Sandal Weather

While talking to the people at TeachOverseas i found that sandals are a must in Vietnam. They will prove to be the best type of footwear considering the climate and for getting them on and off frequently (when entering homes). I will be doing a lot of walking in hot weather so cool, comfortable shoes are a must. Flip-flops are unacceptable for the classroom but fine for everyday wear...so i now have the perfect excuse to buy a new pair of cute sandals...but now the question is what brand should i get and where should i look?

The sandal search is on!

An Internet Cafe

In Vietnam, Internet Cafes are available in nearly every town and city in the country and only cost $0.30 an hour, which is how I will probably be connecting with my friends and family back home. International phone calls are really expensive, so i will be using Skype to connect with people through internet cafes...it all sounds so new and exciting...i can't wait!

The Universal Welcome

After weeks of rain here in Tennessee, the sun finally came out this past weekend, and it was pure bliss. Some friends and I went hiking Friday afternoon, just soaking in the warm sunshine...and it made me smile. I think we were all grinning from ear to ear that day...

And I decided that i wanted to know how to say "smile" in Vietnamese.
So...Smile. Cuoi len (kuy leen)

Singing in the Rain

“Don't say that the weather is the same all the time

here, because it's not. In fact, it's two degrees cooler

today than yesterday.”

—quote from the movie Good Morning Vietnam

The hot rainy season in Vietnam lasts from May to September, right when i will be living there. So i have humid weather to look forward to. There goes my hair. poof. :)

From October to April the weather will get a little cooler, but from what I've read it's pretty hot all year round there. Thankfully I'll be missing monsoon weather. No complaints there!

I plan on investing in a good raincoat and umbrella...

Crisscross

Lately I have been reading a little here and there about Vietnam and have come across some interesting culture taboos. I discovered that sitting cross-legged should be done with care to not face the bottom of your foot toward another person. They may see this as insulting since feet are the dirtiest part of the body.

I have so much to learn.

Learning the Language

Among writing support letters, applying for my passport and visa, and keeping up with a million other things in preparation for my Vietnam trip, i have been trying to learn a new Vietnamese word or phrase every day or so. I definitely won't be fluent by the time i am immersed in this new culture, but i will be able to say a few basic words. So...here goes.

Cam on
(pronounced "Gahm un")

Now you know how to say "thank-you" in Vietnamese :)

Beginnings

Xin Chao! (Hello in Vietnamese)

This summer i am traveling to Vietnam through TeachOverseas International to teach conversational English in the schools. Eventually this blog will be about my adventures i will have in Vietnam...and the people i will meet.

But for now, i will share little facts about Vietnam, phrases i am learning, and foods i hope to try.

I am so very excited!


www.teachoverseas.org