Phan Thiet

On Friday morning I went into the office and meet up with Linh. She took me to the market so I could buy a new bicycle. I am fairly confident that I am not ready for a scooter yet, but in all honesty that is probably in my future. When we got to the shop I saw a green bicycle and knew that was for me.The bike cost me just over $75 but was worth more in terms of me being able to get around and explore. I had dinner with Trevor and Minh and then beer back at their house. They have a nice two bedroom house not far from the school. On Sunday I had lunch with Jeremy and Madame Ngoa, the school owner, they and other staff from the Saigon office were in town to shoot a t.v. spot. Trevor and Minh didn't join us as they have decided to leave the school, Trevor isn't happy with the new contracts they've been offered.In the evening Trevor, Minh and I went to Mui Ne and had dinner at a restaurant owned by the parents of one of our students. I got a lift to Mui Ne from Ma on the back of her scooter. At one point I thought I was going to end up as paint on the side of a truck, other times I just closed my eyes as I didn't need to be faced with my own death or serious injury. Dinner was really good, Hu speaks really good English and wants his daughter to be able to do the same.
Monday and my first official day of work. I was in the office for 7am and spent most of the morning preparing my lessons for that evening. As I said school proper hasn't started yet and might not until the new school premises are completed so it really was just an office morning. I was back at the hotel for the afternoon as I had two evening classes and Sam is very aware of what hours I am supposed to be doing according to my contract. My first classes didn't go well, I am so out of practice, let's hope that it comes back. Tuesday followed the same pattern. I pick up a breakfast baguette and eat it in the office, I prep my lessons,spend the afternoon in the hotel and then back to school in the evening. Wednesday and Thursday I was in the office all day helping out the Vietnamese teachers and office staff and studying a little Vietnamese. Linh went with me to the bank next door to school to open up my account. It only took a few minutes and I can pick up my card in a couple of days. I go for a swim after work and then for dinner after that. I am really lucky, in a couple of the local restaurants there are some wait staff who speak a little English and really want to try it out. And just like Japan there is a set of standard questions that everyone asks, such as "How old are you?, Are you married?".I can now say my age in Vietnamese, funnily enough it's my one Vietnamese phrase that everyone understands first time! I was supposed to have Friday as a day off as I have four hours of classes on Saturday and Sunday morning but My needed me to help her with some interviews for new teachers so I went in for a couple of hours. I didn't have to start until 8am I had coffee at the "cafe" owned by my Vietnamese "family" and had my coffee bought for me and asked if I wanted to go to Mui Ne on the back of this guy's motorbike. One of the reasons I said no is because I have no idea what and why he was asking. It may be just because I am new in town and/or he wants to practice his English. It could be he was asking me on a date, I have no idea. I just don't know how to read people here and it's not just the language,it's the culture that I don't know as well. Anyway then as I cycled to school I was hit on by another guy on a motorbike, he kept patting his seat and I think asking me to go for a "ride" with him. I don't think so. And to round off my day of "hotness" I was hit on by a guy when I was eating dinner, he bought me a beer and then wanted to kiss me, in front of his wife and son! He got a definite no. Well, at least he didn't pee in front of me. Every where you go here,day or night you will see a guy peeing, even if there is a toilet right next to him. I don't understand it but I'd rather they didn't.
My classes yesterday again weren't great, I made some basic mistakes that were easily avoided. What am I doing? Just as well the semester hasn't started yet, I can sort myself out and get back to level I was at before I left Japan. I definitely need to speed up the time it takes me to plan a lesson. I meant to go swimming yesterday afternoon but spent it in my hotel room instead. Just as I was wondering what to do about dinner I got a text from Grant, so I had dinner with him, his girlfriend Mai and a couch surfer Amp, from Thailand. Trevor had told me that Grant was a couch surfer but as he has been staying here in the hotel I didn't quite know how that worked. He says that on his profile he states that he can show people around Phan Thiet but if they want to stay here they have to get a room in the hotel and pay for it themselves. He says that he gets at least a couple of requests each month in the low season. Of course most people want to be in Mui Ne and don't see the attraction of getting off the tourist path to hang out with the locals instead of expats or they just want a free place to stay and so miss the main point of Couch surfing. The free thing is just a bonus as far as I'm concerned. After dinner we went to a coffee house, it's like a really happening bar where most of the people aren't drinking alcohol. This place is amazing, it's set around a waterfall, streams and it's very dark. I had to pull out my headlight to read the menu. I will definitely be going back, it has a good vibe.
My lessons went well this morning. I had lunch with Grant, he answered a load of questions for me and might even know of a house I can rent here. I do miss the continuity there is in the Hokkaido teaching community. We would pass things on to each other and there was always someone who had been through the same thing you are going through and could offer advice. And of course there was the teacher housing, you just moved in your personal stuff and you were set. I now know I had it easy. It isn't so easy here but that doesn't matter. I am going to have an amazing year, pick up some Vietnamese, the language, not a man and be glad I came. Tonight I am going to My's house for spring rolls and I get to meet her family. I can't wait.