A Beginning's End

Elsbeth writing…

It’s been a busy, yet lazy, last couple weeks. I find myself becoming a worry wart more than being excited for the adventure ahead of me. Saying goodbye is always the hardest part…so is getting started. I think that being settled into someplace is the most comforting, but also the most apathetic. It’s good to wake yourself up every now and then with a break from the monotony of life and start fresh. Then again, I ask myself why am I leaving when I’m comfortable where I am. Oh, well, the decision is made and I’m going with it.

My mom’s on the long flight over the giant Pacific Ocean as I’m typing this. I’m meeting her at the Airport in HCMC tomorrow morning, so I’m going to make this quick because I need to get some sleep so I can get up early tomorrow morning to catch the ferry into the city. I’m a bit worried about the ferries. They’ve been having problems lately and they’re building a bridge somewhere along the river. I’ll keep my beloved Edward close at hand as I try to finish the first Twilight series book. A friend gave me the fourth one so now I have one and four, but not two and three! Mom’s bringing the second one though—I think—so she’ll give it to me when she goes.

My excitement has also been dampened by Ellyn’s situation. Some of you probably have heard about it, but she’s been having a ridiculously difficult time with her visa. It’s very complicated. She has to leave the country and may not be able to get back in yet, at the same time, she can’t leave the country. Don’t ask about how this is logical. It all boils down to ONE red stamp. People here are so stuck on their ephemeral red stamps that they’ve lost the reason for WHY they do them in the first place. They’ve just gone stamping crazy because it makes them feel important. So because of this power struggle Ellyn is caught in a real-life purgatory. Like I’ve told people many times before everything is a Catch-22 here… So having said that, I’m not sure if we’ll continue our journey together in Hanoi…very sad, but I’m trying to hope for the best.

Another depressing part of leaving Vung Tau is leaving my students. I love all my classes now. I couldn’t have a much better schedule. Monday through Friday with all seniors classes (middle school age), my favorite level. One of my classes had a going away party for me yesterday. It was so sweet. They had a cake that said “Goodbye Elsbeth” and they even spelled “We love you Elsbeth” in ketchup and hot sauce. There was pizza and bubble tea (I love bubble tea! It has these jellies in it that you suck up through a big straw). Then the girls gave me heaps of presents and cards. They’re very middle school-age, girly type of gifts—things I was into back in the day—it was so thoughtful, but I don’t know how I’ll be able to take them all up to Hanoi with me. My TA also gave me a beautiful bouquet of yellow, white and red roses sprayed with glitter. My other TA also gave me this awesome black bracelet that stays on with magnets for beads. I’m going to miss them all so much as well as the other teachers, TAs, and people at work. When it comes down to it, I really enjoyed working there. It was great place to start my teaching career.

Today was my last day. I cleaned out my locker, organized and sorted through my piles of materials that I’ve been collecting these last seven months. I don’t know how I managed to fit it all in that tiny space. It didn’t seem like I was really teaching my classes for the last time. It just felt like another day. Two of my classes are ending very soon—this week was revision—so it’s kind of appropriate timing. Still, I’ll miss it all. *Sigh*

On Sunday we also had our farewell banquet. Six teachers are leaving (most of them are going up to Hanoi), so we had a massive farewell banquet at this nice restaurant/resort in town. I think it looks very Grecian with blue tile roofs and white-washed walls. I enjoy going to the beach there, because it’s secluded, fairly cheap, and relaxing. Anyway, we had a delicious Vietnamese meal—there was so much food—on a massively long table outside. It was good to see everyone together and to socialize. I’m going to miss them.

Also, on Saturday afternoon there was a party for the Australian/New Zealander Veteran’s Day called Anzac Day. They had the kids from the orphanage sing Waltzing Matilda with one of the teacher’s from school. I’ve been volunteering at the orphanage for a couple months now, teaching the older kids English for an hour on Mondays. They’re great kids (even though they don’t pay attention sometimes) and it was great to see them sing. It seems like they had fun. Sadly, I think that was the last time I’ll see them. I’ve gotten to know quite a few people in town—mainly other Westerners—through volunteering and also just hanging out at the restaurants and bars every now and then. Many of them are retirees who I’ve gotten to know. We’re kind of a close-knit community in this town and it’s nice to have other people you can somewhat relate to around. It’s crazy how you build up so many connections in such a short period of time.

Otherwise, the weekend passed by quickly as usual. I tried to read, figure out my annoyingly slow computer, and get last-minute things done. Oh, I played Botchy Ball with some friends on Saturday. It was a good time. A truly Vietnamese experience—in the dirt and grime of a Vietnamese Botchy Ball court with all the men. We were the only two women playing and you can imagine how intrigued the men where especially because we were white on top of it. The weekend before it poured for the first time. The monsoon rains are just about here! We had a huge thunder and lightening storm, which I was partially caught in, after running errands. I got inside safely and it was so relaxing to spend the afternoon curled up warm and dry in my bed reading Twilight. I also got up early with the Vietnamese both days the previous weekend. I walked around the harbour, up the Jesus Mountain, and swam at the lap pool on Saturday morning with Kaidian. It was so refreshing to get up that early and exercise. I really need to do that more often. I think I’ve said that before…. On Sunday I got up early and went on a short “Orange Walk” around town. It was a fundraiser for Agent Orange victims. The people involved in the fundraiser take a motorbike trip all the way up the country to Hanoi. That would be awesome to do one day. Someday I’ll have to come back and take that journey for the fundraiser.

Well, that’s an update for the time being. I can’t wait for my mom to get here! Omigosh, it’s less than 12 hours now. I haven’t seen my family in over eight months. It’s the longest I’ve been away. Crazy to think how quickly the time as passed! It doesn’t seem like I’ve been here for that long, but you know what they say: Time passes quickly when you’re having fun…or at least keeping yourself busy.