First Week

It has been a very busy first week in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  The city never sleeps and there is always loads going on.

I arrived last Sunday with Mara, who I will be working with.  We came through the same person so were able to meet at the airport and we are staying in the same hotel.  It is really nice to know someone out here who is in the same position as me.  The city seemed crazy at first; rules of the road appear non existent with hundreds of motorbikes going where they want on the roads, even sometimes on the pavements.  Cars constantly sound their horns creating a lot of noise and crossing the road is a constant hazard.  The Vietnamese just walk out, the theory being that the motorbikes go around you and as long as you avoid the cars you will be fine.  We have almost got the hang of it.  Some roads are easier than others.  Unfortunately there are very few traffic lights, but the traffic can turn on a red light, so even that is not easy.  The traffic does go relatively slowly though due to the amount of vehicles so it isn't too bad.  The City is filled with flashing coloured signs and noise and the street the hotel is on is blindingly bright at night.  Very different from home.

It is very hot here, and humid.  It is taking a bit of getting used to but all the buildings are air conditioned (except some of the schools) so it is ok inside.  The rainy season is coming to an end, but there are still showers.  Not English showers, but monsoon type showers.  The ones where you are soaked to the skin within two minutes.  Unfortunately Mara and I got caught in one on the way back from work the other day.  At least it is warm rain, and it did amuse the hotel staff.

Food is a bit of an issue, or rather using chopsticks.  It is taking a bit of practice but we are slowly getting there.  We do amuse people in restaurants a lot though.  We seem to amuse a lot of people here, one way or another.  They are very friendly and don't mean it in any horrible way so it is fine.

We arrived on Sunday and started work on Tuesday.  The hours are 8-5.30 Monday to Friday with the occasional Saturday morning.  Lessons are planned in the office and then we are taken out to the schools to teach the lessons.  Everyone in the office is very friendly and helpful.  I am teaching lower secondary English, so that is Years 6 and 7.  It is more literature than language as they have learnt English since the beginning of primary school.  In Year 11 the students take the international GCSE exam.  It is really easy to have a conversation with most of them, which is great and they all want to learn.  I haven't taken a proper class yet.  I've observed two lessons and with an hour and a half preparation time was given a cover lesson.  The lessons are 2 hours 30 minutes, with a short break.  It is a long time, both for the students and teacher, especially in hot classrooms with no A/C.  The students are used to the heat, so have no trouble with concentration.  The cover lesson went well, considering it is my first ever proper lesson.  Now I have to plan my lessons for next week.  I have three different classes, twice a week, but they are all doing the same thing, so I can use the same lesson plan.  It is a relief as it gives me more time to properly plan.  I am in no way confident enough to plan a lesson in 10 minutes.

The weekend was spent relaxing and going out with people from work, it is nice to get to know them outside work, especially as I know so few people here.  The city is going to take some getting used to, but so far I am really enjoying it.