Snowflakes and Christmas Carols

This week I have had a couple of my classes over for Christmas parties. It has been so much fun because most of my students havn't ever heard anything about Christmas. So in class I have taught them all the real reason for Christmas. They heard all about the nativity story. I just have been talking to dad alot that some of my students would under and start to questions what I am talking about. I would ask all of you to also do the same.

So as you may know that in Vietnam it NEVER snows. My students have never seen snow. I mean I have only seen it a few time being from Texas but I wanted them to have a white Christmas. So I taught them how to make snow flakes out of construction paper. It was fun to teach them something that I learned in Elementry school. They were really excited and made some snowflakes that were really good. They put some of the ones they made up on my wall and now my room is so colorful and even more beautiful.

I have mentioned this is some of my previous blogs but in Vietnam people LOVE to sing. Every birthday party that I go to I am always asked to sing. My students are always singing and so I thought I would take this time to teach them some Christmas songs. In class I sang Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Joy to the World, Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, and I taught them We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Jingle Bells. They were beside themselves with excitment. Even though I may not be the best singer they make me feel like I'm Mariah Carey. So in the traditional Vietnamese way my students decided that they needed to sing me a Vietnamese song in return for me singing them a song. It was really cute. They sang a song about how you must never give up, and the waving of hands in the air was included. I love to hear my students sing in Vietnamese. I guess that will come in handy because this week I am supposed to be a judge for a singing competition. I guess since I'm American I can do anything right? I will tell you how that goes...

This was when my students got REALLY excited to take a picture with me. I don't know if you can read the emotion in my face but I am a little scared at this point. I thought they were going to try a dog pile on top of me. And to think that I thought my students were shy. I really hope that this opens up some door and they feel more comfortable to come and visit my room!


It is hard being away from home during Christmas but having such wonderful students and friends here makes it much easier.