Greetings from Binh Duong New City I have survived teaching my first quarter at EIU!!!!!!! We finished teaching on Thursday with exams on Friday and Saturday. We will spend this week marking the exams and then it will be time to see who has passed and can go up to the next level. It is hard to believe that 3 months have passed and the turmoils that have gone on. At times I did not think I would still be here....there were many times I was ready to pack my bags an...

Well last Wednesday was teachers day in Vietnam where students show their appreciation for what their teachers are trying to give them and contribute to their education. To quote one of the websites; This holiday allows students to express their respect to their teacher. Students begin preparing a week in advance, and many classes usually prepare literature and art to welcome Teachers' Day, while other students prepare foods and flowers for the parties held at...

Well things have been moving over the last 2 weeks. With the end of the wet season we are experiencing unpredictable weather. We were sent home early on 6 November due to an impending severe tropical storm which eventuated into nothing and then last week we were watching anxiously as Typhoon Haiyan unleashed itself on the Philippines and then headed in our direction. Fortunately it did not impact on us but it is dreadful to see the devastation it has caused. The ...

I realised that I have not done a blog update in several weeks and put it down to the fact that I haven't travelled anywhere. However when I think about it this blog is about my journey of living and working in Vietnam – the good, the bad, the exciting the boring, the joys and the frustrations. I have been constantly challenged mentally since I arrived here. The job is not what I was told it was....supposedly developing the curriculum and teaching nursing....

Haven't written anything for a few weeks. Still getting settled into a new country. Got taken to the bank to open our bank accounts...what a strange place....there is a giant teapot outside and when you walk in there is a cafe and shops.....where was the actual bank???......several floors up in a glass elevator......I would never have found it on my own!!!! Got the account opened, set up internet banking and made sure my ATM card would work as the bank is a far w...