Skip to main content

Xin chao Vietnam

#nextchaptervietnam

I have now been in Vietnam for 1 whole week and let me tell you that it’s been nothing short of…C-R-A-Z-Y!  Lots and lots has happened, but my major highlights this week have definitely been finding a new home and being assigned a “new” temporary role at my new school, which you can read more about below.

FINDING A NEW HOME
Upon my arrival in Vietnam, one of the very first things I needed to do was to find a place to live. Since I had no plans to drive while living here (*look up driving bikes in Vietnam on YouTube and you’ll understand why), I really had my heart set on finding a modern and reasonably priced apartment close to the school, but also to restaurants and shops. I quickly found out that my expectations were a little too high however. Unlike many other newcomers who were snatching apartments left and right, it took me 3 days to find my new home. Too old, too high, too far, too small, too pricey…I had an excuse for everything I was shown. On my 2nd night, just after I found out someone else snatched one of the only apartments I really liked, I emailed my assigned real estate agent and requested to see some apartments right across the street from the school. She hadn’t spoken much about these apartments; she just mentioned the buildings were really old. What did I have to lose though? Fortunately, I found my new home that next day. Not the newest and most modern, but still very nice, well priced and BIG – with a kitchen, dinning room, living room, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a storage room. Best of all, it's got some really cool views! I really look forward to hosting some friends and family some time in the future!
My spacious apartment
Window views

 BEING ASSIGNED A ‘NEW’ TEMPORARY ROLE
Once I was moved into my new home, I felt ready to begin focusing on my new job. I couldn’t wait to start my new position as Elementary Lead Teacher, though I still wasn’t 100% sure what my responsibilities would be. The vibe on those very first days at school was really good. Everyone seemed so relaxed, so happy, so excited and so positive. I met many new people, old and young, single and married (lots of couples and families), but best of all, I met lots and lots of French (Canadian French of course hihihi) speaking people with whom I am so excited to converse throughout this year! This was a really fun surprise, but believe me it wasn’t the only surprise. Just 4 days into the week, I was called into a meeting with my bosses. Only a few words came out of their mouths and I said “I saw this coming.” See, earlier in the week, I found out that one of the G5 teachers wouldn’t be arriving until the end of August. As soon as I found out this piece of information, I had a pretty good feeling I’d be asked to cover that first month of school. Funny enough, despite being so excited for my new role as Lead Teacher, I can’t wait to be in the classroom with the students. It will be yet another enriching experience that will help me grow and further help me support my colleagues down the line. I'm so looking forward to meeting my new G5 kiddos next week!
My school to the left, right across the street from my new apartment
Great smoothie and salad place in the malls

As you can see, it has indeed been a very C-R-A-Z-Y first week in Vietnam! Some of my other weekly highlights have been testing out the gym's crossfit class, which was a blast, and eating various types of foods (Thai, Vietnamese, Turkish, Korean…and lots of fresh juices and smoothies), which has all been soooooo yummy!


Stay tuned for more updates in coming weeks.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mirror, Mirror

  “I could try to be just like you, but I wanna be like me - the girl in the mirror.” Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought “YIKES!”? Of course you have! We all have! We can all get a little self-critical from time to time, can’t we? I’ll be honest, I don’t often love seeing pictures of myself, especially those really close up, like selfies. Every image seems to amplify my insecurities and highlight “ flaws ” that I wish would disappear. I’m a pretty simple girl—no make-up, no heels, just me as I am, and I find that the world often holds up a different standard of beauty for females, one that's heavily curated and polished. My negative thoughts can weigh heavily at times, and social media ( with all its’ filters ) only magnifies those feelings of self-doubt. Over the last year, I’ve taken a number of selfies or mirror pictures. Some were taken to capture moments during my solo trips, some were taken to track physical changes influenced by diet, training and r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fly Away

  “Until you spread your wings, you’ll never know how far you can fly.” For as long as I can remember, there has been a relentless pull within me; a desire to fly away, to explore beyond the boundaries of familiarity, and to immerse myself in the cultural richness of our world. It all started over 15 years ago with a pivotal moment: my first international trip to the Dominican Republic for humanitarian purposes. Little did I know then that this remarkable trip ( *along with teaching in a challenging multicultural school ) would set the stage for a life defined by adventure, discovery, and personal growth. Since that transformative experience, my life has been a whirlwind of movement and exploration. I've been blessed with the opportunity to experience living and working abroad, both in the UAE and in Vietnam, and along the way, I've had the privilege to traverse more than 40 countries, each offering its own unique blend of culture, history, landscape and perspective. Looking ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...
Post a Comment
Read more