School Chaos

Well I have been at work for a week now and in that time had some highs and lows. The teaching staff are mostly good people, there always has to be one that spoils the bunch and amongst the more vocal we are running odds on how long she will last. The first few days at school were just plain overwhelming, there wasn't any structure and you were left to fend for yourself in more ways than one.

I had a problem with this, as I wanted to be professional. When everything you do here is foreign and way more time consuming than at home, I wanted to feel that the school and classroom were my domain and that I'd feel comfy. Well fish out of water would be the better way of picturing this. But at last on Thursday I was given my books and most of the things the kids will need, as opposed to saying "I must order it" and many things fell into place.

David, an Aussie who has been here about a year I gather has taken Tash and I (newcomers) under his wing. He is sending the local staff to help us and making sure all is OK. He has also become my staunch drinking partner in Trev's absence because at the end of hard morning you need a Halida beer or two to have the courage to face the afternoon back at school. Then we all meet up around 6 for some more beers and bite to eat.

Some of my favourite local hangouts now include Chicken Street (BBQ food), R and R Bar (already mentioned here) and the Bun Cha place besides the Botanical Gardens. All in all the beer here is good, and the food both western and Vietnamese is proving to be quite tasty.