A Shopper's Paradise

I recently returned from a business trip to Thailand. I really enjoy Thailand, but I have to admit that I wish that I didn't have to do all my travel by myself. Of course I always have the knack of meeting random people, but it is better to hang out with people that know you well and that you can laugh at your experiences or yourself at later. However, I did get to meet up with some people in Bangkok, which made my trip a lot of fun. I was able to see an old college friend and his wife (Lonnie and Courtney) who I went to Ozark with and who have been living in Thailand for almost two years. It was very uplifting to be able to hear about the past 4-5 years and the road that they have traveled. I also had a friend from Hanoi, Scot, who met up with me in Bangkok for the weekend. That was fun because we were able to do some shopping and enjoy some good food.

Bangkok is known for many things...but one of them is shopping. I have never seen so many shopping malls in such a small space. It is insane! So you may ask what did I acquire on my shopping frenzy? Other than my very cool Nazi Germany motorbike helmet (which now everyone in Hanoi wants), I passed the Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Dior shops and heading right over to the department store to buy a rice cooker. I'm the biggest dork ever, but I needed one and it was there calling my name. We all know that there is nothing more fashionable than a woman heating up rice in a rice cooker...forget the fancy leather bags and name brand clothing...its making rice that turns up the heat here in Vietnam.

A Trip to the Homeland

Many of my Vietnamese friends in Hanoi ask, “Why do you want go to Quy Nhon? It is poor and boring!” Maybe for some, but this city has defined me a great deal and has captured my heart. I look back on my two years there and cannot help but smile and laugh. I have so many fond memories with my students and colleagues in the university. They will be forever part of me and hold a very special place in my heart. I cannot express how it felt to walk back into an old classroom and see the faces of students who are more than just participants of an English class I once taught but are a significant part of journey marking who I once was and who I have become. I can say that I know the students and teachers well because they allowed me access into their lives and I know a part of me will always be with them. Now that is an investment that money can’t buy.

Halloween

Bobbing for apples, rolling one another up in toilet paper, and carving pumpkins are all the rave in Hanoi. I had organized a party last year and as soon as my Vietnamese friends knew that I’d be back in Hanoi for the holiday, they began expressing their dire need for another party. Well, I love hosting parties and this just provided me another opportunity to introduce some of my students to other native speakers while enjoying the benefits of getting a group of people together. Since I have about 130 students, I chose about 5 students from each of my four classes who had come prepared for class…which is a rare occasion and must be celebrated. The night was nothing less than a hit as I watched even my expat friends diving in for the apples, which were half bitten into by students who had been unsuccessful.

A Ceremony for the Honor Students