Midweek Musings

It's Tuesday and admittedly I'm at work but not to worry, students are in class so I don't have anyone flocking to see me (not that I usually do anyway). I have been making my rounds today in classes with juniors and seniors, introducing myself and informing them that they should come see me ASAP if they want to go to college in the US in the fall. So, hopefully they'll be breaking down my door soon enough!

Anyway, since I was taking a break from work to daydream, I realized that it's mid-September and fall is approaching. Though there is no fall here. But on the east coast in the US, fall would be approaching. Though I've heard the weather has been crazy with random heat waves and then temperatures plummeting down to more fall-like weather, I am still jealous! I was on Pinterest recently (another excellent use of my time) and saw people posting fall outfits, fall scenes, and fall food (my favorite). I admit, one thing I do not like about southern Vietnam is the lack of seasons. Even in my new Vietnamese pronunciation book under "Seasons" it says "Rainy Season" "Dry Season" and "Cold Season" (which is only up north, we have no cold season here in Ho Chi Minh City). It made me laugh and then it made me wish I could go apple picking! My other favorite fall activity. I literally have to wait a full other year to enjoy these fall activities! And fall is short as it is in Maine. I imagine when next fall comes (hopefully I'll be starting a new job as a Guidance Counselor! Fingers crossed.) I will be especially excited for it.

Anyway, on another note. I noticed something else interesting about Vietnamese culture. I'm sure I've mentioned the crazy traffic which would probably drive a New Yorker insane but also in places where we Americans would normally form a line, Vietnamese people just cluster. People cut in "line" but since there isn't a line it doesn't really matter, you just have to be aggressive (similar to driving). The crazy part of this is, no one gets mad about it! In the US, this would lead to crazy road rage and fist fights in grocery stores! In Vietnam, people freely allow others in front of them and accept that they are all pushing for the same goal. It's kind of cool, actually, and since I'm bigger than half of the Vietnamese people, it isn't hard for me hold my ground in a cluster.

Oh! And I almost forgot the best news EVER. APU hired a new teacher who is now teaching my English classes. I "helped him transition" by staying in class with him last week. But since I had no idea what I was doing in the first place, he ended up taking over immediately. Watching someone who is actually qualified and experienced in teaching English just confirmed how terrible I was. He kept the class in line, improvised lesson ideas and got them engaged and participating. All things I failed to do in a few weeks. So, I'd say this change in my schedule was good for me AND the students. I confirmed what I always figured about myself: I am not a good teacher. I remember when I used to show my parents something on the computer or try to show a friend how to do a math problem, I was not patient. If someone doesn't understand in a matter of minutes I basically give up. Not good qualities for a teacher. I had already decided that my kids in my English classes were hopeless so really, having me teach those classes was a terrible idea.

Maybe some of you are thinking, "wow Amy, how can you possibly be a guidance counselor?" Well, let me tell you something, guidance counselor's main job is not to teach (I say that because some teach a class in guidance things). And while my job here versus what a counselor does in the US is VASTLY different, in both scenarios, I am rarely dealing with more than a few kids at a time, usually just one. I am MUCH better at dealing with kids one-on-one believe it or not! And besides, I'm not teaching, just advising! And I love advising because I have a tendency to think I am always right (no one comment on this...). So thus, giving advice is something I thoroughly enjoy. That, and I genuinely want kids to succeed and do well and education is very important! So there.

Another exciting development in my Vietnamese experience is I rented a motorbike. After trying it out I am now worried that perhaps I wasted $150 (2 months of renting) because as of now, I am so terrible I don't envision myself actually going anywhere on it. However, I'm hoping after circling the block many many times, I'll get the hang out of it. And all of the Vietnamese people watching this white girl going 15mph around their block will be grateful that I improved enough to stop driving by them. Pictures to come!

Also, I am disappointed there are no breaks at this school because I REALLY want to travel. Since I am limited to weekends I am keeping my traveling relatively local. I bought plane tickets to Thailand and Hue, Vietnam thus far. When my parents come I intend to head way up north and check out Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Halong Bay. Ideally, I'd like to go one more place (Angkor Wat would be high on my list!) but we'll see... I'm hoping the school takes a field trip to Angkor Wat so I can just tag along ...I'm told they took one last year! But all in all I realized I MUST come back to this side of the world again strictly for travel. Having time restrictions because of work is mega-lame.

Ok...enough ramblings for today, I should probably get back to work! I haven't done anything too exciting lately so no pictures (also, I unloaded all of my pictures the other day). I did, however, discover nuoc mia or, sugarcane juice! It's super delicious and surprisingly not sweet. I also googled it and found out its crazy healthy. Thus, if you happen upon it in the US, I bet it's like $6/cup. Here, it's a mere 25cents. And I may have gotten overcharged for being white, who knows! I am going to be appalled at prices when I return to the US. I have grown so cheap I think spending $3 on lunch is outrageous.