It's with a heavy heart that I write this final entry for this blog. Yes, I have had to leave Vietnam, and no, I cannot return.
As I've said before on here, it was my intention to stay longer in Vietnam after my initial internship was over. Sadly, due to circumstances beyond my control, this has not been possible. The company who set up my internship seem to have had a few issues with procuring new visas for me - and others who wished to stay on - as well as securing the visas for those due to start an internship in February.
I was originally told that I had to leave the country and re-apply for my visa upon re-entry, so I booked a holiday home to the UK. Sadly, the night before my flight from Tân Sơn Nhất Airport, I was informed by TTV about the visa issues. I had to leave the country in a completely chaotic hurry, leaving things behind that I could not fit in my bag and only taking important things with me in case I couldn't return. I managed to pack some things my students had given me, and most of my clothes, but I had to leave things like books and lesson plans behind. I simply didn't have the room.
As the plane took off, it flew over the area of Ho Chi Minh City where I lived. I could see the distinctive Ruby Garden Apartments neon sign, and followed the path of the roads with my finger on the window until I landed on the spot where my school was. I have to admit I cried a bit as I realised this could be the last time I see it.
Upon my arrival back in the UK, I immediately set about trying to organise myself a new visa. Unfortunately, communication with my contact at the school was non-existant, and I did not manage to recieve the vital letter to confrim my employment that I needed to apply for a new visa. My return flight left without me.
As the weeks have gone by, it seems I'm not the only one unable to return; others who have applied for visas to go back have been denied entry by immigration, we think due to our association with the company that organised the internship. It's broken our hearts that we can't go back, and it hurts me so much to think of my students without a teacher.
I will always have nothing but fond memories of Vietnam, and I hope that one day I can return. However, I know that I will not be teaching there again.
I did have one bit of fantastic news when I got back home, though. I have been given an unconditional offer to do a degree in Japanese Studies at SOAS in London, starting this September. So although one door has closed, another has opened, and now I can focus on my future. I will eventually live in Japan or Korea, teaching English. Onto the next adventure.
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Showing posts with label students. Show all posts
Showing posts with label students. Show all posts
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Monday, 10 December 2012
Busy, busy, busy, like a beeeee.
Apologies avid readers! I've been super busy these last few weeks, what with preparing my students for their exams and generally freaking out about having to test them myself. I've had a few emails and messages from people, and have tried to reply to them as swiftly as possible, but sometimes it's hard to keep track. So if I haven't answered your question yet, please be patient :) I'll get to it soon.
I did a poll last month on my Chalkboard blog to see what people want me to write about. The votes came out pretty evenly, so in the next few weeks you should be seeing three blogs: one about food (which I've been dutifully taking pictures of), one about coping with culture shock, and one about medicine in Vietnam (which I've had some VERY personal experiences with... All will be revealed soon).
Christmas is swiftly approaching, and I'm missing the chill in the air back home, and my mum's roast dinners; make the most of it before you come out here! A bunch of us interns are getting together for a roast on Christmas Eve, but being vegetarian my options are limited. I may be making do with a plate of roast potatoes and a few veggies. But that's fine by me >.<
I've had the official meeting with my principal to discuss my plans to stay. I've been told I'll be getting a fantastic pay rise, and won't have to start paying for my accommodation if I want to stay where I am (however, I hope to move out soon as I want my own kitchen. I miss cooking, and I hate living off instant noodles!). I was also told that we're getting two new interns through TTV in February. It could be you! XD
I did a poll last month on my Chalkboard blog to see what people want me to write about. The votes came out pretty evenly, so in the next few weeks you should be seeing three blogs: one about food (which I've been dutifully taking pictures of), one about coping with culture shock, and one about medicine in Vietnam (which I've had some VERY personal experiences with... All will be revealed soon).
Christmas is swiftly approaching, and I'm missing the chill in the air back home, and my mum's roast dinners; make the most of it before you come out here! A bunch of us interns are getting together for a roast on Christmas Eve, but being vegetarian my options are limited. I may be making do with a plate of roast potatoes and a few veggies. But that's fine by me >.<
I've had the official meeting with my principal to discuss my plans to stay. I've been told I'll be getting a fantastic pay rise, and won't have to start paying for my accommodation if I want to stay where I am (however, I hope to move out soon as I want my own kitchen. I miss cooking, and I hate living off instant noodles!). I was also told that we're getting two new interns through TTV in February. It could be you! XD
Thursday, 15 November 2012
Quick Photo Update #3
Sorry for not updating recently. I've been busy, as well as feeling homesick and having a few food-related issues (I now have a meal allowance instead of eating at the canteen). To make up for it, here are some photos of my class 10A1 doing some group work very enthusiastically :P
The lesson was 'Agreeing and Disagreeing'. I gave each group a piece of card with a statement on. They then had to decide whether they agreed or disagreed with it, and give at least one reason why.
My favourite of the lesson was in reaction to the statement "In fifty years, humans will be able to fly." One group's representative just threw his arms up and said "Well, I disagree because... it's stupid!" He got a good laugh from the class. I genuinely love my 10th Grade classes at Chu Van An. They make me light up with happiness every lesson.
Hopefully I will update again soon, once I've sorted myself out and stopped getting weepy over my lack of potato.
The lesson was 'Agreeing and Disagreeing'. I gave each group a piece of card with a statement on. They then had to decide whether they agreed or disagreed with it, and give at least one reason why.
My favourite of the lesson was in reaction to the statement "In fifty years, humans will be able to fly." One group's representative just threw his arms up and said "Well, I disagree because... it's stupid!" He got a good laugh from the class. I genuinely love my 10th Grade classes at Chu Van An. They make me light up with happiness every lesson.
Hopefully I will update again soon, once I've sorted myself out and stopped getting weepy over my lack of potato.
Sunday, 7 October 2012
New school, new schedule, karaoke, painting.
It's been a week since my last update. Sorry, avid readers (if there even are any).
This week I started classes at a second school, and I've been settling into a new timetable. At the moment my schedule is this:
Monday - day off
Tuesday - One-to-one tutoring (the school Chairman's son, Ky-Danh)
Wednesday - 10A1 and 12A1 at Chu Văn An High School
Thursday - 4 10th Grade classes at Lý Tự Trọng High School
Friday - 10A2 at Chu Văn An High School
Saturday - 5 11th Grade classes at Lý Tự Trọng High School
Sunday - Young Learners class at Chu Văn An High School
It's not looking too bad, especially considering some interns are teaching 29 different classes a week! Schedules seem to vary from school to school, much the same with class sizes and quality of equipment.
Here are a few differences between my two schools (CVA & LTT):
- At CVA, the classes are air-conditioned, with great lighting, and are a nice, bright space. At LTT, the classes are more dingy, and only have fans.
- At LTT, you can use a microphone to teach, which is great because in some of my classes, I have up to 50 students. At CVA, classes are much smaller, so this isn't a problem.
- At CVA, the students took a while to come out of their shells and really open up in class. Of course, some students were always super confident, but now most of them speak up in lessons. At LTT, even in my first lessons with them, students were extremely confident and spoke up in class a lot, making me laugh and telling me they love me!
- I definitely felt like more of a celebrity at LTT, because the students went wild when they saw me, some of them actually screaming as I walked into the classroom. At CVA, it was a lot more subdued.
Overall, I love both the schools, and the students are really quite wonderful!
In order to keep my sanity, I must have a social life! And so, a few Vietnamese friends took me and Rasmus to karaoke last night. The only English song was We Wish You A Merry Christmas, which we had to sing not once, but twice. And we did attempt a few Vietnamese songs - kids ones, of course, so that it would be easy. We actually managed to get 100% on one of them, so I feel that was a definite achievement.
As you can see, there was a lot of bia 333 going around, as well as huge platters of fruit, and snacks.
The walk back to the school in the rain was pretty hilarious. I think one of my friends took pictures, so if I deem them appropriate they'll be up on the blog soon! Haha.
**EDIT** Some photos of us in the rain, and me singing karaoke, courtesy of my friend =)
Today, Rasmus didn't make it to the Young Learners' class. But I went along, because I love those stupidly adorable, badly behaved children. And I didn't want to leave my friend Binh - the main teacher - alone with them for another lesson (since our schedule changed, we can't attend the Saturday afternoon lessons anymore).
After that, I met some of my students for coffee, but sadly the cafe was closed. So we went to the supermarket, and painted some little statues... As you do!
The finished products:
Mine is the fish with chickenpox.
This week I started classes at a second school, and I've been settling into a new timetable. At the moment my schedule is this:
Monday - day off
Tuesday - One-to-one tutoring (the school Chairman's son, Ky-Danh)
Wednesday - 10A1 and 12A1 at Chu Văn An High School
Thursday - 4 10th Grade classes at Lý Tự Trọng High School
Friday - 10A2 at Chu Văn An High School
Saturday - 5 11th Grade classes at Lý Tự Trọng High School
Sunday - Young Learners class at Chu Văn An High School
It's not looking too bad, especially considering some interns are teaching 29 different classes a week! Schedules seem to vary from school to school, much the same with class sizes and quality of equipment.
Here are a few differences between my two schools (CVA & LTT):
- At CVA, the classes are air-conditioned, with great lighting, and are a nice, bright space. At LTT, the classes are more dingy, and only have fans.
- At LTT, you can use a microphone to teach, which is great because in some of my classes, I have up to 50 students. At CVA, classes are much smaller, so this isn't a problem.
- At CVA, the students took a while to come out of their shells and really open up in class. Of course, some students were always super confident, but now most of them speak up in lessons. At LTT, even in my first lessons with them, students were extremely confident and spoke up in class a lot, making me laugh and telling me they love me!
- I definitely felt like more of a celebrity at LTT, because the students went wild when they saw me, some of them actually screaming as I walked into the classroom. At CVA, it was a lot more subdued.
Overall, I love both the schools, and the students are really quite wonderful!
In order to keep my sanity, I must have a social life! And so, a few Vietnamese friends took me and Rasmus to karaoke last night. The only English song was We Wish You A Merry Christmas, which we had to sing not once, but twice. And we did attempt a few Vietnamese songs - kids ones, of course, so that it would be easy. We actually managed to get 100% on one of them, so I feel that was a definite achievement.
As you can see, there was a lot of bia 333 going around, as well as huge platters of fruit, and snacks.
The walk back to the school in the rain was pretty hilarious. I think one of my friends took pictures, so if I deem them appropriate they'll be up on the blog soon! Haha.
**EDIT** Some photos of us in the rain, and me singing karaoke, courtesy of my friend =)
Today, Rasmus didn't make it to the Young Learners' class. But I went along, because I love those stupidly adorable, badly behaved children. And I didn't want to leave my friend Binh - the main teacher - alone with them for another lesson (since our schedule changed, we can't attend the Saturday afternoon lessons anymore).
After that, I met some of my students for coffee, but sadly the cafe was closed. So we went to the supermarket, and painted some little statues... As you do!
The finished products:
Mine is the fish with chickenpox.
Sunday, 30 September 2012
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! =)
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! =)
Monday, 24 September 2012
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!
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!
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