Bát Tràng

I have a break from teaching for the next two weeks as Vietnam celebrates Tet, the lunar new year.  This celebration is like Christmas, Easter, 4^th of July (and any other holiday/remembrance day you can think of) combined. The only down side to this holiday is that practically everything has shut down since 4/5 of Hanoi’s population has left the city to spend time with family in the provinces. Fortunately for me, the Cimas and a couple other people from Church stuck around Hanoi so I had someone to hang out with on Monday.

Since I haven’t had the chance to see anything besides Hanoi so far, J.P. planned a trip to Bát Tràng, a ceramics village just outside of Hanoi. We were joined by his (almost) 4 year old daughter and two guys from bible study. We got a taxi and drove about 13 km outside of Hanoi (to the south, I think). When we got there we walked around the market area and admired the ceramics for sale. I am not usually a huge fan of pottery (mostly because I am clumsy and I am afraid I will break something) but I was impressed but some the intricate work I saw (and realize now I should have taken pictures of…). Bát Tràng is famous for its ceramics, and they export all over the world, but it is much cheaper if you buy it directly there. I found a tea set for 200,000 VND (about 10 US $)



After meandering through the market, we ate lunch and then MADE OUR OWN POTTERY!!! I was very excited because I have been wanting to use a pottery wheel for years (17 years to be exact), but I never had the chance until now! I made a bowl and painted it purple. Enjoy the picture because I pretty sure it will break before I get it home.



Happy Tet! - Hanna

Pictures

Pictures from my first week in Hanoi can be seen on Facebook.

Week One: A Synopsis

- My luggage showed up two days after I did.

- I settled into my room.

- Small snafu when I shorted out the electricity the first morning I was there.  Turns out using surge protectors from the United States is a bad idea…

- I also had a small problem with my water heater, but that was resolved

- I visited the Winkleman’s house with Sarah (they are working at the Concordia International School set to open here in Hanoi next semester). We met their new kitten and got to watch Megamind.  Which is hilarious.

- Went to HIC (Hanoi International Church) on Sunday. Afterwards, Sarah and I hung out with some of her students from last year.

- I’ve had a few moments when I have been overwhelmed, but I haven’t frozen anytime it was important

- Started teaching and I like it a lot. My students are much more respectful than the grade school student in the U.S.  Some of that comes from the culture and some from the age difference.

- I’ve explored some on my own. I know where to find basic things I will need: shampoo, conditioner, toilet paper, toothpaste, water close to my house. I haven’t gone too far way from home because my sense of direction is terrible, and exploring by yourself isn’t very much fun.

- My two biggest problems right now (besides not understanding what people are saying) are feeding myself – I can’t cook, I can’t speak or read the language (makes ordering food kind of difficult) and I hate eating by myself – and getting myself around. I am fairly confident about getting myself to certain places, but I am worried about being able to get home again. One step at a time, though. Confidence will come with time. I just need to be willing to make mistakes.

Adjusting

Thursday morning, I woke up to rain. I wasn't very happy about that because I forgot to bring an umbrella nor did I have extra socks to change into if my feet got wet. Fortunately the rain stopped before Sarah and I left for Bách Khoa (the school where I will be working).

When we reached school, we met with the other English teachers.  I met my school Supervisor, Kim Chi, and got the book and CDs I will be using to teach.  At this point I will be teaching 7 classes during the week, but Kim Chi said there might still be a change.  Hopefully they will switch the time of my 6:45 a.m. class...

We went to lunch with the English faculty.  We had a dish call Hot Pot.  It consists of a pot of broth over a flame and they bring out vegetables, noodles and meat that are added to the broth to cook.

I have enjoyed the Vietnamese way of eating. I have successfully used my chopsticks during every meal when they have been required. When eating with a group in Vietnam, everyone is given their own bowl and a variety of different dishes are brought out for everyone to share. Then each person can take what s/he likes and put it in their own bowl. To eat, one holds the bowl in one hand and uses chopsticks with the other. It is a very convenient way of eating because their is less chance of making a mess. One thing that surprised me was that if your bowl is empty, anyone at the table may put something into it. Coming from a mostly German tradition, this bothered me at first because I am accustomed to finishing what I have on my plate and not taking more food than I can eat so that it doesn't go to waste. I did finally catch on to the difference (after J.P. explained it) and I am trying to remember to leave a small bit of food in my bowl when I am full.

After lunch, J.P., Sarah and I visited the new Concordia International School that is opening in Hanoi. It is a big deal, and I will give more details about it in a later blog post.

After our tour, J.P. and I left to buy me a motorbike helmet and then we met Sarah at his house where we had dinner and then moved me into own room! It is super nice and I hope to post pictures soon.

Until then, Peace and Blessings. - Hanna

Day 1

Day 1 in Hanoi was excellent.  Even though I didn't arrive at Sarah's (the other GEO volunteer with whom I am working) until 1 a.m., I still had a little trouble sleeping due to jetlag.  I did catch a few hours, though most of the time I lay there trying not to be too freaked out about being in a foreign country for the next 6 months.

I didn't need to be too worried.  After Sarah got up, we went for a walk to the campus where I will be teaching.  She showed me our office and I met a few students.  We made plans to visit the peach tree gardens (I think) on Sunday with a few of them.

After that we met up with J.P. and went to the NIN (National Institute of Nutrition) where LCMS WM has an office.  We went out to lunch for my first taste of real Vietnamese food.  My mind is now at rest about whether or not I like the food.  I love it!  My new concern will be about how much weight I will gain...

After lunch, I could feel my jetlag tiredness beginning to set in.  To counteract it, J.P., Sarah and I went (by motorbike! Also a new favorite thing) to the old quarter of the city to walk around.  It is the touristy area, but I haven't seen the "tourist-y" things of Asia yet, so it was all new.  The highlight was definitely finding the DVD and CD store.  I got the complete Stargate SG-1 and Scrubs series (18 seasons total) for approx. $31. (The exchange rate is about 20,000 dong to a dollar.  I am a millionaire here, but then so are a lot people.)

We left for J.P.'s house shortly after buying our DVDs.  We went on motorbikes (less fun during rush hour), and I met J.P.'s daughters Celeste and Bella.  Sarah and I went to dinner at Ted and Jacqueline's house.  I was really beginning to feel the jet lag then so I don't remember much except that dinner tasted really good.  We headed back to Sarah's room after that.

Today, we have meetings and lunch with the teachers at school in the morning, something in the afternoon, dinner at the Cima's, will hopefully get my luggage, and then I move to my own room!

Thank you to all who have been praying for my adjustment here in Hanoi.  I continue to need them, especially as I begin to navigate the city, learning the bus routes etc.  I also start class on Monday so please pray that it goes smoothly.

Peace, Hanna Faith

In Hanoi

I am safely in Hanoi!  My luggage is soon to follow.  I barely made the plane to Seoul after my delay in Chicago, and unfortunately my suitcases were not as successful as I was.

Travel Update

After a delay of just under an hour, Hanna's flight left St. Louis at 9:04 this morning. In a few minutes she will change airlines in Chicago and fly to Seoul, then on to Hanoi. After twenty-four hours of travel and thirteen hours time difference, she is scheduled to arrive in Hanoi Tuesday at 10:20 p.m.

Update: Korean Air Line shows Hanna's plane safely on the ground at Hanoi as of 10:01 Tuesday morning (11:01 p.m. her time).