A Very Vietnamese Christmas

This year Christmas for me was spent away from my friends and family. Luckily, my mom came out to visit so I got a little taste of home. We traveled to the Mekong Delta, only an hour and a half away from Ho Chi Minh City.  One of the highlights of the trip was our Christmas Eve church service, where we proved to be more of an attraction than the seizure inducing lights, oversized baby Jesus in the manger or baby Santas running around. The Christmas pageant was one I will never forget. It started with the story of Adam and Eve, so I thought for sure this was literally going to take all night. However, once Adam and Eve were banished fromt he garden the story jumped ahead to a very pregnant Mary. She and Joseph found a room at the inn, which in the Vietnamese version is actually a cave in a very large mountain decorated with Christmas lights. This of course was followed by a dance performed by small children in Santa outfits and star wands pointing to where the baby Jesus had just been born. The grand finale was of course fireworks being shot from the front of the stage, much like the end of a Justin Bieber concert.

This was an interesting twist to a story I thought I knew all too well. I’m glad I was able to learn a new perspective on “the reason for the season”, especially since being away from home made the holidays seem less festive. Enjoy the videos taken in front of the church my mom and I attended and have a happy and safe New Year.

Published in: on December 28, 2011 at 11:04 pm  Comments (2)  
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ESLR Day

Last Friday I saw my first school planned event come to fruition – ESLR Day. ESLR stands for Expected Schoolwide Learning Results and there are 5 at SNA. My school wants students to become Effective Communicators, Collaborative Workers, Critical Thinkers, Life Long Learners and Responsible Global Citizens. During a meeting one day a teacher mentioned he didn’t think the kids really understood what the ELSRs meant and that we should dedicate some time to making these more ingrained in the students’ minds. During Quarters 1 and 2, the Collaborative Worker and Critical Thinkers were the ESLRs being reinforced so it was decided ESLR Day should reflect those. I then mentioned I had an idea on how to organize a day that would involve classroom activities and physical games for all students that would be fun for all age levels. I wasn’t aware at the time the amount of work I was getting myself into but it was all worth it in the end because the kids had a blast.

The day started with a pancake breakfast for the students and their parents cooked and served by the International teachers.

A couple of the other ISF staff and I got to put our acting skills to the test by performing a skit poking fun at the students. The idea was to demonstrate how NOT to be good a Collaborative Worker or Critical Thinker. The kids still quote me lines from that day.

The elementary kids still tell me daily that Mr.Matt is smelly and stupid.

Hot Lava:

Gordian Knot:

Blade of Grass:

Invisible Maze:

Ping Pong Ball Race:

Hot Dog Lunch:

*Xipan (C-pain) and Jane – preschool

Oh yeah and there was a dunk tank…I was dunked by a 4th grader.

Published in: on December 10, 2011 at 5:09 pm  Comments (1)  
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The Tale of Three Thanksgivings

This past Thanksgiving was the first for me spent away from friends and family. However, I was mostly bummed because I normally get a week off from work but since the Vietnamese don’t celebrate American Thanksgiving, I had to work through the holiday. Despite this slight frustration, I knew this Thanksgiving was going to be unique.

My first holiday meal was on actual Thanksgiving day. My roommates and I decided to share this American tradition with our Vietnamese father, Mr. Hung. He ordered the duck, we brought the stuffing, and we enjoyed a low-key Thanksgiving meal. It was amusing though when we went around the table saying what we were thankful for because Mr.Hung said, “I thank Buddha everyday. Why would I only say thanks right now?” It’s funny how some things just get lost in translation.

*A happy family on Thanksgiving

*Duck, stuffing, bread, and Heineken

The 2nd Thanksgiving came the next day at work. Both of my roommates had planned parties in their classrooms in honor of the American tradition and I of course planned on attending both of them. First, was Emily’s 4th grade classroom, where she prepared for them mac n’ cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and turkey spam (it’s the closest thing she could find besides a whole frozen turkey). While everyone was eating, she put on Disney’s Pocahontas, but I didn’t even make it to “Colors of the Wind” before I had to head upstairs for Sqy’s 9th grade class party. These kids really went all out. They ordered all kinds of crazy Vietnamese food which I can’t even begin to name because I have no idea what any of it is called, I just know there was pork, chicken, some kind of rice soup. They also brought different flavored milk teas and ornately decorated donuts. The 9th grade class is especially unique because they are a very close knit group of friends, even more so than the other grade levels. They rearranged the desks so they were sitting at one long table, much like the tradition is in America.

The 3rd Thanksgiving was doozie. The principal had asked if the “Sorority House” (his nickname for our house since three girls live in it) would like to host a Thanksgiving potluck. In order to prepare for such an occasion, the school provided us with tables and chairs, coolers of ice, and several fans since our downstairs doesn’t have air-conditioning. About 30 people from work ended upcoming, foreign staff, Vietnamese, wives, kids, the house was packed. The damage was especially seen once everyone left, our house was destroyed. Thankfully the housecleaners were coming the next day to help set our lives straight again.

Published in: on December 5, 2011 at 2:19 pm  Comments (1)  
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