*palm to forehead*

It just hit me that I AM a teacher. All these years I've been training to be a teacher and now I can finally, officially say that I AM a teacher. I am a music teacher and starting next week I will be an English teacher (just for funsies). It's a bit surreal. I am now a professional. I have a career, not a job. Students look up to me and follow my lead. I am their guide (musically, at least). I feel like a bit of a rockstar at school. Since I see everyone from K-9 (roughly 400 students) all I hear in the halls is "Hi, Ms. Erica!" "Good morning, Ms. Erica!" "LOOK AT ME, MS. ERICA!!" It's crazy....I can't even eat my lunch without kids hanging on me. I just wish I knew them a little better. It's hard with so many....I miss those personal connections. It is especially difficult with such different names. They are nearly impossible to learn and remember. Anyways......it just hit me that I can now say that I AM a teacher...I'm not going to be a teacher, I'm not training to be a teacher, I'm not dreaming of being a teacher. I AM a teacher. Crazy.....

Here are some pictures of my musical duck, duck, goose game. These are Year 1 students....they loved it! They will probably ask me next week if they can play it again :) Also attached are my Y1 students dancing to a goofy piece of music from the form lesson (hopefully the video works....sorry if it doesn't). They loved this. Hilarious.

*disclaimer* I'm sorry for deleting pictures and video but I found out we're not supposed to post pictures or videos of students in uniform on personal social networking sites. Oh, well! I'll try to get some things posted on the schools YouTube account so you can see them there.

Jumping in with both feet....

Well, yesterday at about 3:30pm we got an email about a workshop taking place this morning up near the airport and they would provide coverage for anyone that wanted to attend. I took a look at the title and it was "The Marriage of True Minds - Poetry, Music and Language Learning." I thought it sounded like something I could benefit from so I said I wanted to go. Turns out I was the only one interested (and now I have to tell everyone what I learned at a PD meeting) so I had to write up some sub plans for this morning and venture out across the city by myself. So this morning I woke up to a lovely thunderstorm outside. I wanted nothing more than to stay in bed and pull the covers over my head.....but I got up and got ready for this workshop. What I did not know is that taxis are extremely hard to find when it is raining. I walked around for 15 minutes trying to get a taxi. I finally got one and showed him the address of the hotel I had to go to. It is near the airport, which is on the complete opposite side of the city. I underestimated how long it would take to get there....it took nearly an hour. Luckily the workshop hadn't started yet so I didn't miss anything. The workshop itself was actually really good. It was all about how poetry is a tremendous learning tool for English and you can easily bring music into the mix as well. It was a great day. I love workshops and conferences.....does that make me a super nerd? I guess so....so be it ;) On the way home from the workshop I took some pictures of the sights. I came back to my apartment to get some things and grab lunch before heading to school for the afternoon. I felt like being adventurous and taking a motorbike taxi. It's the first time I've done it and it really wasn't bad. It was much cheaper than a cab and I didn't die....but I'm still splitting a cab each day with my friend and that's about the same price so for now I'll keep using a regular taxi. When I got to school I found out that the memo didn't quite get around that I was at professional development so HR took one of my leave days since I wasn't clocked in in the morning. I got that fixed, so I will still get paid for today. I also got reimbursed for the taxi this morning so I didn't have to pay for anything :) Then in the hall this teacher asks me "Hey Erica, have you ever taught English?" I was like "uhhhh.....nope!" The school is offering English lessons to the Vietnamese staff and they have two classes a week. One of the teachers is just too busy and has to quit doing it so they are looking for a replacement. I think I am going to do it! It will be a great experience for me, I might learn a little Vietnamese from them, I can get to know some of the staff a little better, and I'm sure administration will love to see me getting involved in everything. I hope I am not biting off more than I can chew. I am currently building the music program from virtually nothing so I do have my work cut out for me. I just want to take in any experiences I can. Having the experience of teaching English to adult beginners will look great on any resume.

I went to a kickboxing class today after school at a gym down the street from school. It was great! She totally kicked our butts! I haven't sweated that much since Tough Mudder! It felt good to be active and physical. I can tell that I'm going to gain weight quickly here (I'm already putting on some pounds) so this will be good if I can keep up with it. I'm definitely going to hurt tomorrow.....My arms cramped up really bad at the end from all the punching lol.

Well, I suppose that's the majority of what has been going on this week. Attached are some pictures. Yesterday I taught the kids the "Shake Your Sillies Out" song by Rafi during their weekly K-Y3 assembly and attached are some pictures from that as well.

Oh, I'm also learning that I really need to be stricter. I was too nice last week and now I'm paying for it. I had to get really tough with Y2 today....I made them line up outside and walk back in my room properly about 4 times, until they did it right. I need to tighten the reigns and be the "mean teacher" for a while and then relax. It's just hard because that isn't me. I'm not tough and strict. I like to be laid back and have fun and make music class fun....but I guess I need to be the mean one for now and then become more myself later. Gotta learn somehow, I guess! I'll get there....eventually. It's a learning experience!

Ok, I need to pass out now.....two more days until the weekend (thank God...this week has been rough).

Week 2

Hey, all! Well, I have survived Week 2. Not a whole lot to report on this week. My principal is very supportive of resources that I am asking for and I am to create a wish list of instruments for him to purchase. Once I have these resources and instruments it will make my job MUCH easier. My deputy principal came in this week for two unannounced observations (talk about losing your train of thought when they just come in like that haha). The first class she observed was Prep Integrated (ugh.....that was rough), then she came in during my Year 8 class at 3:30 on Friday afternoon. I was showing them Quaver's Marvelous World of Music (I have a sneak peek of one episode from their new program) and my deputy principal LOVED it. I think she is going to push my principal to purchase it for me. He already said no because it's a bit expensive but she saw it in action. The students loved it and she even said it was the first music class she's ever been to that she enjoyed (WHAT?!?). So yea....I think I'll be keeping my job after the 2 month probation period and I may even be getting this awesome DVD series for my program :) So that was a good ending to my Friday! I'm trying to organize/decorate my room a little bit (it's so bare....no posters or anything) so I made a little sign with my name and "Music" on it...and yes, it is orange and blue :) It's one small step towards making it MY music room. The students really seem to like me and now I know my deputy principal likes me so I can start getting comfortable here. I was so nervous about that 2-month probation period (I'm always waiting for the axe to fall) but I think I can relax now. I am still getting used to how they address me here, though. Here I am Ms. Erica, not Ms. Michels. I got so used to Ms. Michels during my student teaching and now I'm Ms. Erica. It will be weird when I go back to America lol. Also, when I say "good morning, class" they all say, in unison, "Good Morning, Ms. Erica." It's cute lol.

I have been trying to figure out my vacations for the year and I'm pretty excited about it. I am given 30 days annual leave for my first 12 months. What's different here, is that even during school breaks you are expected to be at work from 8-5 unless you take your annual leave. So here is my plan: work through term break in April, take 1 1/2 weeks with my parents in July to hang out here and travel to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay (yay, I won't have to go alone!), spend about 2 1/2 weeks in New Mexico with Erik (that will be about my entire summer), and then 2 weeks in December in Hawaii with Erik and his family. I'm pretty stoked about it all. It's nice to know I will get to see him a few times during this experience. I wasn't planning to go to the states (except for Hawaii) but I could use some comforts of America and I really need to see him lol. A whole year is just too long to go without seeing someone you love so much.

Well, I suppose that's about all I have to report on today. I have been laying low nights and weekends and not exploring too much. I haven't left my neighborhood. It's hard to be adventurous in a foreign country by yourself. All my friends here are married and some have kids so they're all busy outside of school. It's also lonely sitting in a restaurant by yourself, so I usually get food for take-out and take it home. I am glad I took this opportunity for this experience but it is definitely challenging me as a person. I never knew how strong I was until now. I have been challenged so much in the last two years and how I've come out of it all on top, I don't know. I never want to hear another person say I am weak, spoiled, naive, or not good enough again. Take that, all you nay-sayers! Look at me now!

Ok, I'm done lol......time to go to the supermarket and get some dinner. Take care, all.

-Erica

Graduation: From Surviving to Smiling :)

Well, I had a good weekend.....it was spent sleeping and planning for this week. It was nice to just take things easy. Today was actually a good day!! In the morning I taught K1/K2 and Prep International classes....they went very well! I actually didn't want to pull my hair out. I also taught Y7 and that went really well! I used my sneak peek of "Quaver's Marvelous World of Music" to teach Y7 about form....they LOVED it. After lunch I met with the K-Y3 Head of Studies and talked about resources I would like to purchase for the music program. I told her about Quaver's DVD series and she was entirely supportive of it! I put together a proposal email, sent it to her, she sent it to the principal......and he APPROVED IT!!! He's purchasing the series (which also includes countless resources online) this week! I'm SOOO excited!! I'm also waiting to hear back from the company about a K-5 music curriculum. They are debating between GamePlan (from the US) and another similar curriculum from Australia. It will be used in all of the KinderWorld schools. So hopefully in the next few months I will have one of those curriculums, Quaver's Marvelous World of Music, AND a few other resources that the principal approved today. I am SO lucky to have such a supportive administration! Now, I don't really have any instruments to work with so that's a bummer but with these resources I can at least develop a useful, effective, and valuable program here. I feel my anxiety melting away. I will have much more restful nights ahead (yay!)

I was rather unpleasantly surprised this afternoon, though. While teaching the Prep Integrated class (one that makes me want to jump out my classroom window from the 3rd floor) the deputy principal chose this time to come in my class unannounced and observe me....EEEK!! I was not happy about it! I taught 4 other successful classes today and she chose to come into the ONE difficult class I had all day. She didn't stay after to talk to me about it but she sent me an email mentioning how I have my hands full with that class haha. I think she understands the difficulties with that class and I know that I did the best I could. I have been observed teaching enough that the fact she was in the room didn't make me nervous at all. It was the fact that I just feel like I have no control over that one class.

Well, it's already 11pm (how does the night go by so fast?) and I need to get some sleep. Oh, I got a manicure tonight.....AMAZING! They did an entire arm massage and everything! It took nearly 2 hours! I got some hearts on my thumbs in honor of V-day tomorrow and they gave me a discount.....it cost me the equivalent of $5. This place is also right next to my building so I will be going there fairly frequently. I am going to get spoiled here!

Happy Valentine's Day, people (even though I despise the holiday) and most importantly HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!! I love you so much and wish I could be there to celebrate this big one with you! I can't wait to see you here in Vietnam in a few months! <3<3<3

-Erica

Week 1: Survived....barely

Wow.....what a week! I will say this: if you ever move to Vietnam and need an apartment you better bring several thousand dollars in US cash. I did NOT do this so I have had an extremely difficult time getting my apartment! I could only withdraw VND (Vietnamese cash) from the ATM and you can only withdraw so much cash per day....so it took me nearly all week to pay my deposit and first months rent. Luckily my realtor and landlord were understanding about the situation so they accepted it. Once I get a bank account here and get paid I can withdraw US cash from my bank to pay my rent but I couldn't get it out of my US bank account. Talk about stressful.....Then I made the mistake of telling the HR department that I found an apartment and would be checking out of the hotel either the next day or the day after (they had to arrange to come pay for my room) but then the money situation kept me from being able to buy bedding (they take cash only too) so I had nowhere to sleep in my apartment. I emailed HR back to say I needed the hotel room for a few more days. The next day (Tuesday) I went to work and saw an email saying the hotel had already booked my room and my things had to be out by 1pm that afternoon....so I had to leave school during my lunch break, pack up my things, leave it behind the desk and go back to work. I hardly ate anything in 3 days and only had a few hours of sleep each night. That night I was able to buy my bedding and get into my apartment. So, long story short: I made it into my apartment....

Work has been absolutely insane. I teach Kindergarten (which is like our preschool) through Year 9......that's 11 different age levels. We were just kind of thrown to the wolves and had to learn things the hard way. I don't feel like going into too much detail but the good news is I've survived the first week. Last night I was FINALLY able to catch up on some sleep....I slept for 10 hours straight. I woke up and felt like I could keep sleeping but I knew I should get up lol. I have a lot of work to do this weekend (joy) so between sleeping and working I'm pretty busy. Last night I went to a co-worker's birthday dinner at a restaurant near the school. It was pretty fun and I tried fried squid and wild boar. They were both quite rubbery and the texture of the squid just freaked me out. I could feel all of the tentacles in my mouth.....eww! Not sure if I'll have it again but I said I would try almost anything so I had to. IT was good to socialize with some of the other teachers. They think I'm crazy for taking my first teaching job overseas by myself lol. One girl said I was extremely brave.....I said I was just naive haha. She said that's probably for the better....if I had known what I was getting into I probably wouldn't have done it. I just keep telling myself that if I can make it through this experience I will be able to get through ANYTHING. I have said many times this week that I should just pack up and go home with my tail between my legs but I just can't do that. I could never forgive myself for giving up. I will get through this and be a better, stronger person for it.

Tonight I went to the Lotte Mart to try and find an HDMI cable and it is one of the biggest department stores I've ever seen. You can get almost anything there. Attached are some pictures from the seafood section.....eek!

That's about all I have the energy to write about tonight...btw, my phone is hooked up in my apartment so you can call 727-644-3852 and reach me! Please just keep the time difference in mind and don't call me in the middle of the night lol. Night all!

ADDRESS!

Well, it's 10:30pm and I pretty much just got back to my hotel from the day....I will have quite the post this weekend but for now I will leave you with my mailing address:

7D3-10 Sky Garden 3, Phu My Hung, W. Tran Phong, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam (VN)

I think that will get mail to me....I would try sending a letter before a package just to see if it actually gets to me. Also (in case for whatever reason you need it) my cell phone number in Vietnam is +84 09 3513 4050 (the country code is 84). Again, I'm not entirely sure how the phone numbers work...some have a different number of digits. I'm sure none of you will need to call/text me there but it's there just in case you need to for whatever reason.

That's all for tonight.....Like I said I'll post a big post this weekend when I actually have some time/sanity.

P.S. Everyone says it's so brave that I'm doing this (especially by myself) but now I realize it was just stupidity.....All the other new teachers are here with spouses. I wish I had someone here to work through all of this with. Ok, good night for real now...

I have a home!

Well, I wish I could tell you all of the horror stories from the day but the truth is I'm completely wiped and I need to shower, write lesson plans, sleep, and survive my first day of school tomorrow. So long story really short: I have an apartment, I moved most of my stuff in but I can't get bedding until tomorrow so I'm in the hotel tonight, and I'll be sleeping in my place tomorrow. Attached are pictures. Bad news: I won't have internet for a few days but I'll take my comp down to a shop and try to update periodically throughout the week. I should have it by the weekend (I hope). Good news: my bed seems to be a bit more comfortable than most of the beds here in Vietnam. They are like sleeping on a board (yes, even in the hotel...my back is killing me by now). So while it is not nearly as soft as the beds back home it is MUCH softer than this bed and most of the others I have seen. I can't wait to sleep in it tomorrow.....

Night all!

Well....today was a big day! First of all, I got the apartment! I sign the contract tomorrow and will HOPEFULLY be able to move in tomorrow evening! I will post pictures when I get there :) I found a nice little Italian restaurant near the apt and while walking home (and by home I mean the hotel lol) I stumbled upon some fun festivities! Apparently it was the "grand opening" of this Korean restaurant (tho I swear I saw it open all week) and there was quite the spectacle taking place in the street. First there were people with big dragon masks. Then they pulled out some drums and did some really cool drumming. I took some videos but I'm not sure if I can upload them to this. I will try, though. After the drumming the got this dragon with sticks attached and about 7 or 8 guys controlled the sticks and did quite a display with it. It was really cool! After returning to my hotel I got a call from my New Zealand coworker, inviting me out to District 1 with her husband and a few other people. How could I turn her down? We went to this restaurant in the middle of nowhere (how anyone finds it, I have no clue) and the food was amazing! Unfortunately I had already eaten so I just tried a little bit of everything at the table. It was a really cool little joint with great Vietnamese food! I will definitely be taking any visitors there (yes, that's you, Mom and Dad!). Also, when you go out to the bathroom you go through a door into a room with a pond...with fish in it...and a tree in the middle...and you have to walk on a narrow bridge.....all in the building lol it was so cool and unique!

Todays post is a little short just because I'm exhausted but here is a fun observation I've made: honking horns here does NOT mean the same as it does in America. In America you honk your horn at someone because you're mad at them. Here you honk your horn just to let someone know you're there. So if a motorbike is wandering into your lane you honk the horn. If you're approaching an intersection you honk your horn. You hear hundreds of horns honking all the time but there is NO road rage (which just amazes me). Anyway, that's nothing vitally important but it is just a fun observation and cultural difference. Also, there is a lot of texting/talking on cell phones while driving motorbikes. Yea, and you thought it was bad in America?

Well, it's bed time! Hopefully this is my last night in the hotel! I WANT MY PLACE!!!! :)

Ben Thanh Market!!

This morning started out with seeing more apartments with a new realtor. She seems to be more in tune with what I want and like. She also just seems really on top of her game. She arranged for me to see about 6 apartments this morning alone and I think she could have kept going....but I found the one I want :D It is 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, hardwood floors, modern furniture, some dishes included, a full-length electric piano, great bathroom with storage, and a lovely window seat in the living room. Also, it has wallpaper...not necessarily my style but it definitely beats the white walls I've encountered so far. I felt extremely comfortable and at home in this apartment. I walked in and said "this is the one." I am waiting to hear back from her if the owner agrees or not. She is going to try to negotiate the price down a bit but I will take it for the asking price if he won't go down. It is more than I hoped to pay but it is worth it for all that I get with it. I should hear in the morning if it's mine and hopefully I'll be signing the contract tomorrow morning/afternoon and moving in this weekend! I will attach pictures as soon as I know :)

Another new teacher and her family are staying in the same hotel as me and they called me this afternoon to have some drinks and chat. They then invited me to come with them to Ben Thanh Market in District 1 tonight. I said "absolutely!" It is great to have someone to go there with. Going alone would be REALLY intimidating! This place is INSANE. The entire market is in one huge building. The main aisles criss-crossing the market are fairly wide....but all the other aisles are barely the width of your body. As you walk through them people grab you and try to put things in your hand. I definitely need to learn how to haggle because that's what you do here. First I need to go to more stores to find out what things SHOULD cost. I really have no idea what prices I should be haggling to so I'm not very good....but I fear that I'm going to get so used to haggling that by the time I go back to the states I'll refuse to pay full price for anything. I'll be trying to haggle at Wal-Mart haha. Well, the market closes around 6 and then that's when the fun really starts. The street next to the market is closed and all the tents roll out. The market comes outside. They also roll out restaurants! It's incredible! We ate there on the street and ordered calamari, fish, spring rolls, fried rice, 4 beers, and 2 bottles of water....what did it cost? About $15. Yea, be jealous! It really was an amazing experience. I will be taking anyone that comes to visit to Ben Thanh Market...if you come to Saigon you have to witness it....especially at night!

Also, in the next few weeks I will be learning how to drive a motorbike and then I will rent one of my own. Yep, I'm going to drive a motorbike in Saigon! I really hope this isn't a mistake....haha. I fear that I'll come back to America and forget how to follow the laws.....so it would probably be safe to say don't let me drive for a few days/weeks when I get back.

Umm....I can't think of anything else to post tonight but it's late and I'm exhausted so I've probably forgotten something. I'll let you know if I have an apartment tomorrow!

O.M.G. FOOD!

Ok, so I'm sitting in my hotel room after shopping at the supermarket down the street, trying to decide what I want to do for dinner when my hotel phone rings. Confused, I answer it. It's one of the other new teachers (from New Zealand). She found her way to my hotel and invited me out to dinner with her husband and a few people he works with. They just got here a week ago. Her husband is an engineer and is working at a plant here in Saigon. He just started work this week. So I go downstairs and we walk to her hotel where we meet up with a few other people. *side note....some hotels will not allow anyone that is not staying at the hotel to go to a room. I wasn't allowed to go upstairs to their room because I'm not staying there. Makes you feel better, knowing they don't allow....sketchy late-night guests around.* After hanging out there for a few mins we go down the street to this amazing restaurant. Dinner, which started out as a few people, turned into 22. My co-worker and her husband are from New Zealand and the other people were from Australia and Germany mainly. It was fascinating eating this huge meal with people from all corners of the globe. I spent a lot of time talking to this Australian guy who was relatively close to my age. He's been here for a month. Most of this group is leaving HCMC this weekend so it kinda stinks that I almost found a cool group of friends but they are only here for a few more days. Anyways, we talked a lot about Vietnam and a lot of the misconceptions that Americans and Australians have about it. We talked politics and government (how much America's system just doesn't make sense) and how communist governments aren't as bad as they're cracked up to be. It was fun talking to these people and seeing how similar we all really are. It was hard not to start talking with an Australian accent, though haha. But his advice was this: grab a cab, go to District 1 this weekend, walk around the markets and streets, and just soak up the people and culture. Oh, so the restaurant we went to was absolutely insane. They stick these huge rods racked with meat on your plate and scrape off a helping for you. The first time I saw it was when he put it on my plate. I was like, "HUH?" So he scrapes off a helping and goes to the next person. They just kept bringing out more meats and more spears full. Attached is a picture. It as incredible! I ate SO much food! I also had some delicious Bailey's and creams for $2.85. The best part? I didn't have to pay for any of it! Three of the guys treated everyone. It was so great to interact with all these different people and really connect. My co-worker seems really awesome and I'm glad we're bonding. Tomorrow she and I are going back to the school to spend some time in our classrooms getting acquainted with them and the school. It will be good. Well, it's time for bed! Night, all!

Wait, I actually have to WORK over here??

Well, this afternoon I got to go to the school and meet the principal! He's really nice and seems like a very supportive principal. I was very impressed with the campus (very clean and well kept). I am one of 5 teachers starting this term so luckily I'm not completely alone. I am alone in the fact that even though it is a K-12 school and I am teaching K-9 music I am the ONLY music teacher. The senior high levels do not have electives or specials, so I am the one and only music teacher at this school. I thought maybe there would be an upper level teacher but nope! I'm it! My classroom is extremely bare and has NO music posters, notes, ANYTHING on the walls. I am hoping that maybe I can purchase some soon. I think my classroom is also used as a dance studio because it has hardwood floors and a wall of mirrors with a bar on it.....haha. I do think that I am set up for success, though....anything I do with this program will be successful. I don't think administration will be breathing down my neck or anything so it gives me some room to make mistakes and find my groove/style. I am worried about names....Vietnamese names are nearly impossible for me to pronounce (the principal even said he still can't pronounce much and he has been here for 4 years) and since I see every student K-9 I don't think I'll be able to learn their names. I hate that. I like to at least have a handle on most names but I just don't think I'll be able to here. But on the plus, the principal said this is an exceptional school. The students are extremely respectful and ready and willing to learn. I think I am going to be spoiled rotten here...what will I do when I return to American students?? Eeek..... :-/ I am looking forward to Monday to just get started and start finding my groove. I have a rough idea of the schedule and it looks like I have a fair amount of breaks each day so that will be nice. It isn't just go-go-go all day every day. I'll have some breathing room. Overall I have very positive thoughts on the school after spending a few hours there! I think it's going to be a great place to work!

The other big thing is apartment hunting. My realtor is picking me up again tonight and taking me to see another 1/1 apt and to see the 1/1 again that I liked yesterday. I am leaning towards that one so I wanted to see it again before I make a decision. Unless the other 1/1 just blows me away I think I'm going to take the 1/1 in Sky Garden 3. The plus of that one is it is ready to move in immediately. Some of the other apts I've seen aren't available until the middle of February. I would love to be able to move in this week and start getting settled before work Monday.

Well, I guess those are my only updates so far today. I may know which apartment I'm taking by tonight so I will update you when I know. I will also post my address as soon as I know it. Several people have been asking for it. I'm sorry for so many posts....I realize I am posting a lot this week but I don't have much else to do in the afternoons/evenings lol. I hope everyone is well back home! It gets a little lonely out here by yourself....