Skip to main content

The Sports Edition

#nextchaptervietnam
When I was contemplating accepting a job in Vietnam, one of my biggest concerns was whether I would be able to continue practicing some of my favorite sports. 
Quite honestly, I refused to accept the job until I did all the research and knew that I could still play soccer, do Crossfit and run. 
Luckily, everything has worked out well and has been so much better than I expected. 

Running and Stair Climbing
I can't say that my training has been very consistent, but still, I am so happy that I have met some people to run with.
Firstly, I found a group of people who meet up nearby for a run every Wednesday evening. 
Also, I've met a few colleagues that are willing to run and climb stairs every once in a while on the weekends. 
Lastly, I am still in touch with my running buddies from Dubai and I'm so thankful that we regularly talk about our training and challenge each other to keep working towards our running goals.

Weekend Running and Stair Climbing Crew
Soccer
Soccer is a very popular sport around here. The kids at school absolutely love to play. With that said, women's soccer in Vietnam seems to be fairly new. In fact, I believe I am participating in the first ever women's league, which is of course very exciting.
I won't lie; I was very concerned about the soccer when I arrived. The level of play isn't exactly what I got use to playing in Dubai over the last 5 years. Nonetheless, I've really embraced the idea of playing different positions, playing with different players and playing with players who don't speak the same language.

Team picture before our first league game

Picture after our first win of the season

Crossfit
Crossfit has been one of my best finds since arriving in HCMC. The gym I go to is pretty nice and the coaches are pretty good too. I've been joining classes about 4-5 times a week and I have been loving every moment - well, maybe not every moment (darn toes to bar, snatches, pull-ups and handstand push-ups! LOL!) Honestly though, I am so incredibly excited to go to Crossfit on week nights - it's my happy place.

Crossfit Q7 - https://www.instagram.com/crossfitq7/ 
Basketball
I never gave much thought to whether I would see any basketball in Vietnam, but I can confirm that it's a fairly popular sport around here. In fact, there is a team that plays out of our school gym - The Saigon Heat. I've attended 2 games so far and have totally enjoyed the experience. It makes for some really good weekend entertainment - especially when there are some interesting characters to follow, when there is nearly a fight between players and when the power goes out due to the massive storm outside!

Saigon Heat at CISS
Hockey
As you may of guessed, I haven't seen any hockey here, but I have been trying to follow my brothers and my cousin's results from afar. Also, some of the guys from work are currently participating in some kind of NHL hockey pool, so I am still exposed to some hockey talk from time to time.

Nick - Frisk Asker
Nathan - Stoney Creek Generals 
J-G - Ottawa Senators

Thanks for tuning in to this Sports Edition! 

Until next time...

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