The Last Week and a Half...A Mixiture of Fun and Frustrations

Hello friends and family. Please take a moment to celebrate with me a one month anniversary of my arrival in Vietnam. Yup, a month has come and gone and in that month I have discovered a new culture, made new friends and learned to teach in ways I have never taught before. Carolyn and I have settled in well with only a few minor inconveniences such a power outages, a leaky AC and friendly, fast moving…ants. I still have not gotten used to them climbing into bed with me at night but I am sure a few months down the road I will no longer notice them.

This month has also tested me in my position as a CA. At the beginning of the year I think I was a little naïve as to what problems may occur but they have begun. It has been challenging but I know He will be with me in this position and it will be His guidance and wisdom that will help in the following decisions.

Despite the frustrations, He has been faithful and begun to open up opportunities to get to know my students. Thursday and Friday night classes were canceled because our school was being fumigated as a precaution against the A1 N1 virus. When my class got the news I asked my students what the were going to do. Some said they were going to sleep and others said they still wanted to hang out! “Teacher, what about a field trip?” I liked this idea so we agreed that anyone who would like to, could join together for coffee and the opportunity to speak English. So the other night, Carolyn and I headed over to school where we met two of my students and their friend. We went to a place right down the street to a Milk Tea café where we actually had our first experience of sitting on the floor around a table. Even though Carolyn and I were skeptical to hang out with three male students, I felt like they really were there to practice their English and I came away excited about future opportunities to hang out with all of my students! In a classroom environment, it is not appropriate to discuss Him at all. However, in a setting outside of the classroom, there is more freedom for students to ask questions and for me to share more about who He is to me. I come to you asking for this to be lifted up. I want to be the best teacher I can be and that is why I am here but I am also here to show them who He is and I want to make the most of that opportunity.

These children are in my morning classes on Saturday. I teach all ages, from 9-21, throughout the week .

Other news…the weekend when I was fulfilling my CA position I was up in Da Nang. I definitely had my frustrations that weekend but I also got to do some site seeing. A group of us went to Ba Na, the mountain with the longest gondola ride in the world! I can’t even describe to you how beautiful it was! I also got a motorbike ride up Monkey Mountain! It was a good thing the weekend had some fun mixed into it!

At Ba Na!

Up Monkey Mountain where we saw bagodas and on the beach on the way back down. Lance was asked if he wanted to help pull the net in.

We are still enjoying fellowship but feel it is difficult to get to know people there. I am sure however, that it will change over time. We are so fortunate to have met Janell and are excited to get to know her even more. This weekend was her birthday, so after church we went to celebrate. We ate at a delicious café where we got tomato and pumpkin soups and ham sandwiches! Carolyn and I decided to stay in District 1 for the day and ended up visiting a studio of a local painter, learning some history about a former president and eating a Wayne’s Texas BBQ where I got Mexican food! We felt it was a fun way to spend our one month here!

We had a very stormy day. Many streets were flooded!

Hanging in District 1. We bought a bath mat for Janell's birthday.