completely confident in my identity, both physically and spiritually but I believe this whole experience is what brought me here to Vietnam. He has changed my heart to be completely dependent on Him and living in a foreign country, it is the only way I can survive.

Yes I could have done without the screw in my face and a soreness that comes and goes but I would never want to do without the transformation that was made in my heart. Where would my faith be without it?

A month after my accident. Notice the left eye a little bit bruised.

At the end of student teaching...still swollen

Today...back to my old self!

Parents Leaving and Friendships Beginning

Catching fish outside of a restaurant in Danang

After our trip to Danang and two more days in Ho Chi Minh City, my parents headed back home to the states. I had a blast with them though, seeing the ancient site of My Son and getting clothes tailored in Hoi An. It was definitely a refreshing and much needed time spent with my parents. I was so fortunate that they were able to come see the amazingness of where I live.

One of the temples the Chamba people built in the earlier centuries

Our beautiful hotel in Danang

Yesterday was Halloween and it was definitely a new experience celebrating in a different country. I had talked with my two children’s classes before the actual holiday and asked if they did anything special. One girl out of around 20 students said she will be going to her grandma’s house while the rest of the students said they didn’t celebrate. I even got a shocker ….they don’t even like candy! However, they sure had fun the morning of Halloween when our school staff dressed up as ghosts and came into the classroom passing out candy. My first class was crazier than my second and hardly any learning took place…thanks goodness for spontaneous Halloween games!

A student from my second class was waiting outside when my first class was trying to sneak out to visit the haunted house, he commented, “Miss Erica, I don’t think there will be much learning today.” How cute! I agreed though. My second class was much better at staying focused until someone came in with an announcement saying that we would be visiting the haunted house created upstairs. That’s when all heck broke loose with cheering and some screaming…I guess they were practicing their horror screams. When the big moment finally came my students flew upstairs to a darkened room with the ghosts wandering about. The students got masks and ran around the room until they were told to sit and watch a slide show with scary pictures. Too bad the bell rang before they finished because the kids were no longer focused on the Halloween party. It was definitely an interesting day to say the least and I normally would not have chosen to spend my Halloween that way but knowing the kids had a blast was satisfying enough. The day continued with a 3 hour long meeting in another district and a night class!

Some of my students. So cute!

Today Carolyn and I attended fellowship and had a delicious lunch with some of the girls. When we got back we met with a girl Carolyn had met at a coffee shop. She had told us she wanted to take us to her house so we agreed, thinking it couldn’t be that far…right? We ended up taking an hour bus ride outside of our district into another district that you could tell was definitely worse off but oh how it was beautiful. It was a small little village where families live on the next plot of land. The path to our friends house was a small, pebbly road with rice growing in the water on both sides. Trees with every type of fruit also grew along the banks.

Men working in the fields

When we got to her house, we were treated like we were celebrities. They served us soda and an endless amount of pears, watermelon, bananas and oranges. We then were taken on a tour around the house. On this tour, more fruit was picked and consumed. We also got to experience fishing in a whole new way with a bamboo poll and net. Although we did not have any success, we enjoyed trying. Once back at their house, we were presented with more gifts! We received a cactus and a water plant to take back to our apartment!

They put this poll out in the water with a net below to scoop up fish

Apart from the hospitability we have seen from others in our district, I have never seen such giving people. How many people would pick the only fruit on their trees to give to people they have just met? Even though many people would considered them “poor”, this family lived in a beautiful village and had, what it seemed like, a very loving family. If they were willing to give us, strangers, everything from their land, what would they not do for their own family? Continue to lift up our friendship with this girl…she already has a servants heart, why not pr*y that it can be use to serve Him?

Our new friend, Oanh!

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Making Progress With the Locals

Yesterday my parents came to District 6 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam! I enjoyed the adventure of taking them around my district. Too bad they will only be in my district for a day but while they were here, Carolyn and I took them to our "pineapple place", showed them our school, got fruit juice and went to a market.

While showing my parents our normal spots, they were able to see the kindness of the people we have met here. Carolyn and I have visited this juice shop on occasion and in earlier visits, the old man who works there has communicated that he would like us to teach him English. We have started slowly by teaching him names of fruit! The other night as we passed by the store he motioned for us to come in but I had not had dinner yet and we told him we would come back later. Yesterday when we stopped by, we discovered that he had a gift for us! He had brought us a souvenir from some place he had visited! Unfortunately the flavor of the candy is from the nastiest fruit on the planet. We are a little afraid to try it but it was a nice gesture.

My parents went back to their hotel and Carolyn and I went off to school later that night. On our way home we decided to get dinner from "my egg lady". Unfortunately, she had no eggs. So we decided to get her soy, which is rice with interesting meat and noodles. While Carolyn was finishing up her conversation with another woman close by, egg lady came up to me with her own soy and fed me. Yes she scooped a spoonful and put it by my mouth. Then she cleaned something off my face and gave me another bite. Carolyn was next! I cannot think of the last time I have been fed but I do know that sharing food with someone is a sign of friendship!

Seven more months to grow these relationships! So excited!

Breaking News

We are making friends! Yes, we have hung out with our neighbors and I still love them dearly but being as she had just had her baby, she is resting a lot and we do not see her often. But we like to catch glimpses in the house when we can so we can wave and show them we still care.

So who are our new friends you ask? We have started hanging out with our landlady’s daughter. She has two daughters and both speak English! We would love to hang out with both of them but the oldest has just had a baby as well and stays in a lot. Hopefully, on occasion, we can hang out with her as well but Carolyn and I have now had the opportunity to hang out with the youngest two days in a row. Last night she came over with a friend to collect rent and we ended up going out with them to a coffee shop. Getting coffee is different than in the states. The place we went was a club where you drink coffee and listen to booming music! We found that we could not converse at all and decided to go upstairs where it was more quite. Despite confusion between drinks, where Carolyn and I actually got the coffee instead of coco, the night was fun and we had a lot of good conversation. Trinh’s friend Nyguyen had been in America for five years and spoke English really well. He even told a few American jokes! When we got home around 10:30ish, I was worried I was not going to able to fall asleep from the caffeine but maybe I am becoming more Vietnamese than I thought, I went to sleep by midnight. I say that I am becoming Vietnamese because they drink coffee all throughout the day, even at night and it never affects them! Oh how will I wean myself when I get back to the states?

I felt I would keep the funny stories coming. The other day our landlady showed us another apartment in their building…same complex though. She told us it was much better than the one we are in and so we should think about moving there. Well I guess we never really had a choice. She sent movers here today to get our couch and TV. We will be moving the rest of our stuff in three days…yup right when my parents get in! Guys, I guess you will get the opportunity to help me move in Vietnam as well. But anyway, this day led once again to us being able to hang out with Trinh. We went out and got some lunch at “our rice place”. I am so glad we are making new friends! I ask that you lift this up. Lift up our conversation and our actions when we are around her and her friends. To add in…Nyugyen actually asked us about our religion last night. What will conversations lead to if this is what he asked the first night of knowing us? We have great opportunities here!

I will leave you with one more thing….Carolyn and I love so many people here but we never know if we communicate that. We also never get the opportunity to know how they view us….well we got an answer today. When we first started going to our rice place, there was a woman and her daughter that worked there. For the longest time we thought the daughter hated us. She would always give us looks that we interpreted as, “why are you here?” Well one day we found out she was deaf and when we started to communicate with her through signs, she really warmed up. We would wave to her every time we passed and she would smile. Well one day when we passed we realized she was gone and every day from then on we never saw them again. We were really sad that it was so sudden but we have begun to accept the fact that we wont see her again. Today however, we got more closure. We asked Trinh if she could ask the people there where she went. They said they had moved to open a beef stand far away (so sad) but she also mentioned that the girl had liked us very much. When Trinh told us I responded with a “desperately hopeful” face and said, “She said that?” I really cannot describe to you what I felt and I apparently looked classic because Carolyn laughed at my response. But either way, I feel affirmation that the feelings we have towards the people are reciprocated. I am also hopeful that He will do amazing things through us. If we can form a relationship in a month, how much will He work in relationships of 7, 8 or 9 months!


Sorry there have been no pics in a while!

Just some fun overseas anecdotes

The first one comes to you from our school office. On Tuesday night, while Carolyn was teaching, I was hanging out in the office. My usual routine is to escape to the park to have two hours of reading or people watching but that night I stayed in. Our technician and I started talking and at one point in the conversation he asked how long I was going to stay. When I told him our program was only through May, he told me I should stay for a longer time. When I asked how long that would be he suggested one or two more years…in an indirect culture, Carolyn and I decided that could definitely be a marriage proposal!

Next story also takes place in our office. Another one of our staff members is very friendly but a little awkward. The other day I was wearing new earrings with just a simple getup. Anyway, as Carolyn and I were leaving, he made a comment saying, “Erica, you are so beautiful….tonight.” “Just tonight?” was my response but it was definitely a hilarious and awkward moment. A few days later I wore a dress and in front of the rest of the staff members, the same guys calls out, “Erica, you are even more beautiful today.” Oh wow!

Finally, tonight ended with Carolyn and I being totally celebrities. We have been here now for two months and we just assume that everyone has seen us but it didn’t seem that way at dinner. Every morning we walk to school, Carolyn and I pass this restaurant that is never open but the staff is always prepping the food…apparently for dinner! Well as we were walking around trying to find a place to eat, we saw it across the street and decided, “Why not that place?” So we went and sat down, only to be surrounded seconds later by the staff. Everything at that restaurant seemed to stop and all the focus turned towards us. We thought that once we had begun to eat, everything would go back to normal….but no. I don’t know why they find it so interesting to watch us eat but throughout the meal, we continued to be the spectacle. However odd it may be though, I think I am going to miss that kind of attention when we go back to the states.

Culture Shock Sets In

We are three days away from hitting the two month mark! However, I feel like I am over the honeymoon stage. Yes, I still love it here but the chaos from school confusion, the language barrier and team trials, have all started to add up and take it’s toll on me. Again, I am happy to be here still and I know once I get through this funk, things will start to look up again but right now I am asking for your pr*yer. I need encouragement, whether it comes from Him or from people back home. You are my lifeline to normalcy. Thank you for being such a support through this time. Even though I don’t get a lot of comments, I know I have many people thinking of me. But ….I would also love to have your comments!

Sometimes we just get fed up!

On a more positive note…Dawn, our Field Director came down from DaNang and we got to experience new streets with great food and amazing stores in District 1. It was a nice escape from reality, until she observed us later that night. Also on a good note…….my parents are coming in to Ho Chi Minh City in a week! They are definitely going to be a good dose of medicine for me. I cannot wait to show them the wonders of Ho Chi Minh and DaNang!

It was definitely one of the hottest days we have had here. Waiting at the bus stop.

Our egg sandwich lady! She is definitely one of my favorite ladies here! (blog on her later)

Also, continue to lift up our neighbor’s son. We have not heard any more news other than his lungs are not fully developed. And pr*y for Kari and James, that they get their letter of invitation soon so they can leave for Kaz. And bring back Ava D!

A little taste of home. If you can't see the sign it says Restaurant Cali!