Lizzie Goes East: March 2014

So.

I realise it has been well over a month since I last wrote a post for this blog, and I really have no excuse other than the fact I have been so busy.

I'm going to try and give you an update on what has happened since my last post on 26th January, but no doubt I will forget some things.

But to kick this off, I will tell you some of the highlights of my Tết trip, to Laos and Thailand.

Thailand and Laos were both beautiful, but we spent most of the time travelling by bus. When we weren't in the bus we were in Shopping Malls (They don't have them in Vietnam) and as we were with some teachers from school, and on a guided tour, that consisted of visiting places that were not necessarily my first choice. We did however go to a Buddhist Statue Garden, saw a tiny street with Thai street food and went to a replica of Ho Chi Minh's house (in Thailand) haha!
I also had a headache for the whole time in Thailand, which made me miss out on seeing what Thailand has to offer at night! At least it gives me a great excuse to go back one day and see what I missed.

The second part of the trip to Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City was really great!

I visited Monkey Island where I attempted to get a selfie with a monkey.
Got up close and personal with an elephant.
I drove a jetski, which has got to be one of the most enjoyable things ever. Stef and I each had one, and liked it so much after the first ride we had to go again!
I got sunburnt.
Visited some bars that were full of foreigners in Nha Trang!
Visited the most tranquil setting and shared a mud bath with my boss! It was fantastic and so relaxing (It's just a shame I had a hangover which made me sick in this beautiful, peaceful place haha)
Travelled by cable car to a themepark on an island - Vinpearl - and went on an Alpine Coaster. You are in control of your speed as you race down the mountainside in your one person car!
Ate some absolutely amazing seafood. It was that fresh, we chose what we wanted from the fishtanks!
Visited a place called Dai Nam where there is a variety of things to see in this one place. We visited the zoo, the Golden Temple and the theme park! Stef, Greg (My boss' husband) and I went on a water ride that got us absolutely soaked, and then a rollercoaster that was so old and rickety it flung our heads from side to side, leaving me with a headache for the rest of the day. It was definitely no Disney- but an experience none the less.
Stef, Sean and I visited the Backpacker's area of HCMC where we met up with a friend from Vinh. It was really odd, but lovely, to see so many foreigners.

Riding a tuk tuk

View from the plane

As fresh as it comes

The best shrimp I've ever tried!

Nha Trang

Gorgeous beach on Monkey Island

What a cutie!

Look at that awful tour cap we had to wear!

Yes!!! Monkey selfie!

This speaks for itself how much fun I was having
- before I even started!

Going up, up, up!

Sunset in Nha Trang

Turtle!

One of the statues on a big Buddha
in the Golden Temple! Haha!

Dai Nam

After our Lunar New Year Celebrations, it was pretty much straight back to work, and has been ever since. I am teaching a lot more classes now, which I love, but it means that I have very little free time. I teach 5 out of the 7 Kindergarten classes, 2 out of the 5 Primary classes, and 3 Evening classes!

Here are a few highlights from the past month or so:

Harley and Jerry (two of the people involved in getting me my job - and my principal's sons) came home for a little under a week and it was lovely to be able to spend time with them.
A guy called John came over from America to introduce the school to 3D printing. He's a guy in his mid-fifties who has had the opportunity to visit so many interesting places in the world. It was really nice to be able to meet somebody new who was interested in so many things, but who was also pretty cool!
I learnt a couple new games that you can play with pool balls! When money is involved though, I seem to lose every time!
I've been teaching some of my children songs for our end of year show already, and they seem to LOVE them! I can't say what they are though yet--I will hopefully be able to post a video of them singing, so you'll have to wait and see.
I travelled by night bus to Hanoi which took seven hours. I was in Hanoi for less than 12 hours in total, sorting out stuff with the British Embassy. So much hassle, but great to go back! night buses are seriously something else though! Haha!! I actually slept, but thank God for my iPod my Mum sent over with Jerry, as I wouldn't have coped with the man next to me snoring without it.
I met back up with Jerry in Hanoi for about 45 minutes - very short, but sweet :)
I received my first parcel from my parents!!! YAY!!! Full of lovely British things!
I had my first cup of tea in 2 months! Definitely needed.
The school celebrated International Women's Day with a cooking and karaoke competition. The whole school was put into 7 teams, and I was a judge along with the Principal, Vice Principal and Head of Security. I must be important :P It was great to see the whole school having fun, and some of the food was amazing!!!
I went to a Vietnamese hospital for the first time, and spent about 3 hours running around seeing different people to sign forms and do tests for my Medical that is needed. Anybody who complains about the NHS needs to get over here! Then they will find something genuine to complain about. Oh - and they take blood from a really random place.

Night Bus!

My first package!!

YES!
Yorkshire Tea and Wotsits!

My first British cuppa!

My favourite dish from the competition!

My favourite team! And the winning team!!!

Everyone is working hard!

Team One tried hard!

The winning team!!!

The Emergency Department!

BSA staff!

My poor face is hidden by Ms. Hanh's hand! Haha!!

And now, for the best, but most scariest highlight:

My bedroom floor decided to break at midnight on 12th March. I was talking to my friend on the computer, when all of a sudden there was this hideous noise. I didn't know what it was, but it sounded as if it was raining next door, and something was trying to break through the wall. I got out of bed and moved towards the door. As I did, I could see the floor had risen up, and as I watched it cracked infront of my eyes. I went and woke Stef and Pat (A new member of staff) up because I was freaking out haha!! They came to see, and went and got Security. The Security guy came back, and took a chunk out of the floor with the hammer and then said it was fine. After he and Pat left, Stef and me were talking and heard all the creaking again. It was so freaky. Anyway, I went back to bed, as there was nowhere else I could go, and tried to go to sleep. At around 3am, I woke up to the same sounds and a massive breaking sound which, let's be honest, is seriously scary! I thought I was going to wake up on the ground floor haha!!! I managed to get back to sleep, and woke up in the morning to the whole floor raised up, and more cracks. I was moved to the next room in the afternoon, and maintenance were already sorting out the floor by lunchtime. I'm still not back in that room, but there is a new floor there now (even though it is a different colour). Scary stuff eh!!!!