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.