Birthdays & Mid-Autumn Festival

Oh, what a weekend!

It was Rasmus' 20th birthday on Friday (as well as two of the students' birthdays - 15th and 17th) and Mid-Autumn Festival too. And so the school threw a party for all the boarding students, any teachers that wanted to attend, and the birthday boys. They had the most fantastic hats made for them:

As well as a lovely cake:

The lovely cake didn't last long, though. Ooops!

There were also lanterns, and sparklers:

There were loads of party games, and some amazing fruit and sweets, too. As well as karaoke. Sadly, I didn't get many pictures of that, due to the amount of cake being thrown around - I didn't want to risk my phone!
It was so much fun, and I can't wait to celebrate my own birthday here!

This was a pretty photo-heavy post, and I will hopefully update again tomorrow or Tuesday with more details, but for now I'm signing off after an extremely busy weekend! Until next time! =)

Weather, gifts, food, bugs!

Oh my god, it's so rainy! But it's rainy season, surely you knew? I hear you cry. Yeah, yeah. I knew, alright. I just didn't know it would be so insane!

Last summer, I went to South Korea on holiday. It was rainy season then, and we got caught in a monsoon. I've never been so soaked in my life. I looked as if I'd jumped, fully clothed, into a swimming pool. But it didn't go on for that long.

But Vietnam. Boy, Vietnam's got some real rain. So intense, in fact, that my window started leaking yesterday:

It even left a little puddle on my floor, right by my bed:

Thankfully, I found the whole episode really quite hilarious, and happily got down on my hands and knees to soak up the flood that threatened to claim my electrical wires. Quick thinking saved the day, and sacrificed my bath towel.

Other than the crazy weather - and really, you think you know thunderstorms? You know nothing yet - this week has mostly been gearing up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, or the Moon Festival this weekend. WIKIPEDIA (a link if you want to know more).
This has been described to me as 'Tet for children', and I know that we will be lighting lanterns, and eating lots of mooncake. Which is great, because that stuff is full-on amazing. In fact, my friend bought me one today:

(for some reason, I just can't get this picture to go sideways. So the wrong way around, it shall remain!)

She also got me these, (which are already almost gone, because they're so delicious):

Have you noticed yet that I love food? =/

Another lovely gift I received this week - seriously, when will this wonderful generosity end?! - was this beautiful purse from Ben Thanh market, from the principal's wife:

I think I've been very spoiled this week!

But of course, something sour must always happen to outweigh the sweet. I found this guy lurking in my bathroom. He was huge, and ugly, and when he fell onto his back, I left him there to die. I know it seems callous, but these things give me the heebie jeebies!

Beware the cockroaches! You have been warned!

Warning: Extremely cute pictures in this post...

Hey y'all,
Sorry for the lack of updates recently, I've actually had quite a busy few days, what with having an allergic reaction to washing powder and sporting a nasty looking rash on my hands, and then teaching all weekend (no time for socialising, boo).

My 10th Grade classes are going really well. The last two lessons I taught them were all about 'Making plans for the weekend', which prompted a lot of my students to add me on Facebook, and ask me in messages, "Teacher, what are your plans for the weekend? Drinks with 10A1? Yes!"

And then there's the Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning primary classes. Get ready for all-round adorable-ness (pretty sure that's not a word, but nothing else could describe these kids).

These two are absolute monsters. The one on the right managed to split his lip open on Saturday, and I had to sit there trying to stem the flow of blood. He chatted away at me in Vietnamese, patting my arm in a comforting way and saying "No problem - Không sao." I could hardly stand the cuteness.

And here are a few of the older kids with my placement buddy Rasmus:

Now, try telling me these photos don't make you want to hop on a plane right now, and get here? That is, of course, if you're not here already (hey fellow August interns! Thanks for stopping by).

Last night, our principal took us for dinner with him and his wife, to a lovely Vietnamese restaurant specialising in food from the middle region of Vietnam, specifically Huế. It was like a taste explosion in my mouth, so many fragrant spices; so much perfectly cooked shellfish. I was definitely in heaven.
Next time, he wants to take us for karaoke. I am so up for that, you wouldn't believe!
I also told him that after the 5 month internship, I want to stay in Vietnam. Probably forever. I made this decision almost as soon as I got here, and I'm sticking by it. Yes, sometimes I will be frustrated by things here - I got frustrated by things back home, too - and the language barrier will be difficult for a while. But I fully intend on learning Vietnamese, and making a life for myself in this wonderful country, which has already given me so many more opportunities and experiences than I ever had in England.
The principal and his wife said they were pleased I love their country so much, and want to help me in my efforts to stay here. Yet another example of the generosity and kindness of the Vietnamese people.

Until next time, xin chào!

Quick picture update 3

Rasmus really wanted to go swimming. So our friend, and fellow teacher, Hồng, took him on her motorbike:

The second one is by far my favourite!

FOOD (and drinks, too).

If there's anything I love more than food, it's... Well, actually I don't think I do love anything more than food!
As I've mentioned before, I'm a pescetarian (like a vegetarian, but I eat fish) and this has been a struggle for me in Vietnam. I want any other vegetarians thinking of coming here to know how difficult it has been, but not to be put off! There are ways around the lack of veggie food in schools!

This is an example if a standard lunchtime or dinner time meal at my school:

It consists of rice, cucumber, and fried fish. Once they knew I liked fish, they began serving it every day. One can grow tired of it, to be honest. The lack of communication between me and the kitchen staff (they speak no English, I speak no Vietnamese) has made it hard to say to them, "Hey, I like fish, but could I have tofu tomorrow?". I have made a list of the foods I can - and like to - eat, and this has made things a little easier. The past few days, we've been given really delicious homemade soup. There's been tomato, carrot, sweet potato - I've been in heaven! A couple of evenings, I even came down to the canteen to find chips. Sweet, sweet, potato, how I miss you!
I guess what I'm trying to say here is that communication is key. If you are vegetarian, or pescetarian, or even just a fussy eater, write a list for the kitchen staff at your school. They'll really appreciate it. After all, they just want to please you, and make sure you're happy.

You may find yourself craving Western food. I didn't think I would, but I really have. Amazingly, we found a fantastic little Italian place in the heart of District 1, slap bang in the middle of the Backpacker's area (Bui Vien and De Tham). It was love at first sight when I saw the extensive vegetarian section.

Vegetable Lasagna:

But of course, the meat-eaters weren't left out either, with these delicious dishes:

Chilli Con Carne:

Minestrone Soup:

I don't know about you, but my mouth is watering just looking at them!

Now that I'm done salivating, let me introduce to you another love of mine: cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee, with condensed milk.

It may not look like much, but boy is this drink delicious. The idea of condensed milk in coffee set my teeth on edge at first, but from the first time I tried it, I was hooked. It's super-tasty, strong enough to give you a good boost in the morning, and nice and cold for a hot afternoon in a coffee-shop.
I think the best cà phê sữa đá I've had in Vietnam so far was at the house of the school Chairman, but for a very close second, there's Pressio, a coffee shop literally around the corner from TTV's office in Saigon.
Here are directions:
- Walk out of the campus and turn left at the Security booth
- Walk along the road, and turn left again at Lotteria
- Continue down this street until you see a bright green coffee shop on your left
- Stop, buy, enjoy.

Another great place to get a drink is a chain called Highlands Coffee. There's a big one right near Ben Thanh Market in District 1, and you can get gorgeous drinks like these:

They're not horrendously pricey (from about 40.000VND) and are a wonderful treat, especially if you've been traipsing around the market, looking for bargains.

So there we have it. Some food, some drink. All delicious. =)

PS. Look out for these things:

They're highly addictive, and I cannot be held responsible if you find yourself binging on a whole box now and again (I know that I did)!

How to cross a Saigon street, and other survival tips.

(originally posted here on i-to-i's Chalkboard forum.)

It's a balmy 35 degrees outside, and I'm desperately trying not to move too much, with my air-con on full blast. Despite the heat, it's pretty grey outside, as the heavens are about to open for our regular, afternoon monsoon. And even from inside, I can hear the tooting of motorbike horns.

You may or may not know that pretty much everyone in Vietnam has a motorbike. And I'm really not exaggerating! It's even more so the case in Saigon, which is already a sprawling, busy metropolis full of bicycles, street-vendors, coaches and the occasional car. The motorbikes weave in and out of this colourful streetlife, carrying everything from crates of live chickens, to a whole tree (I really saw this!).

As you can imagine, this makes crossing the road no mean feat! When I first arrived in Saigon, I was both terrified and awed by the traffic. And I knew that crossing a road on my own for the first time would feel like a major achievement. There are zebra crossings in Saigon, but nobody really pays them any attention. There are also traffic lights (rarely looked at) and clear pedestrian areas, like the pavement (ignored). Here, it seems, the motorbike is the law.

When you first pluck up the courage to edge to the side of a road, it can seem as if there is no way across - I imagine it's similar to how they may have felt before Moses parted the sea. But you just have to get to the other side, for a bahn mi, or a museum, or just because your friends are there. And so you just have to go with it.

I find the best way is to wait for a slight gap in traffic - this may be just a few seconds - and step out, sort of wandering slowly into the road. Slow and steady is the way to go, so that motorbike riders can both see you, and have the opportunity to weave around you. Cars and taxis, however, won't be so easy to manouvre, and you might find yourself narrowly avoiding being clipped by them. Just be aware of your surroundings, keep one eye on the goal, and go for it!

A few other words of advice:
- Handbag stealing: It does happen! Make sure you bring a shoulder bag with you, that you can wear across your whole body, and try to have it on your side that's facing away from the road. And girls, I know it seems annoying (especially if it ruins your outfit), but it's practical, safe, and much better than being dragged along the ground by a wannabe thief on a motorbike (which did happen to a friend of mine - she was okay, a scraped knee and ripped leggings was the only damage). Please, please be careful!

- Don't drink the tap water: Seriously. Don't! Bottled water is really cheap, so don't take the risk. Also, when getting drinks out and about, only accept ice if you are sure it's made from bottled water (most cafes and bars will do this, but watch out for street vendors). The tap water here can make you really poorly, and you definitely don't want that when trying to teach kids!

- Stares: In central Saigon (District 1), you won't get stared at so much. But be prepared for when you get to your placement! Even though I'm placed in Saigon, I'm 45 minutes from the centre. Here, people stare at us when we walk down the street, and we have been followed around the supermarket by schoolkids. Don't take it offensively. The Vietnamese are a curious, friendly people. Most likely they just want to say hello, and maybe practice their English on you. Give them a wave and a smile. They'll love it!

Quick picture update 2

Check out one of my lovely 10th Grade classes, 10A1!

Aren't they great? =D

Streets of Bin Tan, Saigon

Motorbikes in Saigon (from a taxi window)

Being ill, schedule mix-ups, language barrier.

I've been feeling quite ill for the past two days. Nothing really serious, just a temperature, body aches, and extreme lethargy. Queue everyone at the school absolutely freaking out about it! The Vietnamese are caring to the extreme. I had a string of different people come to my room to place a hand to my forehead, and fuss around me; I was given a fistful of pills, and told to take them after eating. The nurse had to mime what each one would do for me, "Yellow!" - she held her head, "White!" - she rubbed her neck, and back, "Green!" - she stroked her throat. I had a visit from the Chairman - who, if you remember, demanded we had better beds last week - who was very concerned about me. "You must eat." He said, "You tell me what you like, we'll make it."
One thing I haven't mentioned in detail in this blog so far, is the fact that I am pescetarian, meaning I don't eat any meat but fish (it's not a moral thing, or religious choice, my parents were just kinda hippy-ish in the 80s & 90s, and raised me this way). This has been an issue in Vietnam so far. Not a major one, but an issue all the same. The canteen at the school is small, and I am the only non-meat eater, which has confused the cooks terribly. I've visibly lost weight in the past 2 weeks (not unusual - other meat-loving interns have too) and I think it may be due to my diet of rice and vegetables, rice and vegetables.
Don't let this put you off, though! I've had plenty of food in Vietnam that's been incredibly delicious. Just think to yourself: were school dinners really the same as a meal at a restaurant? No. Definitely not in my case! So I make sure I treat myself to something extra tasty and vegetarian at the weekends.

This week, we've had a schedule mix-up, through no fault of our own! Our teacher-liaison isn't actually at the school as much as we'd hope, so trying to communicate with teachers who speak very little English is sometimes hard and often frustrating. We were originally told that our schedule for last week stayed the same for this week - 2 lessons on Thursday, 4 on Friday - but apparently, this is not the case. As I've been ill, my placement buddy has had to pull two lesson plans out of a hat, and teach two classes this afternoon.
I don't know if this kinda thing is common here. I suppose being prepared is the only way around it. Always have a few lesson ideas you can use at the last minute, especially in the first few weeks, while you settle into things.

Sorry for the lack of photos in this entry. What with being ill, and pretty much bedridden, there hasn't been much of an opportunity to take any. But I'll leave you with this guy, who was hidden behind a marble column at the Reunification Palace:

Accommodation and first lessons!

First thing's first: Be prepared for extremely thin mattresses. You have been warned!

Originally, I had the bunk-bed as my main bed, but the Chairman of the school decided we deserved double beds - I'm definitely not complaining! My room is nice and big, and situated on the 3rd floor of an accommodation block on the school's campus. My placement buddy, Rasmus, is on the floor above me, and the rest of the rooms are occupied by students and people who work at the school (cleaners, cooks, maids, etc). It can be a little noisy in the evenings, as the students are pretty excitable, but it's a great room.

As for lesson planning, I've had to get organised. There's a supermarket near the school, so I've been lucky enough to score some great supplies, like box files, trays, and loads of stationary, for cheap, cheap prices. I'd definitely recommend getting some trays to keep separate class' work in, and to separate grades too.

In my first lesson, I got the class to make name cards. I was prepared, and bought in pieces of card and felt-tips for them. They really enjoyed making them, and also found it hilarious when I tried to say their names (getting my mouth around the name Nguyen is still hard, but I'd better get used to it, because it's the most common name here!)

I was really nervous going into the class for the first time, but a solid lesson plan, a few deep breaths, and a big smile really helped. I managed to get a class of 30 15-16 year olds having a fun time learning English by the end of the lesson, so I think I did something right. There were a few hairy moments, where I had a lot of blank stares, but it was bound to happen - after all, this is my first time teaching, and this was their first time with a foreign teacher! This morning, I woke up at 5:15am (as usual, because breakfast is at 6am, and school starts at 7am) to see the sun rising over the rooftops of Saigon.

It reminded me how stupidly lucky I am to be in this fantastic country, with this wonderful opportunity. I think these 5 months will be some of the best of my life!

Lack of internet and rural placement makes Millie go gaga.

Hello readers! Just a quick post to apologise for the distinct lack of posts this past week. I got to my placement last Saturday, and can only access the internet in the school office, which means it's hard to get private time to write long, emotional, and beautifully descriptive blog entries... Or, you know, bog-standard ones like my previous posts! Haha. Anyways, they're setting up wi-fi in our accommodation this week some time, so look forward to some photos of my (basic) accommodation, the school, and a few videos of the mental traffic here in Saigon! Until next time, people. Millie xx