The cat's meow!

I asked Paul to marry our new maid Cam so we can take her back to LA with us when we go home.  She is the best thing since sliced bread.  Because I'm working a bilzillion hours and Paul is working crazy hours along with his Vietnamese classes, we don't have much time to cook and clean.  Also, we both decided to go on a 12 week challenge.  We are basically working out 4 times a week and not eating any carbs except on Sundays.  We figured, in Vietnam we have the time and money to eat well and be healthy.  You'd be surprised at how cheap protein, vegetables, fruit and raw nuts are here.  The only problem is the lack in variety.  Anyhow, we're hungry all the time since we don't eat bread, rice or noodles.

So we both agreed that a cook/maid would help out tremendously   I sort of refrained from getting one at first because I'm not use to the idea of having a stranger in your house, learning about your private drawers and what not.... but holy cow it's easy getting use to it...although I spend time cleaning before she comes over so she doesn't think we're complete slobs. Then I'll go upstairs and rearrange the cupboards and organize the dirty dishes so she doesn't think we're lazy bums.  I find myself doing almost as much work as before except for the cooking part.  I bought a cook book and went through it telling her what we like and how we like it.  She is actually a wonderful cook even though she is forbidden to use MSG because I'm strongly against it.  She always says, but the food won't taste good.  She adds a lot of salt and sugar to compensate, but I'm slowly easing her off the ridiculous amount and I introduced her to chicken broth.

She's wonderful and it has made me enjoy Vietnam so much more.  I don't know what we'll do without a maid in the US.

A comment goes a long way...

My friend Stacy commented and it encouraged me to write again.

Yesterday was a BBQ/pool party and I decided to go and get the heck out of the house, it was day 6 and I was still feeling pretty bad.  But this was an opportunity to look amazing in a bathing suit and it sure wasn't going to last long.  We arrived to this condo complex with a fantastic pool layout, it was the size of 2 football fields cut out with stoned pools, one for laps, one for hanging out and was only waist deep, another side for swimming training and different private Jacuzzi sections.  There were cabanas everywhere and it felt like a resort.  After admiring the ambiance I made sure to locate all of the nearest bathrooms!

Anyhow, I decided it wouldn't hurt to drink besides I was aware of every exit near me.  What do you know, the drinking helped.  So I did what every rational person would do, I kept drinking.  This morning I woke up slightly hung over and had to teach an 8:30am class, but I felt like me again, you know slightly hung over and hungry for a greasy meal.  A student was standing near me, and said teacher you smell funny, it's my lotion I quickly said.  HAHAHAHHAHA!  Anyway, I can't believe what whisky can do for your health.  I must never doubt whisky again.

Love and miss you too Stacy!

No longer newbies...

I don’t remember the last time I wrote, I hope it’s been one entry a month at the very least.  The new position I assumed is surprisingly hectic.  The previous manager was very unorganized and then just yesterday got in a motorbike accident and broke some bones.  I wasn’t supposed to transition over until May but it looks like I’m doing all of his old work, teaching a bazillion hours and trying to implement change.  I stopped guitar lessons and I stopped Vietnamese lessons.  Something is obviously wrong….I thought about it last night, and I am determined to continue those 2 hobbies.  I hope that these long hours and no siesta is really just due to the transitional period which is swamping me, but if it continues I’m going to have to walk away.  In May I will resume guitar classes, I’m practicing at home but it’s not really the same.  Also, I somehow convinced the school VLS (Vietnamese Language Studies) that they offer 50% discounts to teachers, and guess what they found a class for me and offered me the discount, ahhahaha!  Vietnam is hilarious sometimes.  It reminds me about this one time when my buddy Genaro and I went to McDonalds and I asked for ice cream.  The cashier said they didn’t have any and after talking to her for about 5 minutes I was able to convince her that she did sell ice cream.  We both walked away with a smile and ice cream in our hands.  He swore I would have also been able to convince them they sold pizza too!  The good ol days!

 

So we’ve been here about 7 months now, and there is this deworm/parasite pill you’re supposed to take biannually.  Paul and I think it’s a load of bull and that it’s another form of mind control, just like the flu shot.  Anyhow, I’ve had a stomach bug for 5 days and counting now, lost like another 3 pounds, looking pretty shredded since I am really just losing water weight.  I am thinking I need that parasite pill.  We are researching now and getting mixed results so it’s hard to determine what to do.  Basically I’m disappearing but looking great on the way out.  Where is that crop top I brought?  Actually, I probably feel the best today, and haven’t vomited yet.  Last night Paul and I were getting anxious for no good reason, we turned to each other at 10pm and looked each other in the eyes and whispered “Frito pie”.  We both ran upstairs in a hurry and gobbled a bowl each.  It was obviously a mistake for me, but when the endorphins kick in from all that soul food it was worth it.

 

I am getting a little homesick and miss driving to Target and proper malls or to my friends house just to hang out.  So glad I’m coming in July, some expat told me how important it is to go home at least once a year.