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).