Perfume pagoda was a very nice trip and a lovely day out with no rain thankfully. There was a lot of walking involved and nothing too different fromt the Pagoda at Hoan Kiem or the caves at Halong. It did include a relaxing ride in a rowing boat from the minbus to the Pagoda. Well at least on the way there; on the way back the woman demanded a higher tip than we had given her and when we refused started shouting in Vietnamese! There were lots of uneven and unstable steps but of course no warnings when you booked the trip so you were just out of luck if you had a dodgy knee or back. You could take the rocky cable car but there were a lot of steps involved even getting to that point. Was nice to get out of Hanoi but wouldn't say it's the best trip I've done.

Trang's wedding after an unsuccessful shoe shopping trip with my TA - no wedges to match my outfit and trying on shoes with swollen pregnant lady ankles for no apparent reason - she agreed to lend me a pair of her shoes. They were gorgeous, even if they were ridiculously high, but they were quite comfortable and I managed to keep them on most of the night. I got a xe om (motorbike taxi) for the first time from my school to meet her. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be although I felt a lot safer having one of the boys full helmets instead of the tin baseball caps the Vietnamese wear.

Trang had already picked up my ao dai so I couldn't try it on and would just have to pray it would fit after the 3rd attempt at them making them to measure. Luckily I got them on this time but now they were too big around the waist which meant they sat lower so were ridiculously long (another reason I kept the shoes on most of the night). They had to do but they also had a stain on one leg - why is nothing ever straightforward in Vietnam? I attempted washing them in the other building after one of the other interns assured me hers had been fine. Just my luck though they came out with a massive pull all down the front of one leg. The top covered it (just) and had to hold it over sometimes to hide it.

Trang looked absolutely stunning in a white lace ao dai and she's made me debate whether to had one instead of a wedding dress, it looks a lot more comfortable. Well if I end up getting married at all that is! Many of the Vietnamese women commented on how pretty we looked in our ao dai's. As beautiful as everything was i couldn't help feeling like I was in an episode of big, fat gypsy weddings at times. From the mini bride and groom to the stage fireworks and massive (fake) cake. Just after the dinner we got an e-mail saying that our schools had been called off Monday because of the typhoon warnings. I don't think I've ever seen people so happy - we actually cheered.

Most people left the wedding by 7.30 but we were ready to party. We hit the dance floor (mainly to One Direction unfortunately) and Trang's uncle kept topping us up with bottles of free vodka (so much for not drinking). We were kicked out around 9pm and the rain outside was really heavy - maybe the typhoon was heading our way after all. Everyone at home had warned us about it but we had heard very little and had no signs before Sunday night that the weather was changing. Not to let that spoil the mood we continued t he party at home.

It wasn't long before the boys begged some eyeliner and I became A18's make-up artist again. They went all out this time from actual eyeliner to moustaches, slogans and tattoos. The girls didn't escape with Julian insisting on giving us all tattoos as well. We ended up in the meeting room after the security guard kept scowling at us for being too loud downstairs. The dancing on tables (and drunk people falling off tables) began. I'm thankful to say I was in the first category.

The storm continued overnight with heavy rain and wind but started to ease off around 11am having only blown a few items of clothing off the washing line. The cloud cleared to leave a eautiful day and probably the clearest and most blue skies we've had since arriving. I procrastinated for most of the day just cleaning our floor (and the meeting room which wasn't very pleasant) and then a few of us (16) decided to go to the cinema. We saw Ender's game - quite a strange film but still worth it, especially when £4 got me a ticket popcorn and a drink.

Spent most of my lunchtimes last week marking papers but i can't really complain seeing as it's the only real marking I've had to do since getting here! Decided on having a school lunch while me and my TA marked papers on Friday which was a big bowl of beef noodle soup. It was huge but my TA was worried that I wasn't full enough and disappeared of to buy chips and pork kebabs - was sooo stuffed! they are very quick to call you fat here but also want to just feed you up!

I was called to cover yet again on Tuesday afternoon at breaktime when they begged me as they had five teachers off sick. I reluctantly agreed but then found out that the boys off at the same time as me hadn't even received phone calls! they just pick on people they know that they can guilt trip into doing the work. I really don't mind covering but when they always pick on some and not others it becomes unfair.

Vietnam vs Uzbekistan I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to an International fotball match for £2.50! There were about 5,000 people max in the 40,000 seat stadium and no cheering, chanting or jeering unless it was organised by a guy at the front. The stewards are on a different level here - military staff in full uniform! It was packed with banh mi stalls outside the stadium and refreshments included beer in a bag. In fact not just beer in a bag, anything had to be drunk out of a bag like the ones you get golfish in at the fair using a straw. The football was interesting and sometimes just hit and hope but Vietnam were outplayed, making some awful mistakes and losing 3-0. One player was completely KO'd and take off into an ambulanc eusing a stretcher. Yet another surrel Vietnamese experience!

Next stepsI will have to cut my travels slightly short now (by 2 or 3 weeks) as I have been picked to volunteer at the commonwealth games. I will be based at Hampden Park where the athletics will be held - I am sooo excited and can't believe I've been placed in the main stadium area again. Feel like I need to start planning soon especially as I now only have around 6 weeks to fit everything in and prices in Vietnam will go up over the Tet holiday.

I hate to get all soppy and sentimental but I do honestly feel like the experience has taught me a lot. Over the past few years I have had many amazing opportunities and experiences and it has definitely shown me that it is the experiences are what counts. Obviously money helps to enhace these experiences but a healthy work-life balance is what matters the most to me. To have time to spend with the people that matter, time to relax and switch off and time to explore. here is no point having tons of money and never any time to enjoy it. Material things are becoming less important especially if it means I will be able to have more experiences like this. I want to work to live, travel and make memories; not to save for unachievable and unnecessary goals.