The past month has absolutely flown by and I can’t count the amount of stories I already have to carry with me for life.
Beginning my journey here in Vietnam was not exactly a smooth start… Arriving in the country I was told I could not have my Visa and that I was being sent back to Canada! After getting in contact with the University here in Da Nang, border security soon realised that I was indeed supposed to be here and everything worked out (of course after shedding a few tears). In the future this shouldn’t be a problem for anyone, it just happened that the visa process changed days before our arrival and hence the uncertainty on both sides. Also a caution that landing visas need to be picked up in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi! I got off the plane in Da Nang and was greeted by Kim with open arms, and instantly felt at ease, I finally made it!
Settling into life in Vietnam happened a lot quicker than I had expected. I have already lived away from my family for the past 5 years and have lived in 4 different homes since then, so adjusting to a new space felt rather comfortable. I am definitely a routine person but had to slightly adjust because everyday of the week I teach at different times. However, this left room for me to escape the idea of routine and be more flexible. On the days I teach early in the morning, hitting the beach in the afternoon is one of my favourite things to do (however, we did just have Typhoon Noru hit this week so beach days are slightly on pause as we welcome the monsoon season). On days that I teach in the afternoon I like to take the opportunity for slow mornings where I simply walk in a different direction and find a new coffee or clothing shop to check out. Speaking of coffee, I found myself instantly excited by the sheer amount of coffee shops and cafe culture here. After discovering Vietnamese and Coconut Coffee I am not sure how North American coffee will compare when I get back to Calgary.
The classrooms in Vietnam have been so welcoming and it brings a smile to my face everytime I enter one of the schools as children rush to greet me. The students are so excited and are eager to learn, even with the language barrier. Having a teacher in the classroom really helps break down the communication especially when I notice students are starting to get lost in the lesson. In the University English Clubs, there is no other teacher in the room so I tend to rely on some of the stronger English speaking students to help get my messages across. This is powerful because it helps certain students feel more comfortable in the classroom, and gives others confidence with their speaking and listening skills. I have also turned to the university students to help improve my Vietnamese speaking skills and teach me about some of the culture, food, and things to do here in Da Nang.
Having three day weekends has left a lot of room for exploration and time to get our U of C course work completed. As a group we have been able to explore all over the city and experience what Da Nang has to offer. Also getting the chance to see other places in Vietnam has been exciting. This past weekend Sharmaine, Quynh, and I travelled to Hanoi and Ha Long Bay where we saw stunning views and had new experiences, like squid fishing at night with a Vietnamese local fisherman, where in fact no squid were caught.
Being about halfway through this journey I have experienced so much and I can’t wait to see what ways I can continue to grow and evolve before returning back to Canada!