Monkeys.

I have always had a weird obsessions with monkeys. My interest sort of died in college, when I became fascinated with elephants. But I have always wanted to see a monkey in real life (not the zoo) I was so excited when I saw George, but it's so sad because he's always tied up to that tree and he looks miserable. He's just old, but still it was the first time I've seen something like that. Then I saw a monkey in a cage downtown. Well the other day Julia and I were biking home from class and there was a monkey IN MY YARD. I was so excited. I immediately got my camera. It was swinging from branch to branch between our two houses. It was so cute!!! Then it got a little too friendly and jumped right over to me and touched my leg! I screamed and ran into my house and slammed the door shut. I realllly wanted to play with him but decided it wasn't worth getting rabies. Then An came over and she stood in the yard and it jumped to her too! He was a feisty little guy. She said she had never seen one like this either, so it's not a common thing here. And he choose my house!!! Then he was just sitting on my sidewalk. I was actually terrified he was going to come into my house so I was standing in my doorway when I took these pictures. Probably the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me. Next, elephants.

In other news, I'm falling in love with this place, and with teaching. I gave my first grades this week, my classes are doing individual presentations and at the end of class I felt very nervous giving them their grades. All of the sudden I was like wow- I am a teacher. The whole week I had moments like that, and at the end of the week I just felt great about teaching, I feel like I'm finally figuring things out here. It is definitely a learning experience and my classes next semester should be a lot better. After one of those "wow" moments,  I pictured myself being here for longer then expected. Or coming back. Or going somewhere else. But I'm not sure of that, my heart is still in Boston, and there are a few other things I'm considering. But I am very comfortable here now.  And it's a lot easier to stay in touch with everyone then I thought it would be, so whenever I think of someone it's easy to see how they are doing. At least for the most part. And there are a lot more foreigners here then I imagined, so there is always something going on. The other day I went to one of my students house for dinner. It was so nice to meet her family and eat delicious food. We also watched Camp Rock, which I obviously loved haha. 

A few funny things that have happened:

-Julia, Alice, and I went for a full body massage. It felt great, but it was probably the funniest thing that has ever happened to me. There were six of us in one room and when we first lied down, the girls working there started giggling, so then we did. We were laughing through the whole thing. It's not as funny written down, but it was definitely a ridiculous experience. And then I got a pedicure. All for about $4. I am going to be spoiled when I come home.

-I started teaching a new class, and a male student of mine said, "So, are you going to me your number?" It was so funny the way that he said it. And then ten minutes later another male student said "Could you just write down your number here?" and handed me his notebook. They are so blunt, and I love it. While I learn Vietnamese, I understand my students a little more. Their literal English translations are a lot different from the "correct" way of saying things, which is why they say it. So the more I learn the more its helping me speak to them. For example, "Good Night" is literally translated to "Sleep Delicious" So it is not uncommon for someone to say "Have a delicious sleep" or something to that effect. It's really funny sometimes.

-I taught a new class at the private school I am also teaching at, and I was introducing myself to them and I usually have a question and answer session afterwards. One male student said to me, "Do you see yourself falling in love and getting married and staying in Vietnam forever?" I said something like "Oh well, I don't know.. I think I would miss my family too much." To which he responded, "Well what if it happened by accident?" I don't even remember my response, although I stuck with the family thing. I was teaching, so I had to pull myself together, but I couldn't stop smiling. I had trouble looking at him for the rest of class because every time I did he would smile and I had to try so hard not to laugh.  

I have some more pictures and a video of the monkey, but I'm having uploading problems.. not sure what to do about that! I'll work on it. Quote of the day: 

"The thing about our choices is that after we have made them, they turn around and make us."