Vietnam News
Hello Everyone,
Sorry I haven’t written but those of you living in the western hemisphere might not know that there was a sizeable earthquake near Taiwan a few weeks ago. Since then the internet has been a disaster. Sometimes I couldn’t get on the net. Sometimes I could get on the net but not get to yahoo. Sometimes I could get to yahoo but not get to my mailbox. Sometimes I could get to my mailbox but not open my mail. Sometimes I could open my mail but not send a letter. Sometimes I could send a letter but it disappeared into cyberspace. And always, it was slow as hell. I would get frustrated and just give up!!!
But, today things seem to be working OK and a little faster than usual so I hope this gets to you.
Christmas was interesting in a country that is not christian. Christmas was HUGE here! There were decorations everywhere and Santa Clauses all over the place, especially in the big modern building (The Vincom Towers) near the school. I was very surprised and asked my students and they told me it was mainly for the children, only the children get gifts at Christmas. Decorations started going up about three weeks before Christmas but they were still adding things Dec. 23rd. I went to Vincom Towers Christmas Eve morning and it was packed with kids to see Santa Claus (there were several). You could barely walk around. There were two Christmas trees in the lobby and everyone, including adults, was having his picture made in front of the ttree or with Santa. Outside the building were two inflated figures, a Santa and a Snowman, popular backgrounds for photos, and there was also Santa in his sleigh and the kids could climb into the sleigh for a Kodak moment. (This display was sponsored by Heinekins).
I went to a party given by a couple of teachers, got appropriately tipsy and was home by 2:30 AM. Christmas day was a sit down dinner with turkey at another teacher’s house. It was pretty quiet as most of us were still feeling the effects of the night before.
New Years was a quiet dinner at a restaurant with a select group and I was home by 10:30. The Vietnamese had some festivities which ended early. They celebrate the new year as we do but rather quietly. Their big celebration is the Lunar New Year which is in February. It lasts three days and is the biggest holiday of the year. It’s called Tet. You older folks may remember the Tet offensive that made the news a few years ago. Ill tell you more about that when it gets closer.
Nothing exciting going on here. Still teaching six days a week and don’t have time to do anything. My first holiday will be Feb. 11 to 21. School will be closed for Tet. I will definitely get out of town then.
I was terribly disappointed that we lost the Outback Bowl game. I followed it until halftime and then had to go to bed. We were on their twelve and fumbled!!! Shades of last year. Oh well, looking forward to next season. Also disappointed that Arkansas lost. Wanted the SEC to look good. At least LSU thumped Notre Dame, course they have lost badly to all three teams they played that are ranked in the top 25. Hope Florida wins, but only because they represent the SEC.
Let me know if you get this and did you get the letter titled “canine cuisine”?
I’ve had a cold for about a week but am getting better now.
Love to all,
Tom
higgiro39