Suddenly and never otherwise, this emotion of pure exhilaration sneaks up on me as I walk through markets or navigate across a busy street, I’m tempted to just stop and giggle at myself for being here. I do enjoy repeating this to myself: I left a comfort zone, a respectable job, a gorgeous country and beautiful people behind to come and ‘get this travel urge out of my system’ the self congratulating is never ending. Now the danger with this ‘adventure’, ‘travel phase’ or call it what you will time of my life is that I’m starting to feel it having the complete opposite effect of getting it ‘out of my system’. Now I know this will greatly alarm my mother, but if anybody she understands the thrill of different places, new challenges, more perspective and everything else that usually accompanies travel, maybe I will just blame her on this one.
The thing is that after getting through the worst of the culture shock, finding the ability to deal with missing family and friends and just having a bit of routine in place I wonder if I will ever be satisfied with 8-5 and all that goes with it again. This could also just be the result of being so happy with this move in life and rewards of being in the right place, who knows in a few months I might feel totally different.
I am about a week into being real teacher and as unbelievably overwhelming as it was I will dare say that I am in love with it. Those who know me and myself most of all could never before in my life fathom that I would ever want to be a teacher or actually like it. Another great aspect of living abroad I think, finding out things about yourself that you never would otherwise. I highly recommend this madness to anybody!
Happily I have a very diverse group of classes and it would be a mistake to prepare for any class the same way. I have a bunch of 6 year olds that just got acquainted with English a few weeks ago, the most energetic 8-9 year olds I have ever encountered, o so ‘cool’ teenagers and then lastly a colorful mix of young adults each studying English for different reasons. I have found a soft spot for each of these groups… maybe even more for the little boy that asked me if I was from heaven. I have great fun with each new class asking them to guess where I am from. I get a lot of USA, UK, Canada, Brazil and even Finland. They are usually very confused at the fact that I am from Africa and am not black.
I now have a very strange daily routine, seeing as I teach in the evenings during the week and a full day on the weekend. I am forced, you see, to sleep late on weekdays which will definitely take some getting used to, there still is the conventional voice that has turned to my wake-up alarm “get up lazy ass”, so rude.
I have also been extremely blessed to finally get a laptop, so no more dodgy internet cafes once a day! This has resulted in many a happy thing… Facebook all the time, the wonder and joy that is Skype and lastly my favorite new discovery: You Tube. This has brought a bit of home so much closer, South African and good Afrikaans music can now be enjoyed at anytime. ( Have not been that home sick to miss Kurt Darren or Nicolas Louw yet).
That is all the news for now folks, till next time… which might in fact be very soon.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Hanoi, Hunting and Happiness
Any daydream we might have harboured about Hanoi being a bit less honking-mad was quickly destroyed by our taxi driver on route from the airport, honking I kid you not at empty spaces. In Hanoi I have come to the conclusion that it is more about "I'm still alive while operating this motor in case the rest of road users might be wondering" (I breathe therefore I honk). I would like to say that I am getting a bit more used to it, like those small town people who stop hearing the town clock after living there for many years. This is not the case.
I have made the right decision in being all free spirited and moving to all new city because it seemed like a good idea at the time. I still have every reminder that I am in Vietnam but the two cities are different like Capitalism and Communism, well this is not really true, more an attempt at a bad joke. While I enjoyed the vibe and people in Saigon I find so much more in Hanoi to appreciate; like butterflies, big old trees lining the streets, parks with flowers, colors.. more colors somehow.
The attitude of the locals will take some getting used to. It is as if each city was given a fair amount of friendliness and rudeness. The Saigonians (yes I know this not right) have found a way to blend this into a nice mixture of being overall 'nice' locals. In Hanoi however they seemed to give the portions in oil and water, some of most helpful and rude people I have come into contact here, sorry to say more oil than water though.
Now with the admin part of this blog:
Last week in Saigon was filled with looking forward to getting outta there, trying to recall grammar rules for the exam (all forgotten again). Karaoke, which was the most fun I have had in Saigon, highlight being the united artists seeing our hearts out to 'We are the Phampion'. This kind of magic we attempted to recreate to a disappointing result as all karaoke places seemed to go into hiding the Friday night, maybe as to protect themselves from the bunch of crazy tourists.
I have the TEFL qualification in the bag giving me the power to walk around with a big smile on my face and the hope of getting more dollars than those dirty backpackers who also try and teach on the side to continue their dirty backpacker lifestyle. On the other hand it seems that I will need just that little bit more here than a TEFL qualification, degree, perfect English and a charming personality... a British/American/Australian Passport. For crying out loud South Africans speak better English than Australians! I would usually make the joke at the expense of the Yanks... but I have American friends now and rather like them. The Vietnamese do not seem to be too fond of the Africans.
I have started the job hunt and understand now better than ever why they say 'hunt'. Trekking the through the bushes (city and job sites), armed with weapons (CV, degree, TEFL, professional yet happy face), camouflaged (dressed to impress), now awaiting the kill... but how does my head end up on their wall as the prized kudu (token foreign teacher)?
In my ever optimistic self I have this vision how by my next blog I tell you all about my perfect high paying job, while planning to travel the rest of Asia and the world... mu ha ha.
I have made the right decision in being all free spirited and moving to all new city because it seemed like a good idea at the time. I still have every reminder that I am in Vietnam but the two cities are different like Capitalism and Communism, well this is not really true, more an attempt at a bad joke. While I enjoyed the vibe and people in Saigon I find so much more in Hanoi to appreciate; like butterflies, big old trees lining the streets, parks with flowers, colors.. more colors somehow.
The attitude of the locals will take some getting used to. It is as if each city was given a fair amount of friendliness and rudeness. The Saigonians (yes I know this not right) have found a way to blend this into a nice mixture of being overall 'nice' locals. In Hanoi however they seemed to give the portions in oil and water, some of most helpful and rude people I have come into contact here, sorry to say more oil than water though.
Now with the admin part of this blog:
Last week in Saigon was filled with looking forward to getting outta there, trying to recall grammar rules for the exam (all forgotten again). Karaoke, which was the most fun I have had in Saigon, highlight being the united artists seeing our hearts out to 'We are the Phampion'. This kind of magic we attempted to recreate to a disappointing result as all karaoke places seemed to go into hiding the Friday night, maybe as to protect themselves from the bunch of crazy tourists.
I have the TEFL qualification in the bag giving me the power to walk around with a big smile on my face and the hope of getting more dollars than those dirty backpackers who also try and teach on the side to continue their dirty backpacker lifestyle. On the other hand it seems that I will need just that little bit more here than a TEFL qualification, degree, perfect English and a charming personality... a British/American/Australian Passport. For crying out loud South Africans speak better English than Australians! I would usually make the joke at the expense of the Yanks... but I have American friends now and rather like them. The Vietnamese do not seem to be too fond of the Africans.
I have started the job hunt and understand now better than ever why they say 'hunt'. Trekking the through the bushes (city and job sites), armed with weapons (CV, degree, TEFL, professional yet happy face), camouflaged (dressed to impress), now awaiting the kill... but how does my head end up on their wall as the prized kudu (token foreign teacher)?
In my ever optimistic self I have this vision how by my next blog I tell you all about my perfect high paying job, while planning to travel the rest of Asia and the world... mu ha ha.
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