On Xanedu and Love

I keep on finding more and more similarities between Vietnam and Xanedu. For instance, sparrows here are ubiquitous. Chirping outside my window right now, getting in fights, always visible. Fat Albert may have changed his name to Skinny Binh, but his presence is still felt. I didn't know I'd find sparrows here.

Also, yesterday for the first time I noticed the carrying mechanism for hammocks: ones briefcase. So similar to me and my briefcase at xanedu, the briefcase hides the sleeping apparatus during the workday, and then when it's time for a break, you can pull it out and set up shop wherever.

I will admit that I do not have a JJ, Hannah, or Michael here with me. But Reid presence is felt as if I'm at the office nonetheless because they still share themselves with me over email. Thank you for that guys!

Today's teaching was rough: a boring lesson. Whan whan! We had all the distractions in the world: someone pouring water on me from a construction site going off to the sides of both sides of the room, gym class going on outside, computers being replaced. All of this was right up in my narrow teaching area. Grr! And then to top off my morning, I had an iron and ironing board fall on my toe. Yowza! I hope this afternoon is more calm and laid back.

I must refrain:
Nothing can take the attention off my purpose here: to teach. I love it here because there is a certain magic that goes on in the classroom that I don't think I'll get to see, experience or instill in students again. Students here are so enthusiastic and willing to learn. They smile and act genuinely happy to be there. I know for a fact that I wasn't this enlisted in all my high school and college courses. These students, like the diligent people, have a purpose of learning that they carry around with them. Non-stop, working towards every goal put before them, however tangental it may be. These are people who don't necessarily want to study English or want to have anything to do with English later in life, yet these students fill their brains with a command of English that is stellar.

Teaching here is love for me because I am wanted and valued in the classroom to an extreme degree. Nothing else matters.

Sent from my iPhone