So, since I have an entire day to just sit and hang out on the computer, I thought I would share some of the interesting things I've seen around the airport. DAMN I wish I had time to explore Japan. If only it weren't like the most expensive place on the planet, I would love to live here. There really are vending machines all over the place! Just as I always dreamed there would be.
-The water faucets have knobs with exact temperatures for the water. I realize now that that isn't cool at all, but in my apartment in Vietnam, there is one temperature for faucets: whatever the hell comes out.
-The toilets have a weird electric button that makes a flushing sound when you aren't flushing. I don't really get it, but they are motion sensitive so all of a sudden while you are going to the bathroom, you hear random flushing noises. And speaking of the bathrooms, I would just like to say that they are immaculate.
-One of the waiting areas looks like a strange museum: there are modern leather stool-sofa like seats that have museum-like overhead lighting on them, like they are on display. Very strange.
-From my view in the lounge, I can see rows upon rows of cherry blossoms in the distance. Natural disasters aside, it seems like the perfect time to visit.
-while gchatting Maggie, I experienced an earthquake aftershock! It was quite minor and not really an issue at all, but I can now officially say that I experienced a Japanese earthquake aftershock. Not sure why that is cool. It should just be depressing.
Oh man. Every time I go somewhere new, it just becomes that much more clear how little I have seen, and how much I need to pack into my short life. At this rate I will need a decade of country-hopping before I feel like I can settle down. It's almost cruel to give me an 8 hour layover in a place as badass as Japan.
I got onto facebook for the first time in MONTHS! I forgot that there are ways to waste time besides facebook. Thanks to the Vietnamese government, I am now a pro.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
From Narita Airport
Well, I am currently en route to Michigan for a wedding this weekend. Had a nice red-eye from HCM to Tokyo, and am in the middle of my 8 hour layover here. To be fair, I'm pretty pleased with the accommodations here. My mom sent me a day pass for the skyclub, so i have full access to a lovely apple computer, continuous buffet with a strange assortment including my first REAL japanese sushi ever as well as toasts with spam and beans. Knew how much the Vietnamese like their processed meats, but wasn't aware it was more of a pan-Asiatic obsession. If I weren't alone it could be quite fun to take advantage of the endless booze as well, but as it is I don't wanna be THAT passenger. On the bright side, I had my own TV for the previous leg, and hopes are high for the 13-hour flight. It really does make all the difference.
Spent my day off (tuesday) at the Giang Dien Gardens, a Vietnamese cross between a water park, camping grounds, and a park-like resort. It's a huge section of land that is totally landscaped in a very pretty but also strange kind of way. The water part has man-made waterfalls in a river, and everyone swims around in the waterfalls. It's a very rocky area, and I'm surprised there aren't more accidents. I kept thinking the whole time how this would not be legal in the states. Everyone is required to wear a life jacket, which makes it just that much easier to be lazy. We were there the entire day, and I think I saw one other non-VN guest. To make us stick out even more, Vietnamese don't wear bathing suits. They just swim in their regular clothes. Some boys had swim shorts on, but mostly people wore t-shirts, and some wore their jeans and belts and stuff in the water. A bit bizarre to us, but then we looked like whoring expats to them. Because they don't like the sun, everyone got a tent to sit under, with a tarp on the ground. It was perfect for me, because tropical sun and my lily-white skin don't get along very well. It was all around a very nice day, and I am totally pumped to go again, preferably on a day when I did not stay out all night the night before (spent much of the morning napping).
Also witnessed my first truly wasted Vietnamese person. Now, VN people have decently low tolerance in general, but mostly they don't drink too much, and it is very rare to see someone so far gone they can't stand up. The lot of us had a field day observing a young woman who was absolutely trashed. Her friends clearly had no idea how to deal with it, and kept letting her fall down and fall into tents and things while helping her walk. They tried piggy-backing, but she fell backwards and got herself completely filthy. They ended up throwing her in the river before helping her across the bridge. I realize this doesn't sound too exciting, but the thing is, we hadn't seen anything like it since we all moved from our respective drunken countries. We were all thoroughly amused, as horrible as that is. Literally everyone was crowding around to watch her try to cross the bridge (most Vietnamese don't usually witness this type of thing ever). Interesting how in western cultures we wouldn't really bat an eye, yet here public drunkenness is blog-worthy. Talk about a difference in culture.
Amy, my friend from CELTA who lives and teaches in Phnom Penh, was in town last night, so on my way out to the airport (complete with GIANT tourist-looking suitcase) I stopped to have dinner with her and a few other friends of hers. The place was one of the coolest buildings I've ever seen. Although it's just a nice but regular looking house from the outside, the inside is almost treehouse-like. There is a first floor dining area, but further back you must cross a mini-bridge over a pond, and go up ladder-like outdoor stairs to several other rooms or floors, and the entire inside is decorated with antique VN furniture, with exposed eaves and an amazing ambience. You can even eat on an antique bed, though i hear it isn't very comfortable. At any rate, definitely somewhere I'd go again. I love getting to the point living somewhere when you start to learn some of its hidden gems. One nice thing about having a small expat community-you can get all the goods. Though I will say it would be nice to have a few more friend options. I hang out with almost exclusively teachers, except for the handful of friends I've met through Tracey, who for some reason knows 3/4 of the expats in Saigon. Good person to know.
Call me crazy, but I can't wait for a little Michigan spring weather. Oh man, so excited! For once I wont be dripping sweat.
Got to run, that sushi isn't gonna eat itself!
Spent my day off (tuesday) at the Giang Dien Gardens, a Vietnamese cross between a water park, camping grounds, and a park-like resort. It's a huge section of land that is totally landscaped in a very pretty but also strange kind of way. The water part has man-made waterfalls in a river, and everyone swims around in the waterfalls. It's a very rocky area, and I'm surprised there aren't more accidents. I kept thinking the whole time how this would not be legal in the states. Everyone is required to wear a life jacket, which makes it just that much easier to be lazy. We were there the entire day, and I think I saw one other non-VN guest. To make us stick out even more, Vietnamese don't wear bathing suits. They just swim in their regular clothes. Some boys had swim shorts on, but mostly people wore t-shirts, and some wore their jeans and belts and stuff in the water. A bit bizarre to us, but then we looked like whoring expats to them. Because they don't like the sun, everyone got a tent to sit under, with a tarp on the ground. It was perfect for me, because tropical sun and my lily-white skin don't get along very well. It was all around a very nice day, and I am totally pumped to go again, preferably on a day when I did not stay out all night the night before (spent much of the morning napping).
Also witnessed my first truly wasted Vietnamese person. Now, VN people have decently low tolerance in general, but mostly they don't drink too much, and it is very rare to see someone so far gone they can't stand up. The lot of us had a field day observing a young woman who was absolutely trashed. Her friends clearly had no idea how to deal with it, and kept letting her fall down and fall into tents and things while helping her walk. They tried piggy-backing, but she fell backwards and got herself completely filthy. They ended up throwing her in the river before helping her across the bridge. I realize this doesn't sound too exciting, but the thing is, we hadn't seen anything like it since we all moved from our respective drunken countries. We were all thoroughly amused, as horrible as that is. Literally everyone was crowding around to watch her try to cross the bridge (most Vietnamese don't usually witness this type of thing ever). Interesting how in western cultures we wouldn't really bat an eye, yet here public drunkenness is blog-worthy. Talk about a difference in culture.
Amy, my friend from CELTA who lives and teaches in Phnom Penh, was in town last night, so on my way out to the airport (complete with GIANT tourist-looking suitcase) I stopped to have dinner with her and a few other friends of hers. The place was one of the coolest buildings I've ever seen. Although it's just a nice but regular looking house from the outside, the inside is almost treehouse-like. There is a first floor dining area, but further back you must cross a mini-bridge over a pond, and go up ladder-like outdoor stairs to several other rooms or floors, and the entire inside is decorated with antique VN furniture, with exposed eaves and an amazing ambience. You can even eat on an antique bed, though i hear it isn't very comfortable. At any rate, definitely somewhere I'd go again. I love getting to the point living somewhere when you start to learn some of its hidden gems. One nice thing about having a small expat community-you can get all the goods. Though I will say it would be nice to have a few more friend options. I hang out with almost exclusively teachers, except for the handful of friends I've met through Tracey, who for some reason knows 3/4 of the expats in Saigon. Good person to know.
Call me crazy, but I can't wait for a little Michigan spring weather. Oh man, so excited! For once I wont be dripping sweat.
Got to run, that sushi isn't gonna eat itself!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Charity and Work Developments
Heading back to America in 4 days! I really can't believe the time has gone by so quickly. I feel so removed from my previous life, and am super interested to see what the reverse culture shock will be like. Luckily, I will be spending almost all of my time seeing family and friends, and that never goes out of style. Can't WAIT to see people and hear about their lives during our time apart.
Today was my first Saturday off since I started working full time. Interestingly, it came about due to the celebration of a dead king's birthday. To honor this king, schools are off on Tuesday (Monday as well, I believe). The government, in turn, decided to make the children attend school on Saturday instead. So, all of our students were at regular school today, and we all got the day off. Was hoping to go to Vung Tao, a beach about an hour's boat ride away. There is a kite festival there today, and I was quite interested. However, due to all of the other things I was planning, I didn't get around to it. But, I am all set to join some of the teachers on a mini-bus ride to some waterfalls on our other day off on Tuesday.
Luckily, the day wasn't a complete waste. I just got my first month's full time pay, and since we teachers never have our weekends off, we went to a delightful weekend brunch place complete with a chocolate fountain. The brunch was huge, and we had a nice and leisurely meal, with multiple trips to the fountain. Tracey and I spent the rest of the afternoon shopping around, and went to an indoor market/mall type place. I haven't been shopping once since I moved here (aside from Xmas shopping), and it was really fun to see all of the stuff people sell. Saw many things I am planning on buying next month when I have more money. For some reason bone-chopsticks and silk fans aren't on my immediate must-have list.
Have spent the past week being quite saintly, if I do say so myself. I feel like all of my time is spent either working or doing charity work. Not complaining, just realizing how boring my life may sound.
This Sunday started out my week with a very stressful observation involving a bad class and a particularly bad student who pretended to throw up in a trash can while I attempted to teach them a song. During my first-ever job observation. Which will be evaluated. Not pleased. Luckily, I found out later this week that two of my ideas for the school are going to be implemented. I have outlined and begun organizing a spelling bee, which we will use in the public schools. The Apollo managers liked the idea so much, they will be doing spelling bees at every Apollo school in the country! And I thought being a spelling geek would never get me anywhere. My friend Dana and I also began outlining a proposal for book clubs. There will be story time for the younger kids, and legitimate book clubs for the older ones, with monthly books and meetings. My boss officially loves me, and I couldn't be more pleased. I like thinking up ideas for educating kids way more than implementing them in the classroom. Clearly that's where my talents lie; just ask the vomit kid.
Spent our little sisters evening at my friend Ginny's house making pancakes with the girls. They'd never heard of or tasted pancakes, and had a ton of fun flipping them. Its crazy how easy it is to amuse these kids.
Last night we had a sing-along night with kids from a shelter that helps poor kids affected by HIV. We sang english and VN songs, played games, ate food, etc. It lasted a bit long for me (three hours of dancing around to songs like the hokey pokey can really take it out of you), but the kids enjoyed themselves, and were adorable. I made Chinh come with his guitar, and I think he had a good time. The family whose house we painted was there as well, and it was nice to meet the kids. Nice to use my music degree for something, although I don't think that's exactly what my voice teacher was thinking.
I guess that's all for the time being!
Today was my first Saturday off since I started working full time. Interestingly, it came about due to the celebration of a dead king's birthday. To honor this king, schools are off on Tuesday (Monday as well, I believe). The government, in turn, decided to make the children attend school on Saturday instead. So, all of our students were at regular school today, and we all got the day off. Was hoping to go to Vung Tao, a beach about an hour's boat ride away. There is a kite festival there today, and I was quite interested. However, due to all of the other things I was planning, I didn't get around to it. But, I am all set to join some of the teachers on a mini-bus ride to some waterfalls on our other day off on Tuesday.
Luckily, the day wasn't a complete waste. I just got my first month's full time pay, and since we teachers never have our weekends off, we went to a delightful weekend brunch place complete with a chocolate fountain. The brunch was huge, and we had a nice and leisurely meal, with multiple trips to the fountain. Tracey and I spent the rest of the afternoon shopping around, and went to an indoor market/mall type place. I haven't been shopping once since I moved here (aside from Xmas shopping), and it was really fun to see all of the stuff people sell. Saw many things I am planning on buying next month when I have more money. For some reason bone-chopsticks and silk fans aren't on my immediate must-have list.
Have spent the past week being quite saintly, if I do say so myself. I feel like all of my time is spent either working or doing charity work. Not complaining, just realizing how boring my life may sound.
This Sunday started out my week with a very stressful observation involving a bad class and a particularly bad student who pretended to throw up in a trash can while I attempted to teach them a song. During my first-ever job observation. Which will be evaluated. Not pleased. Luckily, I found out later this week that two of my ideas for the school are going to be implemented. I have outlined and begun organizing a spelling bee, which we will use in the public schools. The Apollo managers liked the idea so much, they will be doing spelling bees at every Apollo school in the country! And I thought being a spelling geek would never get me anywhere. My friend Dana and I also began outlining a proposal for book clubs. There will be story time for the younger kids, and legitimate book clubs for the older ones, with monthly books and meetings. My boss officially loves me, and I couldn't be more pleased. I like thinking up ideas for educating kids way more than implementing them in the classroom. Clearly that's where my talents lie; just ask the vomit kid.
Spent our little sisters evening at my friend Ginny's house making pancakes with the girls. They'd never heard of or tasted pancakes, and had a ton of fun flipping them. Its crazy how easy it is to amuse these kids.
Last night we had a sing-along night with kids from a shelter that helps poor kids affected by HIV. We sang english and VN songs, played games, ate food, etc. It lasted a bit long for me (three hours of dancing around to songs like the hokey pokey can really take it out of you), but the kids enjoyed themselves, and were adorable. I made Chinh come with his guitar, and I think he had a good time. The family whose house we painted was there as well, and it was nice to meet the kids. Nice to use my music degree for something, although I don't think that's exactly what my voice teacher was thinking.
I guess that's all for the time being!
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