Oh, hello there! Haven't see ya in a while. Let's catch up over some coffee, eh?
First, let me set the mood: A cup of fresh brewed Vietnamese coffee, a gorgeous view of Hanoi from my 16th floor apartment, and Ben Howard playing a soundtrack in the background. Everyone is gone from my apartment, and it's the perfect vibe for catching up.
So let's see, what do people usually want to know when I talk to them?
How is work?
Work is great. I've just finished my first FULL 10 week term. Terms are 5 weeks (20 hours a week), but I taught a 10 week term (10 hours a week), as well as an 8 week Summer Program (12 hours a week). So I have OFFICIALLY (as of this week) finished both classes. My adult class was amazing. They were SUCH great students, and I LOVED teaching them. For our last class, after the exam, they took me out to dinner and then to a coffee shop. I really enjoyed myself; they ordered snails (which I have heard were amazing), and taught me how to eat Vietnamese food CORRECTLY. The coffee shop (after dinner) was right next to the palace, and one of my students had been going there for 12 years!
My summer school students (12 - 14 years old) have their end of summer gala tomorrow. So, officially our last class was on Wednesday. After their final exam, we had a party. We watched movies, and snacked on cookies, crisps, and marshmellows. Today is the dress rehearsal, and tomorrow is the Gala! Their work will be displayed, and each class will perform on stage for their families. My students (the lowest level in the summer school) have put together a "Top Chef" skit for their families. They are excited, and I hope it turns out great!
My new schedule starts on Monday, I will teach 2 different adult classes, and then starting mid-August I will teach an additonal 2 more classes - 2 kids classes on Sundays. Yes, working on the weekend!!! AHHH, UNHEARD OF! But - it's only for 5 weeks, and then I will have made some extra cash for my September holiday to Australia (more about that later).
BUT - I do have a new title at work, AND I just got a raise! Yes, I am officially the "Social Events Coordinator", so of course I am stoked. I am in charge of after work get togethers, alerting the staff when people are leaving, and just keeping everyone up to date on the happenings in Hanoi. This week is our second event - a goodbye happy hour for those leaving after this term.
And a raise! YUP - after 10 weeks, I've already gotten a raise. Well, EVERYONE at the school got a raise - $1/hour. Doesn't seem like much - but it's essentially $4-$6 a day since we get paid per hour. That means I can afford an extra 4 beers at a bia hoi for each hour I'm working!
How are your housemates?
AWESOME! I have DEF lucked out in the housemate department.
The German (Katharina) and I have gone out a LOT together, and done fun things outside of parties as well. We even went horseback riding a few weeks ago!
One of my South African housemates (Hannah) had a birthday a few weeks ago, so we all went to Halong Bay to celebrate. It's a natural wonder of the world, and it was my second time going. The group on the boat was AWESOME and helped us celebrate it perfectly. Even the rain held out till it was time to go to bed. The next morning, we had a new group of people join us for the way back - and they were great fun as well. We ended up seeing them again during the week at the free beer spot, and a few ended up at our party on Saturday! Hopefully, I'll get to see them again in Bangkok when I'm there for my VISA run.
How's the social life?
Well, now that I've been here for 2 months, it's gotten a LOT better! I've finally gotten away from the backpacker area and go to the local spots. Last month I was waking up at 2am to watch the world cup games (I even had a USA jersey to wear!) with other foreigners. It was a great run for the US - but I am HAPPY to have my morning sleep back!
A bunch of my friends I've made from traveling have wandered through Hanoi so it's been great to be able to catch up with them in a new spot: Allison from Korea, Ryan from the Philippines, Derrick from Myanmar, and etc.
We had our first apartment party last weekend and it went GREAT! It was during a "typhoon" so the turnout wasn't as big as we had planned, but we still had a great showing. The housemates and I made snacks, and punch, played sweet music, and set up beer pong for those who came. After a few hours, we ended up at a bar and then brought tons of bar people back to party till 10am. Everyone told us they had a great time, and can't wait for the next one we have. Luckily, the maid came the next day and took care of the cleanup.
This weekend I am going to the waterpark with an Irish girl I met last weekend and then I am going to what is called "Piknik" on Sunday with a girl from work. It's an outdoor afternoon gathering, and once the sun goes down, the fire shows start!
Everyone here is very artsy - I've been to open mic nights, backyard fire show parties, DJ performances, etc. If there was ever a place to get your "artsy" on - this is the place!
OH! And the best part?? I got WHEELS! That's right, I got myself a motorbike, a dark Blue Yamaha Nuovo and named him "FREEEEEEDOM!!!" Yes, it's awfully American of me. Now I can zip around like a local and it is GREAT! I can get myself to and from work, and to and from Big C (similar to Wal-Mart) without getting lost. I can also ALMOST get to and from Bar Betta (Free beer bar) and Chicken Street (best chicken EVER) - but to get to those places I need a co-pilot.
How's the love life?
Well, I ALWAYS get this question and honestly, Hanoi is NOT the place to meet single men you want to date. The single guys are all backpackers, and the "my age" guys are all in "live together" relationships or are already married. That means they don't go out too much, and the ones that do are usually gay. So, it's a tough place to get a romance going. But - I can see why. The pay is great, the lifestyle is easy, and if you are a travelling couple, this is a great place to settle. Most people at my school have been there a while, and don't plan on leaving any time soon.
So you haven't met anyone?
Ok, so I didn't say THAT. I just said it was hard! But - I have met someone that I enjoy spending enough time with that even after he left, we decided to stay in touch and I will be heading off to visit him in September. Yes, I am off to a new country - AUSTRALIA - to visit an Aussie I met about a month and a half ago. He lives in Melbourne, and his friends remind me of my friends back home (but not AS awesome as my crew). He's taking me around to see some of the big sites, and I am stoked! I've always wanted to go to Australia, and being able to be there with someone I am keen on is just icing on the cake. So, I'm sure I will have a blast while I am there. BUT - I also get to catch up with my other aussie's I've met while traveling: Jacinta in Perth, Matt, Sam, and Julie in Brisbane, and possibly even Kyrstee and Matt in Victoria! It will be just like when I went to Europe and got to see my traveling buddies over there!
So, what's the next plan?
NO IDEA! It looks like I'll stay in Vietnam longer than I intended, probably through the new year, maybe even a little longer. My plans are always changing, but that's the best part of my life....I can do whatever I want, and go wherever I like. I'm never tied down to one spot and can just go where life takes me. So....the next spot is still up in the air (although I am still HIGHLY biased on being back in Europe).
First, let me set the mood: A cup of fresh brewed Vietnamese coffee, a gorgeous view of Hanoi from my 16th floor apartment, and Ben Howard playing a soundtrack in the background. Everyone is gone from my apartment, and it's the perfect vibe for catching up.
 |
| View of Hanoi, and coffee out of a KFC cup |
How is work?
Work is great. I've just finished my first FULL 10 week term. Terms are 5 weeks (20 hours a week), but I taught a 10 week term (10 hours a week), as well as an 8 week Summer Program (12 hours a week). So I have OFFICIALLY (as of this week) finished both classes. My adult class was amazing. They were SUCH great students, and I LOVED teaching them. For our last class, after the exam, they took me out to dinner and then to a coffee shop. I really enjoyed myself; they ordered snails (which I have heard were amazing), and taught me how to eat Vietnamese food CORRECTLY. The coffee shop (after dinner) was right next to the palace, and one of my students had been going there for 12 years!
 |
| My last class with my adults. |
 |
| Some of my Summer School kids |
BUT - I do have a new title at work, AND I just got a raise! Yes, I am officially the "Social Events Coordinator", so of course I am stoked. I am in charge of after work get togethers, alerting the staff when people are leaving, and just keeping everyone up to date on the happenings in Hanoi. This week is our second event - a goodbye happy hour for those leaving after this term.
And a raise! YUP - after 10 weeks, I've already gotten a raise. Well, EVERYONE at the school got a raise - $1/hour. Doesn't seem like much - but it's essentially $4-$6 a day since we get paid per hour. That means I can afford an extra 4 beers at a bia hoi for each hour I'm working!
How are your housemates?
AWESOME! I have DEF lucked out in the housemate department.
The German (Katharina) and I have gone out a LOT together, and done fun things outside of parties as well. We even went horseback riding a few weeks ago!
 |
| Sunset Horseback Riding |
 |
| Halong Bay |
Well, now that I've been here for 2 months, it's gotten a LOT better! I've finally gotten away from the backpacker area and go to the local spots. Last month I was waking up at 2am to watch the world cup games (I even had a USA jersey to wear!) with other foreigners. It was a great run for the US - but I am HAPPY to have my morning sleep back!
 |
| Germany vs. USA |
 |
| USA World Cup friends! |
We had our first apartment party last weekend and it went GREAT! It was during a "typhoon" so the turnout wasn't as big as we had planned, but we still had a great showing. The housemates and I made snacks, and punch, played sweet music, and set up beer pong for those who came. After a few hours, we ended up at a bar and then brought tons of bar people back to party till 10am. Everyone told us they had a great time, and can't wait for the next one we have. Luckily, the maid came the next day and took care of the cleanup.
 |
| Apt. 1601 at our first job as hosts! |
Everyone here is very artsy - I've been to open mic nights, backyard fire show parties, DJ performances, etc. If there was ever a place to get your "artsy" on - this is the place!
OH! And the best part?? I got WHEELS! That's right, I got myself a motorbike, a dark Blue Yamaha Nuovo and named him "FREEEEEEDOM!!!" Yes, it's awfully American of me. Now I can zip around like a local and it is GREAT! I can get myself to and from work, and to and from Big C (similar to Wal-Mart) without getting lost. I can also ALMOST get to and from Bar Betta (Free beer bar) and Chicken Street (best chicken EVER) - but to get to those places I need a co-pilot.
 |
| Me and FREEDOMMMM!!!! |
Well, I ALWAYS get this question and honestly, Hanoi is NOT the place to meet single men you want to date. The single guys are all backpackers, and the "my age" guys are all in "live together" relationships or are already married. That means they don't go out too much, and the ones that do are usually gay. So, it's a tough place to get a romance going. But - I can see why. The pay is great, the lifestyle is easy, and if you are a travelling couple, this is a great place to settle. Most people at my school have been there a while, and don't plan on leaving any time soon.
So you haven't met anyone?
Ok, so I didn't say THAT. I just said it was hard! But - I have met someone that I enjoy spending enough time with that even after he left, we decided to stay in touch and I will be heading off to visit him in September. Yes, I am off to a new country - AUSTRALIA - to visit an Aussie I met about a month and a half ago. He lives in Melbourne, and his friends remind me of my friends back home (but not AS awesome as my crew). He's taking me around to see some of the big sites, and I am stoked! I've always wanted to go to Australia, and being able to be there with someone I am keen on is just icing on the cake. So, I'm sure I will have a blast while I am there. BUT - I also get to catch up with my other aussie's I've met while traveling: Jacinta in Perth, Matt, Sam, and Julie in Brisbane, and possibly even Kyrstee and Matt in Victoria! It will be just like when I went to Europe and got to see my traveling buddies over there!
So, what's the next plan?
NO IDEA! It looks like I'll stay in Vietnam longer than I intended, probably through the new year, maybe even a little longer. My plans are always changing, but that's the best part of my life....I can do whatever I want, and go wherever I like. I'm never tied down to one spot and can just go where life takes me. So....the next spot is still up in the air (although I am still HIGHLY biased on being back in Europe).
Well, my coffee is empty and that means it's time to head off to work for Gala Rehearsal.
Have a great Friday (or Thursday night, if that's the time zone you're in) and I'll work on being better at keeping you up to date on my life here in Hanoi.
Chao,
Apes :)
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