Update: 10 Years in VN and counting

 A lot has happened since my last entry in 2018.  

2019 Covid  - we all lost about 2-3 years of our lives, VN did a really great job of managing the pandemic!

2020- Postponed wedding, wrote SOPs for Maple.

2021- Opened new flagship store, converted to Catholicism 

2022- Finally visited family in USA and met my niece, got married in May, some sad stuff happened too, but I'd rather not talk about it yet.

2025- Hope to gain Italian Citizenship

Passion Project Updates:

Rescue Animals in District 7 aka RAD7, We have a shelter, more like a transition house for recovery and quarantine of animals in dire need. We have a great team and our main focus this year is TNR, where we trap, neuter, and release cats.  There are far too many street cats, and so our organization is targeting the problem at the source. We are also more involved with schools to help students have a better understanding of animal welfare. 

Learning Italian, thank goodness I took 3 years in HS, and dated Hispanic guys whose parents didn't speak English.  Italian is pretty easy, it's been about 1.5 years since I've started and my listening is high, but producing my own sentences with the right verb tenses has been challenging.

At this point, I don't think anyone is reading this, so it has become my journal. Journaling is a really great way to process things and in today's day in age (is that expression right), especially post covid, people seem to be struggling mentally.  I think there has been a spike in online therapy sessions.  I know a person who never considered seeing a therapist and stated "why wouldn't I talk to my close friends about my problems, they understand who I am and I don't need to start from the beginning, besides they offer free advice" , this same person is currently seeing 5 different therapists.  Going back to my point, journal, it's very therapeutic.

September 14, 2018 (6 year anniversary in Vietnam)

Holy cow, I forgot I was a blogger.  I really should have stuck to it and focused on traveling and made some money from it.  Oh wells!  All of this is under the assumption that I give good advice and can help suggest a wonderful trip for those considering a visit to a specific country.

Anyway it's almost been 6 years in Saigon, it was only supposed to be a 3 hour tour and here we are! I'm in my mid 30s now and it looks like we will be here well into my 40s!  Or at least Paul will.  He is turning 40 next year.

Alright so here's an update of what's new!  I don't think anyone reads this, but I'll write it anyway.  It's actually quite fun to re-read what I've written, so future Lyna this is for you!

Maple Healthcare, the main reason why we've been here so long, Paul is doing amazing!  He's like a celebrity here.  He's actually famous.  Dr. Paul the handsome doctor.  We are expanding and he's opening in D.2 and D.10.  That's 4 clinics in total!  WOWzer, I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of him.  Starting a foreign business in Vietnam is hard x100!  I mean to get an idea, go to Little Saigon and try to substitute an order at a Vietnamese restaurant.  It is near impossible and will take about 3 employees to understand your request and then in the end, get the order wrong.

Hence, I left management.  I no longer manage a British international school.  It was too stressful and managing Vietnamese staff was extremely challenging.  I am now working at an American international school as a placement tester and this gig is dope!  I have amazing incentives and great benefits and so much freedom.  I don't have any work to bring home.  The best part about this job is the charity work I am able to do.  It's pretty rewarding.

I think I'd like to get into a events when I return to LA, so I'm gaining as much experience as I can now.  I just took on my first paid event planning job for a Beach Music Festival, Coracle.  Working with the largest names in Saigon and this is gonna be the largest project I'm taking on.  I don't know what I'm doing, but I know I'll figure it out.  Learning how to work with a big group and learning to work with a team with different visions and expectation.  That's exactly the exposure I wanted from this project.

Speaking of events; I have put together some charity events this year and I have earned 1k for the first fundraiser"Live music with Brunch" and then 4k for "Dinner and a Show".  They were fabulous and inspired me to do more.  I have "Sing for a Cause"  which is basically a karaoke bar and then up next "Drag Bingo" which is coming up on 4th November 2018.  Super excited about that.  Punk Rock Bowling is in the near future and a hat and high tea party around the corner!

We moved into a new apartment and you can see my 2 amazing dogs dressed up as a frog and captain america.  They are the best thing since sliced bread.  I think all rehabs or depression clinics should have therapy dogs and actually use them as therapy.  I mean coming home to a wagging butt with kisses and that enthusiasm, I just love them so much.

BTW the other day, Rufus (my favorite), ate a bully stick too quickly and began chocking!  Paul was a natural and started doing the Heimlich and thank god it worked.  We never got the treat out, but whatever Paul did helped the food pass.  Rufus almost died.  FYI-you perform the Heimlich maneuver just like you would with humans.  For smaller dogs, it's sorta the opposite, you hold them by their hind legs and pump their stomach.  What a scare!

I cut my hair short and rocking this only because Vietnam sucks at bleaching hair.  The stylist basically burnt my hair and I had to cut it all off.  That's why I don't look to happy.

Also I got bored, so I took some stock photos!  Here's me giving a thumbs up, I use this same image for my Linked In Profile!   

You're coming to Vietnam, can you bring.....

I moved to Vietnam in 2012 and when I arrived I realised that the stores here were so bare and didn't carry half of the things I needed for day to day living.  There is no such thing as a Target, CVS, Home Depot or Ralphs, we were shocked.  Whenever I wanted to cook a meal (which is rare) I felt like I was going on a scavenger hunt!

When friends decide to visit I made them earn a free stay with me!  Can you bring:

• Protein powder
• Tampons
• Dayquil
• Neosporin
• Victoria Secret Bras
• Lotion with no skin whitening chemicals
• Workout gloves
• DOT helmets
• Dog treats
• and the list went on

It's 2017 now and the list has reduced significantly but if you're coming don't be surprised if I as you to bring ice packs, more tampon, and safe to eat dog treats...these things still aren't available.

Maids

Living abroad in a developing country allows you to have maids and not burn a hole in your pocket. Now as great as this sounds, I am in a very bad situation and I'm sure all of you will agree that I'm to blame.

I have hired a Filipino maid that is obviously taking advantage of me.  She is always asking for advances and always in need of help.  It's really frustrating and really awkward but I can't say no. The advance has been increased to about $700 usd.  She is a single mom with 4 children in the Philippines and she is independently putting her children through school.

In my mind, that is not that much money for a person in need, but when she constantly calls in sick or makes last minute changes, it drives me crazy.

Since the new year, she has called in twice; sick and now she is unable to come for other reasons.  I have already made dinner plans which I now have to change.  The impacts are minor but I just think if I'm doing you a favor wouldn't you try to help the person who is helping you?

I need to let her go and just take the loss.  The only concern is Tet is coming up and I need a dog sitter.  Might have to sack her after Tet.

First world problems....

Travelling

Travel turns every simple daily activity into an adventure, whether that’s finding your way around a new place, finding somewhere to stay or your favorite café in a new town or just trying to communicate in a foreign language. Everything becomes new and exciting, like being a child again!

Ramping up to the Holidays and a career change?

I've been drinking so much, I think I put on 2 kilos just from boozing.  Is that possible, I don't drink soda though! Speaking of alcohol, I think I might consider a career change.  Paul healed this woman named Jenny who is a wine Ambassador for Pernod Ricard. Paul told her how much I loved whisky and that I was looking to do anything else outside of office work and you know what, she agreed to meet with me and basically give me the run down as to how to get into the business.

1st step, get educated.  Apparently there are wine and spirit classes you can take beginning with level 1-4 and you can even obtain a "diploma" which I hear are really hard to get.

So here is the link in case any of you suckas wanna take the class with me.  It's about 1k usd for 7 days each level and you have to pass the examine to move up to the next course.

Angela!  do it with me!

https://www.wsetglobal.com/

I think I wanna do it, even if I don't get into the bottle distribution industry I'd love to be a wine and whisky snob!

In the classes they make you spit each tasting...I didn't know you could do that...I have been to so many tastings and can't ever remember anything because I get so drunk...so I guess I'll have to spit at these classes!  (the photo has no relevance to this blog, it's just a great photo...Cheers~)

The proof of a fantastic bday idea....cyclo party!

Hi Guys,

We survived! The plan was 16 bars and we made it to 12, and then an after hours club...surprisingly Paul and I opted out.  We had work the next day and I had a job interviewish....

Here are the pictures to prove it, one guy had a great idea and brought a beer bong.  It's been a while since I've done one, but what do you know it's like riding a bike!!  Nailed it and got it on video.

I remember the 4th July parties in Newport Beach in my twenties and there was a long ass one from the 2nd floor funneling down to the ground floor and I totally knocked out 2/3 beers in one gulp.  I think that's when Paul fell in love with me....

Highlight of the night, pie in face....the passengers got so drunk they started riding the cyclo drivers around in Saigon traffic!

Cyclo Chariot Racing

The best way to see Vietnam is on a cyclo and the best way to have lots of fun is to RACE cyclos!

Today is a friend's bday and during a pool party while intoxicated he came up with this grand idea of racing around Saigon to 16 different locations on cyclos and downing a beer at each location.

The race begins today with 20 people meeting at 1:30pm and it will continue until the first person hits the 16th bar.

A map has been sent previously, and as the competive person that I am, I've already created a route, printed in colour, translated and laminated it.  It's gotta be rain proof!

I think I'm gonna win...my max is 10 beers, never 16, I wonder if that's where I'll lose the advantage. Gotta go and hydrate!  Paul will be filming on his go pro and when I figure out how to download footage I will.

Cheers!

Upcoming Trips and a Wedding..

My sister is coming for Christmas and I can't wait to hang out with her and Kris her hubby, we are going to Danang and will go on your fun beach tours!

Right after, my cousin  Billy is getting married to Hien, a Vietnamese woman he fell in love with a year ago and the ceremony takes place 30th December in the country side of Vietnam, families from USA and Australia will gather for the union, should be wild!

In January Paul and I are going to the Phong Nha caves, if you haven't heard about it google it. Basically it's the biggest cave in the world, it was discovered by a farmer about few years ago and guess what it's in Vietnam!

"Phong Nha has been voted as one of the most wonderful caves in the world for a number of reasons: for its longest underground river, for its most beautiful underground lake. for its highest and widest entrance, for its most beautiful and widest dry cave, for its most beautiful sandbank and reef, as well as for its most spectacular stalactites, stalagmites and longest water grottos." -Lynapedia

After 4 years abroad...

I haven't written in 3 years and a lot has happened.

Where to start, in the last 3 years, Paul became a famous model.  He is a celebrity in Da Lat.  Some of his projects included; Piaggio Vespa, Sapporo, Adler, Owen, Valentine Shampoo, and more...

I on the other hand dabbled in modeling and was the 'before' picture in a weight loss food program. What has resulted in more calls is my voice acting abilities.  I have had a steady consistent part time job as a Voice Talent Actress.  I have done voice overs for Kotex, Huggies, Kymdan, various switchboards, Milo, Proctor and Gamble, Nescafe and English books!

Isn't that wild?!

We have 2 clinics now and working on clinic 3.  I think Paul is keeping a secret from me, I think he might be Superman!  There is no way that he can do all the work he is doing and keeping me happy.

I work as the office manager an international school and moving up the educational ladder.  I still can't believe I'm going to school everyday! I was never an academic.

We have added 2 more to our little family; Rufus and Archie.  Eversince Riley Bear D'alfonso passed, we needed 2 dogs to fill the void. Our new boys are wonderful and you will hear a lot more about them.

Anyhow that is a quick snapshot of us in Vietnam....

On a lighter note

Paul and I will be celebrating our 5 year anniversary.  We actually don't know the exact date and agreed that it's the last weekend of June.  I was hoping to do something extravagant but we're too busy prepping for our 2 week visit to the US.

We decided to but tickets for a wanna be Cirque du Soleil show called AO premiering at the Opera House in HCMC.  I was using my Vietnamese with an American accent and the guy was happy to hear that I was trying to speak the language and upgraded our seats for free.  I just saved each of us 500k (you do the math).  He probably also felt sorry for us cause it was pouring rain.  The rain was coming in sideways.  We needed to buy a bunch of souvenirs for our friends back home so Paul and I were determined to venture out, suit up in our rainsuits and hit the streets on our motorbike.  If you're new in Vietnam, avoid riding in the rain, although that's hard since it rains 50% of the time.  Sigh........

This day was unusual though, it was like a hurricane was going to hit, in actuality I had experienced my first monsoon.  Anyway it was so strong it knocked down our umbrella parking stands and vases outside of the office.
~~
I'm excited about returning home.  First stop In n' Out Burgers!  Second stop, pick up Riley.  Third, drop Paul off back at the airport so he can visit his family in NY.

This will be the first time Paul and I will be apart in 8 months.  I'm going to miss him, but I'm glad he gets to see his family over Independence Day.

While in the US, we have so much to take care of.  Living abroad takes a great deal of organization.  When I return, I have to file taxes, find a new tenant, prepare Riley's paperwork, witness my sister tying the knot, reconnect with family and friends, and stock up on things that aren't available in Vietnam.  Looking forward to seeing all of you!!

Numb...

It's supposed to be an exciting month, my sister is getting married.  She is the first grandchild on both my mother and father's side and she was finally getting married.  Her wedding in the US is scheduled for July 14th and the one in Australia is on the 21st.  My grandmother is so excited because all the grandchildren are going to Australia for a big reunion.

Yesterday, I received a call from a strange number and it was a lady sobbing on the phone.  She started speaking Cantonese to me.  The line kept breaking and I heard death.  Your aunt...is dead.  What?!?!?  It didn't make any sense because I just saw her a month ago as healthy as a 50 something year old could be.  I messaged the family in US to tell them what I heard and that when it was made cleared to me that it wasn't aunty, it was GRANDMA.

I only have one grandma, everyone else passed before I was born.  So my one and only grandma has passed.  What's strange is I've never experienced a death before.  I'm not sure what to feel.  I haven't cried but I feel like I'm supposed to.

The wedding in Australia is cancelled and now, you can't have a celebration the same year of a big death.  I have to fly over for a funeral instead of a wedding.

I'm just feeling numb.....

New Ad just Published: Chiropractic in Vietnam

Pictures in April 2013

 Shooting an AK47 in the jungle

 A dead body

 Fresh seafood daily

 

 Mangrove

 Paul's bday celebration, pretty extravagant

 Feeding each other shots of whisky through a syringe

 My new asst mngr

The mind's eye

 A new religion borrowing the best philosophies of 6 current religions...

 Cu Chi Tunnel

 1 of 100s of booby traps

 Random holes leading to traps and underground living spaces during the VN war.

 Have you ever seen the inside of a tank?  It's certainly interesting!

Caoism Temple

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.

Update

Since the grand opening of the clinic, Paul has gotten a steady stream of patients.  We are making as much as clinic number 1.  We are already talking about opening a 3rd clinic in about a year.  So far so good and our fingers are crossed!  Just gotta come up with a solid marketing strategy.

As for me, I've been working at my school for 3 months now, and I just got a job offer to become an administrator!  They need assistance with hiring, employee orientation, pacing guides, promotion of new curriculum and also an outlet for the teaching staff to utilize for any concerns.  This came as a shock and honor.  I am glad this opportunity came up because now I can teach less, as much as I enjoy it, like I have said before I can be a very exhausting task.

Paul starts Vietnamese Lessons at a learning center next week.  We have enrolled him for 80 hours!  We have met a few foreigners who are fluent so there's hope for Paul!  My skills are slightly improving, I only meet with a Viet teacher once a week for 2 hours.  Apparently to learn you must take classes 3 times a week.  Maybe with my new schedule, I will be able to take more classes in the future.

I also decided to learn the guitar properly.  I wanted ukulele lessons but they were $25 for 45 mins!  If I learned guitar, lessons are $4 an hour!  So I bought the cheapest guitar I could find and I have been learning how to read notes and count beats all over again!  It is so freaken hard!  But I am going to stick with it and by the end of this trip, I am going to know how to play solos and accompaniment!

Met some really cool people recently!  I'll give you and update about that later!

Saigon Zoo Ranked One of the Oldest Zoos

Per Wiki: Established 133 years ago, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is the home of many rare orchids, ornamental plants, and over a hundred species of mammals, reptiles and birds. Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is a cultural place of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). It was ranked eighth among the oldest zoos in the world. Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden is located on 2B Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, T.P. Ho Chi Minh City. We went on a cool day and it was such a great relaxing time.  It wasn't crowded, the animals were well taken care of.  A nice place to visit if you have time and enjoy the zoo!

We were so close to the elephants!

Photographed by Pauly

Can you find the poor bunny?