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.