Siesta

My favorite thing about Vietnam is SIESTA!  I don't think it's called that here, but whatever it is called I love it.  There is a break for every company from 12-3pm, and the entire country literally takes a nap.  Even the outside vendors the taxi drivers and even Paul's staff.  Since I have arrived I have been able to squeeze a nap in almost everyday.  When I can't sleep, it still is really nice to just lay in bed in the comfort of my blanket under the cold breeze of the air-conditioner and Paul next to me.  As things are finally coming into place,Vietnam is really beginning to grow on me.

First day as a teacher

Teaching is really exhausting.  I have taught only once before in Korea but it was with 2 American teachers in the class and 4 Korean teachers as assistants.  So for the first time I taught by myself.  Everything that could have gone wrong did.

I was told that I would have a projector in my room so I prepared a powerpoint presentation.  It took about 2-3 hours to put one together because it was really difficult to find pictures to help define market research, executive, business venture and etc.  Anyhow, I arrive and the director of the school is conducting a meeting and the assistant is sitting there along side the director.  I only have 15 minutes to prep so I take myself upstairs to room 201, I cannot download powerpoint because it was in pptx format and I could not get it to read on 2003 powerpoint.  So I try to go online to my email and save it as ppt.  I don't have the wifi password and so I run down to get some assistance.  Even with the wifi password in hands, I discover that the computer in the room has no wifi and the internet cord is no where to be found.

I go back down and ask him how I can connect my laptop to their computer and he looks at me with bewilderment   He realizes I'm in the wrong classroom.  You see in Vietnam, in some buildings, the first floor is the ground floor not the first, hence the second floor in now the first floor.  I was setting up in the wrong class!  It's already 5:45, that's when I'm suppose to start and I have just arrived to a smaller room with a basic dry erase board.

I dive in and start to teach Unit 1 after my quick introduction of myself.  After a few minutes I look up and see blank stares.  I don't think these students understand anything I'm saying.  I ask them how many years of English have they taken and I get more blank stares.  Crap, they don't speak any English!  I have no visuals I can't draw for the life of me....so I did what any reasonable person would do...I started to play charades.  I'm dancing in the front of class and constantly checking for understanding.  Writing and drawing and more acting.  When I ask them to do an activity  the token bright student, who sat right up in front of class, says teacher we already did Unit 1, we are suppose to start Unit 4.

(*&@#*&#*(&@!!  When I met the director last week, this man was busy and unorganized, but he had a job to offer me.  Anyhow he wanted me to teach communication and explained that this class was on Unit 4 and that I substituting.  As for the business class, I'll be starting fresh beginning with Unit 1.  He gave me the information the other way around!  I can't believe this..... but I learned a very valuable teaching skill and that was to wing it!  I told them we were "reviewing" and will eventually get to Unit 4.  Anyway the review was much needed.

After 3 hours of dancing and getting the students to repeat after me, class was finally over.  I think 15 of 30 students had some understanding of formal and informal introductions and the differences between a job and a company and all the vocabulary in between.  It was really strange how I did receive a feeling of reward because of the few students I was able to reach.  I just hope I can reach more, but now I only 3 classes left to prove that I am a great teacher.

I talked to the director after class and that's when I finally learned that I was suppose to take attendance and sign in myself.  Geez, they are unorganized!  I ask him if I could get a projector next week and let's see if that will actually happen.  To all my teachers in the world, kudos to you, I can't believe how hard teaching can be.

Oh yea, and guess what!  Paul is such a gallant gentleman and drove me to work and waited for me in the lobby.  As we were leaving the director says, hey Paul since you're here, maybe you should teach too....Paul got a teaching gig again and didn't even try.  

Photo Hunt

In this video, can you find the following:

• coconut vendor
• plastic chairs
• people going the wrong way
• round about
• man peeing
• 4 people on 1 bike
• people pulling out of sidewalk and onto the road

This was our first time riding from District 7 to District 5 where Paul works.  It was fairly safe except for the careless on-comers going down the wrong way or random people stopped on the side of the road just for the sake of it. Overall a successful ride there and back.  The way back was pretty exciting, Paul didn't let me film because it is so chaotic and it was our first time in traffic, at night, traveling a long distance.  We usually take the bus and that can take up to 30mins to an 1hr.  But by bike, it only took about 15-20mins!!  We are going to take the bike out again to District 10 tomorrow.  Paul is taking me to work :)  

Ms. Tran--Teacher by Night

I got a job!  I am going to be a teacher, Helen and Traci, I can't wait to tell you guys all about it!  I start on Wednesday.  Just picked up the teacher's guidebook and wrote two lesson plans.  So here's my job break out.  I work at the Language Center at the University of Economics in D10.  It's a 30 minute ride and so I am trying to figure out if I should bus it, cab it, xe om (motorcycle taxi) it or have Paul take me.  The bus is nice but it stops running at 7pm and I teach a night course from 5:30 to 8:30.  I could cab it but that's a waste of money.  Xe Om is a great alternative but can be dangerous, and some of the drivers are not too reliable.  I have a friend who is going to try to refer me so I hope that works out.  Paul can drive me too, but that would be really stressful and I don't want him to wait around for 3 hours until I finish teaching.

When we woke up this morning Paul was eager to go for a ride.  We haven't ventured out of district yet, but Paul insisted that today was going to be the day.  We rolled out in tank tops (very odd here) with our large matching white helmets and fancy scooter, we totally stand out.  Boy did we get a lot of stares.  In Vietnam men and woman, young and old, cover up from head to toe.  With helmets, face masks, gloves, stockings, jackets with the hood on and long pants.  It's freakin hot here and they have all this attire on, and the funniest thing is the reason why they're doing it.....the want to stay white.  Being white out here is the trend, it is a sign of beauty and wealth.  So girls especially cover up from head to toe.  At night, it's a totally different story.

Anyhow, we traveled all the way from D7 to D10.  This was the furthest we ever went and I think we have finally gotten over the hump.  I think from here on out we can travel by scooter for the most part.  Finally no more bus and taxis.  Oh and I finally got a face mask.  Also we should probably wear long sleeve shirts too because Paul and I got sun burns when we got home.  So there is some logic behind this madness.


I forgot to include, I'm teaching communications/presentation skills on Wednesday nights and business venture on Friday nights.  This is a 2 month gig and if I do well I will get a 1 year contract, which means I'll get a working Visa!! whoohooo!!

Construction update

We have been living in our place for 1 week now and got the basic necessities for our kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.  Just a few more things to address before it can really feel like home.  We are living on the 4th floor and on the 1st-3rd floor, they are designated for the clinic, hence we have contractors coming in and out constantly and they sure are messy folks.  There are nails all over the floor, sodas and dust, but I must say the project is coming along. Below are partitions built that will separate the manager's office from the 2 adjusting rooms.  Completion date end of October, if contractors here are like anything in the US, it might be November before they really finish.

 before -1

before -2

after-1

after-2

Somehow a bunch a critters keep finding their way into to the house, we get a lot of ants, enormous cockroaches and geckos...check out the gecko whisperer...

Boarderline

Just when Vietnam starts to stress you out, a miracle happens. Today was a very special day. Before today, I was beginning to get aggravated about every little thing that Vietnam offers. If you're wondering, no I am not going to get my period, nor am I on it. We had to purchase a lot of items for our new home so there was quite a bit of shopping. As foreigners, you always get quoted the higher price. The other annoying thing is that you can never find what you're looking for and the layout of each market makes absolutely no sense. We ended up at 4 different stores, by scooter and by foot. Under rain and humidity, the mundane task begins to take a toll on you. What really irks me is the the checkout line! As Pauly and I are ready to pay for our over priced goods after taking a ridiculous amount of time to find them, there is always a lingering bystander who is waiting to cut you off. It's strange that Vietnam has no sense of courtesy. In a long line, it never fails that a person or two will pull up right in front of you and take your turn, it is extremely aggravating. As soon as I say something, the person will look at me as if they have no idea what is going on (because they actually don't), even though I am talking to them in there language.

Whew, I just had to let that out! Now for the miracle, Paul sent me a craigslist ad (yes craigslist exist here) for a teaching position. Something tells me that he wants me to start working. Anyhow, I call the number on the ad and I got an interview for today. The advertisement is looking for a part time teacher for $25 an hour. You only work 2.5 hours twice a week and you get to pick the days. The only catch is, it's 30 minutes away from where we live. I figure it's worth the time and being that it's in another district, D3, that will enable us to familiarize ourselves outside of our bubble. Paul decides to go with me for safety reasons, and as soon as we arrive to our destination tucked away in an alley, the interviewer asks who's applying for the position, you or Paul. Ok, I'm not close to the miracle yet, but will get there eventually, I forgot that this part was pretty interesting too. So I provided Jenny (the interviewer) my name prior and spoke with her on the phone, so obviously it's a female applying, me! When I respond, I am the one who spoke with you on the phone, she says oh, you're Asian. You see the thing is, when you teach English in a country like Vietnam, one of the unwritten preference is that you are Caucasian. They have this belief that Americans are all white with colored eyes, tall with fair skin. This is the second time Paul almost got my job in Vietnam. I don't think he should tag along with me on interviews anymore, too much competition. Anyhow, she decides to proceed with the interview even though I look Asian because she realizes that I do have an American accent. As soon as I sit down, she says “actually I have decided to make this a full time position”. WTF!>!>>!>!>? I just came by taxi dressed to the T, to respond to a specific ad and she pulls a 180. This is common practice here. We continue and I was able to convince her to return to her original advertisement and she agrees, I got the job, but you know what, I don't think I want it. Sigh. The traffic on the way there is pretty bad so I don't think it's worth the time or risk. So the good part of that long story is I got a job even though I “look Asian”.

Onto the miracle, we stumbled across a market on Le Van Sy, we found more kitchen supplies for half the price in D7 and so we stocked up. It was exciting to find all the things we needed for great prices, so we went on spending. Spending moola can really work up an appetite, so we slid into a sitting area decorated with small plastic chairs and metal tables with vendors all around. I haven't tried a soup called bun man, so I decided to give it a go. Paul eats anything without question placed in front of him. A lady comes by to ask if we want the bun man special and I say sure and she asks what drinks we want and we order a cafe sua da (check out the video of how to make Vietnamese Coffee) and tra da (they don't serve iced water here, just diluted tea with ice, pretty refreshing though). I look over at Paul and ask him how much we have left and that's when we realized we didn't have much left, just 65k, which is $3USD. I turn around to stop the woman from making the coffee, and in mid-turn she is delivering our drinks to the table. I tell her that we don't have enough money and she plainly says, I've already made it, please just enjoy your meal and pay me next time. Wow! Seriously, that made my month! Money is a big deal here, people in Vietnam are driven by money. You will literally see people on the side of the street counting there cash constantly. Counting and recounting, then counting again. In order to get any licenses or permits, it requires money. So for her to let us off and allowed us to save face was a MIRACLE. As Paul slurped up his meal, and I ate mine guiltily I walked over to apologize for the trouble and try to give her what money we had, but she would not take it at all. Again she just smiled and said, pay me whenever you come by again. That was the sweetest thing....these are the little things that reminds me of how beautiful Vietnam can be.

We jumped on the bus to head home, it's a 45 minute ride after one connection at Ben Thanh. It was a crowed bus and at every bus stop more people are loaded on, another beautiful thing about Vietnam, is how respected elders are. Every person knows to give his or her seat up to an elder that is 50 years or older. As soon as the elder jumps on the bus and I mean this literally, buses never come to a complete stop, a young punk kid, or uniformed student will immediately offer their seat. It is really nice to see that there are certain mannerisms that are carried out. We just got to teach them how to drive and how to wait in a line and Vietnam would be paradise.

Video of our Crib: narration by Pauly

Welcome to the lifestyle of the rich and famous!

1 month anniversary

On Sunday October 14th, it will officially be one month since we arrived in Vietnam.  Guess what!  We are finally moving out of our hotel on our 1 month anniversary too.  Our new home is just around the corner, we get 6 floors all to ourselves.  Fortunately 2 of the bedrooms are semi furnished so there are a lot of things we need to buy.  We purchased our first set of pots and pans.  We are purchasing our bedsheets and pillows tomorrow.  Then we need to get other basic necessities.  I have a few friends and family visiting in December so I will need you guys to help me with the following, I think it would be funny to share these simple things that Vietnam does not have:

1. almond milk
2. tampons 
3. protein powder vanilla
4. aveeno make up remover
5. tide detergent
6. dish washing soap
7. 409
8. Windex
9. wireless mouse
10. wireless keyboard
11. in and out burgers
12. boiling crab sauce
13. real siracha
14. cha cha chicken sauce please
15. jack daniels
16. $2 bills
17. vegetable brush 

The Clinic Status

Dr. Paul is asleep right now, after waking up at 7am to rush over to the US Consulate to get another document notarized, only to find out that it was unnecessary.   Thank goodness I didn't have to go with him and that he was able to get a ride instead of walking 1 mile to a bus stop catching the bus which is never air conditioned then walking another long distance to our final destination.  Keep in mind we usually do this under heavy rainfall, otherwise it is hot and humid, it's nothing like Los Angeles.

Right after we had a meeting with the interior designer immediately after we had to meet with the graphic designer.  Sheesh we are exhausted!

We are still living in our hotel, of course our move in date has been delayed about another 2 weeks....or who really knows.  However, I really do like having my laundry washed and maids helping me kill the hundreds of aunts that keep invading our room.

The move in date is fast approaching (which probably means end of October) because the last week it has been filled with tasks to complete the clean up, construction, sign design, office design and etc.  I just typed up an excel spreadsheet and it is 2 pages long of things to do before our move in.  Surprisingly the furniture and design of glass and partitions are really modern and I think we will be able to make this clinic look very, sophisticated and contemporary.  I am using some of the ideas below.  I am really enjoying this project and I think I have a knack for interior designing, it's especially fun on the company's dime.

 i want partitions built and painted like this with a solid strip, different colors though

 i want the office manager's cube to be rounded to give it that open modern feeling

 i really love the simple color and font of the brushed nickel sign

 for all of our glass partitions we can add colored decals like this green one here, super cool

 these are advertisement banners that i want to have in front of the clinic, they will be in vietnamese, korean and english, since this will be our target pool

i like the color scheme here and hope to convince everyone to use this throughout the clinic, i was able to convince them to use all of the above though.

Randomness

• Whenever you go to a government facility, be sure to dress appropriately, no sleeveless tops and no shorts.  We were at the People's Committee and were not allowed in
• Looking to buy a new scooter, thinking about the Yamaha Cuxi or Mio or the Honda Vision, it's about 1k to 2k
• Never buy China made knockoff bikes, they are sold for around $300 but you'll get screwed on the maintenance bill
• If you get married in Vietnam it is recognized in the US, not a good way to gain a residency if your boyfriend is the only one with a work Visa
• Witnessed a robbery, never wear a shoulder bag while riding, 2 guys on a bike pulled up closely to a girl tugged on the shoulder bag, and as she came crashing down, the guys got hold of the bag and drifted into the crowded highway
• Experienced a bribery incident, got the run around from a translator and in hindsight he just wanted money.  So if an employee asked you to return at another time because he may be able to help you later, he is looking for a bribe!  Grrr!
• Went to Octoberfest here, 2 fights brokeout, never get into a fight here in Vietnam, check out locked up abroad, that will give you an idea why you shouldn't fight out here
• Scooterist don't have to pay tolls
• Don't trust your maids, even if they worked for you after 1-2 years, never leave jewelry around
• If you want to teach English in Vietnam, just be amazing at your demo and you'll get the job
• Leg workouts are the worst things in the world, it will be sore for 3 days after your workout
• When you get your nails done here, buy your manicurist tools and bring them every time
• Any person living in Vietnam even the locals need to take a parasite pill twice a year
• Salads are rare here
• If you plan to ride out here, buy a helmet from the US and bring it over
• The import tax here is 200%, insane!
• To be taken seriously, you must have a business card, think American Psycho
• Everything here is negotiatable
• There is so much more but I can't recall them right now, there will be another Randomness blog

Two Weeks In

I read an article about the expat psyche and it's a study about people living in Vietnam for more than 5 years.      It focuses on how people come to be affected by the way they view and interact with their adopted society.  It's been about 2 weeks since Paul and I have moved here and I am extremely impressed with Paul because of his ability to change and adapt to his new environment so quickly.  I was raised with Vietnamese and Chinese spoken in my house and I was also familiar with the diet although I ate a lot of American food and spoke English for the most part with my family, but at least I had an introduction.  But Paul never really ate fish sauce, bun, com tam and other exotic dishes and he learned to eat this everyday for every meal. On top of all that, he is surrounded by the Vietnamese language and is surprisingly trying very hard to learn it.

It's crucial that we both unlearn old behaviors and learn new ones.  Unfortunately, the new behavior requires us to become illogical, have extremely strong stomachs, and maniacs on the road.  The change in our US behavior is the key to the adjustment process.  Fortunately we have created a "bubble" for ourselves.  We have made friends with a group of Canadian Teachers, a UK couple and 3 Chinese bachelors from San Diego.  With this new group of friends we have created an environment where we feel more at home.  Since these people share certain similar upbringings and lifestyles from the West, it really is comforting when you can speak in your native tongue and even predict the other person's behavior.

The downfall to this is that by entering a group of expats, you soon become dependent on each other hence there are a lot of get togethers which always involves drinking, and since it's so cheap you can actually do this everyday without breaking the bank.  I can see this lifestyle leading to a bad habit.  Paul and I did anticipate this and agreed that this trip to Vietnam will encase a healthy life by not drinking so much, working out every other day and eating well.  We have made an effort to share our goals with our new found friends so I hope they don't get upset with us when we decline the daily happy hour invites.

I can also foresee growing close to some of these people but since they are expats who are naturally transient, I'm already getting sad thinking about losing them as friends when they decide to pick up and explore another country.  Maybe I'll have to make a new rule and not allow myself to befriend people who are not staying more than a year.

I had a conversation with some of my new expat friends, and I found their responses really strange when I shared with them that I was keeping a blog, they couldn't understand what there was to blog about, I guess they have pretty much gotten use to the life in Vietnam since they don't find the cultural differences interesting anymore.  I wonder if I'll ever stop seeing Vietnam as an experience and if it will just become a place we chose to live our lives.