Small updates

A couple of the classes that I picked up from their previous teacher are ending now, so for the past 2 weeks I have been administering/grading final exams and bringing these classes to an end. Monday was the final day for my Intermediate 1 class (i.e. the class with the girl who criticized my teaching on my first day) and we had an impromptu class party. I brought some of the boys from my class downstairs with me to the supermarket next door and I told them to get whatever they wanted. If this were an American class we might find potato chips, cheese doodles, and donuts in the basket, but my Vietnamese students insisted on spicy beef jerky, dried jackfruit, and shrimp chips. We had a fun little time listening to music, mingling, eating and one student took pictures. I gave her my email address and asked her to send me the photos expecting never to receive them, but today she sent them to me and they made my day! What I love most about this picture is the heart border. =)


In other news, I've become more comfortable with riding the motorbike. My hands no longer shake and I'm not afraid of making left turns anymore. I've made it on two highways, once during rush hour, and this evening I drove home from work in the rain...so I think I'll be alright. Now I just need to become more familiar with the city because even though I've been here for 5 weeks I only know how to get to 4 or 5 places in relation to my apartment.

Next Sunday I'm going to an Independence Day Celebration sponsored by the American Club. They are importing Budweiser beer (ho ho) just for this occasion! For $20 there's food, music, beer, and a ton of prizes like free trips within Vietnam. A bunch of people from work are going to be there, so it'll be a ton of fun.

My friend Vinnie is coming in for a visit from Japan in the beginning of August, so I'm going to take off a few days from work. I haven't seen him in about 2 1/2 years, so it'll be cool to meet up again while we're both in Asia. It will also be nice to see a familiar face.