New developments

It has been a while since my last post. Which is good, actually, because I finally have some semblance of a real life and a full work schedule. I feel almost like a real person, but then I look at my schedule and realize how weird it is.

Taught my first weekend day on Sunday. It was intense, but not too bad. I inherited a terrorizing class of kids around age 11. I was advised to go in and be mean so they know they can't get away with anything. So, I was very strict, made one of the bad kids cry, then put him in the corner. I had to give a test, and told them if they cheated I would rip up their tests, and demonstrated for effect. It worked, and although I probably have a handful of preteen Vietnamese children who hate me, at least they wont walk all over me.

The weekends are insane, and although they are jam-packed with last-minute lesson planning, photocopying and VN coffee chugging, there is enough camaraderie to almost make up for the insanity. Since I'm not quite used to planning for 6 2-hr lessons in a 48 hr period, I've been spending most of my non-teaching time attempting to plan for the upcoming weekend marathon. Luckily, I'm liking my coworkers more and more each day. On Sunday we had a huge going-away party for 3 staff members who are leaving. It was held at a local bar, and most of the staff attended, including our Vietnamese TAs. Our charity organizer (and my new roomie Tracey) cooked up a slave-auction scheme, so we spent a good hour selling various employees to the highest bidder. They have to spend 1 hour doing whatever the buyer asks (minus lesson planning and teaching their classes). We raised 13 million VD, which is almost $700. People were pretty drunk, so I guess they bid higher than expected. It was really nice having a huge work party that was fun and easy. No pressure, no strange power dynamics, just a bunch of people getting drunk together. Apparently that's just how the ESL teachers are. I like it.

As previously hinted at, I found an apartment! Will finally be moving out of my one small room with no kitchen and a shared bathroom/wetroom. I'm living in a highrise apartment (not my first choice, but amazing security ensures we wont be robbed), in a great 3-bedroom close to downtown, for a really decent rate. Housing is SO reasonable here. Living with Tracey, with whom I work, and Lauren, fresh off the plane from New Jersey and working as an editor here. Very pleased. Now I just have to actually move. Not excited.

Starting next week, I will begin meeting with my little sister, an underprivileged teenage girl who wants a chance to practice english. It's a small time commitment, only a few hours once a week. I'm pleased to be finally starting some charity work. Tomorrow I will also help out with an Apollo-sponsored Ladies' night on Thurs/Fri, in honor of International Women's Day on March 8th. Apparently, most other countries in the world celebrate this holiday, but not America. Interesting. Definitely something I can get on board with. Looking forward to doing a lot more with the charity organizations. Since I will be living with the charity organizer, I feel like it might be an easy thing to accomplish.

It's funny how teaching so much is similar to singing all the time; I get a hoarse voice quite often. Will have to get into a rhythm so I'm not sick all the time. Don't think the pollution helps at all.

hmmmmm...what else?

-rich Asians have no problem eating endangered species. I was actually told that worrying about endangered species is a 'western' thing. It's really hard to not judge a culture that thinks in this manner, and I'm not even that into animals.
-still amazed at the number of meals you can get here for a dollar. Pho, meat/veg/rice combos with iced tea included, even mediterranean pitas that deliver for free.
-speaking of delivery, all restaurants deliver for free. Many also allow orders via text, which can be a godsend to those of us whose Vietnamese is less than stellar.
-obtained a VN language book. Now I just have to find the time and drive to study my own new language whilst teaching a new language to children 23 hours a week. BTW, I teach solely children between the ages of 6-12. Christ.

Will try my best to stay updated with the blog!