No time for blogging!!

Oh my! The weeks are flying by and my blog is sadly neglected!  So here goes with an effort to catch up!

Thursday, 25th September:

NPCEC classes have been well attended. This week we looked at "Lessons from THE  FOUR  AGREEMENTS by Don Miguel Ruiz":

1.   BE  IMPECCABLE  WITH  YOUR  WORD

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2.   DON’T  TAKE  ANYTHING  PERSONALLY

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3.   DON’T  MAKE  ASSUMPTIONS

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4.   ALWAYS  DO  YOUR  BEST

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgement, self-abuse, and regret.

After the Thursday morning lesson, Tiến and I had lunch at his favourite place on Lạch Tray...

Friday, 26th September:

I enjoyed a couple of hours over coffee with Tuấn Anh and had the opportunity to go to his office at VIMARU and see where he is working now. What a privilege!

After that, I met Gene for lunch at H-Tower and we were early enough to order the Vietnamese menu, which was nice for a change...(it's a Japanese restaurant!)

At 5:30 Phương and Thủy came over for another pronunciation lesson, and at 8pm I taught the advanced class at Manh's Centre...a busy day!

Saturday, 27th September:

Today was the last time I taught Angelia's kids. What began as a fun class for three, with conversation and games has grown to eight kids of very different levels, with parents demanding homework be given!!  I don't think so. Fortunately, I didn't have to make a stand on moving the goalposts, because with Katie and Jordan's arrival, I won't be available on Saturday afternoons any more.

But here they are...cute kids!

Notice the Goldwing parked behind me? A monster bike ... especially here in Việt Nam!  After becoming used to the usual 120cc bikes that are common here, this one looks enormous!

Monday, 29th September:

What a treat! Today my dear friend, Tuyền, dropped by for a visit with a classmate. He has completed his intensive English course top of his class, so a ship posting will be on offer very soon. I'm so proud of him!

Tuesday, 30th September:
Mt Toan phoned late this afternoon to invite me for coffee, so we went to The Valley ...very pleasant! we chatted for a couple of hours, then a friend of his, Thành, joined us and they invited me to come and have a beer with them...why not? I had nothing planned for the evening. So we drove to a Beer Hoi near Big C that was new to me... Vườn Dừa, where two of their friends joined us

I thought we were just going for a drink for an hour or so.... then all this yummy food arrived, complete with delightful waitress rolling the rice-paper rolls for us!

And it didn't stop there... the next course was a hot pot!

Van, Thành and Dr Binh

These men have been mates since primary school, and whenever Thành viaits from Hồ Chí Minh City to visit his relatives up here, they all get together. I felt very privileged to join them!  Dr Binh is a surgeon and had been operating all day. Part way through our meal, Mr Toan had to leave to pick up his son from a night class, so he was away for half an hour. The others kindly included me in their conversation... lovely hosts!

So an impromptu coffee turned into dinner and some new friends. No wonder I love life in Việt Nam

Wednesday, 1st October:

Tonight instead of going to ABC English Club with Hiếu, we went to Mạnh’s Centre and caught up with one of his classes as they were leaving and joined them for a drink and light meal... many new faces as well as some familiar ones from NPCEC.

Yet another delightful night with another group of happy, enthusiastic, hard-working students!

Random...

How cool is this patch of mildew on the porch ceiling at our hotel!

Friday, 3rd October:
Another week has flown by and I finally caught up with Gene again. This time we had Korean....

One dish - prawns - plus the entrees they serve regardless - and it's enough for 4 people!

The rest of the day was typical Friday:
At 5:30 Phương and Thủy came over for another pronunciation lesson, and at 8pm I taught the advanced class at Manh's Centre. 

 I'm growing very fond of this bunch!