Seven Day work weeks

Kia Ora!

Me again! I know it's been awhile since I last gave you all an update but life has been pretty hectic!

Vietnam is back to normal and with that come a "normal" work schedule. I say normal but what I really mean is chaotic. With Teachers doing a runner to heading home before boarders closed, and with entry to Vietnam still being stationary it means there is a shortage of qualified teachers. The company obviously didnt earn as much during the lockdown so classes have been plentiful, even though there isnt really the teachers to run them!

This is a very long winded way of saying I have been working 7 days a week for the last month. I'm not going to lie, it's been really tough! At the same time, our lease is up so we've had to find another place to live, while also trying to figure out what the hell I'm doing. So let me break it down into some easy to digest chunks.

Work:

I have a brand new schedule at work which means I have all new classes which is a challenge in itself. Brand new kids, around 100 new names to learn, I need to figure out what motivates them, what they like what they dont like. Shes rough! On top of that, I also got stuck with a math class! Now anyone that knows me knows too damn well that maths is not even my strong point, hell I cant even say "maths" properly here, everytime I tell someone I got maths they ask me how long have I been an addict as they are 100% I'm saying "meth". I do have some pretty good kids though, one little boy insists on calling me

"Miss Princess Genie" - which, hand on heart he came up with on his own! During one of the infamous "meth classes" we were doing some basic addition and a kid was counting away on his fingers, but he had a pencil in his hand so five of his digits were out of use! That's when I heard the "THUD" , I look over and lil homie had plopped his foot up so he could finish counting on his toes. Legend.

Also the math classes are a little pointless as they arent as "english driven" its more if a supplement. So Vietnamese isnt as strongly policed as it would be in regulation classes. And the ability of students is so mixed as its streamed by age and not English ability. While in the middle of a well planned lesson (colouring by numbers) one little girl was struggling alot. So I thought I would help her out and say the numbers to her in Vietnamese (one of the only things I am confident in saying in Vietnamese) while I'm counting along, trying to educate this small child, one of my other students (that I have during the weekdays as well) looks me dead in the eyes, let's out a huge sigh and says

"Teacher, speak english" then goes straight back to colouring. Cut me real deep mate.

Appartments: Now there are good things and bad things about apartment searching in Ho Chi Minh city. A positive is once you've found a place you like, it's super easy to move in. You sign a contract and you can even move in that day! No background checks or waiting to be approved like it is at home, just wham bam thank you mam. The problem is finding one you like. In order to find some options you normally post on facebook in housing groups and then agents will contact you if they have any listings that suit your requirements, except they dont care about your requirements. WHAT.SO.EVER.

We clearly asked for-

3 Bedrooms

Phu Nhuan or District 1 - Area

21,000,000 / Per month

6 month contract.

Easy right? Think again.

Within one hour I had over 30 message requests that went along the lines of

"I have 3, 1bed apartments in District 7 for 25,000,000 a month"

Or

"2beds in Binh Thanh for 20,000,000 but you have to sign for a year"

Like sure mate, I would be happy to move 45 minutes in the opposite direction or just drop one of my friends, no stress.

But in saying that we have found an amazing place! Right in the heart of District 1, its huge, 3 bathrooms, the whole nine-yards!

Apart from that the only other thing that's been taking up a lot of mental capability is trying to figure out what the heck I'm doing and how and when its possible for me to come home. Which in itself is a nightmare trying to sort out anyway so that is for another time, especially since there is a lot of tension surrounding quarantine in New Zealand at the moment and it's another tricky subject.

And I do have a rather strong opinion on it (A Cooper with a strong opinion, whoa, shocker).

But that is a whole new story for a whole new day! Just wanted to drop in to let you know I'm still alive, still getting by!

I still love Vietnam and am still trying to make the most of it, but the pull of steak and cheese pies, watties sauce and L&P is getting stronger by the week! So it wont be long!

Till Next time!

Make good choices and remember to check your privilege!

Kia Koa