Picture This

The Thai students invited us over for lunch and to celebrate New Years with them.

Then they sat us down on a bench and started putting baby powder on our faces and pouring water on our hands. The baby powder they didn't know why they did it, as they said "It's just tradition." But the water they beleive will wash away all of the evil of the past year before the new year begins.

And of course this broke out into a water fight!

Happy New Year Thailand!

This last one is just for your amusement! I don't think I am going to try their "Humber Ger". It ain't no McDonalds that's for sure!

Vinh University Water Park

Ok so maybe there isn't a literal water park, but it is New Years this Tuesday in Thailand and Laos. And it IS a tradition in Thailand and Laos to celebrate their new years by throwing water on each other. So the Thai and Lao population of Vinh University has been absolutly crazy the past few days. Every time I leave my home I get soaked and have baby powder thrown on me. I would love to show you pictures of all of this crazieness but i'm afraid my camera would get wrecked in the process. I have to admit that when I decided to come to Vietnam that I never thought I would learn so much about so many cultures. Living on campus I have Thai, Lao, Chinese, Canadian, and Vietnamese friends. EVERY day I learn something new, I need to make some room in my brain sometimes to take it all in.

Good News

I got back to Vietnam last Wednesday with my parents. I got to show them around Hanoi for a few days before they had to head back to Texas. I am so glad that they got to come and see the country that I love. It was a lot of fun having them here!

I went to the doctor today and they took my stitches all out. I feel so much better now! I have a little infection but I'm taking antibiotics and I should be back to normal by the end of the week. I can't tell you how good it is to write that! I am so glad to be heading back to Vinh. I miss all of my students and friends down there. Thank you all for lifting me up.

Surprise!

Yes it is true I am back in Bangkok. I have to admit that this was a bit of an unexpected trip but I am here. This time I am getting a pretty good feel for the hospital here but I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning.

A couple of weeks ago I started to have some pain at the end of my tailbone and I thought maybe if I ignore it, it will just go away. Then a couple of days later I got a fever. Then I thought well that’s not good. So I headed up to Hanoi to go the international SOS clinic there. The doctors there told me that I had a cyst at the end of my tailbone that had become infected. Hence the fever. They told me that they needed to put an IV in me and get some antibiotics going. Then they said that the real solution was for me to go to Bangkok and get the cyst removed. That was all fine except my parents were due to arrive in Hanoi in about three days. Then I thought well dang it. But I knew that I had to go to Bangkok to have the surgery because honestly there really isn’t any place in Vietnam were I would feel comfortable getting surgery done, especially since this is my first surgery ever! To make a long story short in 48 hours with a little help from Susan I booked a ticket to Bangkok, found a place to stay and my parents changed their trip to come to Bangkok instead.

I had my surgery and had the cyst removed. And a day later they released me from the hospital. When I met with my surgeon he was really nice and was excited to show me the pictures of the cyst he removed. Gross! I think I would have been ok with not seeing that but he has promised me that he will get me a copy of the pictures before I leave. Those are not pictures that I will post on here! On a happier note my recovery is going really well and I am almost to the point where I can sit. Trust me that is a big step. On Wednesday my parents and I will be headed back to Vietnam to enjoy Hanoi for a couple of days before they have to go back to Texas.

If there is one thing I can say about this year is that it has been filled with new surprises around EVERY corner and even on some of the straight parts of the path! But it is good to know that I have the father with me through every step. Thanks to everyone that has been lifting me up! I have definitely felt it.

Chuc Mung Ngay Tam Thang Ba!

According to my students everywhere in the world celebrated women's day on March 8....what you haven't heard of it? That's strange I thought everyone celebrated women's day, but it's ok because I hadn't heard of it either before coming here to Vietnam. But it was pretty funny trying to explain that to my students. Most of them didn't beleive me that women's day isn't a world famous holiday. I think every day my students make me love them more and more!

To celebrate women's day this year the foreign language department put on some fun events to show how important they think women are. In the morning the students had a cooking contest. So two boys from every class had to prepare three dishes that were delicious and beautiful. I had the lucky job of getting to be a judge. It was a lot of fun because not only did the vietnamese students cook but the Lao, Chinese and Thai students also cooked. It was a very exciting morning and I enjoyed getting to see all of my students out of class. And just in case you were wonderng the Chinese students won for the best food!

Then in the afternoon our department had a football (soccer) tournament. So Sandy and I ventured out to the field to support our students. I have to say that I make a pretty good cheerleader!

All in all I have to say that I had a wonderful international women's day! And I didn't even mention all of the students that came to visit me and bring me flowers. I love holidays like this because then I don't have to buy flowers for myself!

I have had a crazy year here in Vietnam but the longer I am here the more I love living here. It is so wonderful to have the joy of our father in me. So when it is boring down rain all around me I still have the sun shinning bright on me!

Out of Vinh for a Day

Last Saturday I ventured into the country side outside of Vinh City with my friends Ly (in the black), Nhi (in the red), and An (behind me throwing up the peace sign). Two of them live in Cua Lo, which is a little beach town about 30 minutes away from Vinh City. It was so nice to get out of the city and spend some time with a family for a while.

All of us went to Ly’s house for lunch. Ly’s family was so wonderful. Granted I couldn’t talk too much with them but I had three lovely translators. Ly has a younger brother who is in high school and a little sister who is about 4 years old. When I first walked into Ly’s house her mom, Hien, ran up and gave me a huge hug. It was really nice to feel so welcomed. Then Hien ran into the back yard, grabbed a chicken, and took it into the kitchen. That’s when I knew I was truly a guest of honor! It was fun getting to see how a live chicken goes to lunch. Ly’s mom was a really good cook!


Ly's little sister was so cute. We ran around, danced and she even helped me with my Vietnamese pronunciation. I loved getting to play with her. It has been a really long time since I have gotten to spend time with a little kid. There is something about just getting to act like you are four that makes life so much fun.

I feel so refreshed and energized from my time with my friends and Ly's family! It is so good to get to know where my friend Ly comes from and to get to know her better. This is why I am here.

Reunited!

It was so good to get to see my students again this week! I didn't realize how much I missed getting to see them. Granted I'm sure they only understood like 30% of what I said they were so excited to see me too. They were pretty quite until I pulled out the candy that I brought them from Thailand and then they got REALLY excited. It is amazing what you can get a group of students to do with just some candy. Being here this past week I have kind of been like "What am I doing here?" But seeing my students faces has given me new purpose and clearity. I'm glad to be back and teaching!

On a side note it is already 82 degrees today and it is February 24th...something is wrong here!