Two Months In....
Trip Start
Oct 24, 2005
1
43
150
Trip End
Ongoing
Hanoi,
Vietnam
Tuesday, June 6, 2006
We started our summer schedules last week, which means we were both able to pick up hours and ditch the weekend work, both of which are good things. During the summer, they move all the kids' classes from one or two days a weekend to two or three days during the week, so there are many more hours to go around. Konrad just started teaching at another school, which is one of the best in town. He picked up two teenage kids' classes, three times a week, plus, he's still doing two adult classes during the week at our other school. I picked up two kids/early teens classes during the week as well, which creates a nice mixture, as I'm currently teaching two adult classes and two teen classes. Unfortunately, one of my adult classes doesn't have enough students, so they've canceled the class. But, they were quick to put another together for me, and in a few weeks, I'll be starting back up w/a new crew. My crazy, rambunctious teen class is drawing to a close as well; that will wrap up the 13th of June. After that, I'll be working Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for a total of 16½ hours (but getting paid for 18). None too shabby.
Anyhow, how are things going for us in Vietnam? Well... there certainly have been some very frustrating moments. For example, having to pay $50 to get a replacement camera (under warranty) out of customs (FREE! The camera was free!!). But we're starting to get into our groove. Here are thoughts on some things going on in our lives:
Traffic:
Argh. The way people drive here is going to send me to the loony bin. The streets are brimming w/motorbikes, with a handful of cars, taxis, and buses thrown in - oh, and don't forget the non-motorized means of transport (primarily bikes). It might not sound that crazy, but remember, motorbikes are much smaller than cars, and thus can get much closer to each other, fit into smaller areas, and really wreck havoc w/your space cushion. Then there are the rules of the road. Essentially, there are none. Okay, that's not true. There are rules, but no one follows them, and no one enforces them. People drive through red lights very regularly, drive the wrong way down one way streets all the time, make left hand turns from the right lane (usually w/o putting on their blinker), completely ignore the white lines on the road, and so on. The one rule they do follow is stopping behind the white line at a red light (that is, if they do actually stop). Additionally, they seem to have no regard for their own lives (or those of others). They will turn onto a road w/o looking at all, walk across the road w/the expectation that everyone will stop for them, and on and on. In short, they are CRAZY. And seemingly oblivious to those around them. Some who live here love driving in town. I don't. It's like playing Russian Roulette every time you take off down the street.
Weather:
Everyone said Hanoi was unbearable. In the winter it's too cold, in the summer it's too hot. So far, we haven't had any major complaints. It's been humid, yes, but no more so than Madison in the summer, so what's the diff? There have been the monsoon rains, but they haven't occurred as regularly as we expected, and we're often lucky enough to dodge them in between classes. Last week, we did have one ferocious storm. The rain came down in dumptrucks (bigger than buckets, ya dig?). It rained so hard that it peeled some of the paint off the walls on our covered porch. But most of the rain hasn't been like that. Lately, it's just been a lot of lightning in the distance w/little or no actual precipitation.
Teaching:
The teaching is pretty good. We spend a lot of our time planning for classes, which it seems no one else does, but I can't imagine walking in five minutes before a lesson w/nothing prepared, so I'm not ready to go that route yet. Overall, the students are good. There are days when they try our nerves more than others, and days where we love them dearly. But isn't that the way teaching is anywhere in the world? Not sure if we're in it for the long haul yet, but that's why we're doing this - to try it out. They say your first year is the hardest (first year?!!)....
Entertainment:
Let's see, what is something important to me that I left behind in the States.... Yes, Arlo, but also, gulp (I hate to say it), TV. We were kind of bored here, and I missed my shows, so we bought a Filipino satellite, and now we have many more channels and many of my favorite shows (which were just starting the last season - perfect timing).
Shopping:
How I miss Target. Or Tesco in Bangkok. Life was so much easier then.... In Vietnam, there are no international businesses, apart from the hotels and a few banks (however, in Saigon, they do have KFC, but not up here so close to the heart of the political machine!). Ergo, they don't have the big stores filled w/everything your little heart desires like many other countries do. Which often makes shopping difficult. In Hanoi, there is a different street for everything you want to buy, particularly in the touristy Old Quarter area. They have a shoe street (where none of the shoes are big enough for our gigantic Western feet), a silk street, tin street (yes, that's right, all sorts of products made of tin), a computer street, and so on. So you potentially have to make multiple stops to buy all the things you need.
The grocery shopping hasn't been too bad, as they do have some stores in town that are a bit more geared towards Westerners. Of course, it ain't cheap, but what price can you really put on a jar of salsa in a country where the concept of such a thing is completely outside their food bubble?
I've gone on long enough, so I'll halt the horsies there. Hope you are all doing most splendidly, and hope to talk to (see you?!!) soon! Ciao!
Comments
Love your writings
Ya'll sound like you're having a blast -with some hassles, but that's life.
Are gas prices going up over there? Do they talk about banning gay marriage? What about rising health care costs and insurance?
I just had an idea. Maybe you should start importing salsa and size 11 shoes.
Continur enjoying yourselves!
PJ
Love your writings!
Ya'll sound like you're having a blast -with some hassles, but that's life.
Are gas prices going up over there? Do they talk about banning gay marriage? What about rising health care costs and insurance?
I just had an idea. Maybe you should start an import business for salsa and size 11 shoes.
Continue enjoying yourselves!