Christmas in Vietnam

Not sure what I will do for Christmas here in Hanoi. I'm not a Christmas person anymore, but doesn't matter, all I know is that this years Christmas will be WAY better than last years Christmas in Bangladesh! (edited)

Every Tuesday, my class of 8-9 year olds gather upstairs to our classroom and wait while I'm downstairs preparing lessons. Whenever I'd walk up the stairs I could hear them whisper and giggle, as soon as I'd reach to the classroom the lights would be off, I'd open the door in complete darkness and they'd all scream and roar, trying to scare me. Every week they do this.

Yesterday, I brought my camcorder to capture it this time. Routinely, I'd walk up the stairs with my camera ready, I heard the whispers and giggles, and I got to the door. The lights were off but then flickered back on. I opened the door and...well check it out.

awwwwww, they totally surprised me.

Merry Christmas everyone! And Happy New year, miss you all!

Someday...

I will disappear and chill on a mountain top. No teaching, no work, no art, just me. Thinking about what else to accomplish in my life.

Thanks Brian.

They're all growns up

I've been teaching English at E-Talents for about 5 months. I have already noticed my 8 year- old students growing. I swear that they have all grown at least 1 or 2 inches this summer, or maybe they got fatter, can't tell. But they look so different! Feels like I gave birth to them or something, when I look at them writing in their workbooks, I get all emotional and happy watching them grow and learning. *gush*

My other classes are the toughest, they're way too talkative, but good kids. They take out so much energy from me that I'm extremely exhausted when the day is over.

Another teacher substituted for one of my classes, the 16 year olds. I told her before that she needed to separate the boys and girls seating arrangements, or else they won't pay attention and talk the whole time. Apparently the kids took full advantage that she was a substitute and didn't listen to her. They would NEVER disobey me if I was there. I try hard to be the cool teacher, but when I need to be strict, I am STRICT. Really, it's all about repeating yourself slowly and using intense eye contact. If a boy refuses to move chairs cause he's distracting other students, I'd say "MOOOOOVE." He quickly moves without hesitation. I think to myself "Hah! Yeah, you better." It even works when I'm 5 meters away. Power in the eyes!

The substitute also mentioned that a boy forgot his workbook after class, and when she was searching for its name written inside, she saw scribbles that said "I ♥ Stephania." That could only be me. We still don't know who the owner of the workbook is but I can guess which kid it might be. One boy in particular, Tung. On my first day, I walked into class, he looked at me and said "Oh my god," all the kids were laughing. Since then he'd dress nicer each week; a tie, a collared shirt, or smooth hair. Good thing I don't know all the slangs in Vietnamese, cause most of the time during class, a boy would mutter something, the whole class laughs and looks at me if I understood. Yeah, good thing I don't know what they're saying.

I had to give up my volunteer teaching at the high school in Thact That district. I just don't have any time and energy to travel there. I'm already so busy with teaching English in Hanoi, working at the NGO, and freelance design. Sometimes I can't believe how much work I've agreed to do, thinking that I can actually do them. I feel very guilty because my time there was rewarding, but it was my lowest priority, the school was too far away and during an inconvenient schedule. Either way, I made a positive choice to focus on what I'm doing now; I'm saving money and building more experience.

I can't believe it's December already, time goes by quick. Soon it will be my 9th month in Vietnam. Anyways, Thailand for New Years 2011!! It's all about the beach, tanning, shopping, and relaxing. I had a busy year, I deserve this.

Things my students say...

Class lesson: Make a sentence by using Never, Always, Usually, and Sometimes.

1. I never eat people

2. I sometimes bath

3. I never eat a turtle

4. I never eat grass

5. I usually eat salad

6. I sometimes listen to my mom

7. I always go back to sleep when my mom scolds at me in the morning

8. I sometimes think

9. I always hit my brother

Class lesson: If I could meet anyone in the world, I'd meet...

1. Michael Jackson

2. Albert Einstein

3. Big Bang (korean pop group)

If I could live anywhere in the world, I'd live in...

1. The White House

If I was rich, I'd buy...

1. An airplane

2. Ferrari

3. Lamborghini

4. A sexy girl

5. A rocket

6. Jupiter

7. A sexy girl INSIDE a Ferrari

Rice wine in a village...yum

I've been living in Vietnam for 8 months now. I'm surprised that I'm not anxious or getting itchy feet to move to another country. I'm still loving it here. I was still tired and worn out for 4 days since my birthday weekend. All in all, just been so busy with work and freelance design.

I like how my design job at EMW allows me to explore Vietnam. I took on a new challenge to lead a project where we research hand-made materials in Vietnam, and then producing our own products to fundraise for our organization.

Over the weekend I went to Hoa Binh, 3-4 hours from Hanoi. Hoa Binh is a Thai ethnic village that specializes in making textile fabrics. They don't live in houses, they live in nha sans, wooden houses on stilts. I've always wanted to stay in these when I first learnt about them in my early days arriving in Vietnam. I woke up Saturday morning at 4am (ugh) and rode my motorbike to my colleague's house. From there we got a ride to the bus station and got to Hoa Binh around 10:30am. Mountains! Cows! Dogs! Chickens! Cow shit everywhere! So nice to be in a village again!

Country people are different from city people. In Hanoi I get stared at often, maybe they're curious if I'm Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, and I get the same stare when wearing a dress even! I don't like people staring at me, so many days I wear sun glasses or my hat. But in this village, no one cared how I looked or dressed. It felt like I was one of them, no one stared at me funny, regardless of me wearing Converse Chucks and a jacket with faux-fur hoodie.

Thai family invited us for a traditional Thai performance at their nha san.

For lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Rice wine was served. Rice wine tastes like vodka and is very light. I like vodka. Vodka is like water to me. I drank a lot over the weekend! Our first meal, the landlord lady brought out the rice wine (my eyes lit, I couldn't stop staring at it, wondering when someone was going to open it) and THEN she poured 4 cups for people who wanted it. We all cheered "Chuc Suc Khoe" which means "Get Well". WELL...I'm use to drinking the entire shot when I'm served a shot cup...I was the only one that drank the whole thing. When I finished, I put my cup down and everyone was staring at me, then looked away and continued eating in silence. Sometimes I think if it isn't good to show interest in drinking alcohol cause I'm a woman (being in Asia, lack of respect for female independence blah blah) but I haven't received any negative vibes from anyone. One Vietnamese woman there said she liked the way I act. I asked her 'cause I like rice wine?' she said 'yeah!' ...alright then! At the end they said they liked how I'm open to their customs and that I enjoy drinking with them, everyone's happy.

Speaking of itchy feet, while I was in Hoa Binh, I was itching to go back to Hanoi. Hanoi is my home and where I feel comfortable. I know I am attached to Hanoi, just like I was to Nepal. I've been asked so many times how long I plan to stay in Hanoi, and I always say "My contract expires next June. Then I have no idea."

Blogging what I remember on my Birthday

My 8 year old student asked me how old I was. I said 27, then he said "Oh, that's young." Then I said "my birthday is tomorrow," he said "Oh...28...that's old."

Yes that's right, I'm 28 now. I was 26 when I left America. Last year's birthday was in Dharamsala, India. I wanted a mellow get together for my birthday this year but my friends' persuaded me to have a party at their house. Last week my friend Vikki and I went costume shopping, I must say there wasn't a good selection. I didn't have time to tailor my own outfit. So I had no clue. Then I saw it...floating on a coat hanger, a little boys' Superman costume. I thought to myself 'Can I fit into that?' I grabbed it and took off my jacket, and the store lady screamed at me to not put it on, she snatched the costume from hands and re-hung on. FINE!! Don't take my money then, I'll just walk to another store. The second store lady was MUCH nicer, she and her grandmother were laughing at me when I wanted to try it on, the lady couldn't hold her laughter in when she tried to tell me it was for children. The shirt was a bit tight bu do-able, but I wasn't going to attempt to try on the leggings. So I bought the costume anyway. I tried on the leggings when I got home, it wouldn't go past my knees. I used the waistline as a headband and made socks.

Friday night, about 40-50 people came. Everyone dressed up! At least tried to and I appreciate the effort people went through. I drank tons of beer and coconut rice wine. Then the chocolate cake came out...and then I went mental! People said I started the food fight, but I don't think I did...maybe I did, but when it did start I just went on a chocolate smearing rampage. Chocolate in my eyes, my ear, back of knees, my hair was dreaded in chocolate mousse. I washed my hair 2 times, it still stank of rancid milk and was super oily cause of the mousse.

The next morning...hangover! Went back to bed to sleep it off and woke up around 2pm. Had lunch and met up with my friends to clean the house. I opened the roof door to await the mess, it looked pretty bad, but in a good way...cause then you know it was a good party! There were so many paper cups, beer cans, wine bottles, and random pieces of peoples' costumes...fuzzballs, head bands, bats, safety pins.

I found out that day that my great-grandmother wasn't feeling well. She's 103. I don't think I will get to see her. I hope my dad and grandmother are okay.

TaiLau

Thank You and Thanks

It's been a journey. I wrote a post a while ago about random people sending me messages about my blog and how it had inspired them. I receive about 2 messages a week from people who have came across my blog or have heard from other people. I appreciate the messages saying "I can't wait for your next post" or "Keep it up, you seem so happy."

I always reply back saying "Thanks, I'm glad someone actually reads them!" I really feel like that. Like...wow...people care.

I think I am not a good blogger or even a writer! I never had a journal or diary. I've always used photographs as my memories. I write what I feel and I write when I feel like I need to write. I remembered how awkward it was to write my first few blogs, I didn't know what to say. My brother persuaded me to have a blog when I refused. I consider myself a private person, but I'm glad that I have continued to write and not give up.

I thanked my brother, dad, mom, and close friends for supporting me. And now I want to say thanks to whoever reads this. I appreciate you all following with me on this epic adventure. Although, even without support I'd still be doing this trip.

Anyways, design work for EMW is going well, designing a new website, and can't wait to find out which design we're going to end up using. Teaching English at the Hanoi school is good, the kids LIKE me! The other day I was on my motorbike going to work, another motorbike passed in front of me and a little boy sitting on the back turned his head, removed his face mask, and said "Hi Teacher!" and then ride away. :) It's also nice to run into my students in the city center and meeting their parents, the child would say "This is my teacher," and the parents would have huge smiles, then we would shake hands, and I'll tell them their child is a good student. They love that.

My colleague from work, Huong, invited me to visit her family in Phu Tho. It's a 3 hour train ride from Hanoi. The family was so welcoming that I fell in love with them. It's funny that when you enter a family's house in America, you are still distant to not over-stay your welcome, even when they say "mi casa es su casa." But this family, BAM! You're part of the family. I napped with Huong, her baby, and the grandmother in one bed...I slept well! I loved the grandmother and she made me miss my own grandmothers in America and China. I helped her out of the car one time and walked with her for walking support, she sniffed my hands. I got paranoid and asked Huong why the grandmother was sniffing my hands. Huong said that it was her way of showing affection. Awwwwwww!!!!! She liiiiiiiiiikes meeeeeeee. After that, whenever I saw the grandmother sitting alone, I'd sit next to her and hold her hand. Even though we couldn't communicate to each other (because I barely knew any Vietnamese), we had a bond. That's what I miss, I miss that kind of love. When the grandmother left, she sniffed both sides of my face. DOUBLE SNIFFS! YES!

Grammy on right.

Huong's father seemed to like me a lot too, if I got married (ha!), he wants to come to the wedding. They will come to my house one day.

On another note, I got a new mattress cause the old one had bed bugs. BED BUGS!! Haven't been bitten by bed bugs since sleeping in a shitty hostel in India! Uhhhhhh.