The cycle

Let me describe the cycle to you:

First, a xe om (motorbike taxi) driver drives up next to me and offers me a ride. I politely decline. But he doesn't go away. He puts his feet down (literally) and coasts next to me as I walk, asking where I want to go. I decline again; this time with a little more gusto. He continues, mixing in some sweet Vietnaminglish that I don't understand. Finally, I stop acknowledging that he exists and I carry on with my life, a little more annoyed with xe om drivers.

So, again I'm walking on the street and I hear a loud, "hey!" Wow. They don't give up, do they? I don't even look up, I just shake my hand to express 'NO,' and unconsciously roll my eyes. I ignore the second "hey!" and pretend to be fascinated with the opposite side of the street. Of course, in a few seconds I'll discover that it's one of my students trying to introduce their parents to their sweet American teacher.

Embarrassed, and hoping to not disrespect any more parents, I am now much more on guard to be friendly to the next person who wants my attention. I hear, "Hello!" and I turn with an overly friendly smile, as if to say, "I knew you were there and I'm happy to see you and all of your extended family members." And I'm met with a skeezy half-grin and a wink from a security guard, reclined in a beach chair. His buddies laugh, nudging him at the overwhelming--and rather undeserved-- response from the foreigner. I can only grimace and shake my head as they wave me over. Note to self: Don't be an idiot.

So, no more smiles whilst IN the turn. Maybe I should look at them with no expression first, and then decide if a smile is warrented. Maybe I shouldn't be turning at all.

Walking down the street from my school one day, I hear some calls from a coffee shop. Common. Make a choice. I choose to ignore. A whistle confirms my decision and I continue. Then I hear what sounds like, "Ina!" And who was it that I blatantly ignoring? My administrator.

Excellent. This is beginning to become kind of an issue in my mind. And the cycle continues.

All this to say: I'm saving my money and considering buying a motorbike-- and not just so I won't have to make eye contact with people anymore.

Conference 2010

Once in the fall and once in the spring each year we meet with all of the teachers in Vietnam with our program. We recently had the fall conference in Mũi Né at the same hotel as last year. Only this year, we have twice as many people.

It wasn't really as restful as maybe it was supposed to be, but it was good to be with everyone and share our struggles and frustrations. I got to room with Brittany and Liz, though I have no pictures to prove it. And I got to hang out with Suz and Liz a little bit; I've been missing them since they moved to Tam Ky this year.

We got to visit the sand dunes this year and they were really beautiful. Kids were renting little plastic slabs so we could slide down the dunes. I got sand EVERYWHERE and because I'm an idiot (though some might just call me responsible) and brought my phone, it might never be the same.

Mũi Né was just as beautiful last year, and even though it rained on us driving up, it was sunny our entire stay (except of course at night, when this picture was taken)Just good quality time with everyone.

Roommate November

Here we are again. Jenni and I have successfully lived together in Vietnam for 87 days. And since we're (I'm) making public announcements, you should all know that a little but of white is showing on the tips of Jenni's fingernails. Well done Jenni! And so much more sanitary to not bite your nails in this country.

I am writing this post early because we are about to go out of town and I don't know when I'll write it. But these are easy to write, so I wrote down some notes a week or so ago.
I am thankful for Jenni because she:

• is a good friend. She has had a lot of people make plans with her and then cancel. It frustrates her, but she doesn't break plans with them, even if she's feeling sick like tonight. She helps people with their homework, speaking, whatever; she's willing. I'm just home from class and tired and I'm not helping anyone with anything, unless it's to find their way out of our house. But she'll stop what she's doing and help, and share her candy with them in the process.
• needs me. Ahh well, it makes me feel good... Our washing machine floods our little laundry room every time we wash something. One day I heard Jenni say, "Uh, dude, there's a lot of water. I know there's usually water, but I think there's more." I came over and reached my hand in the drain and pulled out a wad of wet lint and hair, and the water subsided. I kind of felt like a hero. Thanks roommate.
• is easy going. And won't sue me for totally misquoting her and posting pictures of her on the internet without her permission.
• 

a few good quotes

There comes a time, when you've lived in a particular place, when you begin to understand them. It's true. I didn't realize that I had reached this stage until Jenni came and I had to translate English words to her.

We just begin to hear the mistakes that they make, and know what they mean. I actually think that it is a hindrance to my students' education because I can understand them when otherwise they shouldn't be understood. It does sometimes help with communication in the classroom though, because I don't have to ask "what?" 400 times.

I have a new great level 6 class on Wednesdays now, and I have a couple of funny kids in my teenager class tonight. They say some FUNNY things. But I can't laugh in their faces, so I'll do it discreetly on here:

"Teacher, the girl that lives in the water and has the tail, what do you call her?"

-Zin, (22)trying to find the word for mermaid

"I'm not a mermaid."

-Walcott (14), when i asked him if he liked to swim

"It's so clean you could sell it."

-Cat (20), when I asked her if she had been doing her workbook

"Teacher, I don't want to be an astronaut, but I want to walk on the moon like Michael Jackson."

-Ricken (16)

"I am good at making love."

-Remus,(13) though this actually was more of a pronuniciation issue. He was trying to say that he's good at making other people laugh. And he was more right than he knew.

My old level 6 class played the game Things, with the topic-- "things you should never do in the shower." Here were some of the answers:

• dance
• open the door and take a photograph
• not let the water touch your body
• put the soap in your mouth
• read the newspaper
• iron clothes
• driving
• saw a bomb (Billy knows the definition of "saw" and "bomb" but I don't know why he said this)
• wear headphones
• wear glasses
• play computer games
• eat rice
• use mobile phone
• wear clothes
• court a young girl
• jump through a fire circle

Halloween Party. Story In Pictures

Selena and Gloria, two students I have now. They left early, but not before demanding that their class get their own private party at my apartment.

Some of the many many games we played that night. I was afraid we wouldn't know how to entertain them, but they were up for games, which I think might be Jenni's and my specialty... They even tolerated my 'pin the nose on the witch' game! Teaching the girls a new, but important compound word: puppychow.

My student Jack showing off the pumpkins that he didn't help carve at all. I offered him the knife but he would just shake his head vigorously. My student Jesse bobbing for appples. They thought this was ok. But opted to bob for chom choms, which do NOT float. They covered the bottom of the pot with chom choms, and poured in ice and it became a game of stamina. Whatever. They enjoyed it.

I was a Native American, Jenni was a panda, and Phượng wore a mask.

My former student Kevin decided that he would be a Native American too. He painted my face and I painted his. He's the one who organized students coming over to help me prepare, and he stayed until the end. I had him in level 1 last year, and it's really cool to be able to have long conversations with him now. He has improved a lot!Cat, in the middle, is one of my favorite students ever. She's hilarious. I don't know why the font is appearing yellow now...
Thảo and Jenni playing a game during the night.

Students from my favorite class that ended last night. I hope to have them again sometime. They are a lot of fun. Though if they were the perfect class, they would have dressed up in COSTUMES LIKE I TOLD THEM TO!

Phượng was a lot of fun and helped us teach everyone our games

I don't know his name, but he made both Jenni and I jump a little when he lit a bunch of sparklers on our gas stove. I thought that something that shouldn't be coming out of the stove, was coming out of the stove...And later that night, our little neighbor who occasionally takes off her shoes and runs into our apartment, came over for a visit. Even wearing the proper attire.

Some culture shock

So I've been having more challenges with the culture this year. From feeling used, to being let down by their propensity to say yes to everything, all of the negative aspects of this culture have been throwing themselves at me for approximately the last 76 days (and counting). In fact, there's actually a group of guys who park motorbikes who think it is hilarious to sneak up on me when I walk home from class alone, hit my bag and scream. I don't ever have time to react, but they get a good laugh anyway.

I've gotten ripped off a few good times, and frustrated with people who tell me that I can't do something because I am a foreigner and, "it is too difficult," for me (Seriously, ask my mom how much I like being told that). I don't like people laughing at my Vietnamese, and I don't want to help every student on the bus who wants to practice English with a foreigner and therefore wants to be my friend.

Last year these things were funny. This year, they are annoying. I guess this is that dip that Dr. Kreitzer was talking about on his culture shock graph. Burning insense in bulk is UNNECESSARY and probably unhealthy. I was chastized for almost taking a picture in a hospital because someone might have bad luck. Everyone has advice about my health, my lifestyle, even the way I cook my own food, and smiling and nodding is growing tiresome.

I know what you're thinking. These are all great opportunities-- and I see that. My attitude is actually getting much better than it has been (I am so grateful for your pr@yers). In fact, that's why I'm sharing a couple of moments when I needed a reminder of why I loved it here:

One very rainy day, I was seeing the Bien Hoa girls at Jenni off at the bus stop. I was going to have a weekend of alone time. Though when they left, i was uncertain of what I wanted to do since it was dar, still pouring, and I didn't have my poncho with me (a sure sign that it's going to rain). So I just sat, texted a little, and watched the traffic and the rain.

A girl came up and I heard her ask a man in Vietnamese if bus #14 came by there. He didn't know. I told her that it did. She looked at me with skepticism, and I rolled my eyes because I expected that response. I had only been sitting there for an hour and seen the bus pass over and over, why believe the foreigner?!

She seemed curious and came over and spoke to me in English, asking me what i was doing. I said I was waiting because I didn't have a poncho. She took her poncho off and rung out her jacket, saying that she was already wet so I could have it. I refused it politely and she offered it again. So I took it (though I debated telling her that I didn't want that poncho because obviously it didn't work). And I remembered why I love the Vietnamese.

That was a while ago. Last week Jenni announced that we should have a Halloween party. I mentioned it to my upper level classes when we talked about Halloween and gave them our address. I also mentioned how much I wanted to carve a pumpkin. One of my former students (who I actually never invited) texted me and told me that he and some other students would come at 3 to help prepare. I said, "Maybe we will not be at home yet. Maybe 5:00 is better." He agreed. No problems.

So, when Jenni and I returned to our apartment a little before 3, they were waiting outside. Oh excellent, I thought. Typical. They would show up 3 hours early, when we don't even know what we're doing.

They opened their bag to reveal a pumpkin that they had bought for me! and and food and drinks to share with us. We carved the pumpkins and they made a few decorations and offered to take us to the grocery store for anything we needed. My former student smiled as we carved them and said he was so excited, "This is the best Halloween party I ever go to." And I remembered why I love the Vietnamese.

(it was also the ONLY Halloween party he had ever been to, but a compliment is a compliment)
*more Halloween blogs to follow. **Early students pictured below.