Quick picture update...

Here's a great photo of all the August interns at the Cu Chi Tunnels, which I stole from TTV's FB page!

Cu Chi Tunnels, Placements and Western Food

So this morning, we went for a day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels, on the outskirts of HCMC. It was hot as hell, but really interesting. The tour guide, Tung, was amazing, and had actually fought in the American War as a young man, living in the tunnels.

I'd seen a video of someone's experience there, but it was unreal how tiny the entrances and tunnels were. A few of the interns were brave enough to get into this tiny opening in the ground.

We were shown some of the lethal, ingeniously made booby traps that the Viet Cong set up for American soldiers. Some were brutal.

There was also a tank.

I thoroughly recommend a visit to the tunnels, if not for the history and the demonstrations of what life was like for the people living and fighting there, then for the very odd introduction film, shot in the 60s, and the chance to shoot a variety of guns, at about 350000VND for 10 bullets.

Last, but not least, we found out where we'll be teaching today. I'm placed at a high school in HCMC, which I'm so happy about. I really like it here, and I think it will really feel like a home away from home. As well as that, a lot of my friends will be teaching in HCMC too, so we can spend weekends and free time together! This evening, in celebration (and because we all got a bit fed up of canteen food) we went to Lotteria. I had a shrimp burger. It was great!

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Hello! So, I made it here to HCMC. Arrived at 8pm local time on Saturday evening, with a lovely group of people on the same internship. Getting our landing visa was stressful and hot and sweaty, but we got there in the end, clutching our US$25 and frantically filling out paperwork. We were greeted at the airport by the people running the internship (Teach & Travel Vietnam), and were all piled onto a coach to take us to the university, where we are staying for the week. By 10, we were split into pairs (I was lucky enough to be put with Kellie, whom I met via Facebook, and was on the same flight with her too) and shown to our basic accommodation - two beds, two chairs, a kettle, a TV, and a wetroom w/ toilet.

That evening, the new arrivals (and a few who got here before us) sat out in the humid night air, drinking a few local beers and chatting. We were absolutely buzzing with excitement.

The next morning, we awoke painfully early and went to the canteen, where we were served phở, a noodle soup. As a vegetarian, mine had some deliciously spiced tofu in it, as well as plenty of vegetables and herbs. It will take me a while to get used to noodles for breakfast though!

Vietnamese iced coffee is fantastic, and I can't get enough of it, with sweetened milk too. Yum yum! An orientation in one of the university classrooms was one of our first chances to meet the other interns. There are 55 of us altogether! After a tour of District 1, and a visit to a Chinese temple in District 5 - with the wonderful 'Missy Kim', who serenaded us on the coach, and was a ball of energy - we were able to get showered and freshen up, ready for a coach ride to a buffet restaurant. It was beautiful, eating all this delicious Vietnamese food, outside, with fresh, cold beers and a lot of laughs. We hit the backpackers' area, near Bui Vien, and had too much to drink at a bar called Lily's and a club called Crazy Buffalo.

Today was a terrible hangover, and a orientation into Vietnamese education, as well as a chance to chat to some Vietnamese English students, who were just lovely! THey took a few of us for coffee, and for a trip to the supermarket. We were sure to take their numbers, so we can hang out again.