Phan Thiet April

Once again I find myself in catch up mode on my blog and I really have no excuse, I have enough time to do it but I really have to force myself to sit down at the computer. The first Monday in April Anna and I went to Saigon, we're starting the process of getting our visas for the trip home. We went in on the Sunday evening as we have to go to the consulate in the morning. We went to the observation deck of the Bitexco Tower. We didn't get to see the sunset as it was too smoggy, but I am glad that I went to the tallest building in Vietnam. I still have a fascination with "est" things. The trip to the Chinese consulate went really smoothly, in contrast to getting information from them. I called them in excess of thirty times and Anna and I both emailed them, no response. We even resorted to contacting the Chinese Embassies in our respective countries, I got an answer but they couldn't help. In the end I had Ms.My call for us and get the necessary info in Vietnamese. I couldn't contact the Russian Consulate so after we went to the Chinese Consulate we went there and got the info we needed direct. My visa application form is twice as long as Anna's and I have to pay more for the visa. We also have to supply an original invitation and tourist visa to apply for our visa. This could be a problem.
The Tuesday after our trip to Saigon, I was sick in the afternoon and went home and slept. I went back to school the next day, but luckily didn't have to teach as we didn't have classes. I didn't have anything serious, just a bad cold, but I wasn't able to stand for long periods of time so teaching was a problem. On that Thursday evening I had coffee with Nhi, Anna and I met her when we were on the way back to the office one lunch time. She was riding her scooter and drove alongside us to talk to us, I gave her my card and she texted us. She speaks great English and has an awesome sense of humour. So many people want to practice their English here and don't have an opportunity to do so, so when they see us they grab the opportunity. I don't agree to meet everyone who asks, sometimes it is just too much of a struggle and it becomes too much like work. I know that sounds terrible, but I am not here to work every hour of every day.
Friday 8th April was Simon's birthday party at his house. Simon is a Brit, his daughter Lucy is one of Anna's students. The party was great, his wife Katie had cooked a load of British food and I got to eat some real bread. After the party we cycled to Parade street and met up with Jan. I left Anna and Jan to it and went home early. I think alcohol actually gives me more energy, now I am not drinking I seem to want to go to sleep earlier. It makes me a dull girl. We had to work the next day, Saturday. Tuesday the 12th of April was a holiday here and school gave us three days off, but we had to make up on the Monday on the preceding Saturday. I felt rubbish, Friday's my busiest day and I always feel like a wet rag when I'm finished, so to have to go in and work the following day did not make me happy. Even with the three days off to follow. Saturday night we were invited to Pascal and his wife's joint birthday party. Pascal is the father to one of my students and owns a resort in Mui Ne and one in Hon Rom, the next village up the coast from Mui Ne. We got a taxi to Mui Ne as all of the buses were full and then Pascal had arranged a shuttle bus to the party location. It's an awesome place, the food was great, there was an open bar and I knew a few people there. Stephen switched out my soda water for white wine to try and get me to drink, luckily I spotted it. I am finding that Fridays after work are the hardest time for me. I just want to unwind after a tough day with a nice cold beer. I am really looking forward to that. After the party six of us jumped into a taxi and went to Sankara, which wasn't bad. It wasn't busy but then I've never seen it busy, so that's not a surprise.
I was trying to enjoy a lie-in the next morning when Sam called me from the ESL centre. All through March Anna and I have been covering the early morning Sunday classes between us. It meant that we weren't able to go anywhere over the weekend but we figured that since it was only for a short time we could deal with it. Sam had asked us to teach until 4th April, which we did. She forgot to ask us to complete the speaking test for the class. I didn't answer my phone, there was no way I was going into the office and/or pull Sam's arse out of the fire. I had a lazy start to the day before I cycled to Mui Ne with Anna, we were going to stay for the weekend and get some R & R in. I seem to constantly be tired these days and a weekend just doesn't seem to be enough to recharge my batteries for each school week. I think it's partly because I've had to go into school so much on the weekends in the past month. Hopefully that will change now I've stopped teaching the ESL class.