Fat, Feet, and Frogs

You know Russian Roulette? Well there is a Vietnamese version, Vietnamese Roulette (I thought of it, original right?) and this is how you play. You’re walking down the street and you’re hungry. So you spot a place with plastic chairs and tables outside (cheap usually) and sit down. They hand you a menu, and its solemente in Vietnamese.. so, knowing that bo is beef and ga is chicken you randomly choose something. And vua la (spelling?)! Vietnamese Roulette.

The first few times I played, it was awesome, fantastic! Last time… my meal was beef fat and vegetables. Fat and vegetables. Not my cup of tea. I ate most of it though. My friend Edwin ended up with some chicken feet, which to my amazement, spectacular. Really good.

Then the next day I was chatting with my TA and Kindergarten Vietnamese teacher Ms. Lam, and she was eating frog legs, so I took a bite. Not to bad! Where does this girl draw the line, you may ask? Quail eggs and fertilized eggs, that’s where. Here in Vietnam, some of the eggs are fertilized and then cooked. People will peel off the shell and pop them into their mouths… baby bird, feathers, bones and all… I just don’t think I can stomach that!!! I asked Ms. Lam if she like them and she did! I probably unconsciously was making a face because she laughed and said that she had been eating them since she was little because it is thought of to be good luck. Well, should I happen to have some REALLY unfortunate luck, I’ll think about it.. haha

There you go. Fat, feet, and frogs.

As some of you may know, I have rented a motorbike! I LOOOOVEEE it! I could seriously ride around on it for hours! It was highly intimidating at first since you couldn’t really learn with out traffic. Once you get the feel for your bike and the ebb and flow of traffic, it’s easy peasy. The freakiest part is left turns across traffic. There is no light or signal for you to go. You just do. And people wiz around you. You pick an even pace and direction and they go around you! SO CREEPY, but again, once you do it a few times and have a feel for your bike it’s not so bad. I will have some pictures up soon!

Speaking of pictures, the only pictures I have really taken are of my students and my view. Driving around and taking pictures doesn’t really happen, but I will try to take some more pictures! Probably the next blog will just be a photo dump.

Ok, school. The sole reason I am here. It’s crazy, exhausting, frustrating, fun, and exciting. I sound like a girl right? Too many emotions. The language barrier is tough. Most of my students don’t have much English and trying to get their attention and teach 17 of them English as well as content/routines (routines is what we are focusing on right now) is super hard. I have really high expectations for the students and myself, and I often feel they aren’t being met. There are some amazing teachers here who are a huge support.  I am so grateful for them. More about my school and class later, and with lots of pictures!

Until next time,

K

Have you always been like this?

Okie Dokie Artichokie

So. There’s this gym in the MALL below our apartment. Yep I live on top of a mall/arcade/bowling alley/gym. I haven’t even gone shopping yet. And that my friends deserves a round of applause… let’s hear it for Krystal!

Oh yea, the gym. So we go to check it out since some of our friends who had already joined said there was a deal that ended soon. The guy’s name was Tom. He gave us a rundown of the gym and what was offered and a brief history of the gym. It’s like a Glub; a gym/club. Apparently Vietnamese girls don’t want to get fat so they don’t go out and go clubbing very much like Americans do. So my philosophy is that they brought the gym and club together, air-go the Glub. The music is loud and bumping, there’s people everywhere, and rumor has it that some girls work out in high heeled shoes!

When we were signing up he asked us what our fitness goals. When, of course, weight loss came up, he suggested places for us to loose. Mind you that we had just got there, so he had sized us up before we even sat down and noticed where we needed to lose. We also stood on this machine that measure BMI, BF%, among other things, and I have to lose 5Kgs off my tummy. Hahah. It’s funny how if in the States someone came up to me and said, “Oh, you want to lose weight here,” and pinches the backs of my arms and grabbed at their stomach, I would be offended. But there is no demeaning tone to their question. They are just frank.

That’s not even the good part.

So we got one free personal training session with signing up. They guy was really nice and he kicked Michelle and me’s butt! At one point we were doing lunges down the length of the gym and he asked how often I had been working out. I said I had been doing a boot camp back home for a few months. Naturally, if I had been doing a boot camp I should have been dropping pounds like flies so he asked if I had lost a lot of weight. I said that I did when I wasn’t drinking very much and watching my diet, but then I wasn’t and I was going out a lot so it came back! He paused for a minute and asked, “Oh, so you haven’t always been like this?” Bahaha. I had to laugh. No, Thank you Mr. Buff-tattooed-sculpted-PT Man, I have not. In high school I was quite pleasant. But once again, not trying to be mean. They just don’t beat around the bush. “You have fat here, here, and here.” What?! Where!??! Oh, ya; I am aware.

Movin’ on.

Most traumatic experience so far: I took my first Xe-om ride the other day.  A xe-om is a motorbike-taxi. They carry extra helmets and cart people around on their motorbikes so they don’t have to get in a taxi. It’s cheaper, but there’s no meter so you have to negotiate the price before you leave. So, price decided, helmet on, ready to go. We go not even a block and we come up on an accident. Two bikes were in the middle of the road. As we went around it, there was a young man, probably my age or younger, lying on the road. He was lying in a pool of fire-engine-red blood surrounding coming from somewhere behind his head... you know on crime shows when they have silhouette of the body all awkward shaped? Yeah, I saw that in real life… I don’t think he was living… … I was speechless.

The helmets they wear here are like glorified ball-caps and they don’t protect the head too much, obviously.  Until I saw this accident, I was going to get one. I’m definitely buying one that covers my whole head.

Besides that though, things have been going swell.

I met a young woman about my age named My Chi. She is a cousin of a friend of mine back home! Thanks for hooking us up Nikki! She came and picked me up on her motorbike and we went across town for dinner. Despite the previous story, I felt comfortable with her. I don’t know what what we had was called, but I call it “Vietnamese fajitas.” There was giant plate of greens (I have no idea what all was in there), some rice things that looked like tortillas, a plate of pickled vegetables, and a plate of meat. Put some of each in the tortilla things, dip it in the sauce, and bon appétit! Pretty tasty!

Then we drove around the city for a while and we went to a quaint little coffee shop. First you had to take off your shoes to enter the dimly lit room. Faint music played in the background. It was decorated with earthy tones and floral patterns. The furniture was the kind that you must sit on your rear on a cushion. I loved this place! The iced coffee was excellent and the complimentary tea was to die for. I got the name of it so I can go back.

I really enjoyed visiting with Chi. She speaks very clear but somewhat limited English. I thought she was doing a great job! She was kind enough and patient enough to teach me probably about 10 phrases! WAHOO! It was really fun to talk with her. We are planning to hang out again soon before she takes off for a month for a business trip. I’d love to hang out often and even make friends with other Vietnamese. They know so much about the town, all the secrets it has to offer!

We’re beginning training and planning for the beginning of the school year! I am anxious to get going and meet my first ever class! EEP! I’ll blog about that next. I have been taking pictures of the progress of my room! Can’t wait to show you all.

Until next time,

K

And it begins...

And it begins

So today was the first day of orientation. So far so good! Phew. All of the other new teachers were there, and it was fun to meet two other people from Iowa! Whoo! We are a powerful little state, ya’ll; don’t be discouraged because people get us mixed up with potatoes and Ohio... J From what I can tell from the first few days here, I really like my Elementary Principal, if not for the sole reason that he sports a “soul patch”. Just kidding, he is approachable and has expectations from us just as he acknowledges that there will be mistakes and rough days. I just met the principal from the High School and he’s a cheery fella who tells us that we are all currently being recorded for a reality TV series. So we’re encouraged to make things dramatic… J They pointed out that this a very young and developing school and we are all a part of what happens next. The school is still growing, adapting, and working out the kinks. We could be/are the cornerstones of this baby school. It’s empowering and intimidating all at the same time! I feel more willing (not that I wasn’t) to take ownership, and be proactive! If you know me you are laughing at that statement. Proactive! Bah!

Anyways. The other teachers seem really friendly and many phone numbers have been exchanged. I filled out many papers today: Bank account, insurance policy, IT stuff… This is real. Woah! I am ready to get this show on the road and meet my little peanuts!

It’s interesting, life is. When I was a little girl, playing with Stacie dolls and planning my life. I always thought I’d get married young and start a family right away. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be moving across the world to teach in Vietnam. It’s funny how life experiences can change your opinion and worldview. You think you’ve got it all figured out and BOOM! You don’t. Something happens [or doesn’t] and you’re lying face-up looking at the sky trying to figure out what’s next. It’s weird to think about how you got to where you are. I’m contemplating all of this while laying in bed listening to people honk at each other out my 29^th floor window, and I just heard a buzz saw… at 11:00 PM. Every decision you make has an effect on the rest of your life. Turn left instead of right, and you meet someone totally different. Go to the gym ten minutes later than you planned and someone new is there. These different people can affect your life in different ways. Weird huh? Anyway, life is interesting. You never know what’s going to happen.

Maori Ceremony Movie

Hello everyone! I don't have time for a big old post, but I want to share the really cool ceremony with you so I will upload it really quick!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I'm actually missing you all in IOWA ;)

ok so i just found this in my drafts. but this is a video of the Maori welcome ceremony that we had on our first day of school in New Zealand... wayyy late but its better than never!

Rollin' with the Punches

“The only real failure is the failure to try, the measure of success is how we cope with disappointment. And we must.”

Xin Chao everyone! I heard this quote on a movie on the way over here to Vietnam. The movie was called, “The very best Marigold Hotel.” It was a fitting move to watch. A collection of retirees move to India to stay in the misrepresented hotel. They find that nothing was what they expected and are forced to adapt to the new environment and culture. It was a good reminder that we may encounter situations that we aren’t prepared for or situations that we may not like. But we will adjust and learn to love the new place we call home.

We’ve had an interesting and frankly exhausting trip. To kick off I had a packed weekend of activities and saying to goodbye to many friends and family. Thank you to all who took the time to come out and see me during this weekend. You made my day. J Then saying goodbye at the airport to my family was tough and more difficult than I had anticipated. We had a seamless flight to Chicago and then to San Francisco. Ten minutes before we were to board the plane to Hong Kong, we were informed that we could not get on our flight due to overcrowding in the HK airport from the most recent typhoons. YIKES! We got rerouted through Tei Pei in Taiwan about 24 hours later. So we got to have our first experience sleeping in an airport. It wasn’t too bad and I was impressed with how we and the other people handled it, no one got upset or out of sorts. There was nothing we could do except roll with the punches. One couple, a little older than my parents, was flying to Indonesia for the arrival of a new grandchild! I couldn’t believe how calm they were, if my daughter was about to have a baby, I would want to get there now! They were missionaries in Brazil and their daughter and son-in-law were missionaries in Indonesia. I thought that was neat!

We eventually got here and it has been wild. Flying in, I was glued to the window. I have NEVER seen so many buildings in my entire life! I felt like a child, hands and face smashed against the window! We’ve since explored our little area, traveled to other districts, house hunted, eaten at various little shops off the side of the street, made new friends with some of the other teachers staying in the hotel, moved in, went shopping on our own, have begun to navigate around the town, and starting to learn some Vietnamese! It’s been a whirlwind, but an enjoyable one! We live on the 29^th floor of a flashy apartment building. So our view of the city is incredible. So far the food has been exceeding any of my expectations! And most of the places have an English translation so we know what we are ordering ;). It’s SO GOOD! (don’t make fun of me dad J). Rainy season hasn’t been too rainy, just a few showers from time to time.

First sighting of Vietnam!

View from the plane! Have you ever seen so many buildings?

View from our 29th floor Appt!!

The motorbikes are crazy. The traffic is so different. People just swerve in and out in front of you. But nobody gets mad. Ebb and flow. That’s how they roll.  I can’t wait to get my bike and head out into the chaos and ride around! I want to have someone come with me and video tape it! We’ve been maneuvering around by taxis so far.

Tomorrow we begin training at the school! I got to go see my classroom yesterday and that was pretty neat! All my furniture in the room is miniature sized for my wee five-year olds! It's hard to believe that this is real and that I am actually going to be a real teacher! :)

Well that's all for now, hope this finds you well! 

Krystal

PS. you can write me at my school address. They told me that the letters will be less likely to be lost if sent to the school!

102C Nguyen Van Cu Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

 First purchase off the street

Coconut milk fresh from the nut! They sell these just off the street!

Vespas are cool ☺

Hey everyone,

I’d like to announce (rather late) that Michelle Miossi and I are traveling to Vietnam in August to teach at the American International School for two years!!! I will be teaching Kindergarten and she will be teaching 2^nd Grade! WE are VERY excited!!! The school is in Ho Chi Mihn City (Siagon), which is a city of 8.5 million people!! Not too much more than Ames’ 30,000 (60,000 when school is in session) right!?!? It’s practically the same. ;) There are also 4 million motorbikes in the city! That’s Iowa’s population in motorbikes!! I will attach a link for you to see how the traffic looks that I am going into!! It’s nuts! We get to rent Vespa’s (a motorbike/moped type thingy) which I must admit was a major selling point! Ever since I saw the movie Penelope, where Reece Witherspoon drives a Vespa, I’ve had my heart on someday zooming around a populated city on a Vespa. (It’s a super cute kids movie J go watch it!) Hooray dreams do come true!! A huge thanks to all of my cooperating/supervising teachers, supervisors, students, mentors, friends and family! I have learned so much from you all. You have each individually played a part in making me into the person/teacher-to-be that I am today! Thank you for investing your time into my life and career! Hopefully all that work pays off and I don’t become a huge flop out there. That would be a bummer! J just kidding! Also , Thanks again Sarah for helping us out at the fair! I have no idea how that would've gone with out you!

 

Traffic videos:

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4phFYiMGCIY

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8BObPsfg8

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfpny1mifs4&feature=related

Picture 1: Ho Chi Mihn City/ Siagon

Population: 8.5 million, yep, m-i-l-l-i-o-n

A market place in HCM

I will take real pictures, of course, when I get there!

Ha Long Bay in Northern Vietnam

I hope to visit here someday, breathtaking isn't it!?

The Chinese Junk boats that take you on tours of Ha Long Bay, COOL!

On a school specific note, we are very blessed to have been offered a job from this school. I will have about 12-15 kids in my kindergarten class, which is practically UNHEARDOF in the States!! Well, I guess for public schools. Every class has a Promethean smart board in the class (whoo hoo!!!) I will have an aid in my class to help me with translating to my students who will just be beginning to learn English! The Director of the schools informed us that he has a “hands-off” policy for his principals. No, that’s not physically speaking, stick with me here!! It’s more like “no interference.” We basically have standards that our students are supposed to reach and we can do that how ever think is best, that includes assessments!! Again, WHOO HOO. I do think there are a few assessments we have to do, sort of like placement and progress monitoring, but mostly up to our discretion! I must say that I am really excited to actually be able to use what I learned in New Zealand and put it to good use!! J So, more on that as I learn about it!

The amount of nervousness of moving to a huuuuge city, where I know ONE phrase (then thoy la—I have no idea if I spelled that right- which means my name is______), the language is hard to learn, and there are jungles with tigers, PALES in comparison to how nervous I am to have my OWN classroom, with my OWN students that depend on ME alone (and my aid), not my cooperating teacher, to succeed. It’s terrifying. I suppose being nervous is good though, it shows that I care right?  EEP! I’m sure I will have PLENTY of hilarious kid stories to share with you guys!

Me after a day with fresh Kindergardeners!

Haha

A picture taken from my school's website from their Halloween Parade :) How fun is that!?

Well, until then I will be nannying a beautiful one-year old happy boy (1^st Birthday is tomorrow J Happy birthday kiddo!) a few days a week, hopefully subbing soon, and hopefully some other part time jobs that I am still hunting for. So wish me luck, I have lots to save up for and big bills headed my way! Life’s a-moving fast and it’s hard to keep up sometimes! There’s so much to do, so little time, so don’t waste any and get out there!

Until next time,

Xin Chao (Vietnamese for good bye!)

Krystal

New Year: New Game Plan

Ok, so I think I am going to start over. I didn't do so well keeping up with blogging... Obviously. I am impressed with the people that can blog several times a week! That's a lot! Where do you find time to sit down and write? I suppose I should just make myself sit down and do it, it feels good when I'm done. Haha. Anyway.

So New Year.

So far this year, I spent the month of January doing my student teaching practicum for my ESL endorsement. That's English as a Second Language. It was fun. I was teaching Kindergarten and 2nd Grade ELS. Some was pull out and some was inclusive groups in the classroom. My placement was in Marshalltown where the amount of students learning English as their second language was very high. It was a very positive experience and I learned a great deal from my supervising teacher.

Then two days later (yesterday the 3rd of February) I take of to Waterloo, Iowa for the UNI International Career Fair. Where over 100 schools come from all over the world to fill international teaching jobs! So Michelle Miossi (one of my fellows teachers from New Zealand) and I packed up and headed to town. Today is day two and we have 3 interviews today for Turkey, Bahrain, and Thailand. Yesterday we had one in Poland, and tomorrow we have Vietnam and Indonesia. We are really hoping to get an international job! We got the bug in New Zealand! The travel the world bug! My mom's cousin's daughter  (I think that is the relation) Sarah has been a HUGEEE help and question answer-er for us! We couldn't have been this pre-pared or relatively low level of stress without her. This is her 3rd UNI fair and has been teaching abroad for 5 years! Thanks a ton Sarah!

I'll post later when I know if we get a job or not! We have our fingers crossed!!!!!!!

yay, I posted! :)