First Day

Today was the first day back to the University (ULSA). It was great to be back and see colleagues and friends. It seems like it will be an exciting school year. Thanks for thinking about this.

It has also been great to get back to speaking Vietnamese. I have remembered much of what I knew and have started studying. I have spoken with our landlord, with our friend who does repairs, to friends who own a shop and to people at the office. Overall, I was encouraged and I am encouraged to go to the next level of my language learning.

I was asked today how I felt being back in the Hanoi traffic, as many of their friends upon returning from studying abroad find it scary to drive in Hanoi. I responded that I got right back into driving without any problems. Of course the picture shows what I was up against in the States.

Brittany and Joseph started school today. Brittany is learning the excitement of History and Science. She was quite proud that she now has subjects like Joseph. Joseph started his online courses today and found out we are missing some information for his math class. He is waiting to hear back from the teacher to see what needs to be done. It is the course materials so we are hoping he will be able to download this.

Ann, being the teacher has had a busy first day, but it seems that it was a rewarding first day for her. Ann made a great discovery at our local shopkeepers. They are able to buy the milk for us. They have orders of milk brought on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Before I had to ride to my friends shop around 20 minutes away (through an area that is not easy to get to and usually have to deal with bad traffic). So this was very nice surprise. We still go to my friends shop for cheese and other items.

This weekend on Saturday night we went to a concert at the Vietnam Opera building in support of an American friend who is a pianist and who has worked with the Vietnam Opera to put on that night's performance. Performing were a 25 children choir, opera soloist, a four hand performance on the piano and around a 30 person adult choir (made up by the opera singers). Our friend played the piano for all of it. It was fun to see the children perform and enjoy the talent of the pianist and opera singers. Believe it or not, the V.N.O.B. puts performances on for free. Certainly makes it affordable to take the whole family to.

Joseph got his first ride out in the streets (at night even) to ride the 50cc our friends loaned him to the concert. He did a great job riding through the traffic.