Busier than home

Not only am I on a timetable here ....workshop shifts, shelter sessions...marketing..visiting Hotels, Restaurants, Cafes and Travel agents daily, to get our brochures about town.

I very quickly ended up with a "social life" as well...

Not bad considering I arrived a week ago..knowing 'no one'

I've already had numerous breaky dates, coffee shop dates, dinner with new friends, tonight after work I'm off to 'yoga' with Tan, and now I just got a txt from the girls who work at our rehab centre to join them for dinner tonight. I'll catchup with them 'after' Yoga....

Saturday is also booked as I'm spending the day with Lisa our natural therapist/acupuncturist..we are heading to the beach for some R & R...sitting in large bamboo lounges on the beach, and then spending the evening with a group of local kids that Lisa knows from a previous visit..and we will be teaching them English thru songs.....should be fun..and relaxing...super way to spend a sabbath!

More little people to HUG...

Cultures and customs...

 Tonight I was on shift with Thuy (pronounced- twee)..he's lovely, and as we spent the evening sitting outside the workshop on the little bamboo stools, handing out brochures and saying hi to the passers by...we shared our stories with each other. Thuy got married last year and he and his wife are expecting twins in August, hopefully I'll be here when they arrive. Thuy and his wife live with Thuys' parents, a grandparent and Thuys' younger brother. It is the custom here in Vietnam for the new bride to move in with her husbands family, at least for the first year, and it is expected that the new couple will have a family straight away. And the parents will help raise the children. Thuy and his wife may move out one day if they get enough money to build their own house.

I asked Thuy if they get engaged like we do, and he said yes, and told me how he took his (now wife) down to the beach and proposed to her, and then they had their 'first kiss' as in traditional customs, the boy and girl don't kiss or touch before they get engaged. And Thuy and his wife are very traditional. Before he proposed, he had to bring his girl around to meet his family and she has to cook a meal for them all to see whether she would be acceptable to his family. ( he told me a funny story)... Sometimes the boy and girl trick the parents into leaving the house and they go and buy a meal, and sneak it into the house and pretend to the family that she cooked it. Then they will 'love' her..

So cute....

Maybe I should set some new ground rules for my girls!!!!!!!!!

Jokingly I said to Thuy...so what happens if when you kiss her (after you just proposed)... And it's not good ? .....too late..

Also with Thuys' help tonight I tried some street food from the mobile venders that walk the streets with their carts of delicacies...

I had a banh mi which Thuy kindly bought for me....this is a long bread roll filled with pork, cucumber and lots of chili sauce...quite yum....I asked how much it cost....7000vnd. -35c

Then I got the pick of the day....banh bao (some sort of ground rice set in a mould with something that resembled curry spooned on top, sprinkled with dried onion rings and more chili and fish sauce....

This one cost me 2000vnd -10c.......

I'm NEVER gonna want to pay Aussie prices EVER again....eek...

Mumma bear  needs sleep.....night all be hugged :)

Next door to the workshop is a small house, and I've been noticing an old lady who stands outside the house on the street. She occassionally crosses to the other side of the street and then stands there for ages, then crosses back again to our side....this goes on all day.

I asked Thuy what's the story...she lives there with her family,,she is the elderly grandparent, and I guess she just fills in her day by watching the world go by...and for a different perspective, she crosses the street and watches from the other side....

She came and spoke to us last night..I think she's been watching me for a bit too..and she told me she is 80 years old, she has a daughter same age as me. The Vietnamese love to ask you your age..

Her name is Chau..and she used to be a great singer. She would win awards for her singing.. Thuy asks if she will sing for us..and she thinks for a while, then says she has so many songs to choose from..then she sits very close to me...and begins..she looks intently at me the whole time..I asked Thuy if her songs are like stories, as she seems to be trying to tell me something. Her hands begin to move slowly thru the air also....I asked Thuy if it was a sad song, and he said 'yes' all the old traditional songs are songs of lost love or something along that line..

She finishes her song and laughs at me, and pats my hand...I have No idea...

Then she starts on a new song...which sounds 'to me' exactly like the last one, but hey....free entertainment at work...I'll roll with it.

I get a few more songs before she finally decides she's heading in for the night....

Another little gem I have been given :)

More little surprises...

It's such a hard life..meeting a friend for breaky by the river..indulging in the hugest bowl of muesli topped with chunks of fresh mango pineapple and banana..all Topped in creamy vanilla yoghurt...sounds like an advert.

 Then off to the workshop for a few hours chatting to customers who have somehow made their way from all over the world, into this little town..and into our shop!!

The ladies in the workshop often order lunch from a local street cafe..and today somehow the orders got mixed up and they ended up with too many serves, so Dung asked if I wanted one..rice, soup (in a bag), and pork belly and something odd...and morning glory...not bad for 12000 vnd 60c ..

I had a break from 1-5pm so I did the 10 minute ride towards Cua Dai beach for a "blind " massage....so good. You get lead into a small room, strip off, and they put the fan and some quiet music on, and you lay totally relaxed in the dark,,as they turn off the light...I don't mind, I'm just laying there, and they don't mind...because they're blind!!! Works for me....

They are very good at finding all your tight spots....although I possibly should have waited a couple of days til my bruises went down a bit..

Anyway a full body massage means just that...even down to kneading my butt.....lucky for them they 'are' blind......anyway it felt good..but I was chuckling to myself a few times...

After that amazing experience, I decided to make my way to the cafe on the river that makes these awesome 'snowcones'.....another indulgence for the day...

Revived ...I'm off for another 4 hr shift at the workshop...

Life could be worse......

Hugs to everyone .....mumma bear

It's ALL good....

Ok so after chilling at 'Streets' last night....my plans for heading home via the Spa...changed somewhat.

Earlier in the day, while I was out distributing brochures thru town, I rode via the markets to buy some fruit for my lunch, and I noticed the flower stalls. The most gorgeous roses among lots of other flowers, and I decided to buy some for my landlady Tan. So I spoke to the vendor, and told her I'd come back after work and buy some. She asked what time and said she would have some ready for me.

It's so hot here nothing would last very long before wilting..

I returned after 5pm and found she had made me up the loveliest bunch of roses. All for 50,000vnd..$2:50..... 

When I got home, Tan's mother inlaw told me she was at yoga, so I kept them in my room.

I hadn't seen her before going out to dinner, and I wanted to give them to her while they were fresh, so instead of the spa, I was returning home in hope that I'd see Tan.

You know how they say accidents mostly happen within a few kms of your own home....well

Mine happened as I was turning into my driveway...I didn't signal, as it seems no one does, and there was no oncoming traffic, so I turned, when suddenly a guy on a motorbike, came from somewhere behind me, and wiped me out.

I could actually see myself flying thru the air towards the pavement like I was watching someone else in a movie...strange...I felt like  'hands' slowed me down...as I hit the ground...it hurt but all I could think of was, "is my bike Ok"..this is my only mode of transport, and in this heat, walking is Not an option.

Also I  was wearing my favourite dress that Ali and Simon bought me in Byron and thankfully, I didn't tear it. The guy who hit me, and a couple of others joined in picking me up, and straightening out my bike, as the rim had pushed into the tyre, stopping it from moving.

I made my way up to my room, cleaned up with alco wipes (which by the way sting on raw flesh)..and got ready for bed. Tan came and knocked on my door to see if I was alright as someone had told her what happened. I then gave her the flowers, which she loved.

If that's the worst thing that happens to me while I'm here..I'll consider it a successful trip!!

The next morning a went down stairs early to check that everything was working on my bike....(thankfully its fine) and on my way back up the 3 floor winding marble staircase, I dropped my room key

over the edge. I then proceeded to lie down, and squeeze myself thru the balustrades and reach down into the small hole where it landed.   

It would have been funny to watch I'm sure, especially since I took my time due to all the bruises from the crash..

What is it with Me and dropping things down small spaces!!!!!!!!

Seriously...

That's gonna Hurt tomorrow.....

Watch this space......

Splurging ...for a good cause !!

Funny how you can be sitting alone in a restaurant...and yet not feel alone.  Surrounded by many fellow travellers/adventurers....also sitting alone..and yet I feel like I am surrounded by fellow 'walkers' of the earth!!...Awesome!! Today was super....aside from the massive dose of 'sunburn' I inflicted on myself.....

my day began....(just to set the mood, I am sitting in 'Streets Restaurant' a restaurant that takes disadvantaged kids and puts them thru a training program in hospitality, so as they can get employment in major hotels and restaurants.   EATING for a cause....calories shouldn't count!!!!

where was I....so my first appointment today, was to meet at the homeless shelter. I think this is going to become my favourite time of the week....

the sessions that we run, are open to any of the residents in the shelter. A lot of them, are regulars, and I guess thru observation Karen and the team, have worked out who will benefit and who enjoys coming to the sessions.

Just to name a few, and remember it's my first session, so I may not remember, or certainly pronounce all the names correctly...but here goes....We have Phuc....the self appointed DJ....he.s about 20, then there's Tuyet Luen...she's maybe 55 yrs, and loves touch...and is obsessed with jewellery...and somehow manages to tell you that she lost her earrings, but loves all of your jewels...my total collection consists of a ring Ali brought me in Peru, made of elephant tusk...but she's not impressed by that one, it's the shiny wedding ring that she's eyeing off..

Did I mention...not a word is spoken, just signs and grunts and hand signals....and plenty of wild and wicked Smiles!!!!

( I should have stopped at ONE sangria ....

anyway........ Then there's Huong...she moves by sliding herself around the floor and then people have to help her in and out of a chair to come to our sessions, she is about 30yrs....and despite her body not being able to do much for itself, trapped by severe CP...she has the most accurate 'aim' when it comes to throwing the balls...and she laughs hysterically when you're not ready, and she hits you in the head...

Already, I Love her....and she shares when the others don't get the balls each time...so beautiful!!

If I'm allowed i may take a camera and try to 'show' you what I see.

Van May...is I'm guessing in his 20's ...and is the most disabled I see there, yet even he...has fantastic aim, and beames when he knocks downs the plastic bowling pins we set up for play/therapy time..

I just realised, I have become one of those solo travellers who sit for hours in cafes, alone yet totally emersed in blogging, or whatever they,re doing.....haha....cool !!!!

I wish I could remember more names...but just so as you know...when I walked into my first session with these people, they were just sad stories and sad faces...but as I left....I said goodbbye to friends....BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE... Just trapped in bodies that don't work...but with hearts just as big..if not Bigger than yours and mine!!!!!

......the rest of my day consisted of distributing brochures thru out the town to all the various hotels,  travel agents, 

 restaurants etc....I now have an extensive knowledge of all the best places to eat....(and, hence the sunburn).....

Then I spent 4 hours at the workshop...trying to entice the passers by to take a moment to come inside the shop and purchase something to support our makers..the weather is Not helping....it's just way too hot - I can't even eat during the day....it's just too hot to care !!!!

Well I think that will do for another day.....I'm heading home...via the spa, for yet another massage....WICKED.....but I am supporting the local economy!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Night night.....Mumma bear xxxxx be hugged !!!!!

Getting brave

I'll write about my first full day on the job, later. But for now, I'm about to attempt my first nights sleep "Without the air on " I have the windows open, and catching a slight crossbreeze floating over my bed. I think it needs more flow, so I've turned the fan on.....only to 1' mind you and it feels and sounds like the propellers on a jet airplane...imagine if I cranked it up to 5... Me and everything in the room would end up out the window..

BTW....the mossies over here won't really kill you..will they ?

I may be airlifted out over night...

Oh and how cool's this,  my 

land lady Tan, invited me to go with her to yoga classes....I may make it Friday after wk, as every other night I'm in the workshop til 9pm...

This was this mornings office..

My bank account..I was a millionaire for a moment, before I paid the rent...11,6000,000 vnd

My pantry...not quite

 as full as the one I left back home

(sua cereal) doesn't really sound  appealing does it...

Lunch......mango Steens and mango....better..

Followed by a mango lassi after visiting the shelter.

Mumma bears off to sleep, hopefully...hugs ALL x

Who am I....

Today I began the day like a tourist. I slept in, rode my bike to a cafe that is fast becoming a favourite, and had breakfast with Lisa. No rush, as the volunteers aren't rostered to work weekends. The family who run the cafe are getting to know us, and they chat as we eat, and the little man (3 years old) plays around our table, and then poses for me as I take his picture. Even at 3, children know to ask to see the picture you've just taken, and he giggles as he sees himself on my large iPad screen.

Breakfast seeps into the mid morning and finally, we decide to move on. We are now on a mission to find an ATM that will dispense more than 2,000,000 vnd at a time...2 million, sounds like a lot, but it's actually only $100 dollars. And I need to get out rent money for Monday..I think I'm chewing up lots of fees....oh we'll!!

Now we're hunting for plain black tees to have the work logo printed on, as the polos they offer are so thick and hot, I think I'm going to melt away. Literally..

First world problems..I know !

I give up...I'm way too sweaty to try on anything.....

A quick ride back to the apartment for my second shower for the day, and it's not even midday.

Part of my duties here will include distributing brochures into all the restaurants, cafes, hotels and travel agents that will agree to have them.. Because Hoi An is a very touristy town, almost all these places have stands in the foyers for just such brochures, so as while people are eating and relaxing they can see what the town has on offer to do, such as cooking classes, photography tours, painting and lantern making tours, etc...

I had a 100 percent hit rate, as everyone i visited agreed to me being allowed to leave our brochures in their establishments. Mind you Lifestart is not new to anyone here....

I am making a mental note of ALL the cutest cafes and restaurants to return to, when I have the chance...Date Night could be somewhere different every week :)

It's now lunchtime and after spending some time in the shop with Karen working on the timetables for all the staff, we take off for a quick lunch. Karen, I'm sure is determined to show me ALL her favourite food spots before leaving the country in a couple of weeks...although I think she forgets that she is on a motorbike, whilst I am on a 'push bike' and occasionally I lose her in traffic, as I frantically try to keep up !!

After lunch comes the interesting part of the day...Karen has asked me if I am keen to visit the 'homeless shelter'.. Not for the faint hearted, she said..

In this country, there are no such things as retirement villages, or the pension, or disability handouts, so these people, who range from 18- 100 years old, come here, and this is as generous as the government can be. Alot, or probably most of them have no family to look after them, or visit them. They 'all' have disabilities of one or more type, from mild to extreme....

I came to this country to help...so it's Not an option for me to say No..I just prayed that I would be brave and not cry..

As we ride thru the gates and park our bikes in the courtyard, we are greeted by a young man, maybe 22, he does not speak, but has a beautiful smile for Karen. Karen exchanges hellos and hi fives, and moves thru the courtyard towards some rooms.  The first room, has 4 ladies in it, 2 elderly ladies, sitting on their beds, rocking and staring...they say Nothing. 2 younger ones sitting on the tiled floor, broken limbs or missing limbs.. Karen sits down on the floor and starts chatting with the youngest girl..she communicated, but not in a way most of us would understand, yet thru love and patience, Karen knows what she's saying.. I decided to sit on the floor also.. The young girl reaches out her hand and I take it, and we shake hands and a massive smile spreads across her beautiful but sadly crippled face.

The next room....is the same, only 4 men are in this room. Again, no words are spoken, just love thru eyes and touch.

We head back out into the courtyard, where a long line of ladies, of all ages, are sitting on a wooden bench watching a tv screen...I have no idea if they understand what they are seeing, or if they even hear it, over the bustling noises of the traffic on all sides of the shelter..

 But as they see miss Karen coming, they all start shouting, and waving and beaming..gorgeous smiles !!

Karen introduces me to every one of them by name...they all want to hold my hand..

Their little faces lighting up as we stand there, surrounded by these ladies, who I feel, are looking upon us like royalty.

And after a quick look at the rooms where they physiotherapy and activities are performed, we move into the last room of our visit, and 4 more people are in this room, 2 lying on the floor, at various angles  under the beds. Perhaps it's more comfortable......I haven't mentioned that these beds have 'NO' mattresses..just slatted boards.. and a tiny tiny pillow.

Karen says hello and sits on the bed of a young man who has severe CP. not much of his body is capable of a lot,  yet he still knows and understands things. He is trapped in the most cruel way...He seems distressed, and Karen finally works out that he wants a drink...of cold tea. And his bottle is empty. So she runs across the road and buys a bottle from a street vender, and takes it back to him. She then lovingly spends the next ten minutes trying to give him a drink (using a medicine cup) so as not to drown him, as he can only swallow a tiny sip at a time..  His face gradually turns from frustrated frowns, to smiles. They end with a heart melting hug...as Karen promises she'll be returning tomorrow.

...I am holding back tears...

 As we ride back thru town to the workshop, I thank Karen for taking me to the shelter....

Could I have come all this way, and Not wanted to help these people....I think not !!

I am now on the roster to visit this shelter several times a week.....and it will be my pleasure..

Karen and I sit and have yet another Saigon coffee, and discuss what I have just seen..

 Then I say goodbye and head back to my apartment. It's been a long day, even tho it's my day off..

And as I ride down the familiar street to my apartment, I see the salon where I had my head massage yesterday, and I decide to treat myself to a pedicure....( $3 splurge).... And as I'm sitting there, in the chair being pampered, I think......WHO AM I...that I can come out of a homeless shelter where people don't have a proper bed, or anyone to love them....and I chose to get a PEDICURE......I am confused !!!

 

Mumma bear,..

and enormous hugs to ALL..x

Saturday night's Alright...

After a busy day of cruising around town on my new wheels, sitting in a cafe blogging and enjoying fresh beer and a Saigon coffee..oh and that 1hr head massage....I headed out to dinner with Karen and Sinh (FYI...Sinh is Karens' adopted son. He is 24, Vietnamese. he is an artist and works with Lifestart teaching people to paint, thru the tours we run for the tourists. He married a lovely girl last-year called  Nge. Nge is an accountant in a bank. Sinh has the most wicked sense of humor, and loves his mumma Karen dearly. They have been family for a number of years now, as Sinh and his brother were brought up in an orphanage.

They took me to a small restaurant (more like a family run food kitchen) ..called "Beer in a bowl" as traditionally years ago everybody only had ONE bowl each, and everything was eaten or drunk, out of that One bowl.

 So we shared a meal of all sorts of wonderful flavours. And during that meal I learned more about the Vietnamese cultures. For example, when a person dies in Vietnam...the funeral process lasts for a number of days..3 or 4. And the body is laid out usually in their home in the bed, and different family members would take turns sleeping in the room with the deceased. To keep them company while their spirit transcends into the next world. So different to our culture, where we put them on ice, stick them in the ground, celebrate or commiserate for an hr or so......and then go home!!! Food for thought!!

After dinner Sinh headed home to Nge who couldn't join us as it's audit time and she was working out the books..(Some things don't change no matter what country you live in).

Karen and I went out for "Snow Cones" .....Mmmmmm Mmmmmmm Mmmmmm. That's the only way to describe them... Just shaved ice and magical flavours of lime marmalade....Divine!!!!

We had to ride a way down by the river..where we sat in a beautiful Japanese garden overlooking the moon on the river. So tranquil. Again I had the privelige of spending time with Karen asking all sorts of questions as to how this whole venture she has created began and has since evolved. I am in total Awe of this magnificent woman who has the biggest heart I've ever met..it is a privilege and pleasure to be able to spend some time in her company and learn and be inspired by her...She truly walks like Jesus walked on earth.

Message to self....must blog daily, or risk forgetting so many small but wonderful moments!!

Wow..it's Saturday afternoon already....and I sit quietly in a small cafe looking over the Thu Bon river to the beautiful village of Hoi An, which I have the pleasure of calling home for the next 3 mths.

Feeling totally chilled as all the crazy details of moving abroad seem to be ticked off my "to do" list....in the last 2 days, I've found an apartment, bought some 'wheels', got a mobile phone, complete with all the contacts I should need to keep me out of trouble for awhile. Met lots of members at the workshop, (most of whom I can't yet pronounce their names , let alone remember them.)

I have quickly learnt a few of the Vietnamese customs, like 'everyone must take off their shoes before going upstairs inside a building. Easy enough to remember, because of the nine other random pairs jumbled all over the floor. However, when I get ready to leave my room each morning, I look around thinking."where did I put my shoes" oh yeah..downstairs!!

Thursday night I was a guest at a family dinner..the younger members spoke pretty good English..although Nobody at the table seemed to understand the many times I tried to politely say.."No more thanks, I'm full" ....hence a lot of food was consumed that night. 

Such beautiful hospitality...I sat next to the mother, whom I'm guessing was maybe mid fifties..she couldn't speak a word of English yet just kept smiling at me, patting me and putting food either in my bowl or in my hands.. By the end of the night I worked out the only way to stop the flow of food coming my way was to keep something in my hand, like I was still going. I was so excited when yet another 2 trays of food came out from the invisible kitchen, to find that it was sliced watermelon...signalling the meal moving to an end.

Don't get me wrong, it was all Amazing....just ALOT!!

Hugs and smiles all round as we said goodbyes and thank yous.

Then Karen decided to pop in and show me her favourite massage place...quickly that idea turned into us 'getting' a full massage....those poor girls .....I was literally covered in a layer of sweat and grime...yet they lovingly massaged my filthy body..... top to feet (not bottom).

I have also indulged in a one hour hair wash and head massage, complete with blow drying and straightening ....all for the exorbitant price of $5.

One of my co workers had a flat tyre on her bike, so we pulled into a small street bike repair shop, where an old man with a cigarette hanging sideways out of his mouth, proceeded to pull the tyre off, fix the inner tube, replace the missing cap, which was making the air come out, and then Lisa, not knowing how much it would cost, held out an open hand of money, from which the old man took 10,000 vnd... The equivalent of 50c........

I took a taxi from my hotel to my apartment yesterday, as the thought of dragging my 24 kg suitcase  3 blocks in the oppressing heat didn't appeal to me...the cab fare was 12000 vnd (that's 60c) I felt super generous , so I gave him a dollar and said keep the change....haha.

 I am currently indulging in a "fresh beer"....4000 vnd....20c

You're getting the picture....right !!!

So as I'm able to help promote the "painting and lantern making tours" that we offer at the "Lifestart workshop" I took the tour and participated in these activities on Thursday...along with 2 ladies on vacation from Malaysia..If you've ever looked at these small items for sale and thought "oh yeah".. Let me tell you, they're a lot harder to do they you,d think.......

Or maybe I just have NO creative bones in my body......eek!

Whatever I am able to contribute to this foundation and these beautiful people of Vietnam...I think it will be far outweighed by All that I will get back...everyone here is like a family. And in my short time here already, I feel welcomed every time I walk thru the door of the workshop. Even as I rode around town this morning heading out to find some breakfast..I passed Karen and Sinh in traffic and exchanged friendly waves and shouts (whilst trying to avoid getting run over by the overlapping chaotic traffic). I bumped into a lovely lady called Margaret whom I served in the shop the day before. And we chatted like old friends...

When you are in Hoi An...you are on Hoi An time, and there seems to be plenty of time to slow down, enjoy good conversation, and really take in the Goodness of life and people....something we easily overlook back home!!!

Hugs All......mumma bear xx

Well here goes....

Finally after more than 48 hrs I am about to stretch out and lie down Horizontally.......YaY.!!!

It is a very surreal head space that I am in right now..after being in this magical little town twice as a visitor, I am about to experience it for the first time as " A Local".. Karen has already taken me to tea in one of her favourite food kitchens.. Where  "the good thing about this place is" according to Karen, is that after a long busy day, you don't have to decide what to choose from the menu as the food just gets brought out to you, and you just Start Eating,...and don't stop til you're full!!! So we did. And then I asked Karen if I could pay.....without having any idea what anything cost...and the bill (including 2 cokes) came to $5.20.

I've only been in town for a few hrs and already I've met so many team members, looked thru a room for rent, been invited to a family dinner tomorrow night. And an expat night on Friday night, made plans to go with Karen and Phuong to get a massage from blind people (apparently Amazing) 1 hr for $2.50 on Sunday afternoon. And then been taken out for 15 cent beers after the shop closed tonight at 9pm...

Not bad for a first day.....(half day).......Life could be worse......Miss you All xx hugs mumma bear