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!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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!
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!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
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.
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!
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!Monday, October 12, 2009
Continuing to Experience New Things
Interesting cultural moment: I like to wear cloth headbands like the one in the picture. Apparently though, white means death and the only reason people would wear something like that here is because someone has died. Oops! Oh and the picture shows that the whole front side of me was wet and the backside was completely dry after downpour. I had forgotten my poncho!
I should have known it was going to rain!
Our weekend has been very eventful! Yesterday Carolyn and I went to fellowship, which has just changed locations. Because taxis can be a little pricey, we decided we should look at the bus schedule to see if we could take one that would drop us off somewhere in District 2. Turns out we have a bus that picks us up here and pretty much drops us off right on the other side of the street! Well we actually didn’t know that right away which resulted in us getting stuck in a neighborhood that only had one outlet. It was fun exploring though! When we got back to the street we decided to have a taxi take us to our destination. Ironically, the new building was in the same complex as the last. It’s good to know that now though!
This is what we found at the end of the road. Well at least if we never find our way out we would have something to eat!
This was where we got lost! I could definitely live in a place like that!
After fellowship, I was feeling hungry for some food other than our typical street food. So Carolyn and I decided to take a bus into District 1. At the bus station we found that multiple buses went into that district, so the next bus we saw, we jumped on. A good while later, Carolyn and I wound up in an unknown district. When we checked our bus map, we could not even find the number of the bus we had taken and we found that we were completely out of the way from our planned destination. Bladders full and stomachs empty, we decided to take a risky move and take the bus back to our starting point so we could take another bus into ANY OTHER district! We finally got onto a bus that took us through districts we recognized! We finally decided to get off at a mall in the district right next to ours and eat at the food court. The pizza and cream cheese spaghetti were just what we needed. We ended the night with a trip to the roof and a movie!
Tap dancing?
Beautiful sunsets from our roof!
Apparently not exhausted by our previous adventure, Carolyn and I decided today to go over the bridge to a market we have gone to before. After an uneventful browse session, we walked on in search of some new food. As we were walking though, we realized we had walked farther than ever before and we had actually walked right to the park with the dragon fountain! I have always been so memorized by it so we decided to go take a few pictures before lunch!
So excited about the dragon fountain!
Our exploration ended after with meal back at the market and desert from a cart lady. I have come to the conclusion that we cannot find better food, prices or service anywhere but on our side of the bridge!
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the teaching week. This week means observations and frustrations but also more time spent with our students, sharing His love!
The rest of the class was too shy to take pictures but these girls were excited to!
If you could please lift up our neighbors when you get the chance that would be great! She just had a baby but he was premature. His lungs have not fully developed and he is still receiving oxygen from the hospital. This couple is amazing! We have only had a few interactions with them over the two months we have been here but I already love them so much. My heart breaks for them in this time. I hope they see His love through us in our concern about this situation.
If you would like to have a hand in the work I am doing here, you may donate at teachoverseas.org and click donate. My account number is 209133. Thanks!
I should have known it was going to rain!Our weekend has been very eventful! Yesterday Carolyn and I went to fellowship, which has just changed locations. Because taxis can be a little pricey, we decided we should look at the bus schedule to see if we could take one that would drop us off somewhere in District 2. Turns out we have a bus that picks us up here and pretty much drops us off right on the other side of the street! Well we actually didn’t know that right away which resulted in us getting stuck in a neighborhood that only had one outlet. It was fun exploring though! When we got back to the street we decided to have a taxi take us to our destination. Ironically, the new building was in the same complex as the last. It’s good to know that now though!
This is what we found at the end of the road. Well at least if we never find our way out we would have something to eat!
This was where we got lost! I could definitely live in a place like that!After fellowship, I was feeling hungry for some food other than our typical street food. So Carolyn and I decided to take a bus into District 1. At the bus station we found that multiple buses went into that district, so the next bus we saw, we jumped on. A good while later, Carolyn and I wound up in an unknown district. When we checked our bus map, we could not even find the number of the bus we had taken and we found that we were completely out of the way from our planned destination. Bladders full and stomachs empty, we decided to take a risky move and take the bus back to our starting point so we could take another bus into ANY OTHER district! We finally got onto a bus that took us through districts we recognized! We finally decided to get off at a mall in the district right next to ours and eat at the food court. The pizza and cream cheese spaghetti were just what we needed. We ended the night with a trip to the roof and a movie!
Tap dancing?
Beautiful sunsets from our roof!Apparently not exhausted by our previous adventure, Carolyn and I decided today to go over the bridge to a market we have gone to before. After an uneventful browse session, we walked on in search of some new food. As we were walking though, we realized we had walked farther than ever before and we had actually walked right to the park with the dragon fountain! I have always been so memorized by it so we decided to go take a few pictures before lunch!
So excited about the dragon fountain!Our exploration ended after with meal back at the market and desert from a cart lady. I have come to the conclusion that we cannot find better food, prices or service anywhere but on our side of the bridge!
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the teaching week. This week means observations and frustrations but also more time spent with our students, sharing His love!
The rest of the class was too shy to take pictures but these girls were excited to!If you could please lift up our neighbors when you get the chance that would be great! She just had a baby but he was premature. His lungs have not fully developed and he is still receiving oxygen from the hospital. This couple is amazing! We have only had a few interactions with them over the two months we have been here but I already love them so much. My heart breaks for them in this time. I hope they see His love through us in our concern about this situation.
If you would like to have a hand in the work I am doing here, you may donate at teachoverseas.org and click donate. My account number is 209133. Thanks!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Time Flies...
Too much time has past since my last post so I will try and recap the events that have taken place in the last few weeks.
To start of on a sour note, the teammate of concern the weekend I went to Da Nang was asked to go home. It was definitely a hard moment for our team. I ask that you lift her up as well as the rest of the team. We really want to make this year a strong one from here on out.
On a happier note, Carolyn and I finally visited Steph and Brittany in Bien Hoa this past weekend. When we arrived the girls took us down to Joliebee to get soda drinks topped off with ice cream and fries. Mine tasted like a creamsicle! Later that night we caught up with one another and watched a movie late into the night. The next day, as a late celebration for Steph’s birthday, the four of us rode our bikes around town in search of a place to get our nails done! After drinking some Nuoc Mia by the water, and getting guilt tripped by a little boy who wanted our drinks, we got our nails done!
He was sweet at first but then would not leave us alone!
Later in the evening, Steph, Carolyn and I stepped out to go to Metro (their Costco). When we returned, we were greeted by one of Brittany’s students. Rudy was a very sweet girl, so much so that she even brought us Bubble Tea! Although the “pearls” or tapioca balls are not my favorite, the tea is delicious. Carolyn and I stayed for another night and stayed up even later than the night before, talking and having fun with the girls…which was needed after what was to come the next day. I woke up pretty early on Tuesday morning to a text message and multiple phone calls from the team in Da Nang. They told me to check the tropical storm website to see what they were experiencing, since they were out of power and could not check the internet. It turns out they were experiencing a Category 2 typhoon! After many phone calls throughout the day and into the night, it was confirmed that the storm was dying down. There was some flooding but no injuries to report. He was completely covering them the whole time.
Every time we are with them, it rains!
As for teaching, I still have a class that I really do not know what to do with. I feel like I have exhausted my efforts. But if it’s just one class that gives me trouble out of 7 others, I think I will be able to handle it. I am thoroughly enjoying all of my other classes. I got a new one this week and I already love all of my students. However, this class is a little intimidating 1)because I was expecting them to be younger and 2)because two of the staff members are in it! No pressure or anything. But really, I am enjoying my students and I hope that they are not only learning from me but seeing Him in me.
On a happier note, Carolyn and I finally visited Steph and Brittany in Bien Hoa this past weekend. When we arrived the girls took us down to Joliebee to get soda drinks topped off with ice cream and fries. Mine tasted like a creamsicle! Later that night we caught up with one another and watched a movie late into the night. The next day, as a late celebration for Steph’s birthday, the four of us rode our bikes around town in search of a place to get our nails done! After drinking some Nuoc Mia by the water, and getting guilt tripped by a little boy who wanted our drinks, we got our nails done!
He was sweet at first but then would not leave us alone!
I had not ridden a bike for three years!...so proud of myself
Later in the evening, Steph, Carolyn and I stepped out to go to Metro (their Costco). When we returned, we were greeted by one of Brittany’s students. Rudy was a very sweet girl, so much so that she even brought us Bubble Tea! Although the “pearls” or tapioca balls are not my favorite, the tea is delicious. Carolyn and I stayed for another night and stayed up even later than the night before, talking and having fun with the girls…which was needed after what was to come the next day. I woke up pretty early on Tuesday morning to a text message and multiple phone calls from the team in Da Nang. They told me to check the tropical storm website to see what they were experiencing, since they were out of power and could not check the internet. It turns out they were experiencing a Category 2 typhoon! After many phone calls throughout the day and into the night, it was confirmed that the storm was dying down. There was some flooding but no injuries to report. He was completely covering them the whole time.
Every time we are with them, it rains!
Steph's birthday card and a pair of socks!
As for teaching, I still have a class that I really do not know what to do with. I feel like I have exhausted my efforts. But if it’s just one class that gives me trouble out of 7 others, I think I will be able to handle it. I am thoroughly enjoying all of my other classes. I got a new one this week and I already love all of my students. However, this class is a little intimidating 1)because I was expecting them to be younger and 2)because two of the staff members are in it! No pressure or anything. But really, I am enjoying my students and I hope that they are not only learning from me but seeing Him in me.
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