Final thoughts from Day 1

Well, I sucked it up it ventured out on my own this afternoon! It wasn't as scary as I expected. I just walked a few blocks and took a look at some restaurants and shops. There are definitely some nice places around here! I also found my way to the apartment complex I liked today so that was nice to start figuring out this neighborhood. I found a cute little cafe around the corner from my hotel where I ended up having lunch. While sitting there (outside) I saw a cool lizard, a gekko, and then (to my horror) and HUGE rat! Then, as I was seeing a few more apartments tonight I saw another huge rat. I guess I will have to get used to seeing them around here. They are almost the size of my dog back home lol (well, maybe not quite that big but pretty darn close!). I saw 2 more apartments tonight. I really liked a 2 bed/2 bath I saw tonight. It was even cheaper than the 1/1 I saw this morning. But I think I still prefer the 1/1. I really don't need 2 bedrooms and the 1/1 was a little nicer. It is a little more than I was hoping to pay but it is within my budget so unless I see something better tomorrow I think I will go with it. The location is just fantastic and the furniture is really nice. Well, I suppose I'm done rambling for the day.....Attached are a few pictures from my afternoon exploration. Enjoy.

-Erica

New Eyes

Hello all! Well, last night I managed to stay awake until about 6:30pm....and then I slept until 7am this morning. It was absolutely glorious! I did not even leave my hotel after I got here. 1) I was afraid to venture out alone. 2) I was just so freakin tired I wasn't in the mood for more adventures. There are American TV channels here (thank God!) but this TV has Vietnamese subtitles that I can't get rid of....so that's kind of annoying lol. This morning I was picked up at 10am to look at apartments. We only saw 3 this morning and I really only liked one of them. It costs a little more than I was hoping for but it's REALLY nice and in a great location. After driving around this neighborhood this morning I feel much better about being here. It isn't nearly as crowded as the other side of town and there a LOT of shops and restaurants really close by. The apartment that I loved was right next to a supermarket and a ton of shops. It also has a gym and pool (but you have to pay extra to use them). My realtor is picking me up around 5 to see some more apartments tonight. I'm looking forward to finding a place and getting settled in. I'll feel better once I have a place to call my own and escape to. I am relaxing at the hotel for a little longer before I venture into the street to find lunch/explore. It's scary to explore on your own in SUCH a foreign place. I don't want to get too far from the hotel so I can find my way back. Attached are a few pics from today. I didn't take any of the inside of the apartments but a bit outside. I'm sure I'll have some more by tonight. Tomorrow I am going to the school to meet with the principal so that will be exciting. I can't wait to see where I'm actually going to be working.

So, the good news is I AM seeing the city with different eyes today and I'm liking what I'm seeing. Yesterday I wasn't so sure about this adventure but now I'm feeling MUCH better. I think I'll be able to make this place home....at least for a year and a half ;) Now I just want visitors to come so I can show it all off! So use your passports, people! Come to Nam!

-Erica

I have arrived.....

The weary world traveler has arrived safely in Saigon. Wow. It's definitely different here. And hot. Very, very hot. It feels like Florida's summer. That will definitely take getting used to but it's nothing I wasn't expecting. Luckily the few buildings I've been inside so far are air conditioned well so it's not too bad. I tried to take as many pictures as possible but I'm so tired it was hard to concentrate on much more than staying awake in the car. The traffic here is as horrendous as I thought. I was terrified just being the passenger in a van. I can't imagine being on a motorbike. After picking me up from the airport we went to KinderWorld's corporate office where I met the HR manager and took care of paperwork and things. She told me that renting a motorbike is my best option and that she will teach me how, so I guess that will be happening soon..... :-/ The good news is I live/work in the quieter part of town where traffic won't be quite as bad. I'll be good if I can at least ride a bike to and from work. I'll take a taxi anywhere else.

I know I asked for adventure but right now I'm wishing I had been careful about what I wished for...but I think the fear/overwhelming is coming partially from my sheer exhaustion. I am now at the hotel and they are picking me up at 10am tomorrow to take me to look at apartments. It is nearly 4pm and I think I'm just going to take a nap and possibly just sleep until the morning. I am beyond tired at this point and I've had more than enough adventure for one day so venturing out on my own does NOT sound fun. The good news is there are a few American channels on the tv lol. It's the small things.....it's nice to have a few comforts.

I feel like this post is a bit jumbled and I have left out many small details but I simply can't think straight anymore so this is going to have to do for today. Attached are some random pics from today. Enjoy! Feel free to comment. My access to facebook may be a bit spotty due to the ban by the government (hello communist country) but I seem to have found a way to get on ;) Well, I hope things are good back home....I miss it already (mostly because I know it's going to be a loooong time before I get to see it again).

-Erica

P.S. They really do where those rice patty hats.......lol

Well under way!

Well, I am sitting in the Hong Kong International Airport waiting on breakfast before I jump on my last flight to Saigon! It was certainly a long flight over here and my spine and neck were in all sorts of pain from sleeping in such a twisted position but needless to say, I made it to Hong Kong! I arrived at about 9pm local time (Sunday night) and had to navigate my way through immigration and baggage claim and then find the Lounge that I had seen online. I found it and bought 6 hours of a private room (complete with bed, sink, toilet, and glorious shower). They were nice enough to give me 9 hours so I had to check out at 5am. I got a few hours of slightly restless sleep (the walls/door are thin so any noise was loud. It was nice to be able to lay down and not worry about my luggage, though. I was worried about someone stealing my stuff while I slept so it was great not to have to worry about that. The shower was also amazing....It was just what I needed! I also got a hot meal (eggs benedict) and then went on my way. The Hong Kong International Airport is NOT easy to navigate. It goes in every direction. I went up and down a bunch of escalators and in a train to find my gate. Everything is well marked, it's just very spread out. But I found it and I'm sitting at my gate waiting for the last leg of the journey!

I will say this: Everyone I've encountered here in Hong Kong is EXTREMELY nice and helpful. The lounge staff, airport staff, everyone. I would love to come back to Hong Kong and actually explore the city. Well, I believe we'll begin boarding shortly! It's surprising how Western it is here. Granted, I haven't actually left the airport but it almost feels less foreign than Italy. English is everywhere and things just aren't drastically different like I expected. I have a feeling Saigon will be a different experience, though. I look forward to it! Oh, and fyi: they drive on the left side of the road in Hong Kong.

Ta ta for now! I'll update from my new home: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!

Holy panic attack, Batman!

Well, all of a sudden I am out of time! I have been busy with what I call my "Farewell Tour." After Christmas I went to New Mexico to spend New Years with my boyfriend, Erik, then I spent a weekend in Minnesota seeing my family. After Minnesota was the FMEA (Florida Music Educator Association) conference in Tampa and an all-day workshop with Eric Whitacre (pinch me!). It was extremely refreshing and got me pumped up for my coming adventure. Then last weekend Erik was able to come home for the weekend. He surprised his family and it was an amazing time had by all. We went to Epcot on Monday with my tickets from Candlelight. I couldn't have asked for a better last weekend in the states. Erik left on Tuesday and on Wednesday I went to Gainesville for the afternoon. It was the final stop in my "Farewell Tour."

So here is how you can contact me: michels.erica@gmail.com; text me at (774)325-4233 (my iPod Touch...I can text through wifi); call me at (727)644-3852 (this will be my "landline" at my apartment but PLEASE keep in mind the time difference); or Skype me at erica.michels. Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time so please keep that in mind when calling!

I leave Tampa at 8am Saturday, have a 4 hour layover in Chicago, 16 hour flight to Hong Kong, 12 hour layover there (overnight), and then a quick 2 1/2 hour flight to HCMC. I arrive Monday morning (Sun night EST). It's going to be a long weekend! I will try to update when I can and let y'all know I made it there safely (yes, I said y'all.....deal with it).

tạm biệt (goodbye)

Here is a link to the hotel my school is putting me up in when I arrive in HCMC! Just a small glimpse into what to expect! It looks beautiful!

Things are coming together! I have gone through every single thing I own (here at the house and in the storage unit) and I've thrown away a lot, donated a lot, and have narrowed down what to take and what I want when I come back to the states. It has taken all week but I am done! My visa arrived the other day. I am still working on the work permit but that is a long process that I can't finish until after I leave. My parents will have to help me out back here (they have to send my actual diploma to various places to get it certified and then send it out to me in Vietnam). Flight is booked. I know who is picking me up at the airport and what hotel I'll be staying in. They are arranging a realtor for me. All that's left to do is actually pack the suitcases and board the plane!

This weekend I'm spending a lot of time with my wonderful parents, having a going away party at Howl at the Moon at Channelside in Tampa on Saturday night (anyone is welcome to join! Even my parents will be there!), going to Disney with a friend on Monday, going to Gainesville on Wednesday, and then I leave early Saturday morning! It's all happening crazy fast and I'm trying to embrace it and not freak out :)

8 days!

a glimpse at what is to come....

Click me!!

^

Here is a link to some videos of the school and my students. The young choir will be mine. This soothes all of my fears and makes me REALLY excited to do this! These kids make it all worth it. I went from being terrified of this move to pumped and ready to go in a matter of 10 mins watching these videos. This is going to be awesome.....