Gifts

'Twas the day before Christmas
and no presents were under the tree
for Adam and Heidi decided to celebrate
in another variety.

Tickets to travel, they decided
were way better than small trinkets.
So they began to scheme and plan
and in doing so became excited.

They were heading to the exotic locations
of Cambodia and Thailand.
Yes, that would be their present
and it would be so grand.

Since they were heading out
on this Christmas Eve
they were nervous if Santa looked for them
in Ho Chi Minh City.

So they quickly left a note for him to explain
to skip their new home for him
since they were already on a plane.

So he could make haste and head out on the double
and instead of cookies and milk
they left him an ice cold Saigon beer for his trouble!

Merry Christmas to all.  Much love.  Be well.

Christmas Eve, Eve

Today was our final day of work before 10 magical, blissful days off of work for a holiday break.  To say that work was a "fluff day" would be an understatement.  At the elementary school, Heidi surprised her students with presents under their paper, student made Christmas Tree.  The reusable shopping bags filled with school supplies and yo-yo's, journals, and puzzles made the children exclaim that today was, "the best day EVER!!"  Heidi also was reminded how unique receiving gifts was for her students when one of them shyly and quietly came up to her to ask how much she owed Heidi for the gifts.  When Heidi explained that they were gifts and she would not be collecting any money the student broke into a grin and said, "Wow!  You must think we are special."

At the high school, Adam filled his day by grading final projects and just hanging out with kids.  They laughed together, talked about holiday traditions together, and enjoyed the freedom of a "free-dress-red-and-green-day" together.  For the afternoon hours, the elementary school traveled to the secondary campus to put on a holiday performance for all the teachers and staff.  Hearing children sing, seeing them dance, and hearing their laughter filled our souls and reminded us that no matter how far we may be from our family this holiday season, we still realize that love, actually is all around!

A student's photo of Mr. Adam busy at work on the last day before break.

A student's final project for Mr. Adam.  An artistic representation from The Alchemist.  Ironic that it happens to be Christmas colors.

We took full advantage of "red and green" day.  Really, just an excuse to wear jeans to work.

A student dance performance featuring 2nd graders.  They rocked it.

Some of the gifts for Heidi's students.  The highlight turned out to be the reusable bags.  Who would have thought?

A happy group of students enjoying their gifts around the fire -- err -- fake fire.

2nd graders are pumped to sing.  Too bad they spilled hot chocolate all over their Santa costumes before singing!

Drama

Today the elementary school was successful in delivering their first dramatic performance of the year.  In honor of the holiday season, one of the teachers adapted Cinderella into a play.  Auditions were held, rehearsals were had, and stress levels (of the staff involved) went out the roof.  However, today, CinderFella and the Christmas Ball was delivered in all its glory.  Somehow, over the course of the past month, Heidi became the director, prop-designer, and every-other-part-of-putting-on-a-play-for-5-to-11-year-old-extraordinaire.  Let's just say that by the time the final lines were delivered, Heidi was sweated through her shirt, nearly passed out on the floor, and ready to walk away from elementary school forever.  And to think, all that for a mere 20 minutes of entertainment which Adam pointed out, only 5 minutes of which were actually audible.

An exhausted director at the end of opening day.

Thank goodness Santa attire is so readily available on the streets of Saigon.

Snow White...Cinderella...ehh,kind of all the same

The magic sleigh. Obviously nothing says Christmas like a pink ribbon. 

 

There Wouldn't Be a Sign ...

.... if it wasn't a problem.  One of our favorite things about traveling is enjoying all the creative and intriguing signs that are hung up around different locales.  Some of the sineage is pretty clear cut -- you know what to do or what not to do.  Other signs are still lost in translation or left up for interpretation which do not really provide clarity for a non-native.

In Vietnam, Heidi came across a sign that was intended to address one common, everyday issue.  We think the sign speaks for itself and the message is pretty clear.  However, we can't help but wonder, as this does not seem to be a Westernized-problem, to get the point across, shouldn't the sign be in Vietnamese?!?

The best part is that this sign was taken from a local fast food burger joint and placed in a coffee shop bathroom!  Why print your own when you can just take another?

Everday Maintenance

The other day we had to head to the post office briefly after school just to send a letter back home. On our short walk from Heidi's school to the post office, we witnessed an amazing act of balance, finesse and insanity. There in the middle of the street, during Friday rush hour traffic, was a electric power crew. These guys (or their boss) thought 4pm on Friday would be a perfect time to fidget with and/or try to fix line that ran directly across a busy street. In reality it must not have been anything much out of the ordinary for them as non of the crew seemed phased at all. To add to the craziness of working on high voltage power lines, these guys use a ladder system that adds to their "nothing gets under my skin" persona. Instead of using a typical A-Frame ladder, they instead use a straight up and down ladder that is held 1/3 held by someone on the ground, 1/3 balanced by the man on the ladder, and 1/3 propped up against said high voltage lines. On top of all of this, the ladder is made of bamboo and looks like it has seen some better days. When we got home this evening we were a bit more thankful for our electricity now knowing the effort that is put into keeping Saigon electrified. High voltage power line workers that work in rush hour traffic on bamboo ladders...We salute you.

The craziness that is routine maintenance.

White Weekend

This weekend we had our first and only holiday party in Saigon.  Our friends from work organized a White Elephant Gift Exchange in honor of the Christmas Season.  We all had to bring some food to share, a 50,000 - 100,000 Dong gift to exchange, and a favorite song for the playlist.  To get ourselves in the holiday spirit, we went to meet our friend for an early, pre-holiday supper.  We ventured into uncharted territory with a Vietnamese street staple - Chao.  It is a porridge made out of rice, ginger, and green onions.  Then, you get to point and pick which kinds of "add-ins"  you would like.  Since Jimmy and Adam are all about eating like the locals, they went with the traditional style of porridge.  This meant their bowl of delight was filled with pig skin, blood sausage, coagulated pig blood, fried bread donuts, and ... gasp ... pig intestine.  In all actuality, the porridge was delicious.  However, next time Adam might stick with the Heidi-version -- rice, pork sausage, and fried donuts!

All that goodness was less than 50 cents.  And yes, it was worth it!

Heidi and Jimmy at the Chao Stand (aka plastic tables and chairs in an alleyway off a busy road right beside the weight room/billiard hall).

Adam showing off a white elephant gift.  No, it's not just a conical hat ... its an EMBROIDERED conical hat!

Heidi getting up close and personal with the Peking Duck Head.  What can you say?  They were standing under the mistletoe!

Today we treated ourselves to an expensive lunch in Vietnam.  Both of us were ready for some food other than traditional Vietnamese.  So, we went downtown to a Mediterranean restaurant to see what was on the menu.  We fell in love with the location, the menu, and the healthy, fresh food that tasted so vastly different than anything we have eaten in the past 4.5 months.  And, as we waddled away from our huge lunch, we laughed that our splurge still only cost us about $18 USD.   Happy holidays, indeed!

Our Mezza Plate at lunch.  Such a different flavor profile from what we have been eating.  Not a drop of fish sauce in sight.

A delicious, huge salad.  Our first lettuce since moving abroad.  (Not counting Heidi's accidental ordering of "stir fried lettuce" -- ugh).

Morning Commute

What is so great (and sometimes frustrating) about living abroad is how so many of the little, everyday things turn into a new and exciting experiences. Case in point is our commute to school everyday. Here is short video of what it is like to be on the motorbike, cruising through the streets of Saigon.

Point and Pick

We have spent a lot of time developing in our Vietnamese food vocabulary.  Nearly every day Adam comes home with a new word or phrase to use in the food ordering process.  Despite this, we still lack the vocabulary to order a meal of our choosing.  Thank goodness most restaurants in our part of town support the "point and pantomime" method of ordering.  Where we dine, many dishes are already prepared in the "Com Binh" style which means dishes are already cooked and sitting in warming trays behind glass (literal translation means food for the working man, not the business man).  Upon ordering, the food is dished onto piping hot rice which warms the food back up prior to being served to the satisfied customer.  We have become so efficient in the "point to order" method that now, many of our favorite places point to the food for us before we do.  That's what we call service!

So many options, only one opportunity to point.

A typical lunch plate which includes rice, tofu, eggplant and pepper stuffed with fish, and rau mung, for a total of 75 cents US.

The vat of piping hot rice.

Heidi's favorite -- Tofu stuffed with minced pork, covered in a tomato sauce.  Ironic, yet delightful!

Camp, Vietnam Style

After finding out a few weeks ago that our power would be out all day at school, yesterday the elementary school headed out on their first field trip of the year.  The entire school loaded up into buses and headed downtown to a park to experience an organized all-school field day.  The teachers organized and facilitated games and activities in the traditional American Summer Camp style which challenged the students and encouraged them to try new activities.  Even though the students were able to play kickball, hula hoop, compete in Tug-O-War, play games like "Sharks and Minnows," "Blob Tag," and "Capture the Flag," run relay races, and more, the overall, hands-down winner and star of the day was the time spent at the good, old-fashioned playground.  Nearly 95% of the students had never been on a swing nor slide.  The pure joy that they experienced from sailing down the slide (post teacher lesson on "how to slide" and "slide etiquette" mind you) was worth all the stress, sweat, and tears that the staff invested into the day.

A 4th grader demonstrating the two arm hula-hoop move.

Serious Tug-O-War.  (Note, we got in trouble from police for actually stepping on the grass at a public park!)

The clothes/layers are not due to the chilly mid 70's morning we were having but rather to keep all parts of the body covered from the sun so as to not become "dark and ugly."

A first grader on her first ever slide-ride.

Thank you, Camp Orkila, for endless hours of games that don't quite make sense but sure are fun to play.

Heidi with a group of happy students on their Government mandated "boxed-milk-with-sugar-and-preservatives" snack break.

Island Revisited

This past weekend, we were able to cash in on a mental health day at work and head back to one of our new favorite places in Vietnam -- possibly the world -- the island of Phu Quoc.  Yes, for $70 per person we hopped a plane and one hour later, landed in our own little slice of paradise.  We wish we had lavish stories to share and funny anecdotes to make our family and friends laugh.  Rather, we had a very quite, relaxing, refreshing weekend loaded with sun-filled days, good books, cheap beers, fresh seafood dinners, intriguing conversations, and most importantly -- the knowledge that our winter break (and time away from the constant work upheaval) is only another 9 days away!!

Sun ... check!  Book ... check!  Beer ... check!

One of the magnificent sunsets on the island.

One scallop, one squid, one prawn, one red snapper, plate of eggplant and okra and potato all grilled on the beach for only $7 USD for two people.  Yes, please.

This little nugget almost got smuggled home in Heidi's bag.  Adam even named her Mable.

Fight

Approaching the arena.

Yesterday, Adam was walking back from lunch, dipping and swerving through some alleys, when he and some of his coworkers came across some commotion. Initially, he had no idea what was going on. Maybe a nasty motorbike crash? Maybe a fight over mis-made bubble tea? Fortunately it was neither of this ghastly situations, but instead was just your normal, Wednesday afternoon rooster fight. That's right, at 11:30 in the morning about 25 men were gathered, yelling, screaming, and betting some serious Vietnamese Dong on two giant roosters fighting.  It was a true fight with both roosters clad in razor blades and 100,000 VND being thrown down for the most vicious of roosters.  Thank goodness that one rooster had the sense to run off, leaving the other rooster to settle and the men to pick back up their 100,000's and move along with their Wednesday!

The roosters threatened Adam's life if he disclosed their actual identity.

Too short to see?  Just squat for the "leg level" view.

What Rhymes With Orange?

NOTHING!!!! Which is totally good with us since we have reached the height of satsuma season in Vietnam. Sometime things from home present themselves here when you least expect them, which has totally been the case with Satsuma Oranges. Who would have thought that this winter treat that we get in the states would also be here, halfway around the world. Unlike back home, where Satsumas are bought in grocery stores and come in nice festive cardboard boxes, in Vietnam you hit the streets to buy your oranges. There are ladies with giant wicker baskets filled to the brim with Satsumas on what seems like every street corner. The other day we stopped on our motorbike and bought a kilo of Satsumas for a whopping 5,000 VND which coverts to about .25 cents. Tis the season!!!

so so good.

Team Ria/Eiley, Watch Out

A slight cold front has moved into Saigon.  Yes, the past few days the temperature has dipped into the low 80's.  Due to this, we decided that this weekend we would head to a local park to do some exercise and get the blood moving to warm our poor, cold selves up.  The sport of choice:  badminton.  Yes, we have officially begun to participate in Vietnam's favorite past-time.  We now join the mass of locals at the park, hitting a birdie back and forth over a pretend net.  This should be taken VERY seriously and being overly aggressive with your shots is completely acceptable badminton behavior.  As we practiced in the park, preparing to take on Team Ferndale next summer, we did realize that we might be the only people playing badminton that were also actively dripping sweat. 

After our soiree with Vietnamese leisure sports, we decided to head to a coffee shop to enjoy a nice afternoon treat and to continue to try to warm ourselves up.  Yes, our badminton rackets joined us on this adventure since they would not fit in the under-compartment of our moped.  Even though carrying rackets down the busy streets of Saigon seemed odd to us, surprisingly, the locals did not even give us second looks.  Perhaps we just found the key to stopping the stares as we walk around our new city -- just carry a badminton racket with us at all times.  Done!

Adam demonstrating proper service form.

Who was VMS 7th and 8th grade Badminton Intramural Champ?  This girl!!

Just enjoying a nice walk.  Adam, Heidi, and 2 badminton rackets.

Alley Chicken

Everyday, Adam and a group of co-workers walk through the gates of school and embark on a culinary adventure. Around the high school there is actually a nice selection of places to eat. Each of the lunch spots have been given a special name according to what they serve or where they are located. Today is a photo adventure to "Alley Chicken", a really nice place that not surprisingly serves very good chicken, in a alley. Enjoy and be excited for more lunch spots that have "been added to the rotation".

Step 1: Cross the street towards the "Cho" (market)

Step Two: Step into the market alley

Step 3: Take your first right at the stand selling shirts with catchphrases on them that make no sense at all

Step 4: Hang a left

Step 5: Arrive at Alley Chicken, select lunch, and enjoy!

Caps of Knowledge!!!

Adam's eighth grade Social Studies class in all of their glory with caps of knowledge.

How does one try to make note taking on the causes of WWI interesting to a group of eighth grade students? Obviously you have them take their notes on paper hats that they have made and call them "caps of knowledge." Who would have thought that there would be so many smiles after a lecture with such a dry/depressing topic. This is why middle school students are so fantastic.

Just Like Greenlake

Over the past couple of years we have become lovers of walks. Sometimes those walks start our day and sometimes the walks are those involving "walktails" as a nice way to wrap up a day. Moving to Saigon we were unsure if we would be able to continue our habit of walking.

Initially this seemingly simple activity proved pretty much impossible. Walking in this city can be a daunting task. There are about four ba-jillion things going on at one time. One minute you are walking and the next thing you know you are dodging a motorbike, stopping as a lady is emptying a bowl of soup right in front of your, or finding yourself walking in the middle of the street as the sidewalk is now a parking lot/freeway/badminton court. In the midst of this walking adversity, we have persevered. We are now mall walkers.

There is a mall about two blocks from our house. While we do not shop there, we have used the wide sidewalks to reinstate our walks. This town won't know what to do with us when we bring the G&T's with us on our walk next time.

Heidi rounding the corner in full stride. Look at that form!

The main drag of the Hung Voung Plaza route.

One of the reason walking can be hard. Rush hour in Saigon.

Weekend Mashup

Our weekend started a little early this week as we found out late Thursday night that our school "gifted" all staff and students a half-day on Friday in honor of Thanksgiving.  We celebrated the extra addition to our freedom by doing what any good educator would do -- we took a fat nap!  This seemed to set the tone for our entire weekend as we took advantage of having nothing on our schedule and lazed our way through the next 48 hours.

We had heard rumors that a local coffee shop was actually selling slices of pumpkin pie with REAL whipped cream.  So, Saturday we loaded up on our hog and set off in search of our slice of Thanksgiving.  All of our hopes and Thanksgiving dreams were crushed when we found that the pumpkin pie had been a 1 day special.  Instead, we ended up indulging in another traditional Thanksgiving treat -- a banana muffin.  While it was no slice-of-heaven-on-a-plate, we did enjoy the muffin as we walked around the city, taking in the sites.  As we wandered, we did stumble upon something that made up for the lack of Thanksgiving in Saigon.  A road of Christmas delight.  Yes, here in Saigon, a Buddhist nation, we managed to find a road where many shops were selling decorations for the Christmas season.  After some serious discussion which must have lasted 5 seconds, we picked out our mini, pre-decorated, pre-strung-with-lights and tinsel, fake Christmas Tree.  $5 later, we were riding down the road with Heidi balancing the tree, in all it's glory, on her lap.  How she managed to do that and still throw out the hand turn signals, we may never know.  To fully culminate our venture into the holiday season, we watched Love Actually and ate a traditional holiday meal of Thom Yam Curry!

Adam wondering if they at least had some whipped cream left over.

Our $5 tree.  Adam thinks that the components most likely did not pass inspection to be shipped to the states.

Love Actually is all around.

 This morning, we ventured out into South Saigon to participate in the Terry Fox 5k Race to raise money for cancer research.  This is the ONLY organized road race that occurs in HCMC so the turn out was large.  There were over 10,000 participants who came out to "Outrun Cancer."  Of those 10,000 participants, approximately 100 actually ran.  All others walked, biked, or Rollerbladed.  And, in the spirit that is Vietnam, a few motorbikes found their way onto the course, as well.  Man, did we feel fast as we passed people up and crossed the finish line (even before most of the bikers!)  And, even though we only ran 3.1 miles, you bet we rewarded ourselves with BLT's and french fries at 9:00 am.  Terry would have been proud!

Waiting for the run to start.  It was so hot that we had sweated through before the event even began.

Part of our group saying, "Don't mess, cancer!"

To run with us you MUST have some flashy shoes!