The performances continued at the beginning of the week and my boss made me perform the solo dance from last week at every other performance, as if I didn't feel enough of a prat already! We were thrown in at the deep end again with no rehearsal even though we were sat there for 2 hours before. We just had to get on stage and go with the kids including the whole Gangnam style routine. This was after we had taken part in their fashion show where we had to hold hands with the girls at the front of each line and the girl in my line was having none of it! She was the leader and started shoving me around, refusing to hold hands and snatching her hand back as soon as we got off the stage.

Christmas eve we tried to see Frozen at Royal City but it was insane! The roads were blocked so we got out of the taxi and walked. The pavements were no better and completely blocked with people and bikes. The strangest thing was when we got inside there were no people in the shops and the ice skating rink and cinema were practically empty. They were all just there taking photos with the decorations. We found that most Vietnamese people think Christmas is December 24th and will argue this point with you - which would explain why on Christmas day it was empty again! By the time we had fought our way through to the cinema we had missed most of the film so we headed back through the chaos to meet the rest of our group at a beer place.

The beer place was very surreal with some kind of party going on where you had to dance around while keeping a balloon between you and your partners head?!? We gave up on this quite quickly and moved on to Cong's for Baileys hot chocolates which felt a bit more Christmassy.

Christmas day

Was a strange feeling working on Christmas day but wasn't as bad as I thought it would be because everyone was working. Some of us went home at lunchtime for a fry up, not quite Christmas dinner but at least it was traditionally British. After work we started our Secret Santa (or not so secret santa as everyone seemed to have told except me). We gave presents to our security guard and he went to turn and leave without them as he thought we were just wishing him Merry Christmas. The sack and blanket stayed unopened at the end of his bed for ages, not sure he really understood that they were his. We finished Christmas celebrations with an Indian take away and Baileys and oreo cheesecake that one of the boys had made (spending 3 hours whipping cream with chopsticks!). I managed to Skype home and everyone started talking over each other again, felt strange but it wasn't too bad as I wasn't spending Christmas alone.

Finally bought some material for dresses this weekend from a very nice but very shovey lady who just kept cslling us all beautiful. Managed to get material for 3 dresses for around £15 and now just need to find a good tailor. On Saturday evening we went to the Old quarter a bit early to book our Cambodia trip. We spoke to a different guy who said it would be more expensive as there were now only 2 people going. There had been no mention that it would be more expensive before even though I had asked for a quote for 2 people! So after speaking to Maggie who had been travelling and was visiting one of our friends it sound like we will be better to do it alone.

Everyone turned up to Christmas dinner and I think they all enjoyed it. He even made us pigs in blankets specially after I emailed to say one of the boys had asked if they were included. We moved on to a few bars and it was a really good night, we didn't want to go home at midnight so ended up in Phuc Tan. We met a guy from Woodford Green who had been to Trinity with Anna's boyfriend's brother - small world again.

Sunday brought a much needed lie in followed by a much needed Burger King with one of the boys still in his suit from the night before that he had slept in. Then I had to go back to planning which I have not missed in the slightest. In the evening I went for dinner with Alex at the deputy principles house from one of our schools. I was dreading it as her and the principle do not speak much English and we thought we would have to spend the whole night talking to their kids - not really how I wanted to spend my weekend! In fact the principle's daughter and 3 of her friends came and they were all betwee 19 and 21. One is studying in the US and another in Chichister and all of their English was good. They were great to talk to and helped to translate for us. There was sooooo much food- first a buffet of hot dogs, chips, pigeon wings, chicken, bread and after we were bought huge bowls of pho and cake! I felt so sick after.

New year's eve

I turned down the cover I was offered today with a view to relaxing and going for a wander before going out. I had a hectic morning with no breaks as my TA insisted that we stay in every class until all of the speaking tests were finished. By lunchtime I had 2 missed calls from our boss and a text from an unknown number. I thought they were asking me to cover but it was Rachael asking if I could take her a few things to the hospital! I called her straight away and she had been in an accident in the cab on the way to her school and had fractured her back but thankfully she could feel and move everything. She kept saying her things could wait until the next day as I already had plans. I told her not to be so stupid it was only a museum and she was far more important. I packed a bag for her and went to the French hospital where she was still in A and E but looked surprisingly bright for someone with a broken back!

She told me the taxi had hit a bump along a narrow road and the driver hadn't been able to regain control quickly enough. The car had rolled down a bank and into a river, all the windows smashed on the way down but amazingly she did not have a scratch or bruise on her. After going under the water she felt an air pocket and forced her hand up where someone grabbed it and pulled her out. It took the people who had stopped longer to get the driver out and he was uncoscious under the water. He was told to go home from the hospital but apparently coughing up blood later on and refused to back to the hospital because of the cost!

Loads of people stopped to help and women were trying to put dry clothes on Rachael but her back hurt so they bought her scarves and blankets and sat pulling twigs out of her hair! Her principle drove past and stopped, she recognised Rachael and started giving orders to everyone. Then her TA drove past and stopped and went with her to the hospital until our bosses sent her back to work. The first thing they asked about was her passport to they could sort out hed visa and sent the security guard to get it - they are unbelievable!

Shortly after I arrived they moved Rach to a private room with one other person and let me stay with her. While I was there the director and a woman from customer services from the taxi company turned up. They brought a fruit basket and a calendar, branded with the taxi logo all over it just so she can remember the accident all year round! They asked what happened and seemed to be checking if the driver was at fault. There were many awkward silences after questions with the woman grinning insanely - Vietnamese people are not very good at knowing when to leave. Then our bosses rocked up, cue more awkward grins and giggles and they started drumming on about cover. They said bye about 20 times and just stood there smiling, again not knowing when to leave. All the staff who have been told have reacted with awkward giggles, they just dont know how to react in these situations.

I left around 7 and didnt really feel up to a big night out. It had been a surreal and tiring day and wouldn't be the same without Rachael. The girls stayed in for a few drinks and then we met some of the others at Cong caphe ready for midnight. Most of us saw in the new year together; the music was random, there were maracas and tambourines but no countdown or bells. It felt strange but right atthe same time. We were kicked out by the police around 1 am and went back to our building. I was just about to head to bed when those who had stayed out got back and FOMO kicked in. We sat up singing cheesy songs until 6am. New year's day was quite chilled and I went to visit Rachael with the girls.

New year's resolution to say yes more, travel more and work to live .... oh and obviously lose half a stone again!