Hi all,
Well as my title probably suggests, I am now a few days into my new life abroad in Ho Chi Minh City. Tonight I spend my first night at my new place - I have paid for a month here, but am still not quite convinced if I will stick it out longer than that here, or look for somewhere else. The place is ok, it is a pretty big room, and relatively cheap 320US a month, but I have just moved in and I am having trouble with the wifi - which isn't a good sign - because, if you know me, I do like my internet - and I do like it to be reliable - that said, they do have an ethernet connect here, but that is really quite inconvenient, as I really want to be able to use internet from my bed. All in all though the place isn't that bad, and like most places around here, I get breakfast and my washing included....which is helpful. Truthfully though, I am thinking of moving around the corner, to a place with a balcony for 350US, but i will probably have a look at a place out in district 3 at some stage as well.....But I have a place, and I don't really want to think about moving again, as I know work is going to be a BIG learning curb to start out with!!!
But lets go back a few days....and soo much has happened, and so much is about to happen. In fact, once I actually start teaching, I have a feeling this blog is going to fall at the way side, I hope not though. Anyways, in the last few days - I have pretty much met everyone from the my centre, and I have been hanging with a few teachers who are started at the same time as me at the same centre, which has been really cool, and we all seem to get along really well, with the minor expect that we all support opposing football clubs - which is actually pretty fun. To be honest, so much has happen, I don't know where to begin, I have been on the back of a motorbike a few times now, and driving in the traffic doesn't seem as daunting as it did when I first got here, to the point where I just want to get a bike and get it over and done with, and start riding all around the place.
I went out to district 7 a few days back, which is a completely different experience from the backpacker part of district one, where I am staying.....very seren, but to be honest I don't know if it is for me..... it consisted of giant high risers, and wealthy Koreans, Taiwanese, and Westerners.... but it is a very different style of living - and a stark contrast to the rest of HCM - that said it it a bit of a way out as well.
Today though I went into my school for the first time......I must admit, that I find it really quite strange walking into the place, all suited up, especially considering 3 weeks ago I was driving tractors, planting and cutting lettuce back on a farm in Australia. I work in the Australian equivalent to a binged out David Jones type Mall. All of a sudden I am upper middle class, and it is a rather strange sensation. In fact, ila Vietnam seems to be part of the teaching elite here in this country, and it is very well respected and idealised. I have clout, in abundance, alas, even in excess, and I have know idea what to do with that!
Meeting the ppl and my co-ordinates was great, and especially after meeting Dominic my Academic Manager, I know I totally have made the right choice in waiting for the right job to come along.....and this is totally it.....I love how everyone is wanting to better themselves professionally, and that that is sooooo encouraged! In fact, I have pretty much decided I am going to do my YL CELTA extension asap.
After my induction, a few mates and I went up and check out the malls' gym, which I should add, is state of the art, and a place that, back home, there would have been NO WAY that I could have afforded a place like it.... maybe my brother DR. ADAM, but not me. It is still relatively expensive, in terms even for here, and I am sure I could find a place that is cheaper, but the convenience factor is a big one, and I think it works out about 27.70 a month paying 500US up front for an 18 month membership... and that includes everything....everything......so I think fuck it, I am going to sign up........I knew that getting myself established here was going to cost me a bit, and getting back into shape, is something that I believe is totally necessary, especially with my knee the way it is, and sport, not really being an option.
Anyways.....I probably should bail soon.....as during my induction, I didn't only get a mass of materials to read, but I also got my first weeks teaching schedule....I work Tuesdays, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sundays..... with the majority of my teaching hours on the weekends 70 or 80% in fact. I am packing myself about my first class, which is an Elite class - kids aged between 15-17, so I am going to have to be well prepared for that one.....or they are going to walk all over me, like nothing else. All my other classes are with Juniors - kids aged 6 1/2 to 10 1/2. I am not as daunted by them yet..... but am still shitting my self.... I need to get myself organised - and for those of you that know me well - you will also know that there is one thing that I am categorically not, and that is organised.....something that is going to have to change.....and fast!!! But I am up for the challenge, and the support network here is great....
All in all, as my little bro Cal keeps saying "livin the dream", and you know what I really think I am, I think, give me a few months, and I will totally find myself over here.
Its scary, as in its challenging, but I am eating that up, and am beginning to love my new home.
No comments:
Post a Comment