#06272014

DRWI

1-year

1-day

Intraday

FCEL

3-month

6-month

Trying to swing this

PRAN

6-month

1-month

1-day

DNDN

3-month

1-day

The weights might not be labeled,

The barbells might look more like w bars,

The machine weights might be held up by drill bits,

But a gym is a gym.

  Here’s to the first recording of events thus far.

It’s Day 4 of this trip and honestly besides travel, I’ve had a blast. Here’s a quick recap of what’s happened: Arrived in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh, then traveled to Hue where we were greeted by some of our TAs, and the last 3 days have been just exploring, eating wonderful foods, and getting to know the area and the people who call this place home.

                A quaint little sandwich cart on a nearby intersection. Riding our mopeds up to meet the owner, a humble elderly woman, who smiled radiantly when she saw and recognized Christina from a year before. The sandwichs were great, and the best $.50 sandwich I’ve ever had. What they had in them, I know not, but eat first, ask questions later.

                The Mandarin Café, a restaurant whose owner shared his hobby of photography with us and gave and signed for us each a photo he himself took of Hue daily life. The deep red walls of the restaurant featured framed versions of his photos and gave off a sense of homage to the intricacies of daily life here. I myself chose one of a woman carrying her crop across the river, like something out of Mulan.

                Stands serving nuoc Mia, or sugar cane drink, placed throughout the side streets, harvesting the sweet dilectible juice from sugar cane stalks right in front of our eyes, served on the rocks. The genuine sweetness was like nothing I’ve ever had before; all natural and delicious.

                The tiny, tiny plastic chairs used at one of the off beaten restaurants that reside over a narrow bridge over the Hue river and through the backalleys of the town. My 88kg American body struggled to find comfort sitting on something that was probably intended for half my weight. But you know what? It didn’t care because the food was delicious and enough food and drinks to feed atleast 25 of us was only $20.

                It’s 0700 right now, and today is when we meet and register more students in preparation for classes starting on Monday. Already there has been over 800 online signups, and dividing that by 10 volunteers and two classes a day means class sizes will be atleast 30-40 students per instructor. Intimidating, but I figure with the help of my lovely TAs and the bravado of being used to recruitment and making good impressions and motivational speeches, I just might be able to make a difference here in Hue. From my middle class background, here’s to making a difference in the lives of my students. May I only hope to teach as much as I learn from them.