I'm failing to keep you all informed of my incredible life. 

To sum it up, I don't want to ever leave this place. Well, I do want to come home and see everyone, and I'm really looking forward to everything everyone is already planning (most of it has to do with food, and that's really exciting) but I'm second guessing my plan. I'm not second guessing Boston, I love Boston and I really do miss living there. But I'm questioning my decision to settle there for a few years. I can't imagine not coming back here, I can't even really imagine not living here. I'm not ready to get caught up in the American way of life. Not permanently anyway. So if you talk to me over the next two weeks (TWO WEEKS LEFT!) expect me to be slightly crazy.

I'm going to try (really this time) to give you more of a day to day update. I keep noticing and appreciating some amazing things happening around me and I want to try to document as much as possible. To catch you up to today.. Kristen moved in here for a few weeks. It has been great to have someone to talk to, spend time with, going around the city with. She taught here last year and even though I've been here for 9 months, she has been places I haven't, so we've been showing each other around. We've gone bike riding as much as possible, stopping at different coffee shops we've never been to and found some new places to eat. One day I had off and we found a beautiful hotel with a pool and it cost about $6, but it was worth it. (Notice that $6 seems like a big day of spending.) It has been great to see Can Tho through a new set of eyes. I'm just trying to appreciate everything as much as possible. Even the incredibly hot weather.. I've always loved summer and always hated winter, so I should be soaking all of this up. So I am. We've been spending some mornings sitting outside, going for more bike rides. I'm actually getting the tan that I assumed I would have had months ago. All of the hardest days in the world can't compare to how amazing Vietnam is. 

Last weekend I had a small vacation, and Kristen and I went to Da Lat. Da Lat is in Central Vietnam (about 11 hours north of Can Tho) and we went to represent Teachers for Vietnam and meet with the University there and see if we could open a post for next year. I had an amazing time. I wasn't expecting anything, I didn't know anything about the city or the school, and as usual, I was blown away. The city is beautiful. It's in the mountains, there is cool, fresh air, and everyone we met was incredibly nice, spoke English really, really well and spoke highly of the University. The campus was beautiful, the people we met with were incredibly nice guys and I had no trouble at all picturing myself there. I don't know.. it's only been a few days and I haven't really gotten a good nights sleep since then, so its a very very new, probably passing thought. But it's really making me think. I'm sure these are natural transitional thoughts.. but I haven't actually transitioned yet. I knew once I was home for a little while and the initial enthusiasm about seeing everyone wore off, I would miss Vietnam. But I haven't even left yet! Regardless, I'm incredibly excited to finally travel around Vietnam and see the rest of the country. Not that it will help with this problem at all, but it will be a really great trip. Until then, I will spend the next two weeks creating finals and grading a million things and spending as much time with my friends and students as possible. I'm looking forward to everything ahead, and leaving it at that. One day at a time right?

I am looking forward to seeing everyone. It's amazing how many relationships have gotten stronger since I've been gone. Even some that started off shaky, or not at all, seem to have evolved into closer than before. I'm constantly surprised by people. It's a really nice, refreshing feeling to be surprised by people instead of feeling let down all of the time. I've let go of so many things,its kind of ridiculous how easy things are when you when prioritize them. Decide what matters most. That's been my mantra these past few weeks. 

Enjoy this video. Thanks to Ashley for finding that, it made my day. We could talk about the moral dilemma I have that 1) These parents are not only playing Lil John for their children, but clearly enough times so they know it well enough to choreograph to all of the derogatory parts, and 2) The parents are not only encouraging the ridiculousness (I know, not a word) but taping them for the joy of posting them online to show all of their friends, and millions of people who don't even know their children. This seriously bothers me, but I don't even care, because I did enjoy it... it made me laugh and now I'm sharing it with you. Reason number 70842 why I hate the internet. 

The mosquitoes are back, and in FULL force. I don't know why, but ever since I've been back from Da Lat (about three days) I've accumulated about 100 bites. I wish I was over exaggerating, but I'm just not. I counted twenty on one foot before I got fed up and stopped counting. I remember one of my first posts or maybe an email to my dad that said "It's so bad.. I just want to cut my feet off." That's how I feel right now. That is clearly the only thing that will give me relief. Only now its worse, because it's my legs, my arms, and my hands. I don't know what's going on. I think they know I'm leaving and they want to get as much of me as possible. Thao keeps saying "They love you so much!" It's true, and it's not flattering at all. 

Quote of the day:

"I could tell you my adventures - beginning from this morning," said Alice,  "But it's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then." - Alice in Wonderland.