Settling in

It certainly has been an interesting few weeks here in Ho Cho Minh – but all is good. I am making some very good friends and it does feel like home.

To take you back a couple of weeks, the search for an apartment had a few challenges, due to changes in tax laws, misinformation from the school and a landlord pulling out of a contract the night before I was due to move in! Not an ideal way to spend the first weeks in a country (and I have aired my concerns in several forums) but I am now happily settled and pleased with my choice.

A neighbour!

My block!

My apartment block is in a wealthy area and it caters for a large proportion for the expat community, so there are gyms, yoga and Pilates studios, western supermarkets, cafes, bars and restaurants, so it is comfortable living. There are big wide streets, often with very few vehicles of any description and it is very quiet as opposed to ‘town’ or District One.  I have a balcony and look out onto a nice large tree and there is also a roof top plunge pool and terrace area with a nice view over the area. The street has boom gate and 24 hour guard and there is also a 24 hour guard at the based in the entrance to my building, so I do feel very safe. I am currently sitting at my desk with a door open on to the balcony and a nice breeze flowing through – but still about 28 degrees.

I bought a bicycle within a week of being here and it is very handy to have wheels to get used to the way of the roads, before I become a real local and get a motorbike/scooter. I am hesitant to use the word road rules, because there really aren’t any, but it all works. No one is aggressive and you just weave around each other. Being alert is certainly the key, as you never quite know where a bike, motorbike or car will come from or go to, and on quiet back streets I have found myself on the wrong (left) side of the road. So, I have a rack on the back of my bike and I strap my basket on the back and off I peddle to the shops. I do intend to cycle to school when I am little more on the ball there. It will take about 20 minutes – and then another 20 to cool down!!

The view from my classroom

School has proved to be interesting to say the least, but it is in a period of transition, so it can only get better! Seeing my load for the first time was a real shock – 5 English classes: two classes of Year 12, one Year 11, one Year 10 and one Year 9. What happened to that middle school humanities and English job that I applied for and accepted? Communication does not seem to be a strength of the school at present. They just assumed that as I had agreed to be English Coordinator, I was a senior teacher. Wrong – well up until now!

The timetable on the whole has been a shemozzle. We were at school for 5 days before we actually received our timetables and even then there were massive errors and changes. So, those supposed days of planning were not particularly well utilised! Anyway, I managed to get rid of the Year 12 classes and now have Year 11, 10, 9 and 7, which in fact in Australian terms is 10, 9, 8 and 6. Our classes are streamed and to give you an idea of the ability of my Year 10 class, they were scoring 2-5/20 for a section of the Year 9 NAPLAN reading test!! No doubt that it will be another huge learning curve for me.

And, how am I going to learn those names. There are very few western faces in the classes, and I feel so sorry for the kids when I butcher their names.

Thankfully, my colleagues are very nice. Some may be a little slack, but they are good value and have been able to laugh through the frustrations of the first weeks. We all have our own classrooms; which enables us to have our domains as we wish, but our desks are also in our classrooms and as we are so busy during the day it will be a little isolating. At least each subject area is grouped in the same area.

Today, one of the long-standing staff members organised a bus trip for us newies to show us some of the different areas of Saigon and places to buy different things. This was great and when life settles into more of a routine it will be terrific to get out and explore a lot more. My great excitement was buying a toaster today. They are few and far between and trying to explain what a toaster is has been interesting. So, a real treat this afternoon - vegemite on toast!

At the moment, I am catching a cab to school at about 6.45am. This takes about 10 minutes in the morning and costs $5 – it is a little more in the afternoons. Home time is about 5pm and then I am doing a little cooking, but am also enjoying the local restaurants and some street dining. It is not bad when you can get a decent meal for $2. Online ordering from restaurants is generally the go here, but I have not ventured there yet! I do love riding down the street and buying vegetables for the evening from the street-side stalls that pop up.

 

Wish me luck for my first full week at school with students!! At least I am getting paid now!

 

The first few days

You will be pleased to know that life here on the ground in Ho Chi Minh is going well.

I am beginning to get know my way around a little but it is still bizarre to think that this is home!

Some of things I have noticed or particularly enjoyed in these first few days are:

The tree-lind streets

Walking in the park with the locals at 5.45am (but not this morning as it is bucketing with rain) and seeing all the activity - the aerobics, tai chi, badminton and ballroom dancing.

Pho

Discovering that I can buy almonds!

 

 The electrical wiring

Beef salad

A close call with a scooter whilst walking on the footpath and realising that a 'green man' walk signal does not give you any right of way!

Motorbike 'taxi' drivers asleep on their bikes

Being collected by a driver to go and view apartments

When looking at a shirt being told I would need extra large!

The horns

Tropical fruit and coconut water

Wifi and lying in bed listening to AM with Sally Sara - plus skype and viber

Cafes just like home - well nearly!!

Realising that very few people smoke and that I haven't noticed the smells or spitting that were so familiar in Hong Kong

Men taking their birds for a walk and collecting their bugs for the day.

A man taking his dog for a walk from the comfort of his scooter

Discovering a gourmet food shop

Meeting new colleagues - Kiwi's, Aussies, Americans and Canadians

The contrast of old and new

An amazing electrical storm

The ever friendly and helpful local people

Learning about various places to eat and visit through social media

It has been a very positive beginning and I am very much looking forward to deciding on an apartment, moving in and getting to know this city so much better.

It is time to go

After all the organising, coffees, lunches, wine, cheese and a fabulous Christmas in July with family, it is time to get on a plane and head north.

I am very excited about what is to come - meeting new people and learning completely new ways of doing things. I am even looking forward to getting back to school and establishing a routine. Although I will no doubt miss the luxury of the last six work free months.

The weather, as you can tell from the 10 day forecast will take some getting used to, as will the noise!

Hopefully, my 4 language lessons will be helpful in some small way, especially as I establish my local pho, banh my and coffee sellers!

So, stay tuned for further updates. 

The Bang Bang Club

This very interesting book, by Greg Marinovich and Joao Silva documents the story of 4 photographers who covered the township wars in South Africa in the lead up to the end of apartheid and the democratic elections. These photographers witnessed horrendous violence, death and suffering, yet continued to work in the face of such adversity.

It asks very good questions as to the ethics of taking photos.

How do we help, show compassion for, or connect with the people who are the subjects of the images? One quote particularly resonated with me, “…Perhaps our pictures made a difference by allowing people to see elements of other people’s struggle to survive that they would not have otherwise known about.”

I certainly enjoy taking pictures on my travels, particularly in poorer countries. Is it a way for me to connect to these people, and feel compassion? Or, do I feel guilty for what I have and helpless to change their situation?

One of the final lines from the book stated, “We had not personally suffered like some of the people we photographed, but neither were we responsible for their suffering – we had just witnessed it.”

I believe this is an important thought to keep in mind and to consider the motive behind taking the image. Keeping humanity at the forefront of our minds is the key.

It was most timely that I then came across this link on twitter!

Photos of human suffering

Enjoying the space

I am well and truly enjoying the wide open spaces that abound in and around Melbourne, especially as I have just read that the population of Ho Chi Minh City is approximately 8-9 million! Yes, you read it correctly!

So, when I sat in Chloe's bar in Young and Jackson's overlooking the busy intersection of Flinders and Swanston Streets, I pondered the fact that we are truly are blessed, with our well organised cities and such a low population density! I am not sure that I know what is going to hit me.

This weekend, I really appreciated the beautiful blue skies as well as the cold mornings.

I also enjoyed my 5th amazing art class with Ann Bidstrup of Heart-Art . Ann runs courses out of her stunning property in Park Orchards - the gardens are divine and there is always such active bird life which I love. Ann establishes such a warm, nurturing and creative space, that everyone enjoys the opportunity to completely immerse themselves in their individual art project. Mine was the final installation of my collage trilogy, this time focussing on the desert. I was exhausted at the end of the day  due to the concentration, but also uplifted and proud of myself!!

Then it was off to Lilydale and the Yarra Valley. I enjoyed my walk along the Warburton Trail, even though it was -2C and the ground was a little frosty!! 

                                 

Again, the serenity was appreciated, as it was whilst tasting a few wines at Sticks in Yarra Glen. From our spot by the log fire, the view across the valley was breathtaking. 

                                             

A slightly different angle was enjoyed from our table at The Vines restaurant, Helen's Hill Winery. And the food .... a divine veal scallopini plus a pear and macadamia tart! Yummo!

You can tell that I really am making the most of this time. Melbourne is such an amazing place to live -  and it seems I am keeping the hospitality industry afloat!

The flavours of Hobart

Wow!! What taste sensations. My food and wine indulgences continued on the Gourmania Tea to Tapas tour this afternoon. (It was just recently voted in the top 10 of Lonely Planet food tours worldwide!!! Here is the link: Lonely Planet)

An apple galette, tea, chocolate and salted caramel macron, coffee, cheeses, wines and then the highlights - local produce at the hip eateries, Ethos Eat Drink and Sidecar. It was so cool that each component of the dishes could be explained by their source and there was also a story behind each producer too. The butter at Ethos was amazing. So soft and creamy - with yoghurt as its secret ingredient!

Ethos Eat Drink

Being on a tour also meant that you had an instant rapport with the staff who were so passionate about the Tasmanian food industry.

Sidecar

So, when in Tassie, do yourself a favour and join Mary on a tour. She is a Hobart local and has worked in the industry in various forms for a number of years and has great connections.

I also loved the old world charm of Battery Point. It reminded me of a lovely English village, with its cottages and gardens. Some of my favourites are shown in the link below.

More photos

A top day in Hobart

I feel so lucky to be able to partake in such decadent sights, sounds and tastes. This morning I flew to Hobart, and after checking into my very quaint and  qwerky accommodation at Battery Point Manor, I hightailed it past the character filled cottages to the MONA ferry terminal. 

What a great experience this proved to be. The views from the river were spectacular with the bush, cliffs and bays contrasted by the city. The coffee and dark chocolate rocky road was also much appreciated.



I then spent about 3 hours perusing the art at MONA. This was a bizarre  and stimulating experience. How do people come up with these ideas? But, what an amazing venue. The views across the bay were breathtaking and the construction incorporating the rock was stunning. (I am a sucker for the texture of rock and wood!).

Then came the food indulgences-roast vegetable salad with ancient grains and nuts.

A quality hour with sommelier at the Moorilla Winery Cellar Door followed. A few extra tastings came my way and there were some tastes that challenged my perhaps well entrenched palate. Sauvignon being my favourite. Who would have thought?

A little cheese came next and then it was back to the big smoke ... which was already in darkness. It was nice to soak up the experience of being cold though. Don't think the beanie or down jacket will be getting much of a workout in HCM. 

One more red and a mushroom pizza propped at an outdoor but well heated table rounded off the day nicely. 

A bit of fresh air ...

 ... does wonders for the soul and the energy levels!

Over the long weekend, it was terrific to get out and about and enjoy the company of good friends, delicious food and wine and the stunning countryside that surrounds Melbourne.

 I had been feeling a little tense and tired from my move out of Alma Rd after 15 years so these few days of doing very little did just the trick. First stop was Sorrento, which has such great contrasts. The tranquility of the front beach and the pounding waves of the back beach.

Then it was off to Sandy Point, to enjoy the lush green pastures of Gippsland, the wild beach and the views across to Wilson's Promontory.

What could be better?




Perhaps the odd slice of delicious cheese and a good glass of wine or two.

Perfect.

Thank you Joan, Sally, Nic, Jane, Simone and Richard for sharing these few days.

Becoming a better blogger

This morning I continued my journey to improve my writing and tech skills - both of which I will need to combine in my new role as Head of English in Ho Chi Minh!

(Who would have thought this PE teacher would evolve into an English teacher in an International School??)

Anyway, this was another course run by the Australian Writers Centre and it was very beneficial to learn a few more tools of the trade and how to best communicate my ideas.

Regular posts ... here I come ... well at least when I am past this phase of moving. Only one week to go! 

Another great tip that you might be interested in is the site/app Bloglovin, where you can easily follow the updates of your favourite blogs.

And, the bonus was visiting and discovering another part of Melbourne - the Abbotsford Convent. This is the first time I have visited the complex and it certainly is another character  and charm filled location. Melbourne really is a great city. I will miss it, but am also looking forward to the new adventures that await.

Walking on the Great Alpine Way

Last week, I was lucky to spend a couple of days based in Walhalla to do a couple of walks on the Great Alpine Way. For those of your who know Walhalla, it continues to be a bizarre little place in a time warp. I did enjoy watching the Anzac Day, Collingwood - Essendon clash at the pub though and took the opportunity to soak up that country atmosphere with a few locals and a couple of wines. A pity the only phone reception is by the flag pole at the train station!!

Our big walk from Mushroom Rocks to Mt St Gwinear, via Mt St Phillick was a 15km route amongst beautiful snow gums. They really are amazing trees and the colours glistened with greens and browns.

We loved the tranquility of the region, but a little less moisture on the shrubs would have been nice, as our legs were soaked!!

An out and back walk from Walhalla, along the Thomson River was our next adventure and here there was much more diversity in the landscape - ferns, mixed with regions of differing eucalypts!
It was great to be in this unique area!

Will you read about my travels?

So, now I am inspired and gathering my creative talents after attending a weekend Travel Writing Course which was run by the Australian Writer's Centre.

It was a very professionally organised course, offering great resources, tips and inside information.
I think we were most fortunate to be taught by the well accomplished journalist, Julietta Jameson, who has 30 years behind her in the media industry, including as an editor and book author. She is now freelancing as a travel writer, and had many tales to share with us. Much of her work is published in Fairfax publications.

So, now, I just need to start writing .. regularly!
Stay tuned.

This link will be a great reminder for me!!

Type So Hard You Bruise the Screen - via the Huffington Post

Taking good photos

People often comment on my photos and that I must have a good camera!

However, with the quality and access to cameras these days, anyone can take a reasonable photo and then touch it up in photoshop.
I think it all comes down to composition, so I liked this article that I came across this morning.

 The simple truth about good composition

A very productive afternoon

I have just spent the last 5 hours sitting next to Jody Goddard learning how to use this site. Jody has been a great help, teaching me about how to use blogger and we have had lots of giggles, plus a few frustrating moments. It all takes up so much time.

As Jody just flew in Singapore this morning we have also had some great conversations about how travel changes us. Even a few days away can have a big impact as you are exposed to the different ways that people conduct their lives and ideas. Does that make travel the best teacher of all?

Morocco

My plan was to update this new blog whilst I was in Morocco, but I was having such a ball that I did not have time!

So, now here I am back in Melbourne, reflecting on the beautiful people and country I experienced. For me, it was the whole package: meeting and hanging out with some interesting and fun people in the Intrepid group, having lovely personal experiences with the local people, even though at times we could not speak the same language, the beauty and variety of the countryside and the food!!!!

When I thought of Morocco prior to my trip, I did not automatically think France or mountains, but these were the two things that really stood out to me. The French influence in terms of architecture was highly evident, particularly in Casablanca, plus the sidewalk cafes, the pastries, the bread, the wine and the language. French was the easiest language to communicate with and as I seem to be drawn to these French speaking places, I will definitely be brushing up on my language skills in the near future.

I also knew there were mountains, but there certainly is good reason for calling then the Middle and High Atlas. We were fortunate enough to do a little walking in the area surrounding Mt Toubkal, the second highest mountain in Africa, and it was stunning! I may have to make time for some more serious walking there in the future, as many Europeans were doing.

If I had to give absolute highlights, firstly, I would have to say the local hammam experience near Todra Gorge. This was an all female grooming experience, where we were soaked, scrubbed, pushed, pulled and polished by local women. There were all shapes, sizes and ages going through their normal washing/gossip ritual and not a word of English was spoken but the looks and smiles we shared with the women was absolutely priceless – and we felt pretty good at the end too!

I also loved watching the local people go about their daily chores in the Berber villages. They seemed so content with their life, despite its demands, and were happy to share a smile. This moved me greatly as I reflected on the simplicity of their day as compared to the demands we put on ourselves and the ‘stuff’ we load ourselves down with. (I will be reminded of this as I declutter and pack up my life ready for the move to Vietnam).

Hopefully, I will return to Morocco one day, as there I feel there is still much to see and experience. It will also be interesting to see how it develops and changes in the next few years. I hope that it loses none of its old beauty and charm.

Inshallah!

My online album

Here we go

Today marks the beginning of my overseas travels for 2013.
I am very excited about the upcoming 3 weeks in Morocco - all the sights, sounds and tastes!!