EIL Intercultural Learning

Xin Chao!!

So Im finally getting round to writing this - after six weeks in here. Can't believe Ive been here this long already.....Vietnam has definitely been an unbelievable experience so far - crazy, frustrating even at times but mostly unbelievable. I feel like Ive settled in well and havent hit any difficulties or home sickness...yet....so fingers crossed....

Ive been living in a dorm in a suburb outside Hanoi with a bunch (yes the americans and their phrases are rubbing off on me unfortunately:)) of other international Volunteers - most pass through fairly regularly - some only staying for 2/3 weeks but there's a group of us here for the long haul (Im here 3 months and then travelling for two weeks). Ive made some really good friends here and most of the time if we're not working or travelling at the weekends theres always a Karaeoki party or a going away party that we 'have to' go to. We've had some great times so far.

So for my work I was offered an internship with an NGO that is involved with people with disabilities. It offers various classes aimed at their self-development and helps them find jobs mostly in the IT sector. It became fairly apparent fairly quickly that my main use there was to be as an english teacher. Its not what I had signed up for but I dont actually mind at all - I love all the students I teach - sometimes they'll have me laughing so hard that I cant even speak to teach. But its all good. I suppose the way I see it is that the 'NGO' work - editing, web design, correspondance etc. -they can do by themselves (they're a fairly well established organisation) but what they cant do by themselves and what I can actually be of some really benifit for them is with the english teaching. Ontop of that, my NGO are so good to me - they spoil me really - always taking me on holidays, buying me presents, even last week they crammed all my classes into three days for me (even at that I still only have two classes a day at one and a half hours long each) and told me I could take every tuesday and thursday off every week. I couldnt believe it! delighted! The reason behind this is that i have a serious trek to get to work every morning - by motorbike it only takes around an hour but by bus (Im getting a motorbike soon but Ive had to take the buses until then) it has taken me anywhere up to three hours. Thats what I meant by frustrating. If there is anything that would test the patience of a saint its the public transport here. Prople are so easy going here to the point that you should never expect anything done on time - that suits me though not being the most organised myself:) Ive once taken a bus ride with the bus driver swigging beer from a pitcher no less!!

One of the best things Vietnamese transport, however, are what they call 'xe om'. These are motorbike-taxis. They are the cheapest option and being a motorbike lover - im in heaven here. I get them whenever and wherever I can. Theres nothing like whizzing through the (ridiculously) busy streets and country roads of Vietnam dodging hurtling buses, cars and other bikes safe in the knowledge that your driver knows what hes doing because hes more than likely been doing this since before he could walk. Everyone here has.

The Vietnamese people are another good feature of the culture here - threy are so hospitale, easy going and humorous - which echoes every other experience Ive had in Asia. I once got lost on the way home on a bus at night and a young girl (who couldnt speak english but could tell I was beginning to get anxious) brought me to her home, offered me dinner, got her motorbike and drove me back herself. As for the taxi-drivers - they are always singing along and dancing to our antics in the taxis to and from Hanoi - my highlight was a taxidriver dancing and singing along with us to 'daddy cool' - the other day- Ill not forget that image in a hurry....

As for the place itself its a mix of noise and the hustle and bustle of the cities and the unspeakable beauty of the countryside. Not to go all David Attenborough on it but I really have been left speechless here on more than one occasion. So far i've travelled with a few others to Halong Bay. Ive heard recently that it was awarded most beautiful natural area of the world or something along those lines. Im not surprised - its seriously jaw dropping. We booked two nights there - one night on a boat and one night on Cat Ba island. Everything (food, accomodation, swimming, kayaking, trekking, transporation there and back) only cost 35 dollars. Ill try to put up some photos because nothing i could say to describe it would do it justice. On the night we spent on the boat, everybody went up to the roof of the boat, jumped off to the backdrop of the sunset( very mills and boon i know) and then played guitar and sang all night. The twinlking lights of the other boats that were also moored in our lagoon lighting up our little party of strangers to the sound of french soul music was something I can safely say Ill never forget.

Another unforgettable experience ive had so far has been the last weekend i stayed in a Buddhist monastery in the Mountains. All my friends were too lazy to do anything that weekend so I just decided to go it alone. I sepnt the weekend getting up at three in the morning to meditate with the monks and nuns and being the only visitor there never mind the only westerner it was definitely one of the coolest things Ive ever done. On my way there I luckily met an australian family who drove my there and then back to hanoi the next day (thank god cos I wont lie I was lost!). On the way back the couple asked me if Id like to house sit their house for them for three weeks while they visit Australia for three weeks. They brought me to see their home (a mansion in the affluent ex-pat district of Hanoi). I didnt need to be asked twice so im putting things in order my temporary move there at the end of the month. Cant wait for that - especially for a reliable flow of water and electricity:)

As well as that Ive made friends with a few young Vietnamese. They're all in their twenties and take me out to parties with them. Its really cool to get to go out with them and see how the Vietnamese socialise because usually we just tick to our own 'western' group but this way i get the best of both worlds. They mentioned taking me away on a motorbike trip next sunday somewhere down country. That would be really cool but a few of us have been talking about going to Mai Chau - its a rural ethnic village in the hills where we would be living in traditional stilt houses. Either way both are tempting options....

So I think that roughly sums up my first six weeks here....the next blog wont be so late coming so Ill be a bit more detailed.... and shorter...!

Until then....Tam Biet!:)