Massage misunderstanding

 I had an awkward moment with the massage girl the other day. She was slapping my head around (which is very soothing, believe it or not) when I got a slight cramp in my back. I kind of shifted to my side a little and I believe she thought I was rolling over to my stomach, and she started emphatically saying NO NO NO!!!  I've been to this place about 20 times and they should know by now that I'm not there for anything other than a head massage to try to stimulate some brain growth. I suspect she thought I had other ideas by the way she reacted, but I shifted back into place and all was well after that. The girls do some tapping on the sides of my head, and put pressure on my temples ... that kind of stuff. It's truly wonderful and they're very nice.
I looked at a fantastic apartment today, and I really hope I get it since I may stick around here. If not, I guess it wasn't meant to be, and you can call me Mr. Khanh Dang Hotel. The hotel is fine, but I miss cooking and having some space and privacy, and I live in one of the busier (if not busiest) spots in Bien Hoa. Whatever happens will happen for the best. If not, it'll just happen anyway.
I'm no genius. In fact, the existence of my brain has come into question. Maybe that's why I've had a heck of a time learning even a little bit of Vietnamese. Listening and memorizing words are going OK, but speaking is rough, rough, rough. No matter what I say, even if I repeat it right after it's said to me, I screw it up. At least that's what I'm told ... by the locals who AREN'T SHY about pointing out my mistakes. I keep them plenty busy by making plenty of mistakes. I guess the people don't want to encourage a speaker as poor as the White Monkey. But I won't stop trying since I've decided I like it here, I really like teaching here, and I really like the students here. I publicly apologize to all the locals for the times I've been frustrated when they've actually tried to help me. That is the American way. Well, it's my way, sometimes, which is why I'm apologizing.
Speaking of students (well, I was a few sentences ago), many students here have become my facebook friends, and they AREN'T SHY about pointing out the mistakes on my facebook posts. I actually like and appreciate this, since I used to be an editor and I don't want to screw up anything about the local community or the names of the people who live here. It's dumb and it looks bad for a teacher to not know what the hell he's talking about. Even a teacher with no brain. Accuracy is everything, especially when you're writing about and posting photos of someone else's home and family.
Valentine's Day is a fairly big deal here, and everyone's in a festive mood after Tet. Me? I couldn't care less, really, but it's fun for the students and it gives me a chance to explain the difference in English between liking someone and loving someone, or disliking someone and hating someone. The students seem fairly interested. I have only taught a little this week, but the classes have been great. One class seemed a little afraid of me, but really, the White Monkey is a gentle creature when you get to know him. Just don't listen to his Vietnamese.