5th graders rock!
I have an idea. I think that we should create a global counsel of fifth graders. This counsel should be elected not by adults, but by the fifth graders of every country. This counsel would be in charge of solving all of the world’s problems and disasters. The enthusiasm for which this counsel would attack the globe’s challenges, the creative solutions for which they would dream up and the smiles on their faces when they deliver their decisions would simply make Earth a much, much better place to live!
In addition to seeing my former students, I was scheduled to teach at Fujioka Elementary School during my vacation. Many teachers expressed regret for scheduling “work” during my visit. I must say that teaching English never felt like work to me, so I was delighted to have the chance to go back to the classroom again! I first taught a sixth grade class, and since they have just started their sixth grade year, they are still sweet and young and cute. But when those fifth graders marched in, I was in heaven! They are just bundles of positive energy, full of jokes, smiles, laughter and a rare eagerness to express themselves in English. (See the video below to catch a big of their spirit!)
I taught with Okamura Sensei who was a homeroom teacher during our elementary English program. She’s a lovely lady who really inspires her students to learn English. She put together a very simple lesson plan, one which provided the class with plenty of opportunity for one-on-one time with the special guest (me!). Boys and girls who raised their hands high shouting, “Me, please” “Yes, me” would quickly turn shy once they reached the front of the class and looked at my blue eyes. Their voices would soften, and many of their tiny little hands were wet with perspiration. It’s important to remember how few chances these kids have to speak directly with a foreigner. It’s a big deal for them, and I am always sensitive to how nervous they get. And I’m always so proud when they make it through the conversation!
After we practiced self-introductions and had some q&a time (mostly “Do you like ~” because that was easiest for them to remember), we played Simon Says. Usually this game is used for practicing the names of body parts. But students at this age are so competitive. If I said “Touch your ears,” any student who did so would have to sit down and they would be “out” of the game. Very cut throat! The last five students standing got a prize…wither a colorful folder or my business card. You’d be surprised how many chose the business card!
I’m so passionate about 11 year olds. What an amazing age group! They are so positive and peppy and they are SO MUCH FUN!!! I wish I could do that everyday of my life!!! It was refreshing to re-live it for a brief moment!
These are a few super cute 5th grade girls who were very eager to chat and shake hands and give hugs. They were so sweet and adorable!
VN holiday weekend
I returned from Singapore yesterday and into a 3 day weekend. The Vietnamese are celebrating Liberation Day and May Day together. While my friend Mette and I were at dinner last night, we heard the 20 minutes of fireworks to celebrate the occasion. I thought I would share a bit of history of these significant celebrations.
Liberation Day
On 30th April, 1975 the Vietnam People’s Army (NVA) captured Saigon, the South Vietnamese Capital. This day marked the end of the Vietnam War (Khang chien chong My), commonly known as the “American War”. It resulted in the reunification of Vietnam under Communist rule and Saigon was renamed Ho Chin Minh City. Those who supported the war remember it as the liberation of Saigon. Vietnam celebrates this day every year as Vietnam’s Liberation Day. The Vietnamese name for it is Ngay Giai Phong. Today it is one of the Major Vietnam Festivals & Events. It is also called the Victory Day or the Reunification Day and Vietnam celebrates it every year declaring it a public holiday. This day initiated the process of reunification of North Vietnam and South Vietnam. The reunification took place on 2nd July, 1976.
To the exiled Vietnamese who are settled abroad and the supporters of the Southern government Vietnam’s Liberation Day is the Ngay Quoc Han (National Day of Infamy) or the Fall of Saigon. In present day Vietnam, supporting the cause of the then southern government is regarded as betrayal to the nation and is punishable by imprisonment. For the Vietnamese who served the country and were in the process hurt and exiled overseas the Liberation Day in Vietnam is a day of remembrance.
May Day
May 1 is International Workers’ Day (a name used interchangeably with May Day) is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. May Day commonly sees organized street demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of working people and their labor unions throughout Europe and most of the rest of the world — though, as noted below, in neither the United States nor Canada.
Caught in broad daylight
Walked in the bathroom when I got home today and found this little guy running across the top of the bathroom wall. I quick and got my camera. And here he is!
With my apartment being more sound than my last one, I don’t have many geckos inside my apartment. This guy lives behind the water heater, so I don’t see him much, but I can occasionally hear him chirp. I consider geckos kind of lucky, and so I’m glad that I have this guy in my house. They eat mosquitos and bugs and it’s a tell tale sign that you are NOT in San Diego! ;p I love them!
p.s. Here’s a photo of the kind of gecko I just love. Beautifully ugly and curiously cool.
Hanoi taxi adventures
Since I take a taxi everyday, I am considering a little mini-blog like Tales from the Taxi or Hanoi Taxi Tales. Vietnam Taxi Chronicles? Hanoi Taxi Adventures? (What would you name it?) Anytime I step into one, there is always story. And I have to say that the taxi rides provide some of the most hair-raising experiences in this country. So here is my little story (x2)from today.
…
When I looked out the window this morning, the color of the sky was still grey. I’m not sure I really expected that it would change. It’s been grey for five months, why would it all of a sudden be blue? But the darkness of the grey made me look at the rooftop across the way. Wet. A rainy day. Lately, the rain is just a drizzle, like the weather gods simultaneously sticking their tongues out to spit on everyone. It is most unpleasant. In any sort of rain, it is a challenge to get a taxi. So I walked down to the Syrena shopping center where the parking lots usually host a few taxis waiting for their next fare.
When I walked up, there were actually still five in the parking lot. A bit odd at almost 8am. And they all looked at me. I said, “Taxi please?” And they all looked at each other. They didn’t know which driver was next in line for a fare. So three of the drivers shouted at me at the same time, “Taxi?” They wanted me to pick, but I know better than to get involved in that mess. So I just stood there and answered their question with a question, “Taxi?”
Finally one driver took the initiative and pulled up to me. I got in on the driver side door. Just as we turned right out the driveway and started going along the road, the driver stuck his right finger in his nose, picked around a bit and caught a booger. He rolled down the window with his left hand, stuck the gooey finger out the window crack and flicked. I actually leaned into the car, fearful the booger may fly back into the car and land in my hair or something.
The driver wasn’t phased a bit. For the rest of the drive I watched to see how many people I could catch picking their nose in the car or on their motorbike. I got grossed out at ten, half way through the 15 minute drive.
…
Fast forward to this evening. It’s Wednesday. And that is the American Idol & Glee night. And you know, I’m a geek and I love these shows. It’s a nice mid-week break and I do my best to be home by 7pm. Mette was planning to join me, so I agreed to pick up the pizza and wine on my way home. I had to first stop at the ATM which is at the Metropole just a block over. And instead of taking the “normal” route, a straight-away from point A to B, the driver decides that he’s going to go the long way through town and gain an extra 20,000 Dong (yup, still laughing at that stupid currency name). I asked him to turn left, not right, but as are most drivers, he was stubborn and wouldn’t listen and pretended he didn’t understand.
With lots of huff, puffs and grumbles from the back seat, he dropped me in front of the wine shop. I didn’t even have time to yell at him, I just wanted to BE home! Got my favorite bottle, picked up the pizza I called in ahead of time and walked like a crazy woman on crack in my high heels, trying desperately not to twist my ankle on the uneven street, down and around the corner and through the mud-filled street of Lane 31. I kicked my shoes off, picked them up and nearly sprinted up the stairs. Got inside, threw everything down on the dining table and turned the TV on. Just in time. Caught the final commercial before the show started.
Wine, pizza, my indulgent TV shows and my favorite friend. Today was a good Wednesday, even though the taxi drivers are completely and frustratingly clueless and pigheaded. Can’t wait for tomorrow!!!
Office moving day
Today was the chosen lucky day for our Emeraude Sales Office to move across town and into a fine location right on Hoan Kiem Lake. I had a lunch appointment with a client today and so at 1:00pm, the lucky time for the movers to arrive, I was at the office to lend a hand to the team.
A few men arrived, dirty, smelly, and without any packing materials. No boxes, bubble wrap, box cutters, nothing. The truck didn’t even arrive with them. They made a phone call and another guy came with some tape. And so they used what boxes we had and started to throw things together, place them outside of the office and right in the pathway of the fire exit and doorway where they would need to haul the larger items like our desks, couch, chairs, etc.
I watched as the one little guy, who like the others immediately took their shoes off once they started working, taped the hard drives together with the keyboard and mouse for each work station. Two computer screens were taped together and set outside the office.
When one worker started to take things downstairs and line the sidewalk, I had to yell for them to stop and actually made them take things back upstairs. The truck still hadn’t arrived and lining up the sidewalk with the office valuables is welcoming an unwanted street market!
The boys insisted that the computers would be carried by the individuals, but I insisted that they be wrapped up. And so finally a man on a motor bike arrived with about 8 boxes and 2 blankets. Still no bubble wrap.
When the truck finally did arrive, along with a few more colorful characters to help, I then tried to orchestrate the circus of idiots to load the truck properly with heavy and large items first, then helped to arrange boxes neatly in the truck. I had to object to them setting the safe on top of the computers.
I let Kurt welcome the trucks on the other side of the project, as our new office has too many windows, glass, tiles and freshly painted walls to worry about. I’m sure I would have had a heart attack watching them take the bulky desks up the spiral stairs and over the railing.
The office manager tried hard to get a good quote on the job, I suppose, and I learned that it only cost $130 for the cross-town move. She learned this was probably a job we could have paid a bit more for, as the headaches caused in a cost savings effort just wasn’t worth it!
On the Bright Side,
Shanna
At the office; Laos
Here’s a vacation request you don’t get everyday…one I received from one of my employees in Laos:
This is Lao culture every son must become a monk for a short period to thanks parents whom gave our life. And I will be leaving from 23 Mar – 08 Apr 2010 for 15 days.
I love how this is not really a request but a statement. Need I say that the leave was approved.
Have you ever received a strange request for time off?
A time for giving
I spent most of today out and about in town shopping for warm socks, knit hats and mittens. While the temperatures have dropped a bit in Hanoi, the shopping spree was for small little people who I will meet in Sapa at Christmas time.
I’m headed to the very North of Vietnam for the holiday, spending the occasion with Pete and friends. Our festivities will include giving warm clothing to young ones who don’t have the proper gear to face the cold winter. We’ll also serve them a proper dinner and give them as much Christmas cheer as we can! I’m also going to bring some notebooks and colored pencils, because I think no matter what, kids love to have a toy or a coloring book for fun.
The mall was crowded today, I should have known. The very random Christmas displays outside the center were the biggest draw. Children, young girls posing sexy and whole families had their picture taken with big, fake presents and ugly snowmen in the background. It was the tackiest display I’ve ever seen!
My drive to and from the mall was a good dose of sightseeing in Hanoi. Honestly, I don’t get out much, and I know all to well the sights on offering on the road between my house and office. It was good to see some other parts of life in the streets. You know, the motorbikes with sliced-open pigs thrown over the seat, bus drivers openly peeing in public, and women holding their pantless children over the gutter so they can poop. Sundays are good for a bit lighter traffic, and some of the traffic lights are even turned off, opening the streets up for a special game of chicken in major intersections.
One of the things I really can’t stand is that when you go into a shop in Vietnam, one of the shop keepers will stay on your heels and follow you around, readjusting anything you touch. They don’t do this for Vietnamese customers, of course, only we foreign folks because, you know – we just can’t be trusted. I don’t mind so much when its a nice store, but when I am in the Citimart hunting through a bin of discount underwear, mittens and socks, no adjustment to the merchandise is needed! I also get a little peeved when other shoppers stop to watch me. Is it really that exciting to watch me pick out socks?
Anywhoo – I’m excited to power though the next few days and then get on that train to Sapa to celebrate Christmas with one of my favoritest people and put smiles on some very cute and tiny faces. That part will be the best and I can’t wait to share pictures with you! Merry Christmas!
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