We're all right where we're suppose to be.

2011-08-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

**Just a note that as of June my facebook has been disabled and none of the picture links will work. I'll make a note of it if things are up and running again.**

2009-08-19T07:26:00.001-07:00

A few random updates:

Last weekend was great. Going out with Michelle these past few months has been really great, and I'm already mourning her leaving. I'm really not sure what I'm going to do when she's gone. It's always us, and it seems like a different group of people every time, which I've been enjoying. Friday night I met a few new people and had a ton of ridiculous fun dancing with Michelle.. until we lost each other haha. (Dear McFaddens, we probably won't be seeing you for a while, but you've been great, really.)

Saturday Michelle, James, Spirko and I drove down to Vinko's place in RI. Another group other Boston kids were there and we met a ton of his friends from home, all of which were really cool. He has a beautiful house right next to a lake in Charlestown. We mostly played drinking games all day, including sloshball, dizzy bat, flip cup, and ended the night playing card games inside. Everyone kept complaining about how hot it was and then we got a ton of mosquito bites, and I have to say I felt a bit like I was back in Vietnam. I can't even complain here because I know it's not as bad as what I lived through!! Anyway, we all had a really fun time and a nice relaxing day on Sunday once we got back. Two more weekends left... I don't want summer to end.

Work is going well. Still don't mind getting up in the morning and getting ready for a day in the office. Still can't find anything to complain about. Still generally love my life. My boss is out this week so it has been nice to get stuff done without other things piling up, and I've set up a few meetings for myself to try and figure some of this budget stuff out. Not entirely trained for all of this... but it'll work out.

Yesterday Marisa and I saw Julie & Julia. Maybe my new favorite movie. It was a feel good movie, the kind that inspires you to buy a Julia Childs cookbook and cook through it yourself (anyone wants to get me a present- I'm completely serious about this.) A part of the movie that I appreciated was that the two women had husbands that completely loved them and supported them no matter how outlandish they (or their ideas) were. We need more of this type of inspiration! I'm so sick of seeing movies (500 Days of Summer) where people just bitch and moan about relationships. It's refreshing to see a change of pace. And this movie was about love in so many other ways too; love for finding a passion in your life (cooking, in this case) and love of yourself. I'm no movie reviewer, but two thumbs up from me. (Although definitely a chick flick, for anyone interested.)

Starting to read a lot more. Since I've been back my collection of books has greatly increased - I really missed being able to buy books. But I haven't read any of them - I just keep getting new ones. I've also started quite a few without finishing. I feel like this has a lot to do with my on the go lifestlye I've had so far - semi living in six different places, always sleeping somewhere else and still living out of suitcases. I'm so ready to move into my new apartment and get settled and get going on these books. I'm currently reading a book my friend Christine lent me called American Shaolin by Mathew Polly. It's the story of a guy who dropped out of Princeton and just up and went to China to live with the Shaolin Monks for two years and study Kung Fu. I know neither one of those things appear to interest me on the outside, but I like it for a lot of reasons. I enjoy his conversations with others in Mandarin... although I didn't speak Vietnamese, a lot of situations he puts himself in are incredibly relatable, and it's nice to remember those moments, regardless of how annoying they were. I also don't know much about Chinese culture and he talks about that a lot. I'm surprised at how many things are similar to Vietnamese. I just read about how the men are overly affectionate (in a friendship way) with each other in public.. holding hands, hand on shoulder, etc. Then he noticed the females are the same way with each other. And concluded that it is because there is no PDA between the sexes (that's strictly taboo... although I think more and more and younger generations in Vietnam are finding ways around that) so they become affectionate with their friends in public as a way to show some sort of emotion, and i have to agree. Anyway, I'm enjoying it so far!

That's all for now. Tomorrow I'm shipping off to NYC! It will be my first time there since I've been back, and I'm so excited. Going to visit some friends and have a good old nyc night out. Then Friday I'll be home for our annual OG Crew Ball.. basically a big party celebrating our friendship. (Douglas, you will be incredibly missed!) I'm hoping the weather holds out because it looks like thunderstorms only for the three days I'll be home. Cross my fingers for beach weather!!

Side note, my camera is broken. Yes, it's the one I got for my birthday, two months ago, after loosing my last one in Hong Kong. I have the worst luck and I'm praying for a miracle because I really want it for this weekend. (and publicly posting this in case anyone reading can perform a miracle...)

Hope you're all enjoying the heat, now you know (almost) how I felt all year! :-)

2009-08-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

2009-08-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Working on a serious list of places I want to go:

Philipeans

Indonesia

India

Sri Lanka

Greece

And of course, wherever Nikki is in Europe, Chile/wherever Whit ends up in South America, and Germany, because visiting people is always the best excuse to go anywhere.

As for America, my current to do list is New Orleans, which I'm planning on hitting up for Halloween. This will be huge for many reasons. 1) Never been, always wanted to go. 2) Hate Halloween, and can't remember the last time I seriously celebrated. Except for that one time when Ryan made me, and I wore my librarian costume from the librarian party the weekend before AND I won worst costume at the party (but i got a prize!) Anyhoo, I missed the holidays so much while I was gone that I promised I would go all out this year for every holiday. What better place to go all out than in NO? 3) My dear Michelle is leaving me soon and will be meeting me there in what might be known as the best reunion ever. (Except when I came back, because clearly that was more highly anticipated.) 4) I'm trying to bring along multiple friends to make the celebration even more fun and the hotel cheaper, so if you're interested let me know!

Tomorrow a few of us are going down to RI to Vinko's place for Sloshball. This is a drinking wiffleball game that I am not prepared for. But his place is near the beach and it should be a good crew and nice to get out of the city again!

Last Friday I went to Martha's Vineyard with a few people from my office and it was a really nice day. We spent the morning laying on the beach near the jump-off brdige from Jaws. Then we just walked around a bit and had a great lunch and some drinks. Very similar to Nantucket, but I think I liked it better. Nantucket was a little too "every thing is exactly the same" for me. I couldn't see myself spending an extended period of time in either place, since if I'm going to vacation at a beach nearby, I might as well go home) but both beautiful places, and I'm glad I got to see them. It was nice because I went with a different group of people to each island so it was definitely a different experience. All-in-all though, I can't afford either one of them on my own.

Bridge from Jaws

NU @ Martha's Vineyard

Last but not least... A great friend of mine is raising money for the Light the Night Walk through the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in honor of a friend who passed away. Please take your time to read this:

http://pages.lightthenight.org/ma/BostonL09/mariseca

A little bit can go a long way, please help in any little way if you can. If you have any questions, just let me know and I can pass them along to her. Thanks for your help!

Have a great weekend! xoxo

2009-08-06T09:48:00.001-07:00

Here is a link of a compliation of photos from my travels around America. There is also a link at the bottom of my list. It will prompt you to log in, so use my email (Srthornley@gmail.com) and the password is america. This is the only way I could figure out how to do it. The pictures are from when I drove cross country with Jessie (AKA Charlotte Sometimes) with of course a majority of pictures from Jersey, NYC, and Boston. Enjoy!

A fun fact to share, since I've posted some pictures from walking across the Brooklyn Bridge:
Because the subway runs under the East River, and the vehicular level is under the pedestrian level, it has been said that Brooklyn Bridge is the only place on earth where an airplane could fly over a pedestrian who is walking over a car that is driving over a boat that is floating over a train.

2009-08-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was walking down Newbury & Boylston St and I was reminded once again how much I love living here. When I was younger I promised myself I would live in NYC at least once. I frequented the city quite often with my mom, and eventually quite often with friends/ by myself. I do love the city, especially in the fall/spring and during Christmas. But do I regret not following through with the promise I once made? Not for a minute. If you do live there, and love it, you probably won't love Boston. And your arguments are valid. The skyline leaves a lot to offer, the MBTA stops running before the bars close, and sometimes the taxi's/drivers are unnecessarily rude (like that isn't true in new york?) If you're going to go to Cheer's and Quincy Market, you probably won't be impressed. No one knows your name at Cheer's (and the food isn't that good), and Quincy/Faniuel is always jam-packed with annoying tourists. But you're missing out. There is a charm to the city that you can't ignore. The history, the sports, the stories. Boston fans are loyal. Some of them are Massholes, sure, but Yankee's fans? (That's where I'm ending that, otherwise I'll hear it from my mom forever.) Watch any Sox away game and scan the crowd... I can almost guarantee majority will be sox fans. That's ridiculous! You can't ignore Red Sox Nation. And maybe the new Yankee stadium is 10x bigger then Fenway.. but it lost its charm and you know it. And maybe Fenway can use some updating, but how can you ignore the spirit there! I didn't mean to get on a sports rant there... but it's a big part of the spirit around here. Point being, if you're not into it, it might be easy to miss out on what Beantown has to offer. I love walking around the city... day time, night time, there's always something new to see, a new place to eat, drink, people watch. Completely content with my decision to move back here.. even if it is only for a few years.

I also really love my job. Everyone in the office is great, and I've already had a lot of great opportunities, and I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone better. This Friday I am going to Martha's Vineyard with the office and a group of students (I'm a chaperone, how ridiculous.) But I've never been there so I'm excited (and it's free!) Thursday we left work early to go to a Sox game (also for free!) Then we got access to the Bud Roof Deck, which I had never been to before so that was awesome. Since they knew a guy working there we eventually got to sit down at the $500 tables, where we picked up some of the money left on their tab. Not to mention my boss paid for pizza and beer while we were there. How lucky am I? Oh, and we won! :-)

Me, Ed, & Lisa

Overall, thing's are going really well. I've been keeping in touch with Whitney in Chile, and Nikki in Spain, and they are both have an amazing time. It's making me completely miss Vietnam and my whole adventure. I can't believe 1) that I did all of that 2) that it's already over and 3) that I'm already (almost) settled in a full time job and the next chapter in my life. I've been talking to Kristen a lot (still in Hanoi) and that's also been bumming me out. I feel like if I had been in Hanoi for longer I would have chosen to stay in Vietnam longer... but that was never an option. And I am obviously glad I came back. But maybe I'll go back again. Or somewhere else! The fact that three or four of my best friends are in completely different countries semi long-term definitely keeps me going. And now it's my turn to live vicariously through them!!

I decided to add some new pictures on my blog, if you look at the bottom of the list. I'm trying to go as many places as possible and I know that some people have never been so I made a few compilations of what I've seen. I just posted pictures from the other weekend when we went to Nantucket, and I also posted an old photo album of when Ryan and I went to Newport, RI. The pictures aren't that great, and it was a while ago, but if you've never been there it shows a little bit what it's about - Mansions, everywhere, and you have to buy tickets to take tours of the different places. So, enjoy! I also compiled some pictures I've taken the past few years in NYC, Boston, and all around and I'm going to try to find a way to share them, so keep checking my pictures list if you're interested!!

Quote of the day: (not really sharing any inspiration here, but it's another quote that I found at the exact right time and I couldn't have said it better myself...)

"The vague confidence that it will all work out, coupled with the total lack of knowing of how to make this happen."

2009-08-02T07:29:00.001-07:00

This morning there was an empty cup of bubble tea sitting on my front steps... a sign?

2009-07-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

2009-07-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

"We all have the potential to fall in love a thousand times in our lifetime. It's easy. The first girl I ever loved was someone I knew in sixth grade. Her name was Missy; we talked about horses. The last girl I love will be someone I haven't even met yet, probably. They all count. But there are certain people you love who do something else; they define how you classify what love is supposed to feel like. These are the most important people in your life, and you'll meet maybe four or five of these people over the span of 80 years. But there's still one more tier to all this; there is always one person who you love who becomes that definition. It usually happens retrospectively, but it always happens eventually. This is the person who unknowingly sets the template for what you will always love about other people, even if some of those lovable qualities are self-destructive and unreasonable. You will remember having conversations with this person that never actually happened. You will recall sexual trysts with this person that never technically occurred. This is because the individual who embodies your personal definition of love does not really exist. The person is real, and the feelings are real--but you create the context. And context is everything. The person who defines your understanding of love is not inherently different than anyone else, and they're often just the person you happen to meet the first time you really, really want to love someone. But that person still wins. They win, and you lose. Because for the rest of your life, they will control how you feel about everyone else. " - Chuck Klosterman

2009-07-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

I love when things happen at the exact right moment when it will impact you the most. This goes for anything.. reading, listening to music, running into someone, someone saying something to you that catches you completely off guard but leaves a lasting impression, or as Marisa experienced today, a great compliment. This is a poem I just read online. You might know The Invitation, which was her more popular book and is hanging up in my cubicle thanks to Whitney. But this is her other, lesser known poem and I wanted to share it. I even accentuated my favorite parts! Enjoy :-)

The Dance,
by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

I have sent you my invitation,
the note inscribed on the palm of my hand by the fire of living.
Don’t jump up and shout, “Yes, this is what I want! Let’s do it!”
Just stand up quietly and dance with me.

Show me how you follow your deepest desires,
spiraling down into the ache within the ache,
and I will show you how I reach inward and open outward
to feel the kiss of the Mystery, sweet lips on my own, every day.

Don’t tell me you want to hold the whole world in your heart.
Show me how you turn away from making another wrong
without abandoning yourself when you are hurt and afraid of being unloved.

Tell me a story of who you are,
and see who I am in the stories I live.
And together we will remember that each of us always has a choice.

Don’t tell me how wonderful things will be . . . some day.
Show me you can risk being completely at peace,
truly okay with the way things are right now in this moment,
and again in the next and the next and the next. . .

I have heard enough warrior stories of heroic daring.
Tell me how you crumble when you hit the wall,
the place you cannot go beyond by the strength of your own will.
What carries you to the other side of that wall, to the fragile beauty of your own humanness?

And after we have shown each other how we have set and kept the clear,
healthy boundaries that help us live side by side with each other,
let us risk remembering that we never stop silently loving those we once loved out loud.

Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance,
the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart.
And I will take you to the places where the earth beneath my feet and the stars overhead make my heart whole again and again.

Show me how you take care of business
without letting business determine who you are.
When the children are fed but still the voices within and around us shout that soul’s desires have too high a price,
let us remind each other that it is never about the money.

Show me how you offer to your people and the world the stories and the songs
you want our children’s children to remember.
And I will show you how I struggle not to change the world,
but to love it.

Sit beside me in long moments of shared solitude,
knowing both our absolute aloneness and our undeniable belonging.
Dance with me in the silence and in the sound of small daily words,
holding neither against me at the end of the day.

And when the sound of all the declarations of our sincerest
intentions has died away on the wind,
dance with me in the infinite pause before the next great inhale
of the breath that is breathing us all into being,
not filling the emptiness from the outside or from within.

Don’t say, “Yes!”
Just take my hand and dance with me.

2009-07-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

Thoughts of the day: Feelings. How can a person affect the way you feel? Shouldn't you be the only one in control of that? How can you go from not caring at all to caring too much? How can you be sad when there is generally nothing going wrong, and actually, everything seems to be going your way? How can you be happy when you know you aren't going to get what you want? How can you feel guilty when you didn't do anything wrong? How can you be all of these things at the same time? And how can a couple of hours change your entire view on a subject, on a person, on life? How can you be so adamant about something and with a flick of a switch, it just suddenly doesn't matter anymore. Like knowing all of the reasons you were mad but just not caring anymore. And not in the apathetic way... just letting it go. And not in the zen way... just.... it just doesn't matter. Because when it comes down to it, we're all here together, we're all part of the same thing, and aren't we all working towards the same goal? Why do we make it so difficult for each other, for ourselves? It seems like a big waste of time. Worrying is a waste of time. No matter how many times you picture something happening, it almost always turns out differently. Why do we spend so much time hypothesizing when we could just not worry about it and deal with it when it comes. This is a lesson I have to teach myself. Easier said then done.

“Don’t bother trying to explain your emotions. Live everything as intensely as you can... The best way to destroy the bridge between the visible and invisible is by trying to explain your emotions.” - Paulo Coelho, Brida

Thought that always blows my mind, especially on a day like today:

“Because they are so long lived, atoms really get around. Every atom you possess has almost certainly passed through several stars and been part of millions of organisms on its way to becoming you. We are each so atomically numerous and so vigorously recycled at death that a significant number of our atoms – up to a billion for each of us, it has been suggested – probably once belonged to Shakespeare." - Bill Bryson

Paulo Coelho's book Brida talks about this a little bit, and I can't find the quotes anywhere online. But if this is true, and I believe it is, we really are all connected. Perhaps some of us more then others. I think that is why we draw certain people into our lives at certain times. Also why we loose them. Maybe we lost the atoms that were keeping us together in the first place. Outlandish? I think it's as simple and as complicated as that.

2009-07-24T11:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my great co-worker Lisa, for finding things to watch on a Friday in the summer when no one is actually in the office except for us. This is mesmorizing, and this song is beautiful.

2009-07-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

Completely in love with Boston. Despite the fact that I make some questionable decisions, I love living in this city. Even when you have to walk two miles in the rain to get to the bar and you are soaking wet when you get there. Even when you can't find your umbrella, loose people on the way home, and get into arguements with unnecessarily-rude cab drivers. This is because my friends are completely amazing, and no matter what happens (I stressed myself out this week for no reason at all) they are always there for me. We're all pretty lucky.

Last weekend we went to the beach in Revere. It was my first time going to the beach in Mass, and I've always been nervous since I'm kind of a beach snob (I'm a local.) and I've heard a lot of negative things about it, but it actually wasn't too bad. Jersey is obviously better, but it'll do. Now that a lot of my friends have cars we are planning all sorts of weekend trips, so I'm looking forward to seeing more of the city then I have before. This apparently isn't hard, since it seems I've never ventured out too far. I've got a list of things to look forward to!

That night we went out to the bars in Southie. It was nice to be in a different area, new bars, new people. Of course Michelle was by my side, but we went out with a few new people, and some old friends met up with us too. It was a nice group and we had a really good time. Southie isn't as bad as it's cracked up to be (although I wouldn't walk around there alone...)

The next day (Sunday) was absolutely beautiful and Michelle and I layed out by the Charles. Right under the Mass Ave bridge there is a little dock that I never even knew existed, and we had a nice time talking about ridiculous things and getting sunburnt. Then we had dinner at a new Thai place we found on our walk there, and it was the best Pad Thai I've had in America. Michelle's fried-rice looked so good I had to take a picture of it.

This week was full of fun, too! Spriko and I went to Petco and saw the CUTEST puppy Husky, and started talking about getting a dog in the fall. It's still questionable but it is something we are all talking about. The worst thing would be who would get it when we all split up, and I don't think my idea of the four of us living together forever was something I was serious about. Either way, I'm really excited to move in with some of my best friends, live on the Hill for the first time, and although I'm not totally excited about sharing a bathroom with three boys, the kitchen looks awesome and I'm really excited to finally settle down in a place.

Michelle and I (and various friends) spent a night at Conors, and a night at Pour House/ Whisky's which was a nice time. It's nice to casually just go out after work and see people during the week. We embarrassingly polished off a huge batch of nachos both nights, and we are a little disgusted with ourselves. But I will still stand strong on my claim that that Pour House has the best nachos EVER.

Tonight we are having a girls-night-in, and I'm really looking forward to it. Then in the morning Marg, Michelle and I are visiting Joanna in Nantucket, to make it a full, well deserved girls-only weekend. I went to the Cape once last summer but I've never been to the islands, so I'm looking forward to it! Jo has been co-oping there so it will be nice to spend some time with her. I'll give you an update next week! In the meantime, there are a lot of things that are blowing my mind this week.

1) Sandcastles. When we went to Revere beach they were having a competition and it completely blew my mind. We read that they actually use sand brought in from somewhere else (I think New Hampshire?) And then they use some sort of special glue-spray.. but still, these are amazing. My favorites:

2) Good photography. I assume a lot of it has to do with being in the right place at the right time, but pictures like this are incredible. The picture with the lightning storm is ridiculous, and I LOVE the one with the elephant.

3) Human Art. I couldn't even think about something like this, let alone make it work. I admire people who use their creativity to its fullest extent. Admire and envy. The last picture (on the stairs) completely blows my mind.

4) I just love this.

5) We all know how thinking about the universe is my number one mind-blowing event... but these pictures are just beautiful. The longest Solar Eclipse of the Century.

Last but not least (I hope this all kept you occupied!!) Quote of the day:

“I looked at the menu, then I looked at my wife. The one thing about her that I always loved was that she was never one of those people who thinks that someone else is the answer to their happiness. Me or anybody else. She’s always had her own built-in happiness.” - Bob Dylan

2009-07-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

Quote of the day:

My mom tells me, "When you were a kid, you were so laid back and happy that we were worried you might be retarded."- Ben Casnocha

2009-07-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

I don't know who still reads this, but here I am!! I'm officially back living in Boston (on my friends couch, but I'm here nonetheless!) I started working at Northeastern University and I'm already loving it. I use to work in this office (Student Affairs) as an undergrad, but now I'm on salary (EEEK!) and have real responsibilities that I'm not ready for, but I love it. And today I got my first paycheck! Which is probably why I am in such a good mood. Since I'll be sitting on the computer so often with an ample amount of free time, I'll probably start writing again. I can't promise it will be as interesting as it was when I was in 'Nam, but it will be a little view into my Boston life. Just a little. There are some things I just can't repeat.

My first week and a half back has been incredibly eventful. I love walking everywhere, just roaming around Boston, or stopping at a friends place.. it's good to be back. I'll feel more comfortable once I get a place of my own, but my amazing friend Cait has been letting me stay at her place so I'm incredibly lucky. Friday night I had a good old fashioned night out in Boston that involved so much dancing my legs hurt the next day... and I loved every minute of it. Sunday I went to see the new Woody Allen movie, Whatever Works. It was ridiculous, but I loved it. I loved the whole premise of it. You know when you watch a movie (or read a book) that is just perfect for your life at the time? I think that's why I liked to so much. Anyway, then I went to a Vietnamese resturaunt for dinner. It was sub-par. I've yet to been happy with Vietnamese food in America, but I'm going to keep trying.

Yesterday we got together for Tibaudo's birthday for some taco's and cake ala Marg, which was delicious. Then we went out for Whitney's last night. If you don't know Whitney, she was my first friend at Northeastern. (I knew Marg first, but we got off to a rough start...) Through Whitney I met every single one of my friends and I'm pretty sure I don't know what I would have done without her. We lived together, worked together, had classes together, went to Stockton together (WOO!) didn't go to the gym together, ate way too much food together (an entire bag of chedder pretzels in a single cab ride! how did we do it?!) and at times had a little to much to drink together. I'm really sad she's leaving Boston. On the upside, the reason she is leaving is to teach english in Chile! I'm so so excited for her and her new adventure, and I know she's going to be amazing. Since she came to visit me in Vietnam, I pretty much have to visit her in South America.. so although I cried a lot at the bar last night saying goodbye, I do have something awesome to look forward to. I wish her the best of luck, and I'm sure she'll be keeping a blog that I'll have a link to if you're interested!

Today I had lunch with a friend of a friend who is Vietnamese- American and is intersted in Teachers for Vietnam and maybe going next year. It was nice to be able to talk about it again and get him excited to go. He's not sure if he's going to go through with it yet but he really wants to, and of course with an advocate like me, I'm sure he'll be convinced soon. I enjoyed reminiscing about the good and the bad, I want to find a way to keep all of my memories fresh.

Things that are blowing my mind today:

1)Pictures of the universe. It makes me feel so incredibly small.

The view from the Apollo 11 Command and Service Module (CSM) "Columbia" shows the Earth rising above the Moon's horizon on July 20th, 1969. The lunar terrain pictured is in the area of Smyth's Sea on the nearside. (NASA)

2) This kid. He is 12 years old!!

2009-06-22T19:08:00.001-07:00

I am constantly reminded that I haven't written anything since before my last trip and my homecoming. To all you avid followers, I am sorry. As you've already heard/seen I am home safe and sound and it has been really great to see everyone and reconnect.

My reason for not writing... I just haven't been inspired. I've had a lot of downtime to relax, read, go to the beach, see the sunrise, visit boston for the beer marathon, spend time with my dog, and readjust back into my "american life." For the most part I've been pretty lazy, but it has been nice to not have anything pressing to do for a few weeks. So far I have loved being home, but I'm starting to feel the pull of... what's next? (Perhaps that's why I'm finally writing?)

If you don't know, I'm moving to Boston next week to start my job at Northeastern University working for the VP of Student Affairs. I worked there when I was a student so I know what I'm getting my self into and I'm looking forward to it. The plan is to go to grad school next year. I'm really looking forward to it, though I'm not in any rush.

People keep asking me if I'm going to continue writing and the truth is I haven't decided yet. Once I get settled in my new job and find a place to live (I'll be a nomad until September) then perhaps I'll make a decision. As I mentioned.. right now I'm just not too inspired. I suppose an 'end of my experience' recap is due, and I'm sure I will get to it. Who knows, maybe I'll want to write again tomorrow. I'll keep you all on your toes.

In the meantime, I wanted to thank each and every one of you for all of your support while I was gone. I definitely wouldn't have been able to get through everything without you. I am incredibly lucky to have such an amazing support system here, and I'm excited to be back and give back as much as I can to those who I now know (if I had any doubt before) will always be there. For those of you who wrote me constant (and sometimes the length of a short novel) emails... Thank you. For my parents who maybe didn't understand at first, but will always support whatever I decide to do... Thank you. For those of you who read every ridiculous thing I wrote in this blog... Thank you. For those of you in Boston who put together that amazing package that I finally received at my welcome home party... Thank you. For those of you who had to endure me on gchat/skype/etc. when I was homesick/sad/or any other emotions (and there were many)... Thank you. You know who you are, and I feel incredibly indebted to you. I hope you all know how appreciative I am not only to know you, but to have you as a constant in my life. If I learned anything (and there is a lot in this category...) the number one thing is that I have amazing people in my life, and I am incredibly lucky. I love you guys!

As for my write off's:

I just read: My Sister's Keeper. I don't want to talk about it. I don't know what all the hype is about and I don't really want to see the movie (but I will.) Not that it wasn't well written, I read it in about two days and enjoyed almost all of it, but the ending nearly killed me... and not in the good way. Read with caution.

Currently reading: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. While I was gone I started a list of books I wanted to read when I got home (no book store in Can Tho.) I completely forget where the recommendation for this came from, but I bought it nonetheless. Just starting it, so I can't say anything yet.

Currently listing to: Jack Johnson. His music will never get old. So relaxing, such good lyrics.

And as always, quote of the moment. This one is from Joey Comeau, the guy who writes the "comics" on ASofterWorld.com.

"When I talk about the literature and art that I like, I use the phrase, "good natured" a lot. Because what's better than being reminded of the good things in life? Watching the Muppet Show, and being reminded how great it is that friendship exists. Or reading Kurt Vonnegut and stumbling across, "I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.'" I don't think that all art should be life-affirming or upbeat or anything like that, but man, you can't deny the pleasure of realizing how great it is to be alive and loved, once in a while."

2009-05-05T08:40:00.000-07:00

Checking in from Hanoi!

I love everything about this city. Except the pollution, which is really everywhere just more apparent here, and the barganing, which is also everywhere except Can Tho. I've been in shell shock the past few days trying to get use to city life. It's a little bit ridiculous, but I have had some anxiety getting use to things. A lot of foreigners, a lot of English flying around. I'm officially done living by myself in the Delta and it has been hitting me hard. Luckily I'm staying with Kristen so I'm not going through the transition on my own. She has a lot of friends here and it is overwhelming to meet everyone, but once the anxiety settles I remember that that is what I love about Hanoi, and why last time I came to visit I wanted to move here. I still have that feeling.

I rented a bike, which is terrifying and definitely not something everyone could do, but since I have experience riding already I went for it, and it was a good idea because it is saving me a ton of money. Once I got past the initial "Wow, this is NOT the same as riding in Can Tho," it's actually not that bad. It's a great way to get to see the city. And staying with Kristen is nice because I am basically pretending that I live here, and I like it. (Mom & Dad- don't worry, I know what you're thinking, and I'm still coming home.) But they have a lot of non-profits here, so who knows.. maybe one day.

I've spent a lot of time catching up on sleep. I didn't even realize how much sleep I wasn't getting, but I certainly have needed a few days to get myself together. It's hot here, but not as hot as in the Delta yet, and Kristen's room is cool and there is a comfortor on the bed... I can sleep with a blanket again! And no mosquito net! It really is the little things in life...

So I'll be spending the next week here until Geoff comes to visit. Tomorrow I think we'll find a pool and just relax, and I've been doing a lot of reading. Finished Bill Bryson, which I've already raved about. Just read The Last Lecture (in about one day). If you like Mitch Albom, I'd highly recommend it. It's prety similar to Tuesday's with Morrie. I'm now reading A Return to Love, which I'd recommend if you like analyzing your life, thinking about spirituality, God, or looking for a change. It's a lot of ideas I'm already familiar with, but it has a little bit of a twist that I find intriguing. So far, so good.

Congrats to NU Class of '09! ...which is pretty much all of my friends in Boston. I just spent the last hour looking at all of your pictures, and I'm so proud! I wish I could have been there. It was weird only graduating with a few friends, Marg and I didn't go to ANY senior week events haha. Anyway, Congrats! I can't believe it's already May. I'll be home THIS MONTH. I'm not ready to leave. I know I say something different each time I mention that. Feel bad for the people (Geoff) that will be around me my last few days here. It's been a rollarcoaster of emotions.. but at least I'm consistant about that being true! I hope you are doing well, where ever you are reading this from! xoxo

2009-04-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

I miss Louie. What a great video! Yes, I know Louie as well as you can know anyone you've never talked to before. And yes, I already (and have for years) belong to said facebook group. I even know one of the guys in the video that works at the bike shop. I can't wait to be back in Boston. I loved seeing everyone in jackets. Remind me I said that when I'm complaining about how unreasonably cold Boston is.

Tomorrow is my last full day in Can Tho before leaving for vacation. I've been done teaching for a few days but I couldn't get a plane ticket until Saturday, so I've just been relaxing. I've started drawing, which might tell you how bored I am, but I'm really enjoying it. I'm excited to travel and explore Vietnam as much as possible before leaving in less then one month! I'm ready to come home. I'll miss it more then I can explain, but I need to be back in real life with people I get along with on my level.

The nights are starting to cool off a little bit, and I went for a great run tonight. I love the high you feel after you finish running... how you feel like you can't possibly go any further, and then you do, and when it's over it's just such a rush. I was never a particularly good runner, but I sure love that feeling and I would like to get back into it when I come home. We'll see.

For now, Louie has inspired me. I'm going to go for a nice long bike ride tomorrow.

2009-04-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

2009-04-28T11:14:00.001-07:00

2009-04-25T01:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, I lied.

But did you really think I was going to write every day? I've been incredibly busy and extremely tired, so as usual, sorry for not keeping up with this!

As of today.. I'm officially done! I still have one more class to finish grading, but I'll be handing my grades in on Monday, and then spending the next day or so saying my last goodbyes. To tell you the truth, I'm really ready to get out of here. The goodbyes are sad, but they're happy too. My students are so amazing, and they keep telling me they'll miss me and they wish me good health and happiness, and it's just a really refreshing goodbye. It's a happy goodbye. I feel like I've made an impression on their lives, and now it's time for a new teacher to come and teach them something else.

Another reason I might not be too sad is because after I'm done traveling I'm coming back here for a day or two to pick up my luggage, so I don't have that "last time" feeling, because I know I'll come and do everything one last time. I already have plans with some students for dinner while I'm back, and since I'll be with my friend Geoff, I plan on stopping at all of my favorite food places so he can have the full Can Tho experience. I'll be flying up to Hanoi next week, so the next few days are filled with more happy goodbyes, then I'll spend the next few weeks traveling.

I'm getting really excited about coming home, I miss everyone so much. I spent last night looking at pictures on facebook (my favorite past time) and I'm just really ready to be back. I know I had an amazing time in Da Lat but after talking to my logical counterpoint I've realized that Vietnam will always be here, and I can always come back. I'm ready to be home now. But first... time to explore the rest of the country!

I never told my stories of going to the countryside. Basically, one day I went for a motorbike ride to the province of Tra Vinh with Thao. It was about a three hour ride through the countryside, then we went to a pagoda, had lunch, had a coffee and rested in hammocks, and then drove three hours back! It was a beautiful ride, and I already put up pictures for you to enjoy! Then two days later was the Khmer New Year. How luck am I to have celebrated THREE New Years this year? If only I had resolutions..

Anyway, one of my students is half Khmer, and her hometown is in another province, Soc Trang, which is about two hours away. A group of her classmates were going to her home to celebrate the new year with her family. Apparently there is a large Khmer community in Soc Trang, as well as Cambodian temples. So we dove out there and spent the night at her house, and I had a slumber party with my students! It was two days full of too much food, but it was a lot of fun to be with a whole group of students. Usually it's just one student taking me home, but it was nice that a group of her friends went to her home and celebrated that part of her life. The next day after a large breakfast, even though I was still full from dinner the night before, her mother showed me a video of her niece (I think, the translations get confusing) getting married. The idea was to show me a Cambodian wedding, and it was really interesting to watch.. But then TWO DVD'S later, I was still sitting there watching it, not understanding the language, and now just watching the reception, which is literally hundreds of people just sitting around eating. Then I had lunch. Besides going home sick, as usual after a trip to the countryside, it was great to spend extra time with my students. Here, us at dinner!

In other news, this week I met two new people. One day on my way to class it started to pour and I didn't have my poncho, so I was waiting under a little roof for the rain to stop and a student came up to me and started a conversation. She asked the normal questions, and then said that she sees me around campus all of the time but she was always to nervous to talk to me. I guess me standing in the rain, incapable of escaping from the situation, gave her the guts to go ahead. Anyway, her name is Nhan and she turned out to be really sweet so I gave her my number and we had dinner a few nights later. That night she sent me a text wishing me a good nights sleep. The next night she sent me a text saying sleep tight! Etc. The other day I was on a completely different part of campus and she ran up to me, incredibly excited, and asked to have dinner again. She is really sad that she waited so long to talk to me and that now I am leaving, and she really is nice (not a creeper, like the last guy, who I haven't heard from since then) so I will see her once more before I leave. She's going to make me one of my favorite meals, so I'm not going to complain.

The next girl accosted me on my daily morning walk to get coffee and pineapple. (You read that right, I'm averaging one pineapple a day.) She was not as successful as Nhan. It was too early. The conversation went something like this,

"Hello! Can I talk to you?"

"Sure."

"How long are you here."

"Actually, I'm leaving in a few days."

Silence.

"Can we talk."

"Sure, but I have to get ready to teach." This was partly true. I did have to get ready for class. The fact that class wasn't for another four hours is irrelevant.

"When do you leave?"

"In a few days."

"Can we talk?"

I could see that this was going nowhere, she wasn't a great speaker and I had to say everything a few times. Sometimes, I can take it. Sometimes, I'm just not in the mood. I ended up saying "nice to meet you!" and walking away.. it was as much as I could take. The past few days it has amazed me that I still get starred at every single day. Even on campus, the place I go to get bubble tea every day (yes, almost every day) there are people who are still seeing me for the first time and point and stare. It doesn't bother me anymore, but I just think, where have you been the past nine months!?

Well, I'm off to finish grading. I'll write again before I leave for my trip!!

2009-04-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

Note: Since I know you all care about my every move, I added another photo album about said trips to the country side that I will write about soon. I also added my youtube link. I listen to music on youtube all of the time and save my favorite songs, so I thought I'd share. Some of them I like the song, some the video, some are really random. Enjoy!

2009-04-15T03:37:00.001-07:00

Quick update:

Yesterday it was 39 degrees. Thao told me that this month has been the hottest month in ten years. I'm not sure where she got the statistics or if it's true.. but it's still pretty ridiculous. She followed that up with the fact that it will probably be hotter over the next few days. Sweet. To be honest, it's actually not that bad anymore. I do sweat profusely and I'm tired all of the time, but I've definitely become accustom to it and besides the two things I've just mentioned, I generally don't care anymore. Almost done with my time in Can Tho, which means that even though I'll still be in Vietnam, I won't have to be in long pants, etc. and I will probably even spend some time at the beach! ONE MORE WEEK OF TEACHING LEFT. Completely ridiculous. I'm basically done... just finals and grading, and having dinner parties with my students. I'm completely booked over the next week and a half. I've had a very busy few days and I will write all about them (trips to the countryside!) in my next post.

Just one reason why I now hate English.

I came across this question and it's one of the best I've heard in a while: What is one thing you've learned recently that has blew your mind? It takes the WhiteHotTruth's idea of "I'm loving..." to a whole new level. So I wanted to share a few things I've recently found and ask you to do the same.

1) Anis Mojgani & Slam Poetry. I don't know anything about slam poetry, but I recently came across this video and it blew my mind. He's incredible. I love all three of these poems. I also love this one. Not that I'm a newfound slam poetry fan.. but I would vote for Anis Mojgani any day.

2) The religion/ spirituality debate. I've been spending a lot of time defining things for myself, coming to terms with my past, and looking towards others to open myself up to new ideas. I've recently gotten into a few debates with some friends, and I've since noticed that everyone around me is talking about it. Whitney's last blog post mentioned her thoughts, and Ben Casnocha just mentioned some of his. I'm blown away by the intensity of the people I'm close to, as well as, God or no God, how strong people can be in their beliefs. If only we were a world open enough to talk about it without fear of who's listening. I came across SoulPancake, founded by Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight Schrute) and I've found some great debates. Some people write ridiculous things, as always happens with an open forum, but some of the ideas are well justified and I'm starting to love a good argument. So check out those links and if you'd like, send some of your thoughts my way!

3) The Universe. I stand strong in my belief of the Law of Attraction, but the more I learn about the Universe the more I am blown away. I'm currently reading BIll Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, and it's just incredible. Granted, I think I learned most of this in school, but I didn't retain any of it, so Bryson's book is a great book for me right now. The fact that in terms of the size of the universe we are so incredibly, incredibly insignificant constantly blows me away. "The bottom line is that life is amazing and gratifying; perhaps even miraculous, but hardly impossible - as we repeatedly attest with out own modest existences." - Bill Bryson. This also reminds me of one of my favorite movies, What the Bleep Do We Know: Down the Rabbit Hole. If you're at all interested in the metaphysical world, watch this movie. It will blow your mind!

I wanted to share with you one more quote that I just found and love. I've been talking with a friend about doing good, and how even if we as one person make small changes in our every day lives we will make a difference. I was on a kick with this before I left and I can't wait to get back into it. Volunteering, taking canvas bags to the grocery store, turning off lights and electricity whenever possible. It really is the little things. Anyway, I found this quote and it made me smile. "If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never shared a bed with a mosquito."

Okay, I'm off to create a final for my pronunciation class, which is giving me a headache. Expect an update soon about my past few days!

2009-04-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was walking home from a coffee shop when I guy pulled up next to me on his motorbike and says "Hello!" I said Hello back and continued to ride away. (This is perfectly normal.) However, two minutes later he came back from the other direction and the same exact thing happened. I thought hmm that was weird, but didn't think much else of it. Then, he came back again, this time stopping for a longer conversation. And it was perhaps one of the strangest I've had in a while. It went as follows:

"Can we talk?" (him)

"Sure! How are you? (me)

Silence, awkward smile. I'm still walking, and he's still following my on his bike.

"Are you a student?" (him)

"No, I teach English at the University."

"I went there. But don't tell anyone about me."

"Umm.. okay."

More silence. Then he drove away. Sure enough, he came back from the other way yet again.

"Can we talk?" (him)

"Sure! How are you?"

"Can I have your number?"

"Okay. Maybe we can get coffee." (This is normal, giving my number to complete strangers and meeting them for coffee, not as creepy as it might sound to you.)

"Okay, but I don't want to meet at the University. I don't want to see anyone."

"Okay, maybe we can meet right here."

"Alright, but don't tell anyone about me."

Then he drove away.

Sure enough he did call me the next day (three times, also normal) but I was teaching and conveniently forgot to call him back. Ahh Vietnam.

If you watch 30 Rock, please watch this. Hilarious. If you don't watch 30 Rock, you probably should.

I added a picture album of some of my adventures with Kristen, including the beautiful pool we spent the day at and some pictures of Da Lat. Enjoy!

Quote of the day:

We shall not cease from exploration.

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started.

And know the place for the first time. -T.S. Elliot

2009-04-09T07:24:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

A great shot of photos from Earth Hour. I hope you participated! I was at a fellow professors house with the other foreign teachers and we had dinner over candle light! Besides there being no power for fans and everyone sweating profusely, it was a nice experience.

A new music video that you should watch, and pass on to people you know. The song is Blood into Gold by Peter Buffet, featuring Akon, and it pinpoints the issue of human trafficking and slavery. Please pass along. Remember, this is happening everywhere. "The slavery of millions is our burden. If we do nothing, all of us are less free."

Congratulations to one of my very best friends and her wonderful boyfriend, Erica & Phil, for recently getting engaged! I couldn't be happier for the two of you, and I can't wait to be back to celebrate. I officially have three weddings to attend and am assuming that this is only the beginning. Welcome to adult life!

4 weeks of teaching left! Except a update soon. xoxo.

2009-03-23T07:38:00.000-07:00

It's funny because it's true.

2009-03-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

I'm alive! I've been on a roller coaster of emotions these past few weeks, so I haven't really been inspired to update my blog. I apologize! I only have five weeks of teaching left, so things are crazy. I am sad and happy and I want to go home now and I want to stay forever and I've been kind of sick and (most of all) the heat is killing me. Apparently it's not even that bad.. but I'm not sure how much longer I can handle this. I'm just constantly uncomfortable and sweaty. Gross! I also have a slight case of senioritis, but it's worse as a teacher because instead of a few classes to be sick of, I have 200 hundred students that I'm responsible for. My brain has checked out in the lesson-planning department, which drags things on for quite a while. But other then that, everything overall is great!

Whitney and Nikki came and went. It flew by so fast! You can see a slight recap on Whitney's blog, but as I say all the time.. it's pretty indescribable. It was great to see them, although I think the vacation put a jumpstart on my senioritis. We spent a few days in Saigon, and then they came to Can Tho and we lounged on the hammocks and played games with my students. They did a great job learning the language... I was so proud of them for trying so hard! They could have had me do everything for them but they wanted to try, and they learned a lot in only one week! Nikki took about 200 pictures, but I haven't seen them yet, and my camera broke so I don't have very many. For now here is a picture of them straight from the airport and thrown onto the back of a motorbike, and one of us (with An!) at Xe Loi, the only place to 'go out' in Can Tho:

I was inspired to write tonight because I had a ridiculously Vietnamese twenty four hours, and since I haven't written in so long I thought you would enjoy this story. I woke up on Saturday morning, after an unusually late friday night, and remembered I was going to the countryside with my friend Thao. (Not one of my students, but the one I baked chocolate chip cookies and pies with!) After pulling myself together I took a xe om (motorbike taxi) to Thao's, because she lives on the other side of town and there was no way I was riding my bicycle there in the mid-day heat. Xe om drivers like to pretend they know where they are going just so you will choose, and therefore pay, them, but sometimes drive in circles until they magically find the place. This was my drive to Thao's. Luckily I had been there before (on baking day!) so with my slight memory and his slight knowledge I eventually found the place, but it wan't easy. (Sidenote: I haven't had any minutes on my phone for about a week. I'm tired of being attached to it, but I'm also really low on money so I'm just not motivated to buy more. People can call me and send me texts but I can't text back or make calls. This is what made finding Thao's house almost impossible.) So anyway, I made it and we walked to the ferry. The ferry is the only way into Can Tho (for now.. they are building a bridge, which I have previously written about before, which will make Can Tho way more accessible and even more touristy, but for now it's still a ferry ride to the next province.) I've never walked on the ferry before, I usually take a bus to wherever I am going, so it was new experience. Motorbikes try to push through as fast as they can to get a spot and if you are walking you really have to watch your step. If you are wearing shorts (which I was) you have to be extra careful because the exhaust thing on the side of the bike WILL burn your leg, and that is how close they are to you. I made it unscathed, but then had to climb over a few (literally climb) to get to the stairs to find Thao, who clearly had done this before. When we got off of the ferry we had to walk to the public bus (still the in midday heat) and I was literally dripping sweat. So, we sit down at a side-of-the-road coffee shop and just as I start to drink my drink a bus rolls (yes, rolls) up and she grabs her bag and says "Oh they're not going to stop!" And I had to jump onto the bus that was slowly rolling by. I've never actually rode a public bus in Vietnam before, so that was an experience. There was no air conditioning, which I was dying for, but we saved a lot more money not taking a tour company bus and the open windows actually provided a nice breeze.

After you get off of the ferry you are officially in Vinh Long, but we drove about an hour into it to arrive at Thao's family's house. We got dropped of at a bus stop (the bus did stop then) and waited to get picked on by some of her cousins. When I got to their house, although I picked up cues on the bus ride, I realized we were attending her cousin's wedding. I remembered her mom inviting me last time I saw her, but I also made plans to go to the countryside with Thao separately, and I did not put the two and two together. Welcome to being blindsided in Vietnam. Upon arriving Thao and I sat down at a table and were served about a four course meal... four full meals, for two people. I've already gone on about how I get force-fed, but especially in the country side they cook an incredible amount of food, and especially for weddings. The first course was obviously a soup with a mixture of things in it, but when I asked what it was the translation was "mixed soup." I had no idea what was in it, although I thought I tasted bacon which is strange because I haven't found any bacon since I've been here (pork, all of the time, but not in bacon form..) Then the next meal was a mixture of vegetables, which I had had before, so no shock there. Then a plate of meat comes our with bread and I get excited because I love bread, and all of the sauces are homemade and great for dipping. While already full from the first two meals, I eat some bread in this gravy, while I'm staring at how good the meat looks. After a while the meant went untouched so I had to ask about it... and thank god I did. It was pig stomach and tongue. I shivered a little just writing that. Since I had been staring at it for the last ten minutes I immediately felt nauseous and could no longer eat. Right when I thought I was going to be forced to eat it they offered me beef, and although I couldn't think of stomaching anything else, I accepted, because that meant I wouldn't have to eat whatever was in front of me. Crisis averted.

The rest of the afternoon we went to this separate island with Thao's mom, uncle, and cousins, which included another ferry ride, a nice motorbike ride through the countryside, and a tour of a fruit garden, where I had to continue to eat all of the fruit they were picking. After this I was so full I wanted to cry, incredibly hot, and extremely tired, still from the night before plus an exhausting day of eating. We went back to the house and I believe I took a short nap, and then had to get up and go to the party for the wedding, where again I ate five full meals. I've been having some stomach trouble anyway so after that I was pretty miserable, and luckily was able to go to bed around nine.

At 5AM I was woken up and told to get ready for the ceremony, which was at 6AM. There I was given cafe sua da, which use to be my favorite coffee, but I can't drink anymore. No more condensed milk for this American. So, still sick from the night before, I felt worse. Then after the ceremony we went on a bus back to Can Tho to the grooms house. All Vietnamese weddings have two ceremonies, one honoring each family (neither of which I can see or understand.) Then SURPRISE is the reception. What happens at a reception? EVERYONE EATS. And please don't forget that it's only 9Am, and these are not "breakfast foods" these are full meals that could be served for dinner. I looked at the menu and saw a list of six coursed and felt sick just reading it. I finally had to tell Thao that I really didn't think I could handle this I was feeling really sick. (I also had not showered or changed my clothes from the sweaty day I had before, and everyone else was dressed up and I felt out of place (as if being the only white person wasn't enough.) So she promised me I wasn't going to be forced to eat anything. Well the woman sitting next to me felt otherwise, and immediately filled up my bowl to the rim with a mixture of fried foods (still 9AM.) After the third meal I asked Thao if I could get a ride home. I thought about faking sick but then I actually felt really sick. It's now 9PM and I still feel really sick. Thao said something to the affect of "I know, every time I come to the countryside they always make me eat so much!" And my response was "Yeah that happens to me every time I'm in Vietnam." I'm not sure she fully grasped my sarcasm, but she did find me a ride home.

Not to make it sound like I had a terrible time. On the contrary, it was great. I just wanted to describe in full detail toe ins-and-outs of a pretty typical weekend. Thao's family was incredibly nice and welcoming. Her third uncle (co ba -literally means third uncle, so instead of "Uncle Randy" or "Uncle Ray" their names are uncle two, etc., in order of their birth) Anyway, he worked in the Navy on America's side during the war and he spoke broken English. He said he learned then but he hasn't spoken it since then, so it was exciting for me to have him feel comfortable to speak with me. I only understood about half of what he said, but that's where Thao's translating comes in. So overall, it was a really great time, and a lot of fun.. I'm just not sure I ever want to eat anything again.

Well I hope that keeps you amused for a little while. I'll try to keep writing even if it's only a little bit, I haven't forgotten about you I've just been preoccupied with other things!! I'm trying my best to keep up with your letters but I've had a lot lately so I'm sorry if you haven't heard from me. I'll try harder! :-)

2009-03-18T03:01:00.000-07:00

A few things to keep you ocupado:

I still hate Twitter. But I love this.

A fabulous cover of a great song by one of my favorite artists.

The author of Eat, Love, Pray talks about genius.

Enjoy!

2009-02-26T07:01:00.000-08:00

New format! I get bored very easily, I like change, call it whatever you want to, it will probably happen again. I've added a fun "widget" (again, technology evades me, why is that the name?) with my favorite books, and if you want to be inside my head you should read them too. I just read The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac, and it was great. Just another reminder that I was born in the wrong generation. It touched on a lot of thoughts on spirituality that I've been contemplating lately, I love when books come into my life at the exact time I need them. I've always loved Kerouac, but I liked this book more then On The Road. Although I think I need to read that one again.

Sorry I haven't really been around this month. I have been very busy spending extra time with my students outside of class. This semester I am teaching a lot more first year students, where as last semester I was with mostly last year students. They have even more of an innocence to them, and are so eager to learn. My students have the ability to make me feel really great about myself, with daily comments like "You look so lovely today!" but they also make me feel so insignificant sometimes. Not on purpose, but I just admire them so much. A question I often get asked is "What do you think of Vietnamese students compared to American students?" My answer is usually that Vietnamese students are much more dedicated, are such hard workers, and I admire them very much. That is the simplest way to put it so they understand me, but it is so true. They had to work really, really hard to get into University, and they work so hard while they are there. Not to mention that they are having a full conversation with an American - which just embarrasses me. I've LIVED in their country to six months and I can't hold a conversation (although, I have been having great exchanges in Vietnamese, which always makes me proud...) but I still feel inadequate that I don't speak another language. And I know, they have been studying since they were kids, and no one anywhere ever told me I should know a foreign language, so technically it's not my fault, but I'll take responsibility, and I'll study a new one when I get back. I can't decide between Spanish or French.. thoughts? And of course I'll keep up my Vietnamese. I found a few organizations in Boston for Vietnamese, and there is a larger number there then I realized, so hopefully I can find some way to keep a little bit of Vietnam in my life. But anyway, my students are amazing, so I'm trying to spend as much time with them as possible. Here are pictures of four of my favorites (I know, I shouldn't have favorites. But it's too hard not to..) they came to my house to cook me dinner, delicious Sweet Soup. I couldn't even tell you what is in it.. definitely sweet potatoes, a green vegetable, beans, coconut milk, some jelly thing, etc.... At first sight, it might not look appetizing, but trust me, it's delicious.

I also spent a day with my friend Angela (not a student, a girl a met through An) and we spent the entire day baking. She found me all of the ingredients (even chocolate chips!!!!) for chocolate chip cookies, and I made them from scratch. She had never had chocolate chip cookies before! I officially made her the first batch of homemade cookies ever (and her mom, who also loved them, and continued to pass them around to their neighbors, and then invite me to her sister's wedding...) We also made a homemade apple pie which was the first time that I ever made a pie on my own. We even made the crust, which I've never done. I also decided last minute to throw strawberries in, and it was so good. A successful day of baking always puts me in a good mood. Her mom also made me dinner that night, and it was as delicious as I could have asked for. I'm pretty lucky.

We had a great weekend in HCMC. I met a lot of great people that are teaching English there and it is always so refreshing to talk to them. There are so many people out here doing this that stay for longer, throughout their twenties. It reassures me that its OK to think about that, even though a majority of Americans don't understand it. Part of what makes me feel comfortable enough to go back to Boston is the fact that Vietnam will always be here, and I feel like I will always be welcome to come back. There will always be an opportunity and I will always have friends here. Again, I'm pretty lucky.

I wanted to write an unofficial (and too early, as this is bound to happen a lot more often over the next two months) Thank You to everyone who has helped me through this process. It's been incredible, but I have had bouts of homesickness and most recently, general freak outs about returning back to America. There are so many people I can talk to, and some of you have helped without even realizing it. I'm especially grateful to Sarah Kaplan, who I would like to officially recognize as my life mentor :-) I'm really not sure she realizes how helpful she is or how thankful I am to have her in my life. She was the first person I talked to about wanting to go abroad, the person who pushed me (in the best way) to do it, and she is actually the person who found Teachers for Vietnam in the first place, because she talked me up to them while she was at a career fair and I was sitting on my butt at home. And still today, she is giving me advice and pushing me to go for what I want and to not accept any less. I love her for this. My new official motto (as of tonight) is that I will be "Kicking ass and taking names." So thanks for that. :-) I also want to thank Finn for being the most logical person I know, which I need in my life to offset the emotional decisions I make. He recently helped me put things into perspective, and I'm really, really grateful for it. It's really nice to find solace somewhere that you don't necessarily expect to find it.

Anyway, there are probably a million other things I want to share with you, but yet again I'm exhausted. I did want to tell you to read the blog White Hot Truth. It's currently my new obsession. I love where she is coming from and the way she does things. And while it's impossible to agree with everything someone says, I see eye to eye with her on a lot of points. My current favorite quote is from her, when describing tonglen meditation: "It's not as easy as it sounds. It may shatter you. But wouldn't that be grand? To be shattered? To be so immensely open that you'd feel the truth..." You can apply that to life in general if you are not into meditation, but I can't even begin to explain how powerful that is to me, and I absolutely love it. I'll leave it up to you to decipher on your own.

I see Whitney and Nikki in less than 48 hours!!! I think it's exactly what I need. I can't wait to share this with someone, and I could use a little Boston in my life. Last but NOT least, a picture of the newlyweds :-)

"The circumstances of existence are pretty glorious" - Jack Kerouac

2009-02-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

It has officially been six months, today.

I am a very different person than I was six months ago. I'm a lot of the same person, but I am a stronger, more interesting version of myself. I feel completely comfortable and at home in a foreign country, and I'm incredibly happy these days. Moving to Vietnam was the best (so far) decision I have ever made, and if you are wondering if you should go abroad for a year , or any period of time, and do something similar (and a lot of you have mentioned this to me) my advice is yes, absolutely, go.

I haven't written in a while, I'm suddenly ridiculously busy. In two days I taught nine classes (13 this week), and I'm still catching up to myself. I'm very happy about this though. I have realized that although I get a little crazy, I work best and am happiest when I am really busy. This is why I had three jobs my last (and hardest) semester in college. I need to be busy, I need post it notes and to do lists, otherwise what am I really doing with my time?

I'm teaching at the private school again. I'm happy that I'm going to be making some money, and I really put my foot down as far as what I was willing to do. I am treated like a queen now. They are terrified of loosing me again, and are literally bending over backwards for me. I asked for Wednesday off next week and I got a text message response that said "Yes, of course. I will do anything for you." She meant it. They are doing everything possible to keep me around. One of the teachers even prepared my lessons for me on Thursday. I hate to say that I like this kind of treatment, but I don't hate it.

I've officially accepted my fame here, I basically am a rockstar. Thao and I have been joking about it because she feels like my driver when we are together. Everyone stares at me every where I go. I've planted a permanent smile on my face and am welcoming the fame. This might never happen to me again. I'm soaking it up.

I'm also doing some volunteer work editing documents for The Asia Foundation. It's proven to be difficult because I apparently do not know anything about grammar. My weaknesses: commas (I use too many) apostrophe's (I just don't know all of the rules) and well, grammar. One of my pronunciation students asked for extra help for another class. Past participle clauses? What? Let me call Wall High School and see if they've ever heard of it. On a good note, I am a fabulous Pronunciation teacher. I'm still learning a lot while teaching, but I feel great about my classes, and most days I feel like I'm really helping. I'm also just a better teacher than last semester, more confident, I know my lesson plans, I know what to expect, I understand what my students are saying to me, etc. I don't know how anyone can do something like this for a short period of time. I've always been happy (even if I'm frustrated...) and always loved it here, but it took a WHILE for things to be this comfortable.

I probably have a lot more to say but I'm exhausted, its 2:30 am and I have no idea why I am awake other then the fact that I am probably drinking too much coffee these days. Tomorrow morning An & I are hopping on a bus to Ho Chi Min City (yes, Saigon is the same place) to have a pseudo Bachelorette Party. She doesn't know what they really are and I've never actually been to one, so basically we're just meeting up with our friend from Hanoi and going out for the night. It should be fun!

Quote of the moment:

"Dance, when you're broken open.

Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.

Dance, in the middle of fighting.

Dance, in your blood.

Dance, when you're perfectly free."

-Rumi

I don't know what this is and I don't remember where I found it, but i love it.

2009-02-05T01:27:00.000-08:00

Why I am the happiest person in the world today, and why this will be the best four weeks ever:

1) WHITNEY AND NIKKI ARE COMING TO VISIT. On February 28th I will meet them at the airport, followed by the most exciting week of our lives. Not only am I (obviously) incredibly excited to see them, but I am excited for someone to witness this first hand, to see where I teach, hopefully meet some of my students, experience Vietnam. Sometimes I have trouble putting into words how amazing it is here, and now I will have proof that I actually am here doing this, someone to pinch me out of a dream, so to speak.

2) On February 14th, Kristen and Shannon (two TfV teachers in Hanoi, equally amazing and incredibly fun to be around) are flying to HCMC. We'll spend the weekend there, followed by them coming to Can Tho for..

3) An's Wedding!!! I will get to go to a Vietnamese wedding, which was one of my goals, and I have no doubt it will be one big party, as I see two best friends get married and spend the days celebrating!!

4) This is post-four weeks, but worth mentioning. My friend Geoff is coming to visit in May, and we will backpack through Vietnam. I'm also making him come to Can Tho to experience my life for a few days, and then we will fly to Hong Kong for a few days, before flying back to Newark on May 25th. [Sidenote: If anyone is really good at looking up flights and can find me affordable flights from HCMC to Hong Kong around May 21st, I would love you forever.]

So many things keep popping up and I'm incredibly excited/happy. Starting to teach again has been great. I love all of my classes and all of my students. The only thing I'm worrying about is the fact that my visa expires on the 28th, and although I've done the paperwork to get it renewed, Vietnamese people seem to have a hard time understanding the word urgency. Right now it's just a waiting game. Hopefully I don't get kicked out of the country the same weekend Whit & Nik come to visit...

Why I'm the saddest person in the world today:

I've been waiting for a package from Boston for about two months and the slip finally came today. (The post office gets my package, sends a slip to the university, and then I have to bring the slip and my passport to the post office to pick it up) Anyway, on top of being the happiest person in the world, I was SO excited to finally pick it up. When I got to the post office, they told me that the package has been there for weeks and they sent me three notices. The last day to pick it up was January 26th, and they mailed it back to the sender on the 28th. I JUST GOT THE NOTICE TODAY. So Whitney, I'm sorry. I'm incredibly sad about this but I don't know what happened. Hopefully the package comes back to you. I think the confusion was the fact that it was a holiday and the University was closed. I also think I just got screwed over. It's anyones guess. If you want to send it again, I still really really really want it. Although at this rate, I'll probably see you before it comes. Still, I think you should mail it again. (And bring more goodies with you. I'm being completely selfish about this.) Apparently it only took about two weeks to actually get here, and I'm going to talk to the University about it so hopefully I'll fix any problem. Trying to brush it off as a "When in Vietnam" but I was really looking forward to that package...

Random comments:

My roommates gave me my Thai name, based on the day and time I was born (and who knows what else):

Samitha (pronounced SAM -E - TA, with a bit of a whiny edge to the end). It means smile & happy.

Something you might not know about me is that I love to multitask. Why this is good: It makes me feel important. Why this is bad: because sometimes I even do it while making breakfast, and inadvertently pour the coffee into the cereal bowl as if it were milk. I ate it anyway.

The amount of "Obama Art" being made is ridiculous. If you're creative enough, I guess it's a good way to capitalize on the fact, but choi oi! (That's 'oh my god' in Vietnamese, my favorite thing to say). Anyway, this one is my favorite and goes far and beyond the Obamicons, as cool as they are.

I love to eat, but this is disgusting. I'm sure technically, its actually delicious, but what I mean to say is, this is why there is an obesity problem in America. Choi Oi.

I can't believe this made it to the NYTimes. And yes, I've already done it. Don't judge me. More then a handful of my friends tagged me in it before I caved. Although lets face it, I would have done it regardless.

2009-02-04T05:33:00.000-08:00

The coolest, weirdest thing I've ever seen.

Sidenote: I've since downloaded Google Earth, and it creeps me out. Kinda like how Skype creeps me out. Although it's also incredible that all of this is possible, I just don't understand it, and never will.

2009-02-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

2009-02-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

---- I recently found out (thank you, facebook) that my vocal instructor from Hofstra died rather suddenly from a heart attack in her sleep. Although I was only there for a year, I know she was incredibly inspiring as an instructor, both for me and numerous other sopranos. And even though I pretended to be sick once in a while to skip voice lessons, I will never forget how much she taught me about how to use and train my voice. So, rest in peace Professor Beckmann, and my heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved her. -----

I have a lot to say tonight, which isn't surprising seeing as I write in this blog a LOT more then I thought I would. I'm slightly addicted. I keep being reminded of how many people are actually reading this and I suddenly feel very vulnerable. I've never been one to share too much and the fact that people I don't even know have access to this is very strange. However, I still have a million things to say so here I am anyway.

I started teaching this week and I'm incredibly happy about it. I was on vacation for far too long. If I had more money to travel it would have been incredible, but because Can Tho was basically closed down during Tet, I was literally not doing anything and going slightly stir-crazy. Now all of the students are back and things are starting to pick up again. I am teaching mostly pronunciation classes to first year students, and one listening and speaking class to third year students. My new students are great (although I knew they would be) and some I had last semester, so it is nice to see familiar faces. I'm hoping to meet up with some of my students from last semester, and I'm working on learning some more Vietnamese. I will also start teaching at the private school again, because I do need the money. I had a lot of problems with this school in the beginning because they were over working me and I felt very exploited. I also think it was too much in the beginning. I was teaching 3x more then the other teachers and I was still going through culture shock, etc. Now, I am going to meet with the director and tell her what days I am willing to work and not be so open to any over-exposure. I know they want me to teach there, so I know they will do whatever I want. That is a terrible way of looking at it, but I need to set some boundaries for myself, and that is the way I need to go about it this time. I am, overall, looking forward to it because it means I get to meet more students. I only have three more months of teaching left and I can't believe how short that seems, so I am trying to do as much as possible.

Still in the works of volunteering with the Asia Foundation. I will be doing some translation work for them, and I am still waiting for them to finish the draft in Vietnamese, and then English, and then I'm going to "fix it." More on the details of the group and the proposal later, I hope to meet with them later this week.

I still spend most of my time with Thao, and we've had some really great conversations lately. It is nice to have more in-depth conversations, because with most of my students it is hard to cross the line between being someone to answer all of their questions and someone you can just talk with. Tonight Thao kept mentioning how sad she is going to be when I leave and how comfortable she is around me and how much she enjoys spending time with me. She says it is really different then when she spends time with her friends because she can be more honest in a way that the Vietnamese can't, and of course, she gets to practice English. I'm proud of how far she's come since I first met her and how much she is learning about American culture. She is also studying Vietnamese culture, which I find really interesting, because she notices that we handle situations differently and she was curious to see what the books said, to understand what we as foreigners need to know and what exactly those differences are. I thought that was an interesting way to look at things. Anyway, her comments really meant a lot. In moments when I can connect with someone on a deeper level, and when I know I have made a difference in someone's life, I am incredibly proud to be doing what I am doing.

I've been contemplating life a lot, but I've noticed that it's not in the whiny, woe-is-me way that I use to. No matter which way you look at it, I've changed a lot since I've been here. I'm a completely different person, and I have no idea what I'm going back to. I've kept in really good touch with my friends, and I am closer to some people then ever, and I am really looking forward to spending the next few years in Boston. But things won't be the same. Or rather, things willbe the same but I will be different. I'm not really sure what to expect. A very interesting realization is that I was always very good at 'living in the past'. Now though, I seem to be living in the future. I don't know if this is good or bad. Ideally, I would like to live in the moment, and I actually think for the most part I do. But I'm over a lot of things that held me back, mostly emotionally, and I'm just so excited about the future and all of the opportunities I have that I can't stop thinking about the future. I'm not sure if this is making any sense, or means anything in the long run, it is just a realization I've come to.

Another thing I have been spending a lot of time thinking about is my friends and the idea of home. I have always been surrounded by amazing people, and I have realized that where ever there are people that I love, that is where my home is. It's not a town, it's not a house.. I am most comfortable and most at-home when I am surrounded by the people I love. I assume that comes from the fact that I've moved around a lot, but it makes so much sense. I think I first realized this when Ocean Grove became part of my life. People that only spent 2 or 3 months together a year are the best friends you could possibly ask for. I am so proud of OG for having so many reunions. We have all lived in different places, but always come together for things like New Years Eve, or basically whenever there is a holiday and we have time off. I have to say that I am the worst, because once I moved to Boston I got sucked into my life there and I have missed quite a few things. But I know that if I can get there, it will be like going home again... if the party is in Garfield, or Philly, or where ever someone lives at that time... it will always be like going home again. I think the all time best quote to sum up Ocean Grove is from the Garden State (amazing movie) "Maybe that's all family really is, a group of people who miss the same imaginary place." And then I found an incredible group of people in Boston, and even though some relationships come and go and things can get messy, I feel at home in Boston, and that in its self is an amazing realization to come to. Anyway, what got me thinking about all of this was reading Ben Casnocha's blog (LOVE him) and he mentioned a book he was reading called Hearth and the Cosmos: A Cosmopolite's Viewpoint by Yi-Fu Tuan. He talks about the tension between the "hearth" (family and local ties) and the "cosmos" (cities and external urban life). I encourage you to read the book if you're interested, although I haven't so I'm not entirely sure what I'm endorsing, except for Ben's opinion, but he copied two quotes that I found really interesting. Tuan writes, "The elite can have both world and home, they can be cosmopolitan and yet return to the hearth for nurturance and renewal." and, "The more Americans participate in... globalism, the more they learn for locality, tradition, and roots -- for the hearths and ethnos that they can directly experience and understand, for the small milieu that yields emotional satisfaction." I think it is an incredibly interesting topic and something that I have been thinking about a lot lately, so I felt it was worth sharing. Listen to the song "Hometown Glory" by Adele. It is one of my favorites, as she says "The people I have met / Are the wonders of my world."

A little note for everyone my age: Please stop getting engaged and married, I'm starting to feel really old. This past month I have heard of so many engagements, plans for engagements and weddings, it's starting to become quite overwhelming. When did I get old enough for my friends to start getting married?

On that note, I have a very interesting blog to write about Marriage and the Vietnamese, but I'm too tired to write it now, and I have to wake up early to skype with my parents! So expect that next time.

Here is a picture my friend took on a recent trip to Sapa. The major minority tribe in Sapa, H'Mongs, are often seen walking around with their babies in a basket on their back. Their clothing and jewelry is also usually very similar to this. You can see my pictures of Sapa, but I don't take many up-close-people pictures, and I thought this one was beautiful.

2009-01-30T19:39:00.001-08:00

I'm pretty sure I've read everything there is to read on the internet. Everyone around me is vacationing and I really need to find something else to do.

I like this.

For Being Smart Again. And Sexy Again. And Optimistic Again.

And this.

A really neat video, and I like the song too.

And this, obviously.

Sometimes I think I born in the wrong generation.

I find out sometime this weekend (I hope!) If I have visitors coming next month. The suspense is killing me. I also am awaiting a package from Boston, going on two months now, that I will hopefully get this week. Since I don't know what is in it, but have heard from multiple people that it's really good, that suspense is also killing me.

I think the lady that does my laundry has been stealing some of my clothes. How to confront her about this, since we don't speak the same language, should be interesting. Thats on my to-do list.

I'm sad I'm going to miss the superbowl. Since I really don't like football, and have trouble following it, what I mean is that I'm sad I'm not going to be hanging out with the boys eating a lot of food and making them turn on the puppy bowl during halftime.

Paulo Coehlo posted the first two chapters of his upcoming book on his blog. The third one will be up next week. I'm not sure how many he's going to post, but it's worth starting if you're interested.

I'm trying to learn new things in this world of the internet. So far: 1) Google Reader is a great invention. If there are a lot of blogs that you follow daily (besides mine, I mean) it really makes things easy for you. 2) Twitter does not make any sense to me, and I question the need to know what everyone is thinking at any given moment. No I don't have an account. 3) I still have a love/hate relationship with facebook. Last night I went through and "defriended" people that I don't ever talk to, won't ever need to talk to (aka, I kept some for networking purposes), or met one night that I barely remember. I have only ever defriended ex boyfriends, which is one of those "it seemed like a good idea at the time" ideas, but it always makes something in the future awkward. Defriending people you don't even know is so much easier, and I recommend it.

I've been downloading a lot of music lately, and finding some great things. Started listening to Regina Spektor, who has a very quirky thing going on that I love. It kills me how much music there is out there, and how easy it is to find/get. If you have anything to share with me pleaseeee do.

I start teaching again next week. Then only three months of teaching! I can't believe how fast timing is flying by. Yet at the same time, time here moves so s l o w l y. It's like island time, only slower. Once I start teaching and people I know are back in Can Tho, I will be thankful for this. This week it's been killing me though. I miss having annoying conversations and repeating the same things over and over again. In front of where I live there are always a handful of xe om (motorbike) drivers and whenever I walk outside they all try to flag me down, which happens at least once a day since I have to walk across the street to go to the market. None of them ever speak english, but I had a great conversation yesterday...

(driver) "Alo! How are you!?"

(me) "Good! How are you?"

Silence.

(driver) "I love you!"

Ah Vietnam, the land where I am loved, and definitely needed for English teaching purposes.

Jo took this picture out of her apartment window and sent it to me the other day. I always hated winter, but this makes me miss things a lot. New appreciation for the change of seasons.

2009-01-27T20:43:00.000-08:00

Rant of the week:

Vietnamese people have an amazing ability to make you feel terrible about yourself in the nicest way possible. It's ironic because on a daily basis they also make you feel like you are a queen, and it seems there is no middle ground. Example: My roommate, one of the sweetest people I have ever met, looks at me with the most genuine smile while she tells me that I have gained weight since I have been here. They don't mean to be insulting, they are just very blunt, and there comes a point when you want to scream at them for so politely pointing out all of your flaws, but you can't because they are simply stating the facts, and like I said, in the most polite way possible. It's a very strange thing to learn to accept. But at the same time they are always telling you how amazing you are and waiting on you hand and foot, and it is much like being a celebrity/politician, but where is the middle line? Why can't I just be ignored on a daily basis like everyone in America who generally disregards everyone around them?

Second rant of the week:

It is generally considered rude to not eat what is given to you when at dinner with Vietnamese, especially in their home. When I went to my friend Kieu's house with my roommates, I was startled that I didn't recognize anything on the table, except for the centerpiece of a chicken, was was easy to label because it had the claws and everything. I've gotten incredibly good at trying things I don't understand, even though not knowing freaks me out. But the one thing to remember is to never finish your plate, unless you want seconds, because they will always give you more. I was serious about the being waiting on constantly, every time I put something in my mouth, it seemed to have been replaced before I went back for another bite. The problem comes, well MY problem comes, when I am full. They seem to just not care. After I ate more then my fair share of the meal, I was stuffed, and so was everyone else at the table. But then comes the fruit (fruit is custom after every meal) and they say it's not filling, which I understand, but they were saying they were full and making me eat it! I said "I'm full too!" A million times and it was like they didn't even hear me. THEN came candies and chocolate. (Candy is eaten a lot at this time of year, to bring in a "sweet new year." But the fact that I didn't/ couldn't stomach anything more was irrelevant. Followed by sunflower seeds, which we seemed to be eating just for something to do. None of this would have been that bad, if I didn't have to go to a second dinner with Thao and her friends, but I did. And then my roommates (the ones constantly feeding me) wonder why I'm gaining weight. It's all so ridiculous.

Well anyway, it's officially a new year. It is kind of nice to get another chance for resolutions, just in case you messed up the first three weeks, here's a chance to start over. It's the year of the Ox, and there has been a lot of celebrating around here. A few customs: Tet usually lasts around 15 days. There are fireworks on New Years Eve, which I mentioned, and the three days following are days of celebration. The first day is reserved for your family, when you all get together and eat a lot of food. The second day is for friends and the third day is for teachers, which is today, and I am going to Thao's house tonight with Julia, Alice, and Alice's parents who are visiting, it should be a nice time. Before Tet, all of your debts must be paid off (great custom, if you ask me) children usually get "lucky money" which is a red envelope (red is the color of good luck) with new money in it, and as the name says, it's known to be lucky. Children also get new outfits, and as was custom in the past, although the new generations have succumb to "Western ways" everyone turns a year older at Tet. Most of my students celebrate their own birthdays nowadays, but some of the older generations don't even know when their "Birth day" is, they just turn a year older in the new year. They also completely clean their house (think spring cleaning) and decorate it with things that bring good luck and fortune. There are a million "good luck things", like a butterfly flying into your house, and whoever is the first to walk through your door in the New Year is suppose to determine the rest of the year. My first guest was Thao's friend Anh, who drove me home after the fireworks, and everyone giggled because a boy was the first person to enter my house. I'm not sure what that means exactly, but they said don't worry, it's good (giggle).

Don't let the rants through you, I'm having a great time. I start teaching next week and I'm happy to be done with vacation, because I feel like I haven't done anything in a verry long time. I have had a ton of time to read and write though, and I've found some really interesting things online. The latest blog I've added is Ben Casnocha, a very young, (and very good looking, which is irrelevant) entrepreneur. He touches on a lot of interesting points, and he knows how to speak to my generation, so it helps me relate to 'the business world' in a different way. He's worth checking out.

I've been listening to classical music and jazz, and it's been a great switch. I like it because I can listen to it while I read all of these blogs/random things I'm finding on the internet and I'm not distracted (lyrics completely steal my attention and its hard to read something worth paying attention to while singing) My friend just sent me a Ravi Coltrane album, which you should check out of you're into Jazz. And a little Mozart never hurt anyone...

2009-01-26T21:25:00.001-08:00

A text message I received from one of my students, one of the many wishing me 'good luck & prosperity' as well as 'longevity and happiness.' This one was worth sharing:

"Wishing you one year of happiness, 12 months of fun, 52 weeks of gladness, 365 days of success, 8760 hours of good health and 525600' lucky, 31536000s usual. HAPPY NEW YEAR."

:-)

2009-01-26T05:55:00.000-08:00

Added a few new pictures, enjoy!

Quote for the day; our president.

"The victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other."

2009-01-24T04:02:00.000-08:00

A few things to start. Although feeding the elephant might be my favorite picture ever, I thought I should keep changing it. This was in Sapa, when An and I climbed a mountain, and that was our tour guide! I also recently updated my favorite websites & songs, as well as adding some pictures. I wanted to share some of my pictures from Jamaica, which was my first life-changing vacation. If you're reading this and don't know: I spent my last spring break in Jamaica with a group of students from Northeastern on what is called Alternative Spring Break. Being the "Team Leader," I helped plan a trip to St. Elizabeth where we built a playground at a primary school. We also spent the week teaching the kids some of their lessons and endlessly playing with them. Not only is Jamaica absolutely beautiful, but the hospitality we received from the families in this parish, who are among some of the poorest in Jamaica, opened my eyes to so many things, and humbled everyone on our trip. There were tears in everyones eyes when we left, and I know no one on that trip will be the same. We worked with the non profit VIJON, if you're interested in more information. I'm happy to say that NEU is sending a group of students back to work with VIJON again, and that one of the students from my group is the new Team Leader! I can't wait to hear what they accomplish. Anyway, this was what really pushed me over the edge to do whatever I can to help, and to see as much of the world as financially possible. So I hope you enjoy the pictures!

I think you should:

Listen to: 1) the new Andrew Bird album, Noble Beast. One of the better things I've heard in a while. (Dad- I think you'll like it!) 2) Chris Cornell - anything acoustic/live. He's my latest obsession.

Read: 1) The Alchemist. I found it incredibly easy to read and follow. Great story about following your dreams, everything Paulo Coehlo lives up to. He is coming out with a new book soon, I'm pretty excited. Check out his blog, and read the entry of his comments on the new book, The Winner Stands Alone. It sounds like I'll love it. 2) Revolutionary Road. Actually, I didn't like this one. However, I've heard great things about the movie, so you might want to read it before/after and decide for yourself. I'm betting I'll like the movie a lot more. 3)I've started reading Sense & Sensibility. I found a SMALL section of English books at the local bookstore, all of them classics, and I realized I've never read Jane Austin. I'm about halfway through it, it takes me a lot longer to read then Paulo Coehlo, but I absolutely love the language, and the romance. It's keeping me occupied.

Watch: 1) Blood Diamond. I think Leo gets better with every movie he does, but this was just an amazing movie. I also watched some of "The making of" and it's so interesting how they filmed it with real children (as opposed to actors, not fake children) and were able to educate them about it at the same time. Anyway, definitely worth watching. 2) The Prestige, One of those movies where you can't get up to go to the bathroom or you'll miss something, and one that you have to watch again to figure everything out. I'm still thinking about it.

Life in Vietnam. Well last weekend I had a great American weekend. It was Alice's birthday, so Frank came up and we had a party. We made mojitos (mm) and she made homemade chocolate chip cookies (she brought baking soda back from America, and they were perhaps the most delicious I've ever had.) We also introduced my two favorite American drinking games, Beer Pong and Flip Cup. Although some of my students were there, and it was slightly embarrassing, we tried our best to teach everyone how to play. Flip cup ended terribly (some people just can't flip cups!) and beer pong was a lost cause because there were no specific teams, and we all know that I get angry when the rules are not adhered to. Regardless, I was incredibly happy to play for the first time since August. It's the little things. We spent the next night playing Kings (my least favorite drinking game) and then went out dancing, and it was a good old American-college weekend.

The two days after that I went to Rach Gia. It is a province about three hours away from Can Tho. Our friend Frank teaches there, so he showed me around. I actually really like it there. It's less of a city then Can Tho, but still pretty big. And a little cleaner.. mostly I think because there is less traffic. It was a relaxing few days though, bike riding, eating delicious food, the normal Vietnam days, just in a new place, which I'm hoping to do more of. You could tell there were a lot less foreigners in Rach Gia because i got about a million more stares then I usually do. I don't think you can truly understand what I mean by this... people actually just stare at you. Some of them smile, but even then you cant be sure what they're thinking, because its culturally known that some Vietnamese smile when they are nervous, not happy. Anyway we sat down by the river and people literally would stop their motorbikes right next to us and stare. I would say "Wanna make bets on how long they will stay there?" It's ridiculous! I thought it must be what being a celebrity is like. A few people stopped to talk to us, and one girl came up to me with her cell phone and asked if she could take a picture of me. That turned into a photoshoot: Me and her, Frank and her, the three of us together, us with her friend. It's completely nerve-wracking, I wonder how quickly those pictures get forwarded to all of her friends and passed around the internet, I will never know. Note to self: I could never be a celebrity. Although Frank mentioned that its close to being a politician, which I have to agree with. Everyone wants something from you, but mostly they just want to be in your presence. Invite you out with their friends just to say that you were there with them, and you have pictures to prove it. While it is really, really annoying sometimes, I can't imagine what it will be like to walk down the street and NOT be noticed. Another reason going home is going to be hard to adjust to.

I stayed there an extra night to watch the inauguration because my hotel room had a tv. This turned out to be quite the ordeal. Just as it goes in Vietnam, if you're having a great day and have high expectations for the evening (ie. being able to watch the inauguration) something will not work out in your favor. To make a long story short, we finally found a TV that showed it, at 11:30pm, but it was a French TV station. So yes, I watched in inauguration as it was overdubbed in French. Quite the experience. I was able to listen to most of it, some of it got lost in translation (HA!) but there is always youtube for that. It was a pretty funny experience. It was nice just to watch it and feel a little bit closer to home, part of history, even though I'm half way across the world.

Then I took a mini vacation to Phu Quoc, which is an island in south Vietnam, although it is very close to Cambodia and apparently they want ti claim it as theirs, but it's not. I rode the SuperDong (insert own joke here, the boat really is called the SuperDong, and I really did have to ride it to get to the island) about 2 1/2 hours from Rach Gia. I stayed in a cute little bungalow on the beach, and just relaxed (and got a tan!) for a few days. The water was actually a lot dirtier then I had expected it to be, so for my last day I went to a different side of the island and it was absolutely beautiful. After my trip to the islands in Thailand, I think I'm a little bit spoiled, because I'm not sure anything can compare. But it was a beautiful island, and had I gone there first I would of thought it was absolutely amazing.. I'm just a little spoiled now. I'll put up pictures soon, but hopefully I'll go there at least one more time, it's easy to get too, just a little expensive (relatively.)

Last weekend one of my students, Duy, aka Tiny Cat (they choose their own English names..) took my back to his hometown for the day. It was about a 2 hour motorbike ride to the province of Vinh Long, which is right next to Can Tho. I love going to the country side, it is so beautiful and a nice change of pace from Can Tho. I met his ENTIRE family.. as is custom to Vietnam, you don't move far away from your family. A whole row of houses consisted of his aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmother, a 92 year old blind woman who was incredibly happy just to touch my arm. It was a really nice day. Duy's mom made a delicious meal, and he taught me some Vietnamese! He has the most beautiful garden in his backyard and I got a lot of fruit to take home, picked right off the trees! The country side reminds me a lot of Jamaica, and then I realized.. thats just because it's a countryside in a tropical location. Anyway, beautiful. Unfortunately I forget my camera, but they took a few pictures of me with the family I'm hoping he will send me.

I've also spent some time touring more of Can Tho with my friend Thao, who I have mentioned many times before. I also forgot my camera for this trip, but it was really nice. She showed me a famous pagoda, and there were kids practicing dragon dancing in front of it, which i love. We also went to this French colonial house, which has been featured in movies, and I forget the details of it, but I'm hoping to go back with my camera one day because it was beautiful.

So, thats a sum of my life recently. Today is New Years Eve, and tomorrow starts Tet. I have a few plans for the next few days, so after it all wraps up I will write a little about the Chinese New Year! I hope everyone is well. xoxo.

2009-01-13T07:13:00.000-08:00

Bono wrote an op-ed piece for the NYTimes. I don't care what you say, I like him. Read here.

I also read this interesting article and I wanted to know what you thought about it (Doug?) I don't know how I feel about religion and for some very specific reasons I don't really care to figure it out right now, but I have to be curious about this. I think some people, especially the young professionals this seems to target, want something to believe in, no matter what it is. But is this it? It seems to me like it would be too easy to belong to a group of people, and not necessarily what the group is based on... but then again, if it works for someone, where is the harm in that? I'm choosing whole-heartedly not to get into how I really feel about that, but I want to hear your opinion.

In other news, The New York Philharmonic is going to Vietnam for their next tour for the first time ever! It looks like a started a trend huh?

Yes I spent the entire night on NYTimes.com.

2009-01-11T07:03:00.000-08:00

How can you not love Asia?

Watch this. I've never actually seen this, but i did actually laugh out loud while watching this video.

And this. At first this might be overwhelming, but watch it a few times and notice how smoothly everything actually works out. It's unbelievable. I was re-reading my orientation packing from CTU, and thought this was worth sharing:

Road Rules:

Basically, there aren't any. The biggest vehicles win, by default. Be particularly careful about children on the road - you'll see kids playing hopscotch or football in the street. In cities there is a rule that you can turn right on a red light. Jaywalking is common here.

I'd like to add: Turning left on a red light is also common. And in my opinion, a lot easier.

2009-01-09T07:03:00.000-08:00

Things I remembered I forgot:

1) I received another gift from my university. Just in case you don't remember the first one, it was for Woman's Day, and inside a plastic bag I received a bag of pasta, a can of condensed milk, and a bag of sugar. This time it was for Teachers Day, (which was in November, but I just received in my mailbox after being on vacation) and it was.... drumroll please:

A bar of soap, and some cheese.

If I didn't love Vietnam before, I definitely love Vietnam now. There's not much else to say about that. Just another "Only in Nam" story.

2) Mosquitoes are nesting EVERYWHERE. Since I've been back it's been worse then ever, and the other girls have confirmed this, so I'm not just going crazy. Every time I move something a million mosquitoes fly out of it. They like dark things/places, and that has always been true, but I'm wondering why there are so many of them right now. Maybe because the weather is cooler? I thought there would be more when it was more humid? My roommates told me that the females bite, and the males are the ones that nest, so in theory I don't have anything to worry about. In practice, its terrible and I wish they would disappear.

3) Another Only in Nam story (which could be changed to "Things I Never Thought I'd Say" : last night my roommate accidentally killed a toad. They usually hop around the house all the time, although lately I haven't seen them as much. They don't do any harm, and I have it in my mind that they probably kill insects that I don't want around, so we never do anything to them, and they generally stay out of our way. Well last night one of my roommates opened the door to the outside bathroom, and it happened so fast she smashed the toad and killed it and screamed. She actually started crying and it turned into a little situation. Being a Buddhist, she is against killing animals, and i had to convince her that it was just an accident and it was okay. The whole ordeal didn't last longer then five minutes, but I thought it was worth sharing.

4) Watch this video. Great story, great interview, great film.

"Whatever you do, do it for peace."

2009-01-09T03:09:00.000-08:00

Since I've been back in Vietnam, I've had many instances where I am literally thinking about how I'm going to write this in my blog when I get home, but once home, I'm usually at a loss for words. I've been struggling with how to explain some of my "every day life" situations to people who have never been here. It's much like taking pictures. As you can tell, I take a million pictures everywhere I go, but looking at them never does the subject any justice. Part of what is so amazing about being here is that I do get to share it with you, but its the hardest part to fulfill because no matter how many pictures I show you or how many stories I write, it will never describe exactly how I felt at that moment. For example, being in Kuala Lumpur, standing next to the Petronas Towers, which were the worlds tallest buildings until 2004, and are now the tallest twin buildings in the world. I took a million pictures and posted my favorites, but will you ever know how it felt standing there? It was incredible.

I didn't take this picture.. but it's beautiful. And hey, I was there!

Anyway, since I've been back in Vietnam it has been really nice. It was a place I recognized as home, but it was still foreign to me. I thought I was going to have slight culture shock again after being in big cities for so long, but it wasn't anything like that. I knew this place, and I was so happy to be back. I spoke only in Vietnamese when I got off the airplane. Okay, so I can't "speak Vietnamese" but I can try, and I said every single thing I knew how to say, including tell a random stranger I was an English teacher at CTU, because that is the once sentence I've perfected. It was comfortable to be back. After being really homesick before I left for vacation I was considering moving, and I'm so glad I didn't. A good rule of thumb I can apply to a lot of things I've ever experienced is "When it's good, it's great, but when it's bad, it really sucks." not one of my finer quotes, but it's as simple and as complicated as that. In a way I think that it's good, I don't really do anything half way, but thats always been true. When I'm homesick I want to book the first flight home, but when I'm enjoying everything, I can picture myself here forever. Well maybe not forever. but certainly longer then this. In a way I think I'd rather have it this way. But when I'm homesick, its so hard to be away from everyone.

I haven't had many responsibilities lately, but it's been nice to just hang out. I've been spending a lot of time on the internet - it's amazing how much you can find. I use to hate the internet, and well i certainly have a love/hate relationship with facebook, but I've found so many interesting things. There are countless blogs - on anything you want. I use to hate them but since I've started writing one I really enjoy reading others' perspectives. I've also been doing a lot of research on sex trafficking, which is the field I'm looking to get into in the future. (I know music will make a way into my career one day.) There is so much I want to talk about, learn about, but mainly it all comes back to one thing: what can I do? My only answer right now is to share with you some of the interesting things I find. First, here are a few facts about human trafficking today, also known as slavery in the 21st century. The average age of a woman getting into prostitution is 14. The youngest is 5. A few stories that really got me thinking: A mother sold her own daughter to sex slavery in order to obtain money for their family. The mother would boast to her neighbors about how her daughter was living in Cambodia and making all of this money, and she had a nice house and car to show for it. She left out all of the details, but had no problem showing off all of her new "things" to her friends. It wasn't until her daughter contracted AIDS and all of the money had gone toward her hospital bills that her mother was ashamed for what she had done. Now at the age of 27, they are waiting for her daughter to die. And she was lucky. Her mother, being the one the owned her, brought her home and brought her to the hospital. Most girls living in brothels don't have this luxury. Another disturbing fact: The problem with fighting this crime in Cambodia is that the government is corrupt. The police are often customers to these brothels. Not only do they know what's going on, but they are having sex with these girls. When a brothel gets found, and authorities go to "take it down" in many cases, the police warn them ahead of time and by the time the cops get there, its empty. The story that weighs on my heart the most was one girl the age of nine, who entered herself into prostitution to make money for her father. The stories get worse. I put a link up of an op-ed column in the New York times I found. His name is Nicholas D. Kristof, and he's done a lot of research on sex trafficking in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which was not only my first stop on vacation, but the girl I met there was doing work with the Somaly Mam Foundation, which is another website you should look at, and which is how my interest in all of this got started. (How was that for a run on sentence, Miss Samantha? I swear my English is getting progressively worse.) Anyway, his latest article is just one small testament of how horrible it is for these girls that get trafficked. Be sure to watch the video he added. It will change the way you think about slavery, and hopefully get at least one person worked up enough to do something about it. You can find the article and video here. If you have time, read his other articles too, I think he's a great writer, and he writes about other topics, too. There are a lot of videos and articles you can look at online, and I encourage you to explore these. If for nothing else, just to educate yourself. A little while back, I was talking to someone I was very close to about new things I was learning about the treatment of animals and the meat industry in America and how I felt about it, and he replied with the very well known "Ignorance is Bliss." Really? It's true, what you don't know can't hurt you, but are you just willing to accept that? I'd like to believe that we can gain knowledge without losing the joys of innocence. Of course there is a balance, but how can you just accept ignorance as an answer? That was (the beginning) of my realizing that I'd rather not spend my time with people that think that way.You can argue it, and I can see where that particular person was coming from, but I disagree. And I'd rather not surround myself with people that can settle for that as an answer.

Well I certainly can digress. Back to Vietnam...

I've been spending a lot of time with my friend Thao. My first day back she let me drive her motorbike! Upon returning to Can Tho I had it engraved in my mind that I was going to rent one. They look easy enough, and especially when it gets unbearably hot, I will not want to be riding my bike around. So Thao put her life in my hands and taught me how to drive. It was the most exciting thing I've done in a while, but I was going ridiculously slow and in circles, because turning left is the single scariest thought that crossed my mind. And while I was driving "on the road," once we got to big road that had a lot of traffic I pulled over and made her switch haha. She's determined to let me do it again, but every time I say.. maybe next time. I think maybe I'll let her drive me around until I stop being scared. We eat A LOT of food, drink a lot of bubble tea, play badminton, and my favorite thing, just drive around the city. There's not a whole hell of a lot to do, but I love just driving around. And Tet is coming fast and the streets are so busy and decorations are going up everywhere.. more on Tet at a later date. Thao and I also have had some really good conversations. She's becoming more and more comfortable speaking English and even corrects herself, which is good because as we both realized yesterday, I tend to not notice her most common mistakes anymore. I think it's because my ears have adjusted to "Asian English" and for the most common mistakes (ex: When do you come back to America) I usually miss the problem. 1) Every student makes that mistake, mainly because that is the literal translation from Vietnamese to English and 2) I hear it so often now I understand what they are asking and just answer the question, forgetting I'm the English teacher.

Really Long story short: I'm really happy to be back. I love Can Tho and everything about this experience, even when is sucks. Last night, driving around with Thao, the thought crossed my mind that I was leaving soon and I got sad. Isn't that crazy? It's too soon to be getting sad. But in the happiest moments, you never want something to end. I've also come to LOVE my roommates. They are leaving in about three weeks, which I am pretty sad about, it was lonely before they got here. And it wasn't that I didn't like them, but I was kind of hoping for Western roommates (albeit probably European). That was so silly. It's been so much fun living with girls from Thailand. They are my age, but with the innocence level, it's was very strange at first. But coming back, I love it! They laugh at the silliest things, and are ridiculously happy. They are great cooks, and kind of treat me like they are my mother, but in a way it's nice. It's nice getting to know people like them, and I'm sad that they are leaving soon.

On other news - I think I'm moving to Boston when I come back. I've been pretty up in the air about it, and I have a lot of different feelings about it, but the more I start to tell people the more I think it's the right decision. And maybe it's not forever, but I think it's okay. At first I was skeptical and well I don't want to bore you with the details, but even through all of it, I still think its the right decision. If its not, I can always come back here next year, or move somewhere else. The thing about an experience like this is it opens your mind up to so many different opportunities. Half of me wants to settle and half of me wants to be a nomad for the rest of my life, but all of me knows that nothing is permanent, and I think that is the one thing I can be sure of. I get a little disappointed when people think they can't change where they are in life, even if they are miserable and now exactly what will make them happy. Some people aren't fortunate enough to believe in the fact that things can change. Digression again. So there it is, in writing, I'm moving back to Boston.

A higher note to end on, and one that is impossible to digress on: I LOVE FRUIT. I decided today, a little while ago, that I am going to buy Pineapple and Dragon fruit, among a few others, every day. Maybe not every day, especially when my roommates leave, but there will ALWAYS be fresh pineapple in my fridge because it costs me the equivalent of .30 cents, and as much as I love Haymarket, I doubt I will ever be able to re-live this experience. And they are just so good!

2009-01-06T01:52:00.000-08:00

I don't know when this became an image of the day blog, but I think my dad will like this! :-)

2009-01-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

2009-01-03T17:13:00.000-08:00

Chuc Mung Nam Moi!!

(Happy New Year!!)

I'm back home in Can Tho! Still reeling off of vacation (you always need a vacation from vacation) and I've been lounging around the house/ sleeping for the past few days, but it's really nice to be back. It is nice that it actually feels like home, after sleeping in different beds every night for five weeks. My first night back I went out with my (former) student and friend Thao, for dinner that I absolutely missed - the food here is just so good - and bubble tea, my most favorite thing ever. I would describe it to you, but I don't really get it. It's tea - but it usually has milk and you can add a flavor (mango!) and it has bubbles - alright you might have to google that one. Anyway, then we rode around the city and she let me drive her motorbike!! It was more terrifying then it should have been and I was afraid to make left hand turns, but I was out there on the road with every one else!!! Okay, I was wayy on the right side of the road going a lot slower then everyone else, but I was doing it! I would love to rent one, I'm going to find out the prices tomorrow! It was a great welcome back. I spent NYE with An and her friends and I had a lot of fun. I'm so glad to be back! I start teaching this week, but my schedule is pretty slow and then I have another two weeks off for Tet, which is their New Years holiday (lunar calendar).

Goodbye 2008. A great year in review: It started off with a bang at 486. New Years Day was even more memorable then NYE, which can only mean good things. Momentous events: I spent my spring break in Jamaica building a playground at a primary school and teaching and playing with the kids all week, as well as being in a beautiful country and getting to know really great kids from Northeastern. I graduated college. Even though I don't intend on using my degree anytime in the near future, as Marisa says, undergrad is more about learning about yourself, teaching you how to drink, and meeting your best friends. All of which, I accomplished. I fell in love., even though I knew I shouldn't have. I spent time home this summer, which I haven't done in a few years, and it was really great to be a part of Ocean Grove again. I even won an award for "Best Comeback" or something like that. What was that called? The awards were silly, but it was true. I had been gone for a while and it's great when you can come back and its like nothing ever changed. Or a lot of things changed, but for the most part, you can try to pick up where you left off, and I'm incredibly lucky to have such an amazing group of friends. I moved to Vietnam. I became a teacher. I visited Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, & Singapore. From having never been out of the country before to in one year being to six different countries, and living in one! It's all kind of surreal. That's a lot for one year, I can't imagine what is going to happen next. For that reason, I say Hello 2009, but I'm not putting any goals or restrictions up. If, on NYE last year, you asked me if ANY of the above would have happened, I would have said no. (Well I knew about Jamaica and graduation... but nothing else!) I have high hopes, at least!

Marisa sent me a great e-mail with 101 questions about my life and what's going on here. I'm going to use that to update you all within the next week. I've gotten way to personal on this thing- what is it about blogs? Anyway, sorry about that for those of you who really don't care haha. I'll have updates about teaching and getting back into my Vietnam life soon! Until then enjoy my pictures, and there are still a few more to come!!

Another great quote: (yes I have a library of them, and can give you a quote for however you feel on any given day.)

"Tourists are those who bring their homes with them wherever they go, and apply them to whatever they see... Travelers leave home at home, bringing only themselves, and a desire to see and hear and feel and take in and grow and learn."

And congrats to the Bostonian of the Year, and one of the many loves of my life, Paul Pierce.

Ps. I bought my plane ticket home! May 25th (if anyone's keeping track..) And no, I'm not flying into Boston, and I've already gotten yelled at twice for that, so don't bother. My parents would have killed me! :-)

2008-12-28T05:16:00.000-08:00

Teachers for Vietnam @ Can Tho!

Well I'm in Singapore! Who knows why I make the decisions I do. But I'm here! This country is amazing. The city is SO clean and beautiful. But so so so expensive. It's ridiculous. I've overstayed my welcome, but going to stay one more day and fly back to Vietnam for NYE. I miss it. I keep seeing things that remind me of Vietnam and I get all nostalgic and I think, I'm so lucky I'm going back! I'm going to be miserable when I return. I actually am sort of afraid to go home. I've changed a lot and I'm only halfway through this experience! My closest friends have kept up with my and my crazy thoughts, but I know for sure things won't be the same when I get back. I'm not the same person so I intend on moving somewhere where I don't have to fall into the same traps. I read this book called Buddha or Bust... I highly recommend it if you are at all interested in Buddhism, or just reading an interesting book. A journalist went on a trip around the world to follow Buddhism and how it became what it is today, and how it spread across the world. Anyway there were two things I wanted to share. One was this quote about exactly how I feel. He was talking about his own travels and he said,

"As nervous as I was about taking off on this journey, I was getting equally nervous about the prospect of its end... it meant that the magic dust would wear off, that I would be drowning in receipts & financial problems, back problems, and relationship problems. Once the trip was over I worried that I would fall into the same old rut I'd been in before." A little bit more dramatic then I would have put it, but I could have written that. We even have the same specific problems haha. Anyway, I'm not overwhelmed with these thoughts yet, but I know that I will be.

Another good quote from a not worth mentioning book was "The ocean a blank slate, as today becomes yesterday and we cross into tomorrow. It's the closest I'll get to time travel. I like the idea of going into the future and am already lamenting my imminent return to the past."

Anyway, I digress. Buddha or Bust had another great part that I actually coppied down because I wanted to share with you all. It was written by a Jewish / Buddhist / Comic. His name is Wes Nisker. In a stand up show he presented his idea of Zen Socialism - "letting go together" for all literal purposes. Anyway, I thought it was completely brilliant and if I were president.. well,

"The first step would be for the US to resign as a super power. As an ordinary nation, we would redirect our $500 billion a year defense budget to build the greatest education and health systems in the world. To ease the transition I'd introduce a plan, not unlike the New Deal, called the New Age Deal, or the Great Leap Backward. I would establish a US Department of Meditation & Therapy, with deprogramming centers to teach hyperactive people to become less productive members of a less productive society. Then we'd put them to work on disassembling lines shoveling metal back into the ground and deconstructing highways. We'd invite third world countries to send volunteers to teach us how to live with less and how to take siestas. Then we would do what we do best: entertain. We'd invite everyone to witness the worlds 1st international decline and fall at a theme park called Formally Great America. The downhill rides would be spectacular."

I'm not really sure how to follow that, so I'll just change the subject. I would also recommend theh book Dry by Augusten Burroughs. It its very similar to A Million Little Pieces, but a very real book, and a quick read. He also wrote Running with Siccors, which was just as good, if you haven't read that yet. Unfortunately out of all of the books I've read those are the only two I want to recommend. I will admit, however, that I have a book buying problem and I have about ten in my backpack right now. So hopefully at least one of those will be worth sharing again. I also read The Unbearable Lightness of Being, which was perhaps too intense for me at the moment, but it is one of those books that will mean something different to you every time you read it, which I love about a book. So if you're into it, you should also read that one.

And as if I don't have enough quotes in this one particular blog (what do you call one blog - one message? I don't know the correct term) I found another one, also from Buddha or Bust (author: Perry Garfinkel) that restates what I'm doing here on the other side of the world.

"That pilgrammage was about discovering the road, about fathoming the scope of the world and the billions of lives lived every day somewhere without me knowing about them"

I love it when an author is inside of my head. I just started reading Revolutionary Road (which is apparently a new movie) so don't tell me what you thought about the movie before I'm done reading. I also read Twilight- I gave in 1) because i was at a book exchange and it was the only tempting offer and 2) because i never game in to Harry Potter, or anything other trilogy or whatever for anything and a few people really don't understand why I haven't. So I gave in - and I was thoroughly disappointed. I really wanted to be hooked - keep going back for me. But it really didn't do anything for me. Anyway Sarah and I went to see it in Bangkok, and I just really didn't like the movie either. And I don't get this whole Edward Cullen phenom - he's not that good looking! So, I tried, but sorry I'm not going to get on that bandwagon.

A new obsession: this song. I heard about all of this a while ago, but one of my students did a presentation on this and I love this song. The lyrics are pretty powerful. And of course the whole "Free Hugs Campaign" was really great, too. I want one of those shirts.

Happy Holidays! Next time I write I'll be HOME in Can Tho :-)

2008-12-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

A woman squeezes herself into a transparent suitcase to raise awareness of human trafficking and mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Thanks to Marisa for sending that to me. I will never have the balls to do something like that. But thank god someone does. It sure does make you think. On lighter, related news, I may have an internship with the Asia Foundation working with a group of woman to prevent them from becoming victims of trafficking. More info to come..

Jessie just put up a new song on her blog, listen to it. I keep playing it on repeat. I love her. For so many reasons. One being she is an amazing friend, but mostly though, I admire her for being able to say whatever is on her mind. Why can't I ever do that? She also gets the point across, in a way that a lot of people don't have the guts to. You never have to guess with her, you don't have to be afraid to be yourself around her, and she won't put up with your bullshit. She also will take you shopping to make you feel better haha. Just a little ode to her, I'm missing my best friends today.

Also, thanks to Jo for finding me a job when I get back.

I'm currently in Kuala Lumpur, leaving tomorrow to go somewhere else in Malaysia (to be determined tonight, as I read my lonely planet to help me fall asleep these days..) and then I've decided to go to Singapore, then HOME. To Can Tho that is. I don't have money to keep going, and since Singapore is the most expensive, I figure that will be a good place to stop. I have so much to say about everything. When I walk around all day, random thoughts pop into my head, which I sometimes stop to jot down in my journal, but whenever I come online I don't know how to share everything with you guys. Maybe that will get easier once I'm stationed again. I miss having a home base. I don't know how people do this for a year at a time. Although I guess if I had the funds, I would enjoy it a lot more. Anyway, sorry I've been lame with country updates, I just don't have the energy to type it all up yet. I can tell you though, that I LOVE Malaysia. Possible even more than Thailand.. although I've only been to one city so I can't make any rash decisions yet. It is an amazing place though, I can't wait to put my pictures up and share some stories with you guys (if I can get to that..)

I am just missing people right now. My friends are really great, and I'm looking forward to a few packages when I get back to Can Tho, which is really exciting. There are people who keep letting me down though, and I wish that wasn't true. I've dealt with all of the bs I left behind, and I'm generally in a really great place, which is a huge part of the reason I left, so I'm really happy about all of that. But I guess some people will never change, which is just something I have to accept. And other people have just fallen off the map completely, which I guess I also have to accept, since I'm the one who chose to move halfway across the world. I'm just tired of being let down by people, but I suppose thats a part of this whole learning process.

Anyway, other then that rant, everything is good. I probably miss you, but I'll catch up to everyone once I get back, I promise! This is one of my favorite things ever:

2008-12-17T02:23:00.000-08:00

Well finally taking the time to put up some pictures and write some things down! I'm currently in Krabi, Thailand. On a beautiful island. I'm impossibly tan, and not upset about that at all. This trip has been unbelievable! There have been multiple moments where I have stopped to consider whether or not this is really happening.. but alas, it is.

Final thoughts on Cambodia: I spent ten days there, and it was more then enough. Don't get me wrong, it was absolutely amazing, and like everything else I've done, has opened my eyes up to more then I thought was possible. Look at all the pictures I put up, it really was beautiful, in a way that only a third world country can be. You can see how hard it has been in the past three decades to move on from war and try to make lives for themselves. The countryside is beautiful, but there is a sense of sadness everywhere I went. That being said, the entire country is one big tourist trap. I feel bad saying that, because I assume that is where most of their money comes from, but its unbelievable. They use USD there, which completely threw me off, but they constantly try to rip you off. The thing is, they can, because there are people that will give thema ridiculous amount of money because it means more to them.. but after my time there I was DONE bargaining and just was itching to get to Thailand. Overall, it is an amazing place, filled with history, but as I was following many of the tours I felt like I was at an amusement park, following the crowds and taking pictures of all of the same things over and over again. The killing fields and the genocide museum really hit home, don't take the pictures lightly because I actually felt a little sick and left before I was done looking at everything. Of course, I already wrote how Sihanoukville was amazing, but then Siem Reap was very much a tourist trap, and I was glad to head to Bangkok.

I had slight reverse culture chock when I got Bangkok. First of all, I met Marisa's friend Sarah, who was awesome and spent the better part of two weeks with her. She is doing were Co-op there, so it was nice to see a different part of Bangkok then the normal tourists see. The city is HUGE, bigger than NYC, and screaming all things western, but still contains the quickiness of Asia, and the fabulous Ladyboys. It was like a western city, and I did have a little trouble adjusting. But after a slight panic attack (that may have been fueled by Starbucks, as opposed to the Nescafe I usually drink) I eventually got the hang of taking the Sky Tran (above ground subway) and finding my way around the city. Sarah and I spent a night out trying to decide whether the topless dancers for girls or guys (we had no choice, there was nothing else to do) and I also spent some time feeding an elephant, which you should have already seen the pictures of. It was great to spend time wit Sarah, we shared stories of NU friends, stupid college things we've done, or that our friends have done, and it was nice to be around someone who was on the same page as me. After a few fabulous days in Bangkok we took the overnight train to Phuket, an Island in Southern Thailand.

Since then we have been island hopping. We took a boat to Phi Phi Island and snorkeled near coral reefs, swam with fishes, etc. (this is all in the Adaman Sea) We also spent time on a few other islands such as Krabi, Ton Sai, Railay Beach, and tomorrow I leave for Ko Lanta. We also spent a day Kayacking through one of the islands caves and mangrove forests, where monkeys roamed free, and even jumped on out boat. Then (while I was TERRIFIED) he ate a piece of pinnapple off of my leg! So many exciting things are happening I can't even spend the time explaining them all. This traveling life is getting pretty ridiculous. I've already spent most of my money, although I have quite a bit of time left. The only thing to do besides laying all the beach all day (and the sun is freakishly strong, so you can't even do that) is swiming in the warm and very clear water, and then eating, drinking, and shopping. It's getting tiring.

That was a super brief update, but it took forever to put up pictures and I can't afford to stay on here any longer. My Thai Visa is up on the 21st, so I'll be continuing Island hoping until then. Then.. who knows. I'm thinking Malaysia.

2008-12-11T02:23:00.000-08:00

Three photo albums are up! They are of Angkor Wat and Bangkok. I still have about 500 more, but you'll just have to be patient because I'm on the way TO THE BEACH. :)

2008-12-10T10:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Human Rights Day!

(Click there)

2008-12-04T18:36:00.000-08:00

It's been really bugging me that I didn't really finish my thoughts on the whole American/European rant. Although Doug wrote quite a good response, and you should read his comment. What I meant to really get into is the fact that Americans just don't seem to even consider it. It's straight to college, straight to work. And so many people don't even enjoy what they are doing, and have never had the chance to see what else is out there. You can say its the culture shock, but its the same for Europeans, but somehow they have the mindset that its OK to take time off. And it is! Boy have I engrained that into my head. I am backpacking through Southeast Asia by myself, but there are SO many other people doing it. It's really the easiest thing ever. And it's so cheap (once you get here..) It sure does add up quickly though.. But it is a good point that its easier to travel where you know someone. Fleeing to Vietnam by myself wasn't that appealing to many people, but it was a great decision! And now, you know ME, so I would appreciate some visitors...

I am now in Siem Reap, going to see Angkor Wat tomorrow (see the Cambodian flag if your not sure what that is!) I use to love the traveling part, trains, buses, I've done it all so many times, I love airports, etc. Something about it all excites me. But traveling here has turned me into bitch! Whenever you arrive to a destination you are BOMBARDED by moto drivers. They literally stand in your way so much so that you have to push through them to get off the bus and to find your luggage. All the while have them screaming in your ear "You want moto lady?" "You want tuk-tuk?" Over and over again.. Its annoying because yes, I do want a moto, but I don't know where I'm going, and Iwould like to take a few minutes to find my bag and pull myself together enough to figure out where the hell I am. They don't understand that much English, so I just put my head down and keep saying no until I can walk far enough away where I only have five guys harrasing me intead of twenty. Then of course, its the race to find a guesthouse. The drivers get a commision from certain guesthouses, so they work hard to convince you that is where you want to stay. Last night (in bitch mode) my driver brought me to a different part of town then I asked to go. I took out a map and said "NO. I asked to go HERE." The place was nice enough but it was in the middle of freaking no where. So I sat in my tuk-tuk and I said "Take me there now." He said "Okay, two dollar." "No- you said ONE dollar until I found a place." "Two" "One" "Okay lets go." This took a few minutes and drew quite a crowd, but he drove me into town and I only paid a dollar. Sometimes being a bitch pays off... I'm in the best place ever! I'm paying $8 a night (way out of my price range) but I have a confortable mattress in a real room. A tv, my own bathroom, WITH hot water. I was SO happy when I was settled last night. I took the longest shower and it was so fantastic. Then I had a great nights sleep. I would say I am the least high maintenence person I know, but for $8 a night, I deserve a ilttle luxury now and then.

Some thoughts on Asia -

Food. Still amazing, everywhere I go. I have tried all of the local Khmer dishes, including Amok and Luc Lok, but since I don't have this availability in Can Tho, I"ve also indulged in western things like omlettes and pizza and french fries. Sometimes you just need to. My favorite foods overall are fresh spring rolls (although fried are amazing too, I'm trying to stay away) and Fried Rice, of any variety.

Markets. I don't understand them. A positive - you can literally find anything at all you might ever want/need/wear/use... anything. But what a hassle!! Everything is piled on top of one another and the aisles are SO narrow and there are people everywhere yelling at you "You buy miss" "You buy from me now" "You want scarf" Etc. I usually end up buying things from the people who don't hassle me, because I like them better. Which brings me to the next thing I don't understand...

Bargaining. I just don't get it. They ask for $10, I say $5. From there it goes a little something like this... 9, no 5, 8, 5, 7, 5, 6- its my final offer. 5- its my final offer. okay 5. Seriously! You know you are going to agree with me, why are you wasting my time. Its the same for moto drivers. They say something and I say one. If they don't agree I just walk away, there is another moto every five seconds and someone will take my dollar. As soon as you walk away the guy pulls up beside you and says "Okay one dollar, get on" It's a ridiculous sytem. I definitely miss fixed pricing.

Bathrooms. For those of you who have the benefit of being able to pee standing up, congratulations. For everyone else, practicing the art of squatting is quite the experience. Not only this, but men pee everywhere. I can't even tell you the number of men I've seen peeing. Just right on the side of the road. MUST BE NICE. While you, the bus driver, can pull over at any moment you wish and hop off the bus and pee rightt here, and then get back on the road, we, the female riders, have to hold it in until we reach a rest stop. We also have to always carry around toilet paper with us. Which has become a part of the daily routine while getting ready in the morning. "Wallet, check. Money, check. Toilet paper,check." Also, hot water is a hot commodity. I haven't had it up until now, but when he told me for $1 I could have hot water I said, sure why not. The water heater is already in my bathroom, and the guy wont turn it on unless I give him an extra dollar a night. It certainly is nice though...

Anyway, I'll be here for a few days and then off to Bangkok! I've always always always wanted to go to Thailand and I am super excited for it! I think I'll post some pictures from there too, I have seen the most amazing sunsets that I really want to show you guys. Miss you!

2008-12-02T22:31:00.000-08:00

I believe I've found heaven on earth.

But lets back up a bit.. I still have a lot to say on Thanksgiving and Cambodian history and the wonder of why no one ever taught me the history of southeast asia. I didn't learn a thing in any of my history classes, so I guess it wouldn't have made a difference, since I lived in America for 22 years and can't really tell you much about anything history related. One week in Cambodia and I'm a walking history book. But alas, I don't have time to write about it all. So do yourself a favor today and research the wonder that is Cambodia. You will not be disappointed.

I spent an extra day in PP because I got sick. This was interesting because I never got sick in Vietnam and I think I forgot that Iwas going to a different country and things might be a little different. Luckily it was only for the night, and I was with Sarah so I got to stay at her place, which was a MUCH better place to be sick at than my three-dollar-a-night-room-with-shared-bathroom guesthouse. So after lounging for a day, I took a $5 bus to Sihanoukville, which is what I am now calling heaven on earth. I'm paying $2 a night for a matress on a floor, right on the beach. It's amazing here. The white sand and light blue WARM water and hot, hot sun are exactly what I was looking for in a vacation. The sun is freakishly strong here and I'm a nice red/golden brown color. You can be jealous.

I spend my days lounging on the beach, swimming in the water, playing beach volleyball with a million Europeans, and generally having a great time. I spend my nights sitting on the beach and eating/drinking/chatting. I haven't even gone into town because I'm afraid this is all a mirage and if I leave the beach it will disappear. I met two Americans (finally) from NY.. one of them just graduted in May from Northeastern. SMALL WORLD huh. We can't think of anyone we know, except a professor, but how strange? Things never cease to amaze me.

I brought up the question of why aren't there more Americans out here on the backapckers road. There are europeans everywhere I turn. I can't put a finger on it, but I guess it's just the way we are raised? I've been to quite a few places all over America, some multiple times, but I imagine if you live in Europe it isn't out of the ordinary to travel to different countries. They are all in such close proximity I know everyone who studied abroad there took advantage of that. But if you think about it, a flight to London is approximately the same as a flight to Cali.. and I've been to Cali a handful of times, but never stepped foot in Europe. If someone can do research on this and get back to me I would greatly appreciate it.

Tomorrow I leave heaven on earth and go to Siem Reap, which will be amazing, and I'll explain all about it afterwards. As a whole, I have noticed that I am bias on Vietnam. I think of it as more then just a country I've been to, which I guess was the whole point in me living there in the first place. It is easy to see how Vietnam has moved on and pushed forward after the war, while it is taking Cambodia a bit longer get over the Khmer Rouge Regime.. but I can see development. But driving through the country I felt like I was in India (a feeling I do not know, since I have never been, but I kept thinking about it.) Much less developed then the parts of Vietnam that I've been to, a bit dirtier, overall not as "nice". But the sites are worth seeing, and this little unknown beach is worth moving here forever. Many travelers end up staying here for longer then expected, some start working at the bars, its not a bad idea. But alas, I have to meet Sarah in Bangkok and I'm looking forward to a travel companion, and more eautiful beaches. I also plan on doing more "beachy" things.. maybe a boat or snorkeling, as many things as I've never done before to cross of that list. I can't wait!

I'm getting even slower with the emails (sorry!) Its easy to get internet access.. but I just don't want to haha. Keep writing though, some of us have gotten into some good novels, and I love you for it. Stay warm. :)

2008-11-27T23:45:00.000-08:00

The Travel Diaries.

I know it's only been four days, but I am seriously in love with Southeast Asia. Not only does it have some of most beautiful structures, pagodas, temples, and beaches (everything, really) it's history is amazing. Its amazing that I'm constantly learning.

Summery: First I took a bus to Chau Doc, which is on the border of Vietnam. I hired a motorbke (probably too much money, but he spoke English well and I liked him) and saw a few of the pagodas, and drove up Sam Mountain (really more of a hill) and watched the sunset over the mountains in the distance: to the left, Vietnam, to the right, Cambodia. It was beauitful. It poured rain on the way back to my hotel, so I ended up just relaxing there for the night and doing some reading / trip planning.

The next morning I took a speed boat to Phnom Penh, Cambodia! I've been here since. Through a friend of a friend I met up with some expats and celebrated Thanksgiving with them! The night before I went to their house and helped with the chopping/cutting while drinking wine and listening to Frank Sinatra. They have a really nice house, and it was great to talk to them. Then on Thanksgiving I went over early to help, and there ended up being about 20 people there. It was nice because I was not the only new face, everyone seemed to be a friend of a friend, which is part of what I love about the expat community in general. Thanksgiving dinner was delicious, everything homemade. I've never particularly been a fan of the holiday but it was so great! I piled food on my plate, mixed things together and everything tasted amazing. I had great conversations with everyone (almost!) about what they are doing here and how they like it, it's so great, everyone has a different story and a different experience. They also have the cutest puppy in the world, and I think it may have been one of my favorite Thanksgivings to date. We ended the night (a 1:30am decsion) going out dancing, which was a fun night cap.

Today I did/am doing all of the touristy things, and I have learned an incredible amount about the history of Cambodia. I have a LOT to write about this, and other side stories but my time here is up! I hope everyone had a good holiday. I have so much to tell you I wish I had the time but the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda is calling me...

Ps. I'm terrible at buying gifts/souveniers, even for myself. If you want something, you're going to have to be specific.

Pps. If you leave a comment on my blog, you might want to mention who you are, because there are a ton of Anonymus postings and well I just can't read minds.

Miss you, love you, but generally don't want to come home :)

2008-11-24T08:19:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't written in a while, but I've been very busy! The semester is over, and I am officially a teacher! I have given midterms, finals, and final course grades. It has been a roller coaster of emotions and I am completely in love with this country, and specifically with Can Tho. I have so much to say but no idea where to start, and nothing I say will fully explain how I feel. I am overwhelmed with emotions!

I leave for vacation tomorrow morning! By Wednesday morning I will be in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where I will celebrate Thanksgiving with a group of Americans I know through a friend of a friend (oh to travel!) Then by the weekend I will be relaxing on the beautiful beaches of Sihanoukville. Other then that, I have very little plans, and I'm looking forward to it.

I wish I had more time to talk, but my head is trying to figure out what to pack and trying to stay awake long enough to do so, so I can't write much, but keep writing even if I don't get back write away. You guys have all been the best supporters I could ever ask for, and I can't wait to share my upcoming vacation with you!! Have a great Thanksgiving, and I'll be in touch soon!

"The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." -Into the Wild

2008-11-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

An interesting thought to sleep on... or wake up to, depending on how you look at it.

"Everybody is talking about crisis, the end of the world, the crash of the stock markets, etc... But in my generation, the hippie generation, we didn't have money as our ultimate goal, and I think that now we have adapted ourselves, or were forced to adapt ourselves to a new reality.

Don't you think that this is a new beginning, a new beginning for us to see the world differently from what society has forced us to see?" - Paulo Coelho

2008-11-16T01:16:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't been around lately. I'm swamped with finals and grading. Other then that I've been incredibly introspective and googling everything possible for next year. This experience has opened my mind up to a lot of different options I didn't know existed, and sometimes I'm overwhelmed by the amount of things I can do. Sometimes though, I just want things to be simple. Is it possible to want two incredibly different things? For now, I'm considering a change of pace here in Viet Nam. More on that later.

People from home have been surprising me, both for the good and the bad, so I'm trying to work all of that out in my head. Distance is an interesting thing. I miss Boston, and fall of last year. Which is also an interesting thing because it was one of the more emotional times in my life, but through it I made some of my best friends. I'm craving a social life, of any kind. I'm definitely not made to be in isolation. Even when I do something, its so different here. Anyway, the jury is still out on everything, and I don't have much to talk about but I wanted you all to know I was alive and kickin'.

This morning one of my students woke me up (9am on a sunday morning!) She was at my door and wanted to make me breakfast. While I was staring at her and contemplating ways to say no she said "I already bought everything." So basically, I didn't have a choice. So I took a few minutes to change out of my pajamas and sucked it up. Then in the middle of eating she randomly gets up and says okay, time for me to go now! Not sure I'll ever get over the bluntness of some things.

In one day I re-read The Secret Life of Bees. The first time I read that book I had a serious emotional connection to it, and I brought it with me in case I needed to read it again. Apparently I did. Is it weird when a book is comforting? Apparently the movie is out at home / will be soon. Let me know your thoughts. The cast sounds great, but I'm not sure I want to see it. Some books can be ruined, and I don't want that to happen with this one. But anyway, read the book if you haven't.

Everything else is going well, just the last week of the semester crunch and countdown 'til I leave for Cambodia (10 days!) I haven't fallen in love with skype as much as most people abroad have, but I have been catching up with some people via phone.. I think the video part is too weird. Anyway, if you want me to call you leave your number because I seem to have misplaced my phone charger. But I've loved talking to people, sometimes a phone conversation is so simple and exactly what I need. Everyone was out tonight for Mary's birthday in the city and they passed the phone around, and even though it was the same minute long conversation with everyone, it was really nice to hear everyones voice. I love you guys! I'll try to write again before I leave for vacation (and I'll try to write back to my emails too.. they seem to be piling up - sorry!) A quote I just found:

"We beach kids have it easier, our oceans always listening, whispering back in waves that the world is big, horizons always inviting us to dream."

2008-11-09T05:30:00.000-08:00

So many things happen on a day to day basis, I'm sure there is a lot I've yet to mention. Everything is going so well, I really love it here. Only two weeks left of the semester! It is nice because I don't really have any lesson planning left, but more grading, so I'm not sure which I'd prefer. Then I'm getting a visit from some of the people from Teachers for Vietnam, which I am really excited about. I really want to share this with someone, and even though I think they have been here before, I'm sure it is different then when they were last here, and I'm happy to be able to experience that with them. Then vacationnnn!!!! I cannot wait.

I put up a new album of pictures! There are a few pictures of my roommates, and a Thai meal they cooked for some of their friends one night that we had on our floor! Throughout the album are pictures of my three senior classes, as well as a few pictures I took on campus just because it was a particularly beautiful day. Then there are a few pictures around Can Tho. One of my students, Thao, took me on a mini tour one afternoon, and we actually went some places I had never been before, which I was amazed at because the city isn't very big. We went to this part that is being completely remodeled. Right now the only way to get into Can Tho is by ferry, but they are in process of building a bridge. It was suppose to be done by the end of the year, but there was an accident, and then the usual setbacks, so no one is really sure when it is going to be done (well no one I've talked to about it.) Thao took me to the end of the bridge where everyone will be able to drive into Can Tho. It is this beautiful countryside-like part of the city, I was able to grab a few pictures while on a motorbike (I've obtained almost-perfect balance.) The thing that really got to me was the construction - everywhere. There are plans to build this huge resort type building. As soon as the bridge is built they are expecting an onslaught of tourists, and are preparing for it. I have no idea when everything will be done, I'm sure not before I leave, but it was kind of sad to see it all. One part of me is happy because it will be great for the economy, but another part of me knows that Can Tho will never be the same - it will never be the same city that I have fallen in love with. I guess I have to suck it up and be happy for them, but a very weird feeling came over me as I drove around and saw all the construction and pictures massive hotels packed with foreigners. As much as I sometimes crave more of a social life, I have to say that I like it better here without all of the hype. Even driving down to Ninh Kieu Key, the tourist part of Can Tho, is not that far, and is usually filled with foreigners, but I never go down there, and when I do I like to go during the day when it isn't packed. You can go restaurants serving western food, but it is overpriced and that good, and if I eat at local places, the food is amazing and I spend about 50 cents. Anyway, I suppose I can muster up enough happiness for them.

The last few pictures were from friday night. We actually went out, which is uncommon for us. The true celebration was "My Birthday." Julia and I both have June birthdays, so we won't be able to celebrate them here. So we decided to pick new birthdays. Since we won't be here for our half birthdays either, I picked the month before and Julia's will be next semester. So, Friday was my birthday. It was really sort of underwhelming, I've never really had good luck when it comes to birthdays, but anyway it was fun to go out dancing. So the pictures are of my friends who came out for the "big day."

I finished reading Catfish & Mandala, I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a little more info on Vietnam today (although I think the book was written in '99?) But still - more of the Vietnam you should know about. Also, you should read this. The author taught at the exact same post I am teaching at last year, with a different program. He lived in the house next to me (now occupied by Julia & Alice.) I don't know him, but I came across this article, and thought you might enjoy it - I literally could have written it, except he seems to be a better writer.

Everything else is going really well. I had one of my classes over for dinner tonight, they are so great. I have some pictures that will be up eventually, but they made fresh spring rolls and fried spring rolls, and of course there was a lot of fruit. My roommates also joined us, which was a lot of fun. It was also nice because they were asking them all sorts of questions about Thailand, and I got a little break. After we ate everyone started singing songs. My roommates sang Thai songs and my students sang some english songs (that I didn't know, which was embarrassing) and Vietnamese songs. We were all sitting in a circle singing songs and I was thinking this is just such a great experience, and I will miss this so much. Isn't that crazy? Thinking about things I'll miss already? I think thats a good sign though, things are just really great and I'm realizing how different everything is and some things I just won't want to leave, my students are definitely number one. Okay, I'll REALLY miss the food, but I don't think its fair to put that first. Anyway, the best part of the singalong was when a crab walked into my house. Thats right, a LARGE crab, just walked through the front door. I was like ummm that's never happened before and I'm not really sure what to do! Luckily I had one male student and he picked it right up and took it outside. Like nothing weird happened. Oh, Vietnam.

Fun fact: If you google my name, you can find a lot of other Samantha Thornleys, none particularly interesting. What you can find is stats from a cross country race I ran in high school, an NEU article with a picture of me with the MEISA crew & John Esposito, and my blog. Is that all suppose to help me get a job? At least nothing embarrassing is floating around out there, although my time in that race was terrible. I'm sure there are a million other things I want to say but I'm exhausted, so I hope everyone is doing well and if I haven't heard from you in a while, you should probably e-mail me. xoxo.

2008-11-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I have so much to say I don't know where to get started, and I don't even want to try. Now is one of those times.

Case and point: I started this blog yesterday and Im still fixing it. I apologize if my thoughts are all over the board.

Everything is really amazing. I've finally (for the first time in my life, perhaps) stopped over analyzing everything. Things will happen in time, and somehow something great will happen, and it will be what it is suppose to be. It's as simple and as complicated as that.

I love getting unexpected e-mails.

I just bought a one way ticket from Bangkok to HCMC, which means I'll be celebrating NYE in Bangkok, and I have about five weeks before that to get to Bangkok. my route will be Cambodia - Laos- Thailand. Nothing is official yet, except my flight home, but at least its motivation to get going on my planning. Only three more weeks of classes left!

I've become obsessed with Top40 music. I've recently downloaded Britney Spears. I never gave her enough of a chance. I'm learning how to love music again, and I'm very happy about this. If you have anything worth listening to, send it my way.

One of my students gave a presentation on Paris Hilton. Her closing statement was "Even though she was in prison, she can do a lot of things that we can't." I guess you can't argue with that.

Vietnam. Whereee to begin. I feel like I have been talking about myself so much I haven't given anyone a very good portrayal of the place I'm growing to know and love. Up until now my time here has been a huge personal growth experience, so it was good to get all of that out. That is a big part of why I did this in the first place. But I'm moving forward, and I really want everyone to know and understand my day to day life . So I'll try to explain everything as best I can from now on.

I've settled into a pretty routine schedule. The morning is coffee/reading time. The day is filled with classes / grading / lesson planning (almost done!) / coffee & food. Depending on the weather I go for a run. It has cooled off a LOT since I first got here. It's been pretty rainy the past week, but I'll take it if it brings the cool weather. It should be this nice until March, where I might die from the heat. Anyway, then at night it's dinner and watching Friends with Julia and Alice. We've made this an every night occurrence (not sure what we will do when we finish the series..) It is something we all look forward to, and it is really out only time to just relax together. It is definitely the all american TV show, although the views of NYC make me miss it a lot. I finish the night off with a walk. Sometimes I do it after dinner, depends on the weather and if someone wants to come with me. I love walking at night - its a great time to just relax and think about things, or have a great conversation, or just listen to music. It is great when my iPod creates a great shuffle playlist - sometimes it just knows what you need to listen to. Other times I want to throw it away. I miss walking in Boston at night, although not in the cold, so I'm happy to be able to do it all year here. I missed the first snowfall!? Before halloween? Really? What happened to global warming?

It is amazing the things I am use to. As I sit here at the coffee shop, there is a little kid standing next to me, holding on to my chair, breathing down my back and staring at my computer. Five minutes ago he was crying hysterically trying to get my attention. Before that, an older woman was at my side. They are trying to sell me something, usually lottery tickets. I usually just don't look at them and they go away eventually. But I'm not even bothered by it anymore. Also, traffic. I saw a car driving on the road today and I thought 'hm, that's weird.' That's when I realized I've come full circle to accepting life here as "normal." I can't even imagine what reverse culture shock is going to do to me.

My favorite thing to do is take a food tour. I invented & named this myself, but it truly is amazing. I walk (or bike) and just stop places and buy something to eat. Every couple of feet there is a stand where people sell some sort of snack food. My favorite snack is bananas grilled in sticky rice. My second favorite is this coconut patty thing. Another favorite is fried dough. It is a few blocks from where we live, and only there at night, but sometimes we walk all the way there and buy fried dough or sweet bread -if one of us have a bad day, there is without fail a trip to the fried dough lady. Another favorite meal is a breakfast sandwich - Banh Mi Oopla.It is a bread roll with egg, cucumber & tomato, soy sauce, some weird looking spread, and something else weird on top. It is delicious. The funniest thing is not knowing what you are eating. At home I would NEVER do that, wouldn't even consider it because I don't like a lot of things. It isn't really an option here. It has become fun though, and whatever on that sandwich is delicious! Another great snack is sticky rice - its just sticky rice rolled into a ball and there is a salt/sugar concoction thrown on top and it is wrapped up in some sort of paper and you can buy it randomly on the side of the road. The best thing about a food tour is you never know what you are going to get. Every street is different, and there are different people selling different types of food depending on the time of day. I have a few favorites (I call them the banana lady and the banh mi lady) who know me and know what I like and get it right every time. The fried dough lady always laughs at us when we get there because we get way more then a Vietnamese person would. I bet you thought I was kidding when I said my days revolve around food...

For the most part, I've stopped thinking about next year. Well, I've stopped obsessing and making myself crazy about it. It still comes up with other people and everyone else is thinking about it, but I think I've turned that part of my brain off. I just don't want to deal with it right now. I'm still open to ideas, I'm certainly not ruling out anything just yet. But I'm getting a really good since of what I want / don't want in my life and I'm basing it on me, not on other people. This is the first time in my life I'm not "with" someone. Isn't that crazy. Even in the in-between time, I always seem to have someone. Its completely liberating and terrifying at the same time. But again, a big part of why I cam here.

I do miss socializing. I miss having a lot of people around, calling / texting / just generally being able to hang out with different people. I'm sick of facebook being the only way to get in touch with someone and I'm actually forgetting how to act in normal situations - which was apparent last night when we went to a party. It was the first in a while an we met more foreigners (yes, more Germans) and we realized that besides the three of us, we really don't get out much. There isn't anything to do and we are literally forgetting how to talk to people other than our students. I wish I was exaggerating, but I'm not. But I'm not homesick anymore and this doesn't upset me for the most part. I've reached a very comfortable point. I was reminded yesterday of how comfortable I am when someone was talking about all of the interesting and exciting things here. Since things have become so normal, I forget that - wow I'm actually in Vietnam, and there are crazy things going on all around me that I will never see again in the rest of my life, and some of them are really ridiculous. I want to keep remembering to soak it all up and not forget how crazy it is that I am actually here.

Reading Catfish & Mandala by Andrew X. Pham- I highly recommend it. I'm not done with it yet, but it is about a Viet - Kieu who takes a bike trip through Vietnam. It is a very accurate portrayal of this amazing country, especially its progress and the things that are really frustrating. I'm obviously not dealing with the same things he is, but to a certain extent I can relate to some of the things he talks about. Everything he says is very real, so if you're interested, his portrayal of Vietnam is much better than anything I could ever write. There are some great lines in the book. One is, "Vietnam is a country of food, a country of skinny people obsessed with eating." That's exactly how I feel. At least in the Mekong Delta it is. Another, "How can people refuse to help when they are living in a country where a teenager can earn more money in a day than a Vietnamese teacher earns in a month?" Another really interesting line is "I am in awe of the Vietnamese. I admire them. I respect them, but what I really want is to like them, to find them likable." I suppose you have to read the story to fully understand, but his view on everything is just very real, and very true. The people he meets on his journey put things into perspective for him. Again, I'm not good at explaining all of this. Read the book and then maybe we can talk about it.

One reoccurring frustration is the idea that all foreigners are rich. It is frustrating to argue this with people because a dollar goes so far here. Especially bargaining - I always feel bad because I don't want to be taken advantage of just because I am white - but in retrospect was that 25 cents really worth anything to me? It means a whole lot more to them and I understand that so it makes me feel guilty. But in American standards I pretty much have nothing, plus I'm way in debt after college loans. People always ask me where I have been in Asia and when I start to talk of my travel plans, sometimes I hear myself from their perspective and I just have to stop talking. It is so cheap for me to travel here I plan on taking advantage to see as much as possible... but people who have lived in Can Tho their whole lives don't have the same opportunity. Most of my students have not even been to Hanoi - something I've already done. Let alone another country - and I plan on going to four. So they charge me more because they "know" I have it. And who am I to argue, really. But sometimes it gets so frustrating. I was looking at flights online and my roommate was helping me with the conversion rates and one flight was a lot more then I expected and I was like oh wow too much - and she said "Why aren't you rich?" Maybe she caught me on a bad day, but I looked her straight in the eye and said "No- not all Americans are rich." And walked away. So much for me trying to open up her mind, and I'm sure I will get another chance, but sometimes I just can't take the assumption.

My students: they always cover their mouths when they giggle. It is more of an "I'm shy" thing, but it's really funny. It's even funnier when the guys do it. Girls hold hands all of the time. I've seen people holding hands while riding bikes- I don't understand it but it's really cute. And guys.. they don't hold hands, but they put an arm over the shoulder and walk down the street that way. I've already mentioned that they just have this innocent to them - its so different. In a way we are growing more immature, but in a good way. It is nice to not be so serious all the time. I look at them - most of my students just a year younger then me - and realize it is ridiculous to take things so seriously, I've lightened up quite a bit.

Things I have a newfound appreciation for: soy sauce, peanut butter, eggs, and Raid. You can put the first two on anything, and it only makes it more delicious. Eggs are also more delicious then I remember them being, and you can also put them with everything. My roommates cook friend rice three times a day, and it is an amazing thing. It's always different, and you can put all sorts of veggies in it. And well raid is just great, it kills any kind of animal within a minute- although cockroaches struggle for a while. It was truly a fantastic invention.

Something I will NEVER like / get use to / want, etc - chili pepper. Anything spicy. I think I've come a long way from what I would eat as a child - only hot dogs and mac & cheese (i would KILL for some mac and cheese right now) but spicy food is something my taste bud refuse to accept. Hoping I won't starve in Thailand..

Still making up for classes I missed when I was sick. Make up classes are always on Sunday and they really put a damper on the weekend. Also having trouble picking up internet and really hoping I don't have to start paying for it. They were talking about paying bills on Friends (it really is a huge part of my life) and I realized how much I don't miss paying bills. I have a really great set up here.

Sorry for the randomness of this - it would be easier to write shorter entries more often but sometimes I work better this way. Still waiting for a package my parents sent about five weeks ago, so if you plan on sending something, account for the delay. Missing everyone!! xoxo.

oh my.

2008-10-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

I just put a sweater on.

This made me check weather.com, where I saw that the temperature is 78 degrees, feels like 84.

I'd probably die in Boston right now.

Coming to terms.

2008-10-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

New picture self explanatory.

I have two new roommates from Thailand. Not sure if I mentioned that yet. Their English is enough for us to communicate, and although I feel like I'm living with my students, it's nice to have people around. I still spend a majority of my time next door watching friends and eating and doing work there, but it's nice to not come home to an empty house. They are the sweetest girls, too. They keep feeding me and cleaning up after me, which is slightly annoying but also the nicest thing. They are here until February, and I won't be here in December, but at least we'll have a little time to get to know each other, and hopefully they'll give me some tips for traveling around Thailand.

I'm trying to write an essay for Teachers for Vietnam about my experience so far and it is the hardest paper to write. I have so much to say and at the same time, there is nothing I can say that will really explain how I've felt. Luckily I'm just sitting around all weekend with a bum foot so I have a lot of time to finish it up. The foot is doing better, i don't think my toe is broken anymore because the swelling has gone down quite a bit. My ankle hurts the most now, so I think it was just all swollen and bruised. I've been staying off of it and I cancelled all my plans for today (football, volleyball, and a get together with my students) Actually, my students cancelled it all for me because they said it would be better for my health to rest. They are very concerned about what is good for your health. If there is a match in the afternoon they often tell me I should stay home because they are afraid it will be too hot and I will get ill. If I sneeze, they immediately ask me if I'm sick, and if I say no they say that it is probably just because of the weather changing constantly. I've never been taken such good care of. I've also never been respected as much. I realize this more and more every day, this is something I will miss when I leave. Not so much the being pampered, but just being respected and valued at a completely different level.

I have finally come to terms with being here. Is three months long enough to be over culture shock? I've realized, and confirmed it after talking to numerous friends who are now or have been abroad, that you can't completely settle until you've felt that homesickness. Getting over it has made me confident that I I will be able to get through anything. Not that it won't be hard again, I know that it will, but now I know that I can get through it. Thank god for the support system I have (I literally hit the bottom and didn't want anything else but to go home, and Whitney and Michelle told me I wasn't welcome and they didn't want to see me. In a weird way, that was the best advice I've received :) I'm still not sure if the internet is a blessing or a curse, but it is definitely nice to keep in touch with what everyone is doing. I hope you get a chance to check up some blogs I've posted the links to - I am lucky to know some really amazing people who are out doing incredible things with their lives. But anyway, this is where I live for now and this is my life - some days suck, but some days are incredibly rewarding, and those days more then make up for the bad ones. And it's suppose to be hard- otherwise it wouldn't be worth it.

Some things you all probably know about but I'm just catching wind of-

-Phish is playing a reunion tour this summer? Can someone clarify this and buy us tickets?

-Backstreet Boys are back in the recording studio? Doesn't anyone learn?

-Whitney from the Hills is going to have a spin of show about being single in Manhattan called The City? Am I crazy, or does something like this already exist? They couldn't even come up with a clever title!

-Tim Burton is making Alice in Wonderland. I can't decide if I'm really excited about this, or if it will be too terrifying for me...

-Sarah Palin rapped on Saturday Night Live? I'm currently trying to download the video.

I currently can't stop listening to Blinded by Third Eye Blind.

"Time passes and it tells us what we're left with. We become the things we do."

Today you are a Vietnamese woman.

2008-10-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Woman's Day. I compared it as a mix of Mother's Day and Valentines Day. In class, on of my male students presented me with flowers, which was really cute and nice, and invited me to a "party" that night. I ended up inviting Alice because it was a lot of her students too, and it was really funny and just great. They put balloons up all over the room and basically put on a show. There was karaoke, dancing, skits, and games. Most of it was in English but for the parts that wasn't one of my students explained the games to me. It was a really nice few hours. My student told me on the way there that today, I was a Vietnamese woman, and I thought that was really nice. The nice thing that was the guys gave flowers to all of the girls. It was so cute. As i was sitting there I (inappropriately) said to Alice, wow college in Vietnam is so different than college in America. Yes, that is slightly obvious in many ways, but sometimes I can't grasp the fact that these are college freshman putting on this "party." And giving all of the girls flowers and telling them they appreciated them. It was just a very different experience. Can you imagine that happening in America? It was like a version of Valentine's Day but the boys were excited about it and everyone was happy.

Dance performance.

Being presented flowers. All of the guys (there are only seven in this class) left the room, turned off the lights, lit candles, and came back in with roses for every girl in the room. So sweet!

I'm continuously amazed at how nice my students are. They are genuinely really sweet people. I'm also getting use to being waited on. Everywhere I go, my students always do things for me. Pull out the chair, order me a second drink, pour it for me, refill my plate, etc. This must be what being a princess is like...

As for my accident.. things are generally okay. I am actually in a lot more pain now then I was/have been. (I'm seriously questioning my English skills these days. ) My knee kills and my toe hurts even more.. I'm thinking in might be broken. But I really don't think that there is much I can do and I hope this doesn't impair my badminton/football/volleyball playing because I have a very busy week lined up. They guy that took care of the situation made the boys who hit me pay 2/3rds of the cost to get my bike fixed, so I was pretty happy about that. He was so nice! I want to buy him some sort of gift.. maybe bean cake, we'll see. Anyway, so lucky the whole thing worked out, but just in pain now. And also pretty shaken up in general, very nervous out on the road, but taking it easy. Overall, I'm still alive!

I would like to formally thank Sarah for not only all of her letters of encouragement (they really do help, and they always seem to come at the perfect time..) But for saying that yes, things do come in threes. But I had the flu and was incredibly homesick, & I forgot to mention that as number one. So now, I'm ready for all good things to come my way...

It is pouring rain and even though I am in my living room I am getting wet. This makes me laugh. But for the sake of my computer, I must be off! Until next time.. think good thoughts about my toe :/

Food Appreciation 101.

2008-10-19T03:55:00.000-07:00

It has been a pretty great week, post homesickness. I had a lot of meetings with students.. a lot of coffee, food, and chit chat. I have found my favorite thing to do. Riding on a motorbike at night. The weather is cool, and since I'm not driving it's so relaxing. Just driving around the city is my favorite thing to do and it always clears my mind. I love it!

Today we won our soccer game! I didn't do anything spectacular, but I definitely played better than I did last time, and I almost scored a goal! I know almost doesn't count in this situation, but I was pretty excited about it. All of my students noticed my improvement, although now they expect me to be even better next week, which is a of of pressure! Either way, it was a lot of fun, and followed by my team going out for sugar cane juice (delicious) and lunch (some sort of chicken/rice/catfish/veggies meal.. also delicious). This all happened during game six, so I'm sad to say I missed it, but it does not matter because we've forced a game seven! And I don't have anything to do tomorrow morning! FANTASTIC.

Friday night Julia, Alice, Ben and I spent the night in and invited over two Belgians we met the night before. It was overall a really good time. Fun, relaxing night, dance party included. Towards the end of the night I got into a pretty heated discussion with one of them Belgians about Vietnam. I found myself defending the country as if it were my home. I had been having small problem with people I have met who are "set in their ways." Not to say that I'm not stubborn, but I am absolutely open to others thoughts and opinions. Nothing frustrates me more then someone who just willing to consider that maybe their might be another way to look at things. This guy brought all my frustration back when he started knocking on Vietnam and how poor they are, and how sad things are, and a lot of other things I've chosen to forget. I just kept saying how Vietnam was growing and how it wasn't the same Vietnam as it was two years ago and it's not going to be the same in two years and that the people here are unbelievable and so friendly and learning English, and how much they love and are grateful to spend time with foreigners. It was like he wasn't even listening and just continuing with his thoughts. I don't really understand how someone like that can embark on a trip to Vietnam, of all places, if he isn't willing to open his mind up to the possibilities of this country, especially this city. Frustration. Luckily the night proved to be a success as I just walked away and did not spark conversation with him for the rest of the evening.

Then yesterday Julia, Alice, and I spent the entire day at one of my students houses. Her name is Thao, (English name, Michelle) and it was a really great day. The three of us were in a pretty silly mood, but we basically sat around and helped prepare food, and were fed all day. Her mother was so nice and helping to teach us how to cook. I am gaining such an appreciation for food that I never had before. Being a ballerina and everything that comes with it never really made me like food very much, and I definitely always took food for granted, mostly because I really didn't like it but you just have to eat you know? And i love junk food more then anything. Plus it was always so much easier to go buy something terrible for you than to get food and spend the time preparing it. In college I started to cook a little bit, at least a few staple meals that I perfected over the last two years. But here.. it's so different. The markets with fresh EVERYTHING is definitely the most exciting thing. I loved going to Haymarket on Saturday mornings in Boston, but this is so much better, and it's all day, every day, everywhere. You can literally find anything you need at a very reasonable price. Spending the day preparing food and then having a feast was so great. It is so nice to eat the food after putting so much work into it. And to see that everyone else enjoys it too. We have been spending a lot more time cooking and I can't wait to perfect some recipes and cook actual good food for myself and not have to eat out all the time when I go home (wherever that may be..) So to summarize: all I do is eat, and while everyone was worried I would come back too skinny, well I think we'll have the opposite problem. But I don't even care! Well not today at least..

So we all know that positives some with negatives right? Well...

1- Friday I locked myself out of my house. Because I had a lot of things to do I didn't get home and realize it until around dinner time, by which time the cleaning lady had gone home. I found someone to translate Vietnamese for me and we walked around trying to find a spare key to my house and I was told she wouldn't be back until Monday. I was so tired that I didn't even fight it and I slept next door. So when I got back from Thao's house on Saturday it was after five and I was so worried that everyone had gone home again. After walking around and trying to speak Vietnamese (and finally, calling An and giving someone my phone) I got into my house, finally.

2- As a prerequisite to this story - I AM FINE. Mom, Dad, everything is perfectly fine. However, while riding my bike home from class today, I got hit by a kid riding a motorbike. A few things to mention - A) he was literally a kid, couldn't have been more then ten years old, and I know there aren't a ton of laws around here, but I am pretty sure that's illegal. B) It was both of our faults. I was starting to turn left and he wasn't looking, so we kept going and hit my front tire and I sort of flew off of the bike. It all happened pretty fast. I'm sure I should have looked before I started to go, and I'm sure he should have been looking in front of him and also not driving his motorbike in the bike lane, but I also don't know how much of a "law" that is. Luckily there were about ten guys watching me who helped me get up and shake it off. One of them drove me to a doctor and I got cleaned up. I really only fell on my left leg and my knee and ankle are a little cut up, but I'm superrrrr lucky that that was all that happened. Oh and my bike was smashed up pretty good, but they said they would fix it for me. (I again had to call An and hand over my phone) C) You could say that I "got it out of the way." I sort of figured it was inevitable that something would happen sometime. So it happened. And nothing bad happened besides a few scrapes and bruises. I lived. So besides having to pay to get my bike fixed, there was nothing else terrible about this situation.

What i am worried about is... do things happen in three's even if you're in Asia?

Balance.

2008-10-15T19:25:00.001-07:00

New picture in Sapa during sunset..

I've officially made it through my first terrible bout of homesickness. I knew that I would get a little homesick while being sick, but this was truly a terrible experience. I literally wanted to go home. Luckily everyone took good care of me, and although the homesickness lasted longer then being sick, i finally made it over that hurdle. Not an easy feat. I'm thankful for having the internet to keep in touch with people, but I can't decide if it's a blessing or a curse. It's nice to reminisce but now I'm onto the next chapter and living in the past will get me anywhere. Trying to find a balance between keeping in touch and living vicariously through Michelle.

I've done a fairly good job of catching up with all of my classes, even though being sick put me a lot further back then just vacation. I've really enjoyed spending more time with my students outside of the classroom. Last week I played football (soccer). It is sort of like intramurals from what I can tell. I realized that soccer is the only sport I've never actually played. And although I didn't suck, I did not really contribute to the team. But we did win, and I was invited to play again this week. It was a lot fun. A student I didn't know kept shouting "pass it to Samantha, pass it to Samantha!" and sometimes it wasn't even our ball. Other times he was shouting "make a goal Samantha, make a goal!" when I didn't even have the ball! I'd have to say the best moment was when the ball came flying at my head and I ducked, and everyone giggled. One of my students said (and in the nicest way possible) "You know, you should hit the ball with your head when that happens." To which I replied, "I'm scared!" Which was then followed by more giggles. Whether I was good or bad, I know they enjoyed laughing at me, which is all I can ask for. I did have a great time though, and it looks like I'll be playing again this Sunday. I've also gotten together multiple times to play badminton with my students. Sometimes we'll just play in front of my house for fun. But on Thursday my students took me to an actual court and it turns out I'm not too bad. I had a throwback of Mrs. Gross (WHS anyone?) and silently thanked her for being a terrifying teacher. Anyway, I had a lot of fun. Besides playing in what felt like a sauna, I had a great time and might be doing that once a week also. Later in the night the "professionals" came to practice and I was literally scared. They were all older men and they were good. I've never seen badminton played so seriously before. I said to one of my students "I think I'm going to start practicing, I could be that good." and she responded with (very bluntly) "Maybe in three years." So maybe I won't be the best badminton or football player, but at least I'm doing something active, it definitely makes me feel better to get out and do something. Other daily activities include coffee or food with students (or An.) That pretty much sums up my life here. Coffee, food, and now sports. Oh and teaching. Lets not forget that I'm a teacher! I was talking to Alice today about how we sometimes find ourselves giving tests, or grading, or giving instructions and we think "Wow listen to me, I'm actually a teacher." I've definitely had a lot of those moments recently. But the semester is over in four weeks! I can't believe how quickly everything is happening. Time flies when you're having fun huh? Or when you are on you're death bed for a week. I feel like I was gone forever, and all of the sudden the semester is over. Somehow I'm keeping up with everything though, so there's generally nothing to complain about.

I think I have taken a hiatus from teaching at the private school. At first it was great because I was making really good money, but then I was teaching 14 classes a week and starting to have nervous breakdowns. Then I got sick, then went on vacation, then got really sick. When I got back to teaching again I realized that it really stresses me out teaching there. I told them that I am making CTU and my students my priority and teaching four extra classes a week is not a good idea for me. I'm here to volunteer, and while I know that being a foreigner looks good for their school, I felt like I was only doing it for the money, and thats not what I want to do. Someone once told me never to work for money. It was more longwinded and in depth then I can explain, but it meant a lot to me. I don't want to live from paycheck to paycheck you know? And I know I'm in a special situation, but I don't want to get in that mindset. Maybe next semester I'll be able to look at it in a different light and can teach a few classes there again. But I need to find a balance between making people happy and making myself happy. I feel guilty, but I feel like I was tricked into teaching four/five extra classes a week and only said yes because I felt like I had to. No more of that.

I've also decided to not worry about being a "foreigner." There are a lot of things I do, wear, say, etc., on a daily basis that are not natural, but it is what is expected. Then I realized, I get stared at ALL the time, and no matter what I do or how long I live here, I will still be one of the only white people and still be stared at. So what's the harm of doing something that makes me happy or comfortable. They are going to stare anyway. The other day my student picked me up for class and I was wearing a skirt (covering my knees, of course, I don't mean doing something disrespectful.) And I hopped on the back of her motorbike, as usual. When we started to drive she said (very politely) "You know, when most women wear skirts the sit with their legs on the side of the bike." (IE - they do not straddle the bike) I have seen this, but it looks scary to sit like that, and my response was "Oh well, I thought it would be okay because my skirt is long and it's still covering my knees, right?" And she said "Yeah, it's fine because you're a foreigner." Point and case.

So besides the sick/homesickness fall back I'm generally still doing really well. I get up at 7am to watch the red sox win, and to tell the truth, I snuck out of class a little early to see game 5, and I don't feel bad about it at all. I caught the last two innings, which was apparently all I needed to see. So keep your fingers crossed!! (I can't do that here, it means something different, and not nice.)

I'm looking forward to a day off tomorrow, hopefully I will keep myself busy because otherwise my head goes straight to Boston and all of the other places I could be. I don't really have anything good to leave you with, which is strange. But I do have an e-mail from one of my students at the private school. I wanted to share it with you all so you have a better idea of what I deal with/ how the students are. I taught this girl for the first time this week, and I'm having coffee with her tomorrow.

Hello Samantha. You teach my class. Do you remember? I impress you very much. You are beautyful and smile very nice. Hiii. I like to look your smile. That's the truth. Do you have free in Saturday night in this weekend? I want to invite you go to coffee shop with me and my friend. Are you okay? If you okay, we will pick you up. I hope you okay. Bye. See you on Saturday night. Goodnight Sam.

So sweet, I really do love them .

Hmm..

2008-10-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

I've also just decided to add a picture to the top. I'll change in randomly depending on how I feel. This picture is from the OG Crew Ball this summer. All of the best. <3

Inside my head..

2008-10-11T07:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't written in a while! When I got back from vacation I got very sick. I never went to the doctor (I know, I'm sorry!) I think I had the flu.. but everything is better now. The three others here took verryy good care of me, and although I couldn't leave my house for five days, everything is slowly getting back to normal. I haven't done much but I'm just taking it easy. The heat really wears me out in the middle of the day, I just really can't do anything. I don't know why I have such a hard time but I definitely have to figure out how to stay more hydrated. It is also amazing how homesick you can get while sick. Very, very homesick. I kept talking to some friends, and that helped, but I just really want the comfort of people you know? It's definitely just not even close to the same here. Anyways, everything is good now!

Good news: on one of the days I was really sick I turned on my TV for the first time (its been broken until now) and ESPN Live was playing the red sox game! Watching them win made me feel better, if that makes any sense. So now I can watch the whole ACLS Series! And (hopefully!!) the world series!!! It starts pretty early in the morning, but sometimes you have to make sacrifices for things that matter!

My vacation was amazing. I don't even really know where to start because I came down from my vacation high pretty quickly after I got home, getting sick immediately. But it was such a great trip. An & I went to Hanoi for an orientation for TfV. It was really nice to spend time with the other TfV girls. There are just some people you can just connect with and not because you have to. I miss that feeling being here. Anyway, we had a lot of fun and Hanoi was beautiful. I am definitely a city girl. It was amazing how Westernized the city was. Coffee shops and restaurants, huge tourist destination. It was nice to meet other tourists though. So many people just taking off time, and just traveling everywhere. Amazing. I had some really great conversations about a lot of different things, it was just a nice change of pace. In Hanoi we went to see the Water Puppet Show which is very popular in Vietnam, but it originated in the North so I'm glad we saw it in Hanoi. It was pretty cool, but I enjoyed listening to the music. It was the first live performance I've heard and it was really amazing! I love the different instruments and the way the music fits together in a way that would never be accepted in Western culture. It was really beautiful and tells the story. Sort of like how music use to be.

Then we took the overnight train to Sapa. We figured that since we were already in the North we should see something else, and I could afford to take a few days off so we did! I've already put up all of my pictures so I'm sure you've seen how beautiful it is (links on the left!) But I just can't really explain that feeling... literally at some points the view took my breath away. On the first day An & I rented a motorbike and drove up the mountain my ourselves to a waterfall. The waterfall was less than exciting, but the ride was amazing. First of all it was terrifying, riding a motorbike on the side of a mountain. I literally said "An, I trust you with my life right now." and she said "Well, you don't have any other choice!" Which was totally true haha. But it was just one beautiful spot after another all the way up the mountain. Then we drove back and walked down Cat Cat Village. Basically all of the surrounding villages are inhabited by different ethnic minorities, the biggest one being the H'Mong. It was really nice we walked all the way down the mountain, and we were by ourselves, and we went through the village and saw some of the children and their houses and where they all lived and worked and then we found this scary bridge & beautiful waterfall. It was really nice because for some reason we were the only two people there. THe walk back up through the village was VERY uphill, so we took a motorbike back the rest of the way, which I do not regret at all. The next day we went on a guided tour because I wanted to hear about the H'Mong and other minorities that lived in the villages. The children are beautiful, and some of the stories were really interesting. Anyway on that tour we went through three or four other villages, the whole time trekking through (up & down) the mountain, through streams, a bamboo forrest, waterfalls, and more scary bridges. It was amazing. I've never hiked a mountain like that before. (In flip-flops nonetheless!!) After we were done (it was about a 5 hour trek) An was having a hard time, and yeah I was exhausted but I was like wow I could go running right now! I couldn't have, obviously, and I didn't try.. but what an exhilarating feeling! An adrenaline rush, at the very least. I felt like I could do anything. To get home we took motorbikes back to the other side of the mountain. This was terrifying. The guy that was driving me was going way to fast and not slowing down for the turns. But I was in another world and I was so happy and grateful to be there at that moment I didn't even care. The moment I realized I officially was "rolling with the punches" My crazy motorbike driver drove really fast through a huge puddle and my legs and feet got soaked. The first thing that went through my mind was "Well, I needed to wash my feet anyway!"

Besides climbing a mountain, other important things I did were: eating duck & pigeon and liking them both. Throwing my camera half way down a mountain and screaming as I watched my life disappear and my heart stop beating. My trusty little Vietnamese tour guide hopped right down the mountain and found that it had stopped just where he could reach it. I was SO thankful. Did I say my camera? I meant Rob's camera. I have to worst luck! I think I'm going to sew it to me when I go backpacking. Anyway.. Learning how to ignore cute cute children begging you to buy something from them. Sometimes giving in and buying something from them. Taking the overnight bus home in the "hard seats" section to save some money. I don't completely regret this decision, as it wasn't mine and I didn't have a choice, but it was a great experience. It was like those trains you see with a lot of guys drinking and playing cards and being really loud while the two foreigners try to sleep. (ok An isn't technically a foreigner, but that's another story). Overall it was really a great experience. We then went back to Hanoi and spent time with some different people An knew and some people we met at an Irish Bar, and then went out dancing with. It was just a nice time overall, not something I was ready to come home after. Hope you enjoy the pictures!!

The one thing I hate about going away is that it gave me the travel bug. I need to see more, I need to keep having exciting experiences. Hopefully I adjust myself to this heat before I am stuck in my house forever. It has also been making me think A LOT about next year and I am driving myself crazy. I think that is what started my headache that started the rest of the downfall that was my health. I made a vow with myself to not think about the future for the next few months. Just for once to be here, now. I'm always thinking of the next step, sometimes satisfied, but still always once step ahead. A good quote from Whitney:

"I need reminders of why I think anything is possible, and why I think convenient and okay just isn't enough."

I heard a song the other day that had a really good line. You know how everyone always uses the phrase "When in Rome!" Well I was definitely saying it a lot on vacation, and I say it here in Can Tho sometimes also. And I was just reading my friends blog who is studying abroad in Barcelona and she said "When in Barca!" and then I heard this song and it made me think:

"But I'm gonna bet they never really feel at home, If they spend a lifetime learning how to live in Rome."

In interesting way to look at things, I think. Then last night Julia, Alice and I had a long conversation about where we wanted to live when we get back (and when that might be) and how scary that is. Such a crazy decision. Can't say I see myself staying in the next place very long, but ever since all of this has been going through my head I can't imagine not just picking a place to stay. What's so wrong with wanting to stay somewhere? I convinced myself once that it wasn't, and now I can't remember why.

I don't mean to be so deep but this is what I can't stop thinking about and this is what drives me crazy sometimes. Always has, nothing new. I do miss my friends though. It's a hard time for a lot of people and it sucks not being there for them, thats probably the bottom line of what all of this is about. Anyway, it's about time for me to go to bed. Tomorrow morning I am playing football with my students! They invited me on their team and I have NO idea what to expect. It should be fun though! I'll let you know how it goes!! xoxo-

back to real life?

2008-10-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

I got home from vacation last night!! It was the best couple of days I ever remember having. After planes, trains, buses, taxis, and many, many motorbikes, I visited Hanoi & Sapa, as well as spending time with a few of the other people with Teachers for Vietnam, and meeting some great foreigners who were just passing through. It was a completely different world. I said multiple times that I didn't even feel like I was in Vietnam. I feel like Can Tho was Vietnam, the rest is a tourist trap. I was slightly turned off by all of the locals who were speaking to me in English. Isn't that ridiculous? I was mad because I wanted to order my food in Vietnamese and they didn't even try to understand me and just kept speaking English. Regardless, I had the best vacation ever and have been contemplating a way to get back there for some work. I love Can Tho, and it felt great to come home, but my head is going crazy with all of the different possibilities there are for me. Every time I experience something I think, 'Wow it doesn't get better then this.' And then it does.

Anyway, now I'm back to real life and I'm completely overwhelmed with the amount of this I have to catch up on. I guess thats normal after any vacation. It's also so hot, and I've been spoiled by the slightly cooler weather in the North. Does everyone feel like they need a vacation after vacation? Also, I have no money because I think I forgot my pin # and apparently bank of america does not like my dad and is not willing to help out.

I will write a detailed account of my trip, it really was the most amazing thing I've experienced in a while and now I have the travel bug, which is making it hard to focus on my classes. I'm going to take a few days to pull myself together and then I'll tell you all about it. I also took about 500 pictures!

On a positive note, my pictures randomly decided to upload, so you can look at the link on the left. Its everything up until Vacation. I'll let you know when I've put those up!

Here is an article the director of TfV sent me about the motorbikes here. It's very funny, and completely true.
http://features.csmonitor.com/backstory/2008/10/01/vietnam-eats-sleeps-and-dreams-on-motorbikes/

Also found this video, and I think it's really clever. Not to mention that they are all some of my favorite famous people and they all look exceptionally good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olpCyDA4kYA

And for laughs, take a loot at this. Gotta love her.
http://thegreatschlep.com/site/index.html

Is it delicious?

2008-09-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

I apparently only write in my blog when I'm in a good mood. In case I haven't complained to you yet: there are times when I'm not happy and comfortable. I was sick for a few days this week and being sick really makes me miss the comfort of home and friends. We had a goodbye party for Mathew and Chris, and the next morning I woke up and the first thing I thought was, "I want to go lie on the end of Marg's bed and recap the night and everything else that I'm thinking." In case you don't know, that sums up three years living with her in Boston. Ever since then I've been homesick and actually sick. But I got some rest, talked to a lot of people and generally feel better. I'm taking a vacation starting TOMORROW, so I'm just really excited right now.

I talked to John Caprice the other day and it made me pretty happy. We shared very similar tales (I graduated with him and he's teaching English in Japan) Some things are pretty similar but some are very different. It was nice to share stories and hear that we aren't going crazy here - some things are really ridiculous. But its worth it. He said something that was worth remembering - "It's all about rolling with the punches. Because there is nothing to fall back on, but yourself." I couldn't have said it better myself. I would like to meet up with him somewhere in Asia.. we are both poor but its worth a shot. It would be nice to have some Boston in my life.

Last weekend Julia and I did a dance at a welcoming for the English Department Freshman.

Basically, we made fools of ourselves. We put together a "dance" to a Brittany Spears song. It included some hip shaking, the sprinkler, the shoulder dance, and the electric slide. Then we taught some of them the sprinkler, really really funny time. We also went to another gathering, for the school, and there were some really good dance / singing numbers. I'm really getting tired of sitting through things in Vietnamese. I know its nice to have us there, but they have to realize how a three hour long ceremony in another language is NOT appealing. Anyway, not a terrible time, just terribly boring.

I was talking to Steve Dixon about the boy who asked me about getting married (as i described last time) and I really enjoyed his response:

haha thats a good line.

I wanna use that in a movie trailer.

one woman went halfway across the world, to escape her past.

"one ticket to vietnam please."

and to find her future.

"i can't stay here forever, I just can't"

"but what if you fall in love?"

"I won't, I'd miss my family"

"what if it happens.. accidentally?"

Cue dramatic music, scenes of hugging on the beach and laughing on sidewalks at carnivals.

I miss sarcastic, quick witted humor. I told him he should pitch the idea to Kutsko, but he quickly said that he wouldn't be interested.

I have class in the morning, then off to Saigon, then Hanoi for my orientation. A few pictures...

a tree on campus that reminded me of whitney.

performance at university ceremony

a few singers.

on campus.

Night music.

2008-09-23T04:38:00.000-07:00

Monkeys.

2008-09-20T02:54:00.000-07:00

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."

updates.

2008-09-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Mid-Autumn festival. I know its a holiday for the children, and thats about all I know. I got two gifts - 1) a box of moon cakes. It was a really nice gift, but this is my least favorite thing in Vietnam. Think beans-and-meat-cake. 2) A bag of pasta, a bag of sugar, and a can of condensed milk. The other foreign teachers got this is well. We do not know what to do with it.

Thi-Bay (another foreign English teacher) and I went last week to help some of the kids make lanterns. This was my favorite.

My roommates left today! I moved upstairs to the best room in the house and I'm very happy about it. Its brighter, bigger, everything about it is better and I've finally started decorating. I hope people move in, this house is too big to be alone in! Three more people are leaving these next two weeks, its weird. I really hope more foreigners come! I don't know how An does it! Constantly meeting new people is great, but when they leave, its a pretty permanent thing.

An finished her final exams for school so she's done! And it was her birthday! So we've been celebrating An a lot. Which is okay, because she deserves it!! We are going to Hanoi and Sapa Valley at the end of the month and I can't wait! I'm ready to travel.

Pulling my life together for after this. There are quite a few ideas going through my head but once they get sorted out I'll fill you in. I'm also taking a survey of where I should move, if you'd like to contribute. But I do have it narrowed down to the top three, which you probably know.

People have been saying really random things to me lately through im's and email. (I've been stealing a good amount of free internet, I've apparently found the sweet spot in the apartment.) I would like to share some of them with you:

1) Hold on I have to Call Canada.

2) I'm going snorkeling, but I'll be in touch with you soon.

3) I'm going to walk a labyrinth tonight, I'll write more tomorrow.

You're all crazy, but I love you anyway. And I would like to add that Michelle and Chris are doing a really great job at making me laugh, but some things can't be posted for public view.

I'm starting to teach a pronunciation class this week for first year students. I have no idea how to teach pronunciation, nor do I have experience teaching first year students who haven't practiced speaking at all, let alone with a foreigner who speaks too fast. (I'm working on it..) So I'm nervous about this. Luckily, I somehow scheduled presentations for my other classes for this week, so I must have known that I would need a break with doing course work. I've also corrected my first written assignments. I was warned that the kids have a small problem with plagiarism, but I have two big problems. One I googled and found the entire paper online - word for word. The other one I haven't found yet, but the vocabulary is at a higher level then mine, and I know something is wrong but I haven't figured out what it is yet. It is really frustrating. I definitely already have a higher respect for teachers in a lot of ways that you just don't think of as a student. My favorite thing is when I ask a question and everyone looks down at their paper like they are reading or writing something. I totally did that in class. But it is SO obvious. It is also funny how much you can see. I played a lot of sudoku in my college career, and I thought I was pretty good at hiding it, but its amazing how much you can see as a teacher..

I just finished reading The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama, and a guy who interviewed him. If you are interested in the basics of Buddhism, this could be a good book. I found it very boring and hard to get through, but maybe that means I'm still content? I can't say I don't recommend it, but its a very beginners guide to Buddism principles.

If you are unfamiliar with the soundtrack from Once, listen to it. They are amazing.

I have too much to do.

2008-09-14T00:13:00.000-07:00

Thoughts?

Remember when pouring rain = movie day?

2008-09-10T04:44:00.002-07:00

...and not a half hour bike ride?

slightly aggravated.

however, KFC was DELICIOUS.

long week ahead

2008-09-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

This week I have to teach 13 classes. I'm suddenly overwhelmed with lesson planning. I also started taking my Vietnamese course, which has already been going for a few weeks so imagine going to a foreign language class for the first time in the middle of a review session. Very overwhelmed - and I've been up for a very long time so it should make for an interesting week. But I have promised people a new post so here I am!

I had a really great week. In my classes I taught a session on education in America and learned a lot about the education system here. I can't believe how much I'm learning from them, I hope my students feel like they are learning something from me! It is just a completely different viewpoint here. Right now I'm teaching all English majors. And in the beginning they told me they wanted to be English teachers, a few wanted to be tour guides, etc. I was amazed at how many of the kids really wanted to learn and teach English. Then I learned that 1) they have to learn English to get a good job to support your family and 2) If you are an English major with intention to teach you can go to school for free. You have to get a teaching job right after school, and if you don't you have to pay the school back for your education. But this is why there are so many dedicated English majors. At the same time, they really do want to learn, and they love foreigners because they just want to practice speaking English. We had a small get together the other night and some of the students and some of the other teachers came and it was really nice to just talk to them. Last night I went out with a few new students I met through a different school, and I met a boy who was interested in music. He wanted to know everything - theory in america, what's different, what's the same, what type of drum set should he buy, how much is a piano - he just wanted to know everything. And he wanted to study in America. So I gave him my email and I know I will hear from him soon. I have people stopping by my house and somehow calling me (once your give your number out, it spreads like wildfire) just asking to meet for coffee or dinner, they just want to talk. They really are so friendly. I've even met some adults on the street, in stores, restaurants.. even if they know very little.. they want to practice. The usual questions are "Hello! How are you! Where you from!" And although at times it is a little annoying.. it is somewhat endearing. While talking about education they were very interested in the SAT's. The system here is completely different. They have to graduate HS first, then they take a placement exam. They have once chance, and if they fail it seems as though it is an embarrassment to the family. Then they have to spend a whole year studying, and they can take it again the same time next year. They also have a few different subjects of study in testing, and each subject takes a few hours, which is also completely different. After they pass the exam, they have about two weeks to decide what they want to do. (Apply for college, pick a major, etc. There is no "undecided" option) We spend years thinking about this, and I can't believe how much pressure that must be. Then there are the students who are from the countryside, and either can't go to school because they have to work in the farm to bring in money for the family, or they get the opportunity to go to school, and they learn English so they can earn money for the family. I'm probably not saying this exactly how it is, but this is what I have put together from what I have heard. It's so amazing how much I don't know.

The amount of people who speak English just really amazes me. Yesterday I worked with some kids and I loved talking to them! How they know to say 'Hello' and 'Thank you' and 'how are you', to me. I'm everyday embarrassed by my ability (or rather, lackthereof) to speak Vietnamese. Or any other language. Which is number one goal for when I get back. - So much learning to do! But for now I'm trying to focus on learning Vietnamese. The two other Americans are learning with me and An is going to tutor us, so maybe we'll get somewhere. My hopes aren't too high, its really hard - but I have a good nine months to learn! Sidenote: I walked into my Vietnamese classroom, and there was a huge map of Germany on the wall. That 1/8 or whatever it is of German in me is really trying to tell me something. The other night I had a pretty long discussion with my friend Mathew about Germany and he even drew me a map! So still learning just as much about Germany as Vietnam, at least for another few weeks until they all have to leave!

I read Veronica Decides to Die, by Paulo Coehlo. I was not as impressed as my first book, The Witch of Portobello, which I still want you to read if you haven't yet. He is an amazing writer, but I think each of his books has a theme, and according to where you are in your life you may or may not relate to the books. This one was 'redemption' and well, I just couldn't connect with it. But still an amazing author, and his blog is pretty interesting, although I haven't had much time, or internet connection, to read more of it.

Food update: I love everything, I'm eating too much. Mathew showed me a few new places (including a bakery!) and everything I try I just love - the food is amazingly good. (Is that proper English? haha) My favorite snack, which you can buy for practically nothing, is fried bananas in covered in sticky rice. I guess that doesn't sound too great, but it is so sweet and delicious. Everything is just great. I also found a KFC! I actually don't even eat fast food at home, but I'm going to go there soon, it might be a nice change...

Traffic update: I'm strangely comfortable on a bicycle. I have no problem riding around, which isn't true for some of the other foreigners. Today, I turned left on red, just because I can. (Sorry mom & dad!) But I'm having a really easy time getting around. No problems!

I've been missing Boston a lot, a few of us watched The Departed the other day and then threw a small party and played Dropkick Murphys. I think I was the only one who really cared, but it was a good time. We also showed the Vietnamese how to do the electric slide - which turned into us doing it and them watching and laughing. So everything is going well! This week in my classes I'm teaching a lesson on creativity. I'm doing a small presentation on Charlotte Sometimes. If you don't know her, she's a new artist and one of my best friends from high school. Check her out! (Shameless plug). I spent a month with her on her first tour selling her merch, and she's an amazing person and I hope to spread her music around Vietnam!!

The weirdest thing to get use to is the time here. Because of the weather (the other hardest thing to get use to) if you want to get things done (ie: go for a run, do anything that exerts energy) you have to get up and be done with it before 7am. They wake up around 4:30 here. Then in the mid afternoon when it is too hot to do anything every naps. I haven't been napping but I have been getting up early to work out, so I'm just tired. The other morning we went to get breakfast sandwiches (so good) and the guy said something like "The bread is a little soft, if you come in the morning its crunchy and good." My response was... it's not morning anymore?! I think it was nine thirty. This isn't even like island time its just.. really early. If you go to a party/ throw a party, you start at 7 and everyone goes home around 10. We had a small party the other night and when everyone starting leaving I was talking to Frank, another American who just graduated from college, and we both said geez, if we were at school we would be showering now and getting ready to go out haha. It's so different! I might not be able to handle Boston by the time I get back...

On a different note, my thoughts go out to my cousin, who recently lost a good friend. I haven't been able to read all of the details yet, but I think it was at the train tracks in Belmar.. I don't know how many more train accidents one state can have before they do something about it. I'm sorry for your loss, and I'll be thinking about you.

Also, I found out that an old friend from high school has just been diagnosed with Cancer. She unfortunately has dealt with this before, losing both of her parents when she was younger to the disease. I have lost touch with her since we moved away from Wall, but she is an amazing person. There will be a fundraiser for her on October 5th at the Wall Fire Company #1, 18th Ave. Firehouse from 1-4pm. If you are in the area, it would be great if you go. Donations will be accepted at the door. If not, I think there will soon be a link where we can donate money. I'll keep everyone posted, but if you want more information please go to www.wfd1.net.

Sorry to end on that note, but thats all the updates I have for now. And sorry I haven't put more pictures up. I keep trying and it isn't letting me upload them. I might have to try another website when I get a chance. I will eventually, but not any time soon. I'm too busy and well now that I'm more comfortable and living here, I'm not being as touristy. Sometime soon you will get some! I hope this will hold you over for a little while, because it may be a week or two before I get another chance to write a full one. Another quote to end with:

"How we change when we have to." My Aunt wrote this in a recent e-mail. I think it's safe to say it has been years since I have seen her, but this pretty much sums up my life. As Marisa said (while talking about me and Whitney) I tend to have cabin fever. But I adapt well to new places and people very easily, so I think this is a good thing? Again, thanks for all of the letters and support, keep them coming! Love and miss everyone! xoxo.

Question of the day...

2008-09-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

At first glance it was a cute lost kitten. After we gave it milk... well, it could be anything. Thoughts?

Straight hair!

2008-09-01T04:08:00.000-07:00

I almost forgot to talk about my first flood. After it rains all of the toads come out (perhaps to mate?) But they are SO LOUD. IT is sort of like they are singing, and that is what I eventually fell asleep to. It was the funniest thing I've ever witnessed. I have a video of it but I'm having trouble uploading it, so maybe next time. My apartment is one of the best to live in in this row of foreign houses, there was only minimal flooding. Some other the other houses had water up our knees, full of all sorts of animals - snakes, bullfrogs, etc. I saw the biggest spider I've ever seen in my entire life.. and it was eating a cockroach. I guess that's a good thing because I hate cockroaches.. but do I hate spiders more? I didn't even know they came that big. I took a taxi with Chris and Matthew because we all had dinner plans and apparently a little bit of rain doesn't change things. When we got out of the cab water started coming in and we had to walk through it (and who knows what kind of animals) to get inside. My sidewalk was flooded when we came home, so Chris got his bike and we rode up the sidewalk.. I wasn't about to guess what sort of animals I might step on. Overall, it wasn't too bad, I'm really lucky to be in the house I'm in. Next week I'm moving my room upstairs, so I really don't have much to worry about flood-wise. Very funny experience though. I've decided to enjoy the weather, because when it rains it really does cool down, and its nice when the sun goes down. I'm preparing myself for the dry season..

I'm getting use to the food here. Yesterday I drove around with Matthew and he showed my a few places to get some cheap food. The good places to go are little carts on the side of the road with a variety of things. In the morning it's usually Pho, a noodle soup. In the afternoon and night, it can be anything. It's usually good though. And yes, I'm trying things that I have not identified. Everything is really good. Then we found a bakery where I found this coconut thing that I love. And fried bananas. And sweet bread! Everyone thought I'd loose weight here, but I'm beginning to not believe that..

It really is amazing here. You can tell how much they are developing, and I'd say in five years it will be a completely different place. I was talking to my friend Thi-Bay about that, how being here now is going to be a completely different experience then for those who come in even five years. Everything is changing, and for the better. And I think its great they we are teaching the youth of the country, especially since English is becoming universal, because our students will be the ones running this new Vietnam. And the sure do love the foreign teachers.

Tomorrow is Independence Day, so I have the day off!

Oh, and I have straight hair. :)

Until next time, Think Different.

September.

2008-08-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

September always marks the start of something new. Well at least until the end of college. I started a little early this year, but I was just thinking about all the things changing back home. I wish everyone the best of luck on their adventures: Doug moving to London, Karin and Mary getting an apartment together, James moving into a new apartment (In DC?) Cait going to Barcelona, James in Germany, Chris in London (I think?) and the crew already in Australia. Everyone who is starting classes again, moving into new apartments. As of tomorrow Sewall Street will be no more, and I think the guys are already out of 1474. It is so weird that I won't be going to those apartments anymore, I practically lived in both of them. Marg is moving into a new place too, which is sad! Whitney's last semester, many others last year in college. So many new, exciting things and I wish everyone the best. I was thinking about Fall yesterday and I think that is what I'll miss the most.. not the freezing bitter winter in Boston, not the snow, but definitely the cool weather and foliage. Apparently this isn't even the hot season, so that is what I have to look forward to.

Yesterday I got the best present from Chris. He came over with a chocolate croissant (delicious) and then gave me a bar of chocolate he ordered from Germany. (If you have not experienced German chocolate, I'd advise you to do so immediately.) He told me I was the nicest American he has ever met. I'm not sure I ever I thought of getting a compliment like that, but it really was the nicest thing someone has ever said to me. Even if he only knows three Americans (I didn't ask, I don't want to know) I thought it was so nice. Little things like that tend to knock me off my feet and put certain things into perspective. I'm always really surprised when people turn out to be someone other then I thought they were, and it tends to happen to me a lot. It is nice to be reminded that there really are a lot of great people in the world. An and Chris are so great together. They remind me of Mike on Bike and Erica. Little and Big haha, but so perfect for each other. I've talked to each of them separately about how hard it will be for a relationship in Germany and Vietnam, and the language barrier they sometimes will have, but they are going to make it work. Thats apparently something that I couldn't do (and isn't that ironic that I'll be living through that situation through two really good friends anyway?) I was also talking about how everyone I meet here is so nice and kind, and so open to new things. But then I realized that I guess you have to be to put yourself in a situation like this. I guess it takes a certain kind of person to do all of this, and it's really nice to be surrounded by those people.

My classes are going well and I love my students. I am starting to see how some classes will get frustrating, but for now, I'm doing just fine, and I really do love teaching. I'll write more about that later. I just read The Things They Carried. It was written by a guy who fought in the Vietnam War (or the American War) It was a really interesting perspective on the war, telling stories of the people and the things they remembered, or didn't remember. It makes you think a little about memory and what is real and what isn't real. I can definitely relate to those feelings, although I can't imagine having those memories. It's an easy ready, I'd recommend it.

I'm teaching two classes tonight on NYC. Easiest lesson for me to teach, and I'm excited to share my love of the city with the students! Until next time, here's a picture of old, sad George...

suddenly i have a very full schedule..

2008-08-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

So apparently there are a lot more people then I thought reading my blog. I thought it would be my parents and a few close friends, but it seems to have spread quickly! Thanks for your support, it's really great to be hearing from more friends and family then ever! I'll try to write more important things now that I know it's actually being read!

We went out this weekend which was a lot of fun. Sang karaoke, which is very different in Asia. All of your friends sit in one room and you pass the mic around while sitting. The Vietnamese we were with (including you An!) were really good singers, they take it seriously, which is way different then going to Our House at 1am on a Tuesday night. But it was fun! Then we went out dancing, which is a good time wherever I am. The gates to my campus close at 11, so you either have to come home then or wait til they open at 430am, which is what everyone does apparently. I didn't quite make it, I fell asleep in An's motorbike on the way home, and outside while we were waiting for the gates to open. Thankfully An and Chris are great at taking care of me. haha. Also, Chris made pizza the other night! It was delicious and very filling, exactly what I needed.

I finally took pictures of the monkey, and found another one! So they should be up next time. He is really really old, and looks really sad. But the other one I found, although in a cage, seemed a lot livelier. An told me about a beach I can go to where Monkey's just roam free. I can't wait!

I'm going to start teaching at the second school this week. I'm usually going to be teaching three to four classes there, along with my three university classes. And next month I teach another three at the university...I think one week I will be teaching 11 or 12 classes. It sounds a little overwhelming, but that's what I'm here to do, right? And the second school pays pretty well so it will be nice to have some extra cash. It is proving to be really difficult to create a whole class. And I have to create many. A just finished my syllabus and I'm looking forward to it, but I still have to figure out lesson plans for each class. I need more activity and group based work, so I'll have to do a lot of online research and try to come up with something. By next week I'll be able to tell you how my classes are going!

I've also started taking a class. One of the English teachers told me she was teaching American Literature, and it sounded really interesting, so I asked if I could join the class. I'm taking it upon myself to learn as much as possible, about everything. These are books that I should know about but never read when I was in school. Or only read the spark notes haha. So far I've studied Uncle Tom's Cabin, and read the Narrative of Fredrick Douglass, which was really interesting and I recommend it. This week we are watching Gone with the Wind, and next week we are having a big discussion about all three and how they each treated slavery in a different light. These are things I should know about, so I'm glad I'm finally taking it upon myself to study certain things. I've also been reading a lot. There's a nice collection of books in the row of foreign houses I live at. The last two I didn't really like, but I will let you know when I find a great one. I also started reading more of Paulo Coelho on his online blog. He's really interesting. I think there could be a whole class on him.

I'm about to start taking a Vietnamese Language course as well. And I've officially met about ten German people. I swear I hear more German then Vietnamese. And I'm also teaching people a little bit of Spanish. It is so much fun to be with people who are so open to learning so many different things, and I'm just taking it all in. The other teachers accused me of being quiet, which isn't a first, but I don't think I'm "shy" as much as I just enjoy listening to other people's thoughts, ideas, and opinions. I've been a part of some great discussions about culture and things like naming your children in Germany and in Vietnam, and also birthdays. I think in Vietnam I'm 24. Is that right An? Also, I'm convinced An knows everything. She is the best person to know and she has already helped me SO much. So thank you! :-)

Good news, I also found a place where I can do yoga on the weekends (my only free time) For about $3-4 american dollars a month. How great is that! And there are apparently other foreigners in this class already, so I'm going to start on Saturday! Very excited.

One thing that has been bothering me is that no one knows what baseball is. I've taken it upon myself to teach everyone. I tried with An and well... we ended up playing badminton instead. Maybe it will be easier with enough people to make two teams haha. Thankfully I have Jake to give me the play by play for the red sox games. I currently don't have a TV, but even if I did, ESPN covers completely different things. Have you ever watched Australian football? I LOVE it. Well I have to go, but I look forward to ALL of my e-mails, you are all really amazing.

A new favorite quote, from Paulo Coelho.

"It is necessary to run risks. We only properly understand the miracle of life when we allow the unexpected to happen."

foooood

2008-08-22T22:10:00.000-07:00

Boston people: I WANT QDOBA.. That should sum up my night last night. What i wouldn't give for a chicken queso burrito....

I'm not homesick yet (it's only been a week and a half...) but as of yesterday I'm craving normal food. I like the food here, but it's not very filling. The other day I told someone I wanted a burger. I don't think I've ever had a burger in my life, but at the time it sounded like the most filling thing. I can't wait to go to Italy...

OG people: The ditch (R.I.P) has well prepared me for the bathroom adventures here.

pictures, finally.

2008-08-20T19:49:00.000-07:00

I put a put a link for my pictures on the right. I'll let you know when I update and you can just click from this page! Enjoy! xoxo.

really great day.

2008-08-20T04:11:00.001-07:00

Today i took a four hour bike ride around the country side. so amazing. I met some of An's family, really cute puppies, got stuck in downpour (this will happen every day, it seems) and just had a really great time. I'm very content these days, and thats a great place for me to be. At this time every night the sky is an amazing blue/purple/orange color (above), to unbelievable for a camera. I love this place.

My address:

Samantha Thornley

School of Education

Can Tho University

Campus II, 3/2 Street, Can Tho City, Vietnam

Don't send anything through Fedex/UPS/etc. It will cost a small fortune. Go to the post office, buy a box that says $20 to fill, or however much/big you want, and just mail it. It might take two weeks, but it might take two months, so don't send anything that can't last that long. :-)

Thoughts to ponder:

Is it possible to acquire any more mosquito bites? It seems the answer is yes.

Why is Jimmy Eat World so good? Some of the lyrics are just unbelievable.

Why are my friends so amazing? I love the e-mails, thank you!! <3

I'll leave you with a quote that I love. In the mean time, read The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho. I read it on the plane ride, and I think I might read it again soon. It's amazing.

"From now on, I'm independent, I see life through my eyes, not through other peoples. I'm going in search of the adventure of being alive." -Paulo Coelho.

i'm officially a teacher!

2008-08-19T03:19:00.000-07:00

The past couple of days have been really great. I spent a lot of time with my roommates going to the market, figuring out where things are. And a lot on time with An, riding on her bike (my favorite thing to do!) And going out for a drink.. which means coffee or 7up usually. I like coffee here! Cafe su da. It's coffee with milk and ice... and it tastes a little like chocolate! I'm pretty sure it's not suppose to, but I like it so I'm not complaining. But it's been nice to relax, spend some time getting to know everyone and seeing some of the city. When I first got here everything looked like chaos, but just a week later I can tell that everything makes sense. Even though I don't understand the words, I can tell which places have food, medicine, etc. And my favorite.. Karaoke! Places are everywhere, like one or two a block sometimes. I heard about it in my world music class, but I haven't experienced it yet, that will be for next time.

Today was my first day of teaching! It had a pretty interesting start... first, I got lost on the way to campus. Luckily I was going in really early, but it took my probably a half hour longer then it should have. The roads really start to look the same after you've been driving in circles. Somehow I found it. Then I sat on the computer for a while trying to figure out what I was going to teach, writing emails, etc, and the computer turned off. I eventually learned that the computers turn off between 11-1. Then everyone fled the campus. Apparently they take lunch time very seriously. So I met An for lunch, got caught in the rain, and eventually made it back with time to spare for my class. At 13:30 (the starting time) there was no one in the room... I waited for about fifteen minutes, made some phone calls, and realized they changed the room at the last minute and the students didn't know. So I had to ride my bike (in the rain) to a different building.. and I found all of them right before they were about to give up on me and leave haha. Such a ridiculous morning. Once I started teaching, I started to figure things out. My students are all (for now) last year English majors. Everyone here loves music and dancing and they think my major is fascinating. There is a talent show in december that I have to perform at. Yes, HAVE to. I said maybe to the first guy to talk to me about it and he said "Oh no maybe, you will." So apparently I have no say in the matter. But I really can't wait to get to know the students! I gave them the assignment to make up American names for the class.. so much easier for me to remember. I've been told they might come up with ridiculous things. One girl told me to call her Puppy because she loves dogs. I can't wait to see what everyone else comes up with!

Tomorrow I have a 7am class, and then lunch with another teacher, then the rest of the day off! I think An and I are going to go for a bicycle ride around the city, maybe down to the floating markets. It's been pretty cool here, but also rainy. I wasn't sure if I would rather it be 100 degrees or cool and rainy, but when it rains, it really rains, so I think I'd prefer the heat.

I found dog street. It's the street on the way to campus (if I don't get lost) so I have to pass it every day. If you don't know what that means, I'll just say this... I'm definitely going to stick to chicken street. Actually, I've been eating at a lot of vegetarian places. They are everywhere, and I still don't know what I'm eating but at least I know what I'm not eating... Oh and the monkey is there all the time!! I named him George (yes as in... of the jungle). Pictures soon I promise.

so hot..

2008-08-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

Day two on a scooter was a lot scarier then day one. The first day I wasn't holding on to anything, and the next I was holding on for dear life. It's still fun though, and so much more convenient than my bike. Notice in the first picture the light, it had just turned green but that's pretty much what it looks like when everyone stops for a light. Although there aren't very many of them. Notice in the second picture there are scooters going every which way. Picture that and add 100 more scooters, and thats the main gist of things! Also, its completely normal to hold your baby in front of you on your scooter (think Brittany Spears, only a lot scarier) or fit the whole family on one scooter - mom, dad, and three kids. It's pretty amazing.

Time moves pretty slow here, much like island time. I can't wait to get started teaching (Tuesday!) I'm also going to be tutoring on the side, which pays about $10-15, an hour, which is awesome. I also found an orphanage I can volunteer at, I'm in the middle of figuring that out right now. So things seem to be coming together! I'm still waking up at 5:30, but it seems that everyone does, so I might keep doing it on purpose.

Last night I met most of the english speaking people (except for my students). I'm surrounded my a ton of Germans (what is that about?!) It's really interesting talking to people from all over the world though. Most of them are here at the University doing research projects, a few are getting masters. I'm starting to pick up on everyone's English accents. This is not very surprising (mom, you would be making fun of me) but I'm now saying Ya, like the Germans do, and picking up on a lot of other German-English accents. I also find myself wanting to speak Spanish.. I think it's to make up for the fact that Vietnamese is HARD but for some reason I keep saying things like "dos" or "si", like they understand that more than English... they don't - and I have no idea what I'm doing this. But I am starting to learn a few Vietnamese words, mostly for food I do and don't want.

Also, I saw a monkey tied to a pole.. much like we would tie up a dog outside of a store. I'm always wanted to see this, but it was when I was holding on to the scooter for my life, and I couldn't even manage to get a picture. Hopefully there will be a next time!