The grieving leaving expat

Ways I can tell that I’m not in Hanoi anymore…

I drink tap water.

I can’t even imagine ordering a second beer because I can’t afford it.

Waiting for the little green man to flash before I even think to cross the road, but at the same time cars stop for me at designated crossings, just strange.

Wondering why I get these judgmental looks from cashiers when I ask for a plastic bag. They don’t out right say it but I can tell they’re thinking “murder of the planet!... seriously who still uses plastic bags girlfriend.” (Hanoi would gladly provide a plastic bag at the drop of a hat, or even just bottle of water for the road)

Apart from that second beer it sounds great right? No. No! I have now left Hanoi and it hardly took 24 hours here in Switzerland for those rose tinted glasses to be thrown on. Gone is the road rage, gone is the cursing at constructions that starts at 6 in the morning 7 days a week… gone gone gone. I miss Hanoi suddenly and with passion.

I might be going through the first phase of ‘the grieving expat': romanticisation (the act of indulging in sentiment)

Hanoi as great as an experience as it was, was not always an easy city to live in, ask any expat that’s been there for a while, even though these expats, myself included would defend the city from outside criticism any day.

I think what also just adds to this longing is the fact that I’m here for a few days. Think for a second, especially if you know Hanoi, of the most possible opposite place in the world ever… Switzerland right? Right? With its order and spotlessness and its ridiculous prices. I’m almost addicted to a sense of craziness which Hanoi has gotten me used to so I’m forced to contrast facts from Hanoi to Bern/Zurich constantly.

Not that it’s fair to compare, there is no winner or loser here. Having said that I don’t think you’ll be reading about ‘Lan in SwitzerLAN’ anytime soon. Lan in Nam part 2, maybe… I’ll need to get over the unknown phases of ‘the grieving expat’ before I can soberly make such a move again. I’ll be sure to post my finding of phase 2 if I find it.

Hanoi was my home for more than a year and a half, even though it feels like a lifetime and 3 months at the same time. So of course leaving is dramatic, exciting and heartbreaking. I’ll miss so much more than I even realize now…

Right now I’m on my way home, Ben is coming with me as soon we can get dearest Bona at the Embassy to do her job and give him a temporary permit as a ‘life partner’. An American in the Northern suburbs of Joburg might be the source of my next blog muse, will see about that one.


Lan in Nam again???
or

Lan in SwissLan? well will think of a better name if I ever get back here... promise

The kids are alright

...not really, they are amazing!

It's been over two weeks now that I said goodbye to arguably my highlight of being a teacher in Vietnam, I had to bid my 192 Grade one and two students fair well, sad day. I have for the most part of my year and half been teaching at language center, where I mostly taught adults on week nights and kids on Saturday. This was fun for the most part, mixed in with so 'not so fun' at times.

I started teaching in the public schools around January and my regret is not having done that sooner. I'll be honest teaching young kids is not every teachers cup of tea, I hardly knew I would get so into it. However, getting paid to sing songs and help color, hoping my English native accent will rub of on the kiddies was well worth it.

I had the joy of having to teach, and I quote from the textbook, things like:

"Please don't wink"
"Do jumping jacks"
"Plant a tree"
"Take off your cap...quickly quickly"
"Please don't whistle"
"Can you play the violin?"
"I love cucumbers... yum yum yum"
"Bounce the basketball"
"Pick up the clock...slowly"
"Touch the starfish"

And the word Iguana and Umpire... so my kids can't ask what your favorite color is but they can say the word Iguana?!

All these random lines where set to annoyingly catchy tunes so I'm yet to go a day without at least one song being stuck in my head. The fun part of course comes when you and kids work together to add moves to the songs and ta-da there is half your lesson gone.

The great thing about teaching public school kids as opposed to language center kids is the fact that they absolutely looove coming to English class. I can completely understand why too. Think about how excited you would be about going to extra English lessons on your weekend? But think about excited you would be if there was a part of your school day filled with songs and a teacher that would do just about anything to amuse you??

The first 5 minutes of class, usually after I receive a good amount of hugs, playful punches and pictures would include a routine of doing Kung Fu Panda and Ben 10 moves, followed by the Macarena and then the alphabet song (because you know I was actually teaching a language). Not going to be doing much of that in my next job, but more on that later.

I must add that teaching would not be half as pleasant were it not for the help of the teachers assistant, a teacher that can help with the translation when needed and discipline more needed. Having not to be strict while trying to be the best teacher ever helps a lot. Only problem is that if there's a lesson without a TA it's near impossible to convince the kids that discipline means more fun, just not going to happen.

I was convinced as a kid that my teachers had favorites, ... but now being a teacher myself I simply know that it was true. My favorites where usually the trouble makers, how unfair is that.

My students amused me every single day I taught them, let it be said, there is no such thing as a dull day when you're teaching these kids. Yes yes I know it's easy for me to say that now, weeks after having to wake up early and be energetic before I was even fully awake. After all that I only have good memories of teaching young kids.

Let me end with this, before I get way too carried away, teaching these kids will forever be one of my favorite memories of Vietnam.