Skip to main content

Back to School

    #nextchaptervietnam

BACK TO REALITY! It was an incredibly busy week inside 
and outside of the classroom, as I tried to get into somewhat 
of a regular balanced routine during the first week of classes.
This weeks highlights were getting to know my temporary 
Grade 5 students and trying to get back on track with my 
healthy lifestyle here in Vietnam.

GETTING TO KNOW THE STUDENTS
I've really only had 3 days with the students, but I must admit,
they've really exceeded my expectations so far. For the most part,
their English was much better than I expected.
We got to do so many fun things in order to learn about each other;
we played workout your name (each letter of the alphabet is associated with a certain exercise),
 we made name art (each letter of their name contained words or pictures to represent them),
we made an all about me 'rainbow' (each strand had a descriptive sentence starting with
"I am..."), we did speed interviews
(students ask each other questions as fast as possible before having to switch to a new partner),
we sang, we danced and we even created a lipdub (What I am song...by Will.I.Am).
The kids were a bit loud and overexcited at times, but overall,
they were all really nice, warm, welcoming and helpful!
I really do look forward to working with them some more over the next 2 weeks
as we await the arrival of their 'real' G5 English teacher.
Many students have "English-Canadian" as well as Vietnamese names

LIVING HEALTHY IN VIETNAM
It's been a little difficult getting into a good eating and exercising routine,
but I think I am getting there. As I mentionned last week,
I've already been doing some crossfit and this is becoming more and more regular
as I attempt to get to the gym (amazing facility btw) 2 to 3 times a week.
In addition, I've found some women to play soccer with, and though
it's nothing like what I got use to in Dubai (was definitely spoiled), 
the girls seem really nice and it's something fun to do on a Saturday evening. 
Lastly, I've finally gone on my first run in and around my district. 
It wasn't too long of a run, but quite honestly, I am still really unsure about
 running routes around here. I'm hoping to find some running buddies sometime really soon 
so I can start training for some races! So, my activities are beginning to fall into place, 
and I'm also really excited to say...so are my meals! 
Food overall has been amazing here, and I feel like it just keeps getting better and better. 
I just found out that my gym has a restaurant that makes some pretty healthy meals 
(and smoothies), which I look forward to testing out soon AND I have found an amazing salad 
(and smoothie) place that delivers right to my door. If we add to that the amazing fresh juices 
and smoothies that can be found just about anywhere around here 
(even at my school's very own café), I think I am pretty set!
Ready to Run The World
Amazing salmon salad with quinoa patties on the side

So, things are indeed really beginning to fall into place. 
Work, sports, meals... the next big thing on my to do list is to 
build up the courage to get on a motorbike. 
I've learned that this will save me lots of money and time!!! 
Come on Nat, you got this...

To be continued...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ready. Set. Go.

 “Once in a while, it’s good to challenge yourself in a way that’s really daunting.” Since returning to Dubai in January 2020, I have participated in numerous fitness events around the city, mostly in pairs, trios or teams of 4,5,6 athletes ( aside from our internal community weightlifting/powerlifting throwdowns ). Many of these events have challenged me with new formats ( e.g. Hyrox and Primal Race ), movemenents ( e.g. swimming and sled pulls ) and/or equipement ( e.g. the worm and the yoke ). Being part of a team has been a whole lot of fun, and I’ve been so incredibly blessed to team-up with some really good athletes who have pushed me to achieve great things, both in training and in competition. That said, for a little while now, I’ve sort of wondered what it’d be like to compete individually again. Are my body and mind still up for this kind of challenge?   Throughout my time living in Vietnam, from 2017 to 2019, I became fully invested in the sport of CrossFit. I thoroughly enj
Post a Comment
Read more

The power of a PAUSE

 “Don’t underestimate the power of a PAUSE; it allows you to reflect, recharge and refocus.” We live in such a fast pace world. These days, when people ask how we’re doing, we regularly say “I am so busy!” and “I am so tired!” When we are not occupied, we think something is wrong, we feel lazy, and we immediately try to find things to do to fill up our time. We’re constantly looking to move forward; to go, go go and to do, do, do. Why is it so difficult to stop and take a break? For me personally, when I am in ‘work mode’, my routine is pretty consistent; work, gym, eat, sleep, repeat. In the past, I was really hard on myself when I didn’t feel productive and accomplished, but over the last few years, I have really tried to look for and embrace ‘down time’. Now, I am more aware of my needs and my boundaries. I am capable of laying on the couch and watching TV without feeling guilty. I can also turn down weekend plans if I don’t feel like socialising and would prefer to have a restful n
Post a Comment
Read more

Jack of all trades, master of none

  “Sometimes we strive so hard for perfection that we forget that imperfection is happiness.” At a very young age, my parents signed me up for ice skating. They invested lots of money over the years, on skates, outfits, coaches, private lessons, and competitions, and I of course invested lots of time into improving my skills. Throughout my childhood and teenage years, you could find me at the ice rink most days, trying to prepare for my next test, competition or show. Now, I was a decent skater, but realistically, I wasn’t on a path to the Olympics. Once I went off to university, some difficult choices needed to be made, and for some reason, I decided to quit skating and invest more time in my education and career, as well as playing soccer during the summers. For several years after college, soccer became my main sport. Especially when I first moved to Dubai; I played indoor, outdoor, 7 aside, 11 aside, womens leagues and mixed leagues. Some weeks, I was playing 6 consecutive nights,
Post a Comment
Read more