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.