Ho, Ho, Ho

Merry Christmas to you!

I hope that wherever you are and whoever you are celebrating with, it is a time of joy and gratitude.

 This time next week, I will be in Adelaide and I am very much looking forward to my time with
family and friends.

Another term has flown by and it has been filled with fun, food, friends and a little teaching and learning!

I had three sets of guests in a month, so I was kept on my toes and loved sharing the highlights of this city with Val, Charlotte, Knut and Jenny, as well as my 'local' buddies!

 Obtaining my Vietnamese Driver's Licence was a highlight of the term! It was quite a process, involving four different offices and six separate trips. Having my teeth checked, was an interesting aspect of the saga - not sure how having, or not having teeth would affect my driving ability, but a grip strength test certainly made more sense. During the actual test, I did well to navigate the obstacle course without crossing the lines - but some money still had to be passed under the table! So, I am now legal and covered by insurance which provides peace of mind and I know two particular Lawsons who will also be pleased to know that I now wear a denim jacket and gloves, as added protection!

Professionally, I have been pushed and challenged as I connected with other international educators at a leadership conference on Kota Kinabalu. The sessions provided much food for thought around quality educational processes as well as the Do's and Dont's of effective leaders. 

A job opportunity then emerged in Singapore and although my quick trip down south proved to be  unsuccessful,  the process further clarified my views of effective education and that the grass is not always greener!!

So, I will continue to enjoy my new formed friendships, fabulous students and a very comfortable lifestyle! 

Best wishes for a fruitful 2015!

The term that was ..

Yes, another eventful term has come to an end! My role as Deputy Principal became permanent and I began teaching yet another new curriculum, IB Diploma. Never a dull moment but I am enjoying both, although a little less marking would suit me nicely.

As you can imagine, there have been a few interesting moments in my role as Deputy: setting up new systems, managing staff and students and dealing with parents. Managing my time will continue to be a challenge next term.

I have continued to enjoy my exploration of the city and venturing further afield on my motorbike has really made this much easier.
I have discovered new art galleries, interesting buildings filled with period charm and of course new restaurants.


A relaxing holiday was in order, at the end of term and mission was accomplished. My colleague and good friend, Liz, and I flew to Hue and spent three lovely days relaxing at Vedana Resort. 


There was very little to do here, which suited us perfectly.
Unfortunately, we didn't have blue skies, but the glimpses of the surrounding mountains were spectacular and we enjoyed watching the fishing boats ply the lagoon.

Then, once we ventured into the local village, and viewed the simplicity and hardship of the lives of the people we were very grateful for the jobs we have!

In Hue, we enjoyed going to see the Citadel, and eating the specialty foods - variations of rice cakes with prawns (and being served by a 93 year old waiter). But, the highlight was our XE OM tour to the nearby covered bridge, tombs, pagodas and temples. Taking the back alleys and seeing life on the streets was fascinating, as were the views of the Perfume River and learning more about the history of the country.

         

Photos of Hue

Now for Term 2!

Where did that holiday go?

After a week back at school, the five week summer holiday is already feeling like a distant memory but it was absolutely fabulous and I arrived back in Saigon feeling relaxed and refreshed.

First stop was Adelaide, to celebrate my father’s 80th birthday. Dad was not aware that I was coming and it was a great surprise to him when I arrived at the front door. It was a terrific week catching up with family and friends and celebrating this milestone - so the trip was well worth it.

Of course, I also enjoyed the cold weather, the fresh air, the opportunity to eat my favourite foods and to sit by an open fire.

As it was so close by, I then headed to Scandinavia for three weeks, after a 40 hour stop over back in Saigon.


Copenhagen was my introduction to this part of the world and what a fabulous city it is. It has so much character, and I was glad I arrived on a sunny afternoon and could see the city and its inhabitants in all its glory.

The rain then set in, but this did not dampen my enthusiasm for getting out and wandering the streets. The blending of the old and the new is paramount and it is done very well. The old is well preserved and the new shines with sleek design. The bikes, in all shapes and sizes also bring a different feel to the city as do all the parks and the greenery.


A $500 lunch at Noma, the world’s top restaurant, was not a part of my experience - but I did eat some fabulous modern Danish cuisine: Lobster with carrots, juniper and hazelnuts
Strawberries in honey schnapps. vanilla ice-cream and buttermilk.
Plus, the berries, cherries, peaches, bread, pastries and beers were enjoyed throughout the trip too.

I also saw the last couple of days of the Jazz Festival, so there were plenty of free gigs and around town and the World Cup final also took place.  I didn’t see much of the game, but the cheers were heard loud and clear. More photos of Copenhagen

I then spent the next 12 days in Norway - what an amazingly beautiful country. I saw Oslo in two very different lights, one day of rain and the other of sunshine, and it is understandable as to why the locals bake themselves when the sun does shine. This was summer after all and the next few days were considered a heat wave as it was about 28 degrees everyday. I loved it, as it was such a nice dry heat!

Apart from the weather, the other two highlights of Norway were:
1. The scenery
It is very difficult to select the appropriate adjectives to describe it: spectacular, magnificent, jaw-dropping, beautiful, unbelievable, majestic, lush, rugged ….

The fjords, of course, are absolutely incredible, as the sheer mountains rise up 1300m beside you. This was felt particularly on the day that I went kayaking - the scale made me contemplate my place in the world - a mere speck.

I am also sure that I appreciated the scenery so much more coming from Vietnam. The green paddocks with livestock, the waterfalls, the fresh air, the lakes and sparklingly clear glacial rivers, the silence of these spaces and just being able to lie in the grass.

2. Meeting the descendants of my great-grandfather’s brother 

I spent three terrific days in Randaberg, just out of Stavanger, staying with Rita and John Nybo, who made feel part of the family and went out of their way to show me around the area. I met numerous relatives, all lovely people of course, and saw where Bartel (my great-grandfather) grew up and the port from where he left as a 16 year old sailor. Another amazing experience. Photos of Norway

 

The final stop was Stockholm, another beautiful city with its islands, harbour and historical buildings but after being in the countryside, I found it a little difficult to adjust to city life again.

So, I particularly enjoyed the non-touristy parts of city, exploring the streets, parks and cafes.

Throughout the trip, there were more daylight hours than I was used to, and even then the sky merely became a dull haze, but it was very nice to sit in the parks, on the balconies or in the outdoor cafes enjoying the cool of the evenings.
Photos of Stockholm

One year on...and a new role!

What do I love?
The vibrancy - life being lived on the street. So, there is always something to watch
Meeting so many new people and making some excellent friends
The local food - it is so tasty and cheap and there are so many street options to try
Banh Mi and coffee for breakfast every Friday
The variety of other cuisines and the amazing quality of the food, as well as the cheap priceThe delicious tropical fruit
Having a cook and cleaner - last cooking a meal from scratch in March! 
Cocktails at The Deck
The development of the country and the number of funky design studios, cafes and galleries
From my classroom window, watching the cows and goats in the surrounding paddocks, but wondering how long these paddocks will last.
Being able to correctly pronounce the names of the students in my classes
XE OM drivers on every corner
The range of items being transported on motorbikes - my favourite being the sheets of glass 
The plethora of goods that are sold on the side of the road - from petrol in Coke bottles to paddling pools
Having your clothes made
The cheap massages, manicures, pedicures and half hour hair washes
Buying gorgeous flowers from the mobile florists - from a bicycle or motorbike
The opportunity to travelThe huge growth I have made as an English teacher
The lack of regulations
The way the crazy traffic works - it is like the traffic lights are out at every intersection
The humour and friendliness of the Vietnamese people
The geckos that wander the walls
The chickens that wander the streets along with the dogs
Getting soaked in a rain storm on your way home
The electrical storms
The cool of December and January
The workmen who moved from the site across the road and took their rooster with them
The recycling (but a pity that this is how some people make their living) and the rubbish collection truck that plays 'Happy Birthday' at 6am every day 
Being called madame



What are the challenges? 
The lack of regulations - motorbike helmets are compulsory for adults but not children. Do they think they will bounce?
My failure to learn much of the language and pronounce many of the words
The development - beautiful old colonial French buildings are being demolished in the name of progress

The infiltration of fine dining locations such as McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks Working in a for-profit school
Colleagues
The processes - trying to get a credit card and a motorbike licence
Opportunist and clever thieves
Getting soaked in downpours on your way out
The flooding
The heat of April and May - sweating after walking up two flights of stairs to my classroom at 7 am
Being so tired at the end of a school week 
The dust
The lack of a one stop quality supermarket
The way in which the men relieve themselves anywhere and everywhere 
The pride the locals have over their homes and the daily sweeping that occurs, yet the way rubbish is thrown on the ground without a thought
The wealth ... and the poverty

And the new role?

Acting Deputy Principal for Semester 1!

This has eventuated due to unique circumstances, but needless to say, I am very excited. This also means that my second year at AIS will involve another steep learning curve.

Hopefully, I will find the time and energy to discover so much more of this fascinating city.

A weekend with a difference

Last weekend, saw a change to my normal routine as I accompanied some of the local staff from AIS on a community service trip to help celebrate International Children’s Day.

My alarm sounded at 4.40 am, and after getting to bed rather later than I had hoped, this was not such a joyous sound. I arrived at school at 5.30am, only to discover that I would be making the trip in the backseat of lovely Lexus with Linh, a 15 year old (Year 10 student) – her mother was unable to make the trip.  A little awkward – but we had a good chat until she decided to listen to her music!!

We drove to the first meeting point, then the second and the third. It was fascinating to see different parts of Saigon – it just keeps going on and on, with the same vitality. Finally, we met up with some of the other volunteers, who were travelling in convoy on their motorbikes. A street breakfast was had – a delicious banh mi and strong but sweet coffee. The child of the café owner was not so happy about our presence, however, and howled at the mere glimpse of me – possibly the first white face she had seen. That is my excuse anyway.

We drove a further 2 hours north, eventually leaving the suburbs, finding ourselves among rice paddies, and I was certainly glad I was not on the back of a bike as road works made the trip rather dusty.

We arrived at the People’s Committee Building of the Tay Ninh district and there was a little planning before lunch, (com tam - plate full of rice with grilled pork) in the hot dusty meeting room – but Uncle Ho was keeping a close eye on us.  And, it was during this time that my patience was tested. There was nothing for me to do and seemingly very little for anyone to do – so, why such an early departure??

The local children, many in their normal school uniform arrived at 1.30pm and three hours of fun team-building and ‘It’s a Knockout’ type activities followed, but I was again a little redundant as I was unable to communicate effectively apart from the universal sign language, modeling and smiling. The kids were fascinated by me and the one other Western volunteer, Harmony (say no more), and loved having their photos taken.  

The similarities to the Simunye trips in South Africa were evident - the small, cramped classrooms, the dusty playground, the heat and the happy kids!
 

Afterward, Harmony and I were taken to a local motel, which was ten kilometres out of town. It was a great drive past rubber plantations, fish farms and we had views to a Fuji like mountain. The motel was interesting to say the least! There was a mirror beside the bed and our motorbikes were parked inside the rooms – perhaps the rooms were not normally used for the whole night!!

We headed back to town to for dinner – yes, com tam, but this time with a few extra vegetables and then to the official reception. Little did Harmony and I know that we would be the official guests! We were so pleased to be sitting at the head table in our shorts and t-shirts, presenting the awards for the best students at each year level. Appearing to be impressed by the six or so musical items was also a challenge.

Then, to the reception with the Tay Ninh council workers and another full meal presented itself. Chicken hot pot, plus the obligatory shots of banana wine to congratulate each other. This took place on verandah floor of the library building, of course!

We were safely escorted back to the motel at about 10.30pm and were able to admire the most stars we had seen in quite a while. The nights’ sleep was not particularly restful though, as a dog repeatedly barked outside my door and there was an alarm that sounded over a loudspeaker at 4, 5 and 6am!

Purple sticky rice with coconut shavings and peanuts was a welcome treat for breakfast and then Linh offered the option to go straight home .. ok!!