I bought an iPod and it's changed my life. No longer do I hear "What your name? How are you? Where you from?" I understand that most of these folks want to be friendly to the White Monkey, but sometimes I just want to take a walk or have coffee or have dinner without providing an impromptu English lesson or engage in very basic conversation. I'm thinking of getting cards printed: John. Fine, thank you. USA.
Really, walking is the best way to get around and see the city, where there are countless coffee shops and Karaoke bars. Since I have the music on and I'm wearing pretty big headphones, fewer people shout at me. Some guys scream and try to break through my sound barrier, but it ain't happening. The town has some hidden gems, like a well-stocked jewelry store, pastry shops, nurseries, bookstores, and food everywhere. The prices are reasonable. Do I miss the sounds of the city with music cranked up? Hell no. I enjoy not listening to the buzz of motorbikes. The sights and dirty air are enough for me at this time.
My neighbor Phuong went from cool to way cool when she gave me an iPod cover (photo on right). She was cool when she got rid of a virus/bug on my computer. The iPod cover -- way cool. Her mom made me lunch today, and it was great. Noodles with beef, garlic, onion and tomato. I've said it before several times, but really, my neighbors are super people. I feel very lucky, except when the local kids come and hassle me. But they're fun, I like them, and they leave when I tell them to in my pathetic Vietnamese.
My new kids class went from quiet and really reserved to, well, a kids class. And that's great news. They're fun, silly, a little noisier, and a joy to teach. Seriously, I was a little worried about them at first. Once, I told them they could do some puzzles or work with clay, and they just sat there. So I emptied the bags I brought onto the floor. The clay and puzzles spilled out, and the kids timidly got up and eventually settled in with the stuff. It took a little time, but we're buddies now. Seeing a positive change in kids makes teaching the best job I've ever had. I had one little girl who seemed a little angry and didn't do much work. With a little extra attention and encouragement, we've bonded and she's become one of my top students. That's why I love my job, whether it's here, Peru or the USA.
Speaking of the USA, I've been homesick lately. When I go home in November, that'll cure me. Really miss seeing my kids, although I realize they're incredibly busy. Yet another shout-out to Ron for keeping my cat alive. Actually, for keeping HIS cat alive. After my family, Ron is one of the reasons I miss the USA.
Rainy season is hot and heavy these days. There are daily downpours, followed by beautiful heat and humidity. I love the rain. The locals hate it and complain about being cold when it rains. I guess it's what you're used to.
I stopped getting massages. Too complicated.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Head-on collision
I was leaving work last week at 6 p.m. or so because my next class wasn't until 7:30. So I had to cross the very busy street in front of our school. Traffic laws in Vietnam are like marriage vows. Everyone knows them and everyone ignores them, except lawyers, cops and ex-wives. So I'm working my way across the street through a steady stream of traffic. It's standard practice here. The bikes swerve around you and eventually you'll merge into your targeted lane, which is another thrilling adventure. This time, however, as I rode into the oncoming traffic, a bike swerved around me but a tailgater didn't see me and we banged into each other head-on. Our bikes went down, but both of us were standing. His bike's front fender was shattered into little pieces all over the road. My bike was fine. He stood glaring for a moment, but I simply motioned to the sidewalk and said "over there." We pushed our bikes through the traffic to the sidewalk. After a 30-second inspection of our bikes, we shrugged and went our merry ways. He refused my offer of money for his fender. What a cool guy. No injuries, no problem.
A couple of former students went to dinner with me last week. I had on white pants and a white shirt with blue stripes. When I met one of the students, Valentine, near the restaurant, she looked at my outfit and said: "You really are a white monkey." Funny kid.
I had a young kids class today. When I first taught them a few weeks ago, they were eerily quiet and well-behaved for 8 and 9 year olds. Children of the corn? A few weeks with me and that's all changed. We had to have a short class meeting today about asking for permission to leave the room and using our "inside voices". Regardless, these kids speak good English when they want to and they leave the room immaculate after playing with clay and anything else. One of the kids gave me her ruler as a gift. She is now my favorite student :). Great class.
I'm happy here, but I do get irritated when I have to wait for people when I'm told to be somewhere at a certain time. I'm there, but the other party isn't. I'm waiting in the heat -- it's about 94 or so everyday with 85 percent humidity. Then when the other person arrives late, they ask me why I'm sweating. Or they say I appear to be in a bad mood. Then they tell me to hurry up because WE'RE late. When you're old like me, you realize life is shorter and waiting doesn't figure into the schedule. OK, I'm done whining now, but I'm still sweating.
I bought an ipod but don't have a clue how to use it. My neighbor Phuong, who sold me the thing, has been very helpful. But like any good tech person, she does stuff really fast and seems confused I'm not following along well.
The staff is going on a 3-day holiday to the beach next week. I'm staying in Bien Hoa, so they scheduled me to work a full week, I guess. Keep the White Monkey busy. Khong sao.
A couple of former students went to dinner with me last week. I had on white pants and a white shirt with blue stripes. When I met one of the students, Valentine, near the restaurant, she looked at my outfit and said: "You really are a white monkey." Funny kid.
I had a young kids class today. When I first taught them a few weeks ago, they were eerily quiet and well-behaved for 8 and 9 year olds. Children of the corn? A few weeks with me and that's all changed. We had to have a short class meeting today about asking for permission to leave the room and using our "inside voices". Regardless, these kids speak good English when they want to and they leave the room immaculate after playing with clay and anything else. One of the kids gave me her ruler as a gift. She is now my favorite student :). Great class.
I'm happy here, but I do get irritated when I have to wait for people when I'm told to be somewhere at a certain time. I'm there, but the other party isn't. I'm waiting in the heat -- it's about 94 or so everyday with 85 percent humidity. Then when the other person arrives late, they ask me why I'm sweating. Or they say I appear to be in a bad mood. Then they tell me to hurry up because WE'RE late. When you're old like me, you realize life is shorter and waiting doesn't figure into the schedule. OK, I'm done whining now, but I'm still sweating.
I bought an ipod but don't have a clue how to use it. My neighbor Phuong, who sold me the thing, has been very helpful. But like any good tech person, she does stuff really fast and seems confused I'm not following along well.
The staff is going on a 3-day holiday to the beach next week. I'm staying in Bien Hoa, so they scheduled me to work a full week, I guess. Keep the White Monkey busy. Khong sao.
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Embarrassing day
I do not like to write too much but I have to mention some embarrassing things that happened to me yesterday before I forget them. Not likely, but possible.
First, I was in the bathroom upstairs, doing what all of us do in a bathroom. While I'm sitting on the throne and checking phone messages, the bathroom door opens and one of the neighborhood boys, about 6, is standing there talking to me in Vietnamese. I asked him to hand me the toilet paper, but he ignored me and kept talking. I told him to di di di. He di-ed and I finished my business. Later, another boy, about 9, came into my bedroom as I sat naked on my bed applying lotion to my many rashes. I chased him out as well. Later, I gathered all the neighborhood kids to my living room, and acted out that it's OK to come into my house and living room, but tre em (children) DO NOT COME UPSTAIRS. I still won't lock my front door, and I think the kids understood my message. They're great kids ... downstairs.
Later that night, I taught a bunch of 20-year-olds. With my zipper down most of the class. This class is awesome, and I think they like me. I don't know now. Maybe they like me more, but I doubt it. I asked why they didn't say something to me, and they said they couldn't remember the word for zipper.
Earlier, an administrator sent me a text telling me what pages to teach in the nearby town of Long Thanh. But she didn't send the message to me. She sent it to someone else. The someone else took offense, for some odd reason, and wrote back: BAD WORD-You. The administrator thought I wrote the nasty reply and began asking folk what was wrong with John. The White Monkey is usually so gentle, so she was confused. It all got straightened out, eventually, so I went to the bathroom and pulled my zipper up.
All in a day.
First, I was in the bathroom upstairs, doing what all of us do in a bathroom. While I'm sitting on the throne and checking phone messages, the bathroom door opens and one of the neighborhood boys, about 6, is standing there talking to me in Vietnamese. I asked him to hand me the toilet paper, but he ignored me and kept talking. I told him to di di di. He di-ed and I finished my business. Later, another boy, about 9, came into my bedroom as I sat naked on my bed applying lotion to my many rashes. I chased him out as well. Later, I gathered all the neighborhood kids to my living room, and acted out that it's OK to come into my house and living room, but tre em (children) DO NOT COME UPSTAIRS. I still won't lock my front door, and I think the kids understood my message. They're great kids ... downstairs.
Later that night, I taught a bunch of 20-year-olds. With my zipper down most of the class. This class is awesome, and I think they like me. I don't know now. Maybe they like me more, but I doubt it. I asked why they didn't say something to me, and they said they couldn't remember the word for zipper.
Earlier, an administrator sent me a text telling me what pages to teach in the nearby town of Long Thanh. But she didn't send the message to me. She sent it to someone else. The someone else took offense, for some odd reason, and wrote back: BAD WORD-You. The administrator thought I wrote the nasty reply and began asking folk what was wrong with John. The White Monkey is usually so gentle, so she was confused. It all got straightened out, eventually, so I went to the bathroom and pulled my zipper up.
All in a day.
Sunday, July 6, 2014
Coke for a wedding gift?
Coca-Cola has a nifty promotion here, They put Vietnamese names, like Phuong or Thao, on the cans and plastic. They make for an inexpensive gift, but that comes with a risk. I gave a can to the girl who gives me a massage, and now she's planning the wedding. Another lady was planning our wedding, but no worries. I'm pretty sure she has a boyfriend, and she doesn't show up for our dates. Relationships are a trip here. The language barrier contributes to the misunderstandings, I'm sure, I've written about love and like before, and some of the girls don't know the difference ... or care. The White Monkey is much wiser these days.
The neighborhood kids are pretty comfortable with the White Monkey and his athletic equipment. I'll give the girls some papers to color, and I need to get some crayons for them. If they are coloring or playing sports, they're not teasing the White Monkey. But the kids are great. They'll just walk into my house and start poking around. They take the balls out to play, but they always return them. Good kids. One boy came up to my bedroom while I was getting ready for work. I chased him out, but I still don't lock my door when I'm home. I know I'm inviting trouble, but I don't care. If I have to live behind locked doors in the day, why live? I could do something really fun or stupid, go to prison, and live behind locked doors the rest of my life. I'm not ready for that ... yet.
Speaking of comfortable, two women go through the neighborhood and collect plastic. I guess they take it somewhere for money. The women sit on my front step and wait for me, ask for food, drink, and money ... and plastic. I give them plastic and drinks, but no food or money. I guess I could spare some bread or something, but I don't want them there all the time, so... no food or money. The younger girl in the plastic pair has started acting flirty with me, like that's going to change my mind. It's not working. I'm such a wise White Monkey.
Rainy season is really rainy right now. Every day there's a downpour, so I put on the raincoat and ride the bike. I still get wet, but when it rains, it's usually much cooler (85-90 degrees). I like the rain, but the Vietnamese seem to believe it brings bad luck and illness. I disagree, but this ain't my country. I still say Please, Excuse me, Thank You and You're welcome. What the hell do I know?
My skin continues to give me difficulties from the heat and sweating when I teach in hot classrooms. Without too much gruesome detail, let me just say that I'm a walking rash. Everywhere. I use salt when I shower, and that seems to be helping somewhat. That's my late dad's idea. Too bad he's not alive. I could thank him.
Classes are good, and the coffee shop is good. I've begun taking walks around the neighborhood, and other than the silly HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? it's quite enjoyable. Afterwards, I soak in salt.
I'll keep working on my skin and relationships until I leave this place. I have a target date to quit smoking, but I've never let that stop me before. I hate quitters.
The neighborhood kids are pretty comfortable with the White Monkey and his athletic equipment. I'll give the girls some papers to color, and I need to get some crayons for them. If they are coloring or playing sports, they're not teasing the White Monkey. But the kids are great. They'll just walk into my house and start poking around. They take the balls out to play, but they always return them. Good kids. One boy came up to my bedroom while I was getting ready for work. I chased him out, but I still don't lock my door when I'm home. I know I'm inviting trouble, but I don't care. If I have to live behind locked doors in the day, why live? I could do something really fun or stupid, go to prison, and live behind locked doors the rest of my life. I'm not ready for that ... yet.
Speaking of comfortable, two women go through the neighborhood and collect plastic. I guess they take it somewhere for money. The women sit on my front step and wait for me, ask for food, drink, and money ... and plastic. I give them plastic and drinks, but no food or money. I guess I could spare some bread or something, but I don't want them there all the time, so... no food or money. The younger girl in the plastic pair has started acting flirty with me, like that's going to change my mind. It's not working. I'm such a wise White Monkey.
Rainy season is really rainy right now. Every day there's a downpour, so I put on the raincoat and ride the bike. I still get wet, but when it rains, it's usually much cooler (85-90 degrees). I like the rain, but the Vietnamese seem to believe it brings bad luck and illness. I disagree, but this ain't my country. I still say Please, Excuse me, Thank You and You're welcome. What the hell do I know?
My skin continues to give me difficulties from the heat and sweating when I teach in hot classrooms. Without too much gruesome detail, let me just say that I'm a walking rash. Everywhere. I use salt when I shower, and that seems to be helping somewhat. That's my late dad's idea. Too bad he's not alive. I could thank him.
Classes are good, and the coffee shop is good. I've begun taking walks around the neighborhood, and other than the silly HELLO, HOW ARE YOU? it's quite enjoyable. Afterwards, I soak in salt.
I'll keep working on my skin and relationships until I leave this place. I have a target date to quit smoking, but I've never let that stop me before. I hate quitters.
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