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Articles Tagged ‘Volunteering’

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Feeling Appreciated

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

After some good classes, I sat down with the kids for a ‘free’ lunch, I had been told it was free numerous times, and as the kids didn’t have to pay, I assumed I didn’t either because I have now been here for a week and not missed teaching in 1 class. The lunch is literally rice and some watery veg. The sort of thing you eat cos its free and for no ther reason. As I stand to go, the waitress jumps me and charges me roughly 3 times the amount of a better meal in a real restaurant…

I am literally stunned into silence, it seems that the school that we work in is barely better than the pestering taxi drivers that harass us every time we walk down the street. Just looking to spring foreigners of their cash at every opportunity.

Yes, I’m very annoyed.

Posted in Getting ready, vietnam | No Comments »

Helping more in Nha Trang

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008

Teaching is going absolutely fantastic, it is rife with difficulty though, especially as within one class you can have near fluent speakers alongside people who can’t say simple sentences (a slight exaggeration but it gets the point across.)  The classes run from 10:00 -11:30 and then 17:00 – 18:30, though sometimes pupils come in earlier/stay after class to get help on a specific issue. Today, for example, Lauren and I helped one of the older students of the evening class -The- write a report on the fluctuating juvenile lobster prices for his Singapor head office. It’s awesome working one on one with the students, especially when it is an important thing from a guy who clearly wants to do well in his career, it really feels like… que the cheesiest, most dramatic song you can think of in your head, go for it, I’ve got that classical piece from the Platoon movie running through mine, got yours? Ok… it really feels like we were making a difference. See, wasn’t that worth it?

A typical class will begin with us playing a song for the class, who then have a handout with the lyrics on it, with the occasional word ommited. The class then listen to the song 2 or 3 times depending on difficulty and fill in the blanks. They rarely find this difficult, but it gets their mindset right for learning English. Today, Eric, the only real teacher there, thought that it might be an idea to play them Will Smith rapping his well spoken, and most importantly profanity free, ‘Gettin’ Jiggy With It.’  The class didn’t do so well, it was all a bit much. The reason that this is significant, however, is that Lauren was leading the class and going though the answers. Every few lines, Lauren would get carried away and ‘rap’ the lines in the style of Big Willy. A handful of bemused Vietnamese kids would raise their eyebrows, before everyone, Lauren included of course, would break into laughter. What makes this even better is that because of the rain, the two of us are dressed like 13 year old boys – flip flops and vests won’t cut it in these downpours, so it’s hoodies and our big laced trainers bought in Bangkok three months ago that are making an appearance.

Speaking of three months, it is now a significantly short time until we leave the beautiful S.E.Asia for Oz. Something like 6 and a half weeks. Goes quick dunnit?

Posted in Travel, vietnam | No Comments »

Volunteering in Nha Trang

Thursday, September 4th, 2008
After accumilating yet another round of fresh bruises from the bumpy, 12 hour  ride to Nha Trang, we got ourselves booked into a $7 a night mini hotel. Upon awaking at around midday, we made a beeline for a place called ... [Continue reading this entry]

Posted in Travel, vietnam | No Comments »