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