It's hot out there ..

Yes, it is true, the weather really has taken a turn over the past week. If you are out and about in the middle of the day, the sweat factor will well and truly kick in! I have even returned to sleeping with the air conditioner on at night.

Otherwise, life continues as normal; school, gym, walks, meals in, meals out and further exploration of this city.

There were quite a few discussions at school this past week about the fact that all we seem to do is work, and how tired we are  … but I have been wondering how is this different to anywhere else I have been!

Teaching is a very time consuming and energy sapping job and I will always be the person who takes on more and wants to create interesting lessons for the kids. So,  it really is situation normal but, having a full teaching load is the main difference. Teaching 29 lessons in a 35 period a week timetable is big .. especially when it is basically all new material!

Let’s hope I am teaching some of the same classes next year!

Recently, I have taken on the goal of going somewhere to trying something new every week.

As a result, I have found some lovely little cafes and restaurants and walked the alleyways of District 10, as opposed to my usual 1, 2 or 3. This was particularly interesting as it was predominately a Catholic area and there was a surprising open air chapel and numerous statues.

I also initiated a 'Blue Chair’ dinner club. This involves a monthly dinner in a Vietnamese restaurant - eating on the street with the locals. Our first night was a great success with pigs brains and wild boar being tried as well as some delicious scallops, prawns and a couple of beers! Such fun!!

A quick trip to Hanoi for a weekend Technology conference was a great couple of days. I learned a lot, mostly centred around how to use Google more in a school setting. And, it was also nice to feel cold for a change. 5 - 10 degrees and fog plus pollution made me appreciate Saigon so much more. 

I have also joined a book club and skim read the first book - The Chrysalids. Sci-Fi is really not my style at all! Birds with Wings by Louis de Bernieres is the second book and I have just realised that I have read this already - but it is just nice to be reading for pleasure rather than school.

And what else have I done; well, I have watched both seasons of The Newsroom - loved it, plus the 2nd season of Borgen - brilliant. I have also enjoyed the movies Philomena, Blue Jasmine, 12 Years a Slave and Non Stop, which is rather topical considering one recent Malaysian airlines flight!!

So, all is good and I hope it is with you too!