Chapters. . .

Just as my senior students are starting a major new chapter in their lives...

I'm about to start a short little chapter called SUMMER :)  On Saturday our team begins our journey back to the USA.  It's definitely bitter sweet as I will miss this place, and the people I've come to love (such as my new sister pictured above).  My pictures haven't been uploading to facebook recently- so I hope next week to have several new albums to share the past few months with you!

The little miracles...

This is my last week of classes (except for one more next week).  It is really surreal.  As I have so much I want to do for my last classes in addition to final grades and team commitments and daily life in general, I have worked myself up and gotten stressed with a big TO-DO list constantly running through my mind.  I got emotional saying my first goodbyes to a class of freshman this morning, and that was just the beginning.  

With all of this on my mind, I got a bit bent out of shape when the printer in our room- shared by all on the team- ran out of ink last night.  I remembered the last time we had to get a new ink cartridge, and I think it took a day or two or more??  Well, we are all in the middle of a busy week- needing to print worksheets, lesson plans, final exams, etc... and I started worrying about how this was going to work out- keeping in mind that my thumb drive didn't work when trying to print documents at a place on the street a few weeks ago.  In addition, I couldn't really remember where the place was that I went last time, and I didn't feel like I had extra time in my day to care for this and especially not to spend time searching for a place, and I started fretting about communication once at the place if I ever found it... as my Vietnamese language skills are, for lack of a better word, lacking... which then makes me frustrated I haven't studied more, and down and down the spiral I went.  

So this afternoon, before going out, I decided I needed some quiet time to get perspective and calm down.  Not really a big deal- but with everything pressing all at once, it felt like a bigger deal.  You know how it goes!  And of course, my team study this week is about work- and making our work worship.  I love how He gently and patiently meets me where I'm at and challenges me where I'm "off track."  I totally realized how I saw my to-do list this week as a list of work to get done, and not at all considering it as worship to Him to get a new ink cartridge, to grade hundreds of journals, to wash the dishes by hand again, to plan review games, etc.  My attitude needed fixing, and He did it!  So that is miracle #1 :)

Miracle #2: I left my apartment at 2:30 hoping the ink errand would not take me past 4:00 pm.  As I rode my bike down the street from the University, I saw one of my students and stopped to say hello.  She asked me where I was going, and I shared with her about the ink cartridge.  She offered to help, walked into the photocopy shop two doors down from where we were standing (and where I go each week to make copies for class close to the University), and after about 5 minutes of explanation and a phone call, a new ink cartridge was ordered and will be delivered at 5:15 pm tonight (SAME DAY!!!!) for a reasonable price (less than $5.00 equivalent).  I was in shock that this problem I had worked up in my mind was solved that simply.  I explained to my helpful student how I had asked the Father to help me with this errand, and it was a neat opportunity to share with her how He provided through her.  I was home before 3:00 pm and totally overwhelmed by His goodness!!

Wow, there are so many lessons in this little miracle!  Why did I add time to life worrying in the past 24 hours?  And why was I getting stressed out and being short with those around me over such a minute thing?  I should have thanked Him first, and trusted Him to work it out- as He did in a way that I couldn't have imagined.  Also, why hesitate to share our needs with another when they may be able to help?  I could go on and on, but wanted to praise my Father for His goodness in each and every part of life and share my excitement with you.  

So be encouraged- He cares about the ink cartridges, and even more- your heart!!

(I hope to post some new photos soon :)

Go ALONE?!

It's been fascinating to observe and learn some things about Vietnamese culture this year.  One of the most interesting to me has been the collective society that is so night and day from my American individualistic mindset.  I cannot tell you how many times I have had students ask me why I went to the market alone, ran around the lake alone, walked on campus alone, etc.  That is SOOO strange to them.  "Miss Suzy, you go alone????!!!!"  To be alone is like the worst thing ever here!  I have explained that I am not upset at my teammates or anything, and that I do not feel sad about going places alone.  But it is just not normal here.  So it really isn't very relaxing to go places alone because you must prepare for all the questions and stares :)

As introverted as I am though, I completely see the benefits of doing life together.  You have another person to share your experience with, to help you make decisions, to face challenges with, to laugh with, to keep you from getting run over by an oncoming moto, to help you bargain for the best price, etc.  As I observe life around me, I really think this is how the Father meant for us to live.  Yet our American ways seem so far from the ideal community.  I feel privileged to have glimpsed and learned from the Vietnamese ways.

Of course, there is always this tension of living in a foreign country because your ways of life no longer fit.  But I'm thankful for what He's teaching me about community.  It's been stretching for sure.  This year I have learned a lot through my team, and especially through my roommate.  Maren and I have had to work very hard at learning each other's communication styles this year (even though we are from "the same" cultural background) :)  We have had moments of tension, frustration, and tears.  Yet despite my natural desires to have my own space, I have learned to share this apartment now called home, and I have seen the benefits of doing life together over and over again.  I'm so glad I've experienced true community this year.

A big shout out to my team, and especially my roomie who shares just about everything with me ... ahem :) I can't begin to describe how much of life we do together!  It's a risky thing to know and be known- but an amazing thing to be loved even so!  

Aerobics Class

I still want to post some highlights from the Cambodia trip . . . but couldn't wait to post a few pictures of the aerobics class my team leader Karen and I go to!  I refer to it as "pilates on steroids."  There are about 15? middle-aged Vietnamese women who regularly attend this class from 7-8 a.m.  I usually have two mornings a week I don't have a 7 a.m. class- so Karen and I meet outside our apartments and take her motorbike down what we call "the bumpy road" for about 10 minutes before arriving here (note the ripped dude in the photo):

We walk up to the second floor, take off our helmets, get our socks on, and start stretching.  For about 10 or 15 minutes, we do a step routine- and it's so fast!  Then we exchange our steps for mats and do TONS of various sit-up exercises.  These ladies are quite a bit older than us, and we have a hard time keeping up- they are intense!

This is "bar day" where we do lots of leg exercises.  Note the fun outfits :) I have not adapted to culture in this aspect- still prefer my yoga pants and t-shirt.  The lady in pink on the right is the aerobics leader.  At the very end, we usually do some little dance steps- my favorite part by far.  And the music selection is truly amazing... including "She wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow polka dot bakini," and "You can kiss me on a Monday, a Monday, a Monday- but not on a Sunday- because that's my day of rest!"

The Vietnamese women though, truly are the highlight!  They are always so excited to see us, and ask us why we don't come every day...  We've enjoyed many a laugh with them between crunches :)  It's definitely been good for learning my numbers in Vietnamese too!  

To end our morning routine, Karen and I stop at our favorite "Ban Mi Opla" lady's stand and purchase a delicious bread+egg breakfast sandwich for a little over 50 cents.  What a great way to start the day!!

Travel Tale #3: Chiang Mai, Thailand

I flew from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Thailand for our organization's annual conference.  It was a GREAT time of encouragement and refreshment.  I arrived a few days before conference started and roomed with my friend from JBU days- Allison Almstrom, and was able to visit a dentist, take care of paperwork stuff with our organization, and do a fun tourist attraction called "Flight of the Gibbon".... a big zip-line course through the jungle.  We could hear the Gibbon monkeys calling through the trees as we zipped around!

Our conference was SO great.  We heard from Michael Card and Joseph Stowell, had great times adoring Him, seminars to help us improve our teaching, and much needed downtime to do nothing and visit with other teachers and friends in different cities/countries.  I'll share more about how He spoke to my heart during ATC (Annual Thailand Conference) in a future blog :)

Ronald has a VN girlfriend??

Riding an elephant!!!!

Travel Tale #2: Bangkok, Thailand

    Tuk-Tuk Adventure with Bob & Es!

I was able to spend a few days with my parents in Bangkok, Thailand at The Alliance Guesthome.  It was a sweet time of rest together together.  We happened to have a room right next to Dave & Nancy Farnum- the team leaders from Hanoi- who were getting medical needs cared for in Bangkok.  It was great to see them again!  I had gotten to know them a bit during my month of training in Hanoi.

I've already blogged about my own medical highlight- which took a good bit of our time in Bangkok- but well worth it as I continue to breathe perfectly!!  I also was spoiled with a visit to a hair salon there :)  

Some things I noticed in Thailand:

-the people are very laid back and friendly

-it's customary to bow when greeting or saying goodbye

-chopsticks are not as frequently used as spoons/forks

-rice is served by the waiter/waitress to each person out of a large bowl, rather than given in a bowl or on a plate like in VN

-roti (similar to crepes) are AMAZING desserts

-they drive on the left side of the road, on the right side of the car

-there were SOOOO many cars- I had a bit of culture shock as I've become accustomed to motos on the roads

-poverty was more evident than in VN (beggars on the streets)

Travel Tale #1: Dalat

First moment I saw mom and dad come through the airport doors :)

This is the first of several blogs to share about my break between semesters.  The day I finished grading Journalism final exams, I went to Saigon on the midnight bus with my team leader Karen to pick up my mom and dad!!  Everything about our trip and picking them up went SO smoothly!  It was unreal to see them walk out of the airport- I just couldn't believe they were in Vietnam.  We spent that first day trying to keep them awake- getting some food and walking around the market in HCM.  We got a good nights sleep before taking the bus back to Dalat the next day.

Even after many warnings that it was quite cold in Dalat, my parents were still surprised by the chill they experienced.  Yes, there are cold places in Vietnam :)  It was SOOO fun to show them around the city of Dalat, spend my 25^th birthday with them, and introduce them to my home, the University campus and classrooms I teach in, my teammates, my teaching colleagues and superiors at the University, the lake in the center of town I run around, a few of my students who did not leave for the TET New Year holiday, my favorite places to eat, the amazing market, and so much more!  What a gift to have time together in my new home setting.  And a big THANK YOU to all of you who sent things with my parents to bless and encourage me!

On a side note, I had a wonderful 25th birthday.  We had some visitors from Hanoi come to Dalat to visit, and my teammates surprised me with a pancake breakfast!  It was such a sweet gift of love.  They know me well.  Then my parents took me for a lovely horse-drawn carriage ride around the lake, followed by a delicious dinner, and then cake and candles (sent from my Grandma).