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Just like that...we are back

1/2/2023

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The rush of last minute packing and exploring, traveling over 20 hours on planes with no sleep and then hopping another flight to get home to my parents for Christmas pushed my writing and thinking to the back burner LOL. 

We ended our time in Vietnam taking a quick trip back over to Hoi An for a weekend. I got a few more dresses made at Alice's Tailor Shop inside the fabric market. 5 dresses for around 140 US dollars. Amazing!

Konstantin went on a bike tour around the area and got to spend time with a water buffalo among other amazing activities. The next day the guide let us meet up with him at the water buffalo spot so I could get up close with it. As I said previously my dad's longest lasting memory from his time in Vietnam is watching them use a water buffalo to plow the fields. Being so close to one and listening to it chirp (its like a bird sound), seeing it plow, and seeing it's battle wounds from fighting for a girlfriend was special for me.

Then it was time to finish packing and head back to America. We said goodbye to our friends from our apartment building and neighborhood. We promised to stay in touch and come back to Vietnam again. We made a quick stop at the casino and left behind $20...then made our last trip to Dirty Fingers for Pastrami. And I found out I am presenting 3 sessions at ISTE!

We had a 4.5 hour flight to Korea, then a 15 hour flight to Atlanta, then another 2 hours to Miami. I am not a plane sleeper, but I did watch about 7 movies. I got home and did a little unpack/repack, slept a bit, then hopped a plane to Asheville to meet up with my parents. I am always thankful for my cousin Tammie who happily picks me up at the airport just about every time I come home.

​I got to spend time with my mom and dad, my sister's family, and lots of cousins and Aunt Jackie out at the farm. I was worried about freezing...it dropped down to 7 degrees at one point, but we made it okay. I was very excited to see all my cousins, and spend time getting to know what they are learning and lvoing these days. Ki is still loving Lego and Tula wants to learn it all. Isaiah and Hadassah are the cutest and sweetest kids. I loved listening to Ember and Haven play and problem solve at their brother Everest birthday party. I missed seeing Willow, Katie, and Jackson, but for a very good reason...their mom is still cooking baby 4 and has to stay home on bedrest. I got to see Ellie for the 2nd time. the first she was just hatched so I was not very excited but now she is alert and can growl at me and is too funny. I didn;t get to see our new Khalani because of the cold and Evie because she was super busy, but hopefully this summer. Bryson and Addie were back in Texas but I got to video call them and hear about Addie's horse ride. The Duncan kiddos are growing up way too fast. I love seeing how creative they all are! Em, Jamie (who was born on our wedding day), Sky, and Ysa are so fun and their dad Darrell may get Macie to like Santa after all...he does look a bit like the jolly old man. And of course my Michaela was home foe a quick trip. She went back to Kansas and picked out her wedding dress. It doesnt seem like she should be old enough... My mom, dad, sister Robin, and I kept our Christmas Day tradition alive. Normally we see a movie and then eat Japanese food. This year the movies were not that great so we did lunch together. 

The best part of course was spoiling my great niece Macie. She is always excited to see me and loved all her Vietnam outfits and books. I love watching her and laughing at her huge personality. She loves looking at pictures on my phone and even enjoyed a video of Buffalo Chocolate (buffalo pooping). Her and my mom watched it over and over and then she had to go show everyone else in the house. It was hilarious. 

​I am happy to be back home with our cat Kiko, but I do miss Vietnam as well. I miss the walkability of our An Thuong community and the ease of getting aorund. I miss the smiles and welcoming of the Vietnamese people we met through our apartment, school, our tours, and just living life. 

I am finishing up my project part of the Fulbright award. I have my Flip group set up and more people are joining still. We are at 90 members now which is amazing. I am putting the final touches on my website. I have shared my research on the SAMR model of tech integration, the thoughtful tech flip group topics, and my observations in Vietnam. I am still considering adding a few more things, but it has been published and is ready for you to check it out: www.thoughtfulteachertech.org/home

Let me know what you think!
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12 days...

12/7/2022

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After returning from Saigon to DaNang I took it easy for a few days. I had a fever and a sore throat so I stayed home for the most part and worked on my website for my project. I met with my advisor and got some feedback and I wanted to implement it before I forgot! 

We did manage to get over to Dirty Fingers and get pastrami and to the Turkish place for baklava. Their new chef flew in and brought fresh pistachios. I thought Konstantin was going to take the whole pan at first. It is so good!

Friday I zoomed with the 5th grade back at Scheck Hillel. We talked about challenges and facing fears, like being in the boat on the Mekong Delta and the day my Grab driver was taking me to the wrong place and I had no data to use Google translate and I was so scared, but I managed to work it all out! My weirdest foods, snails. And the things I am doing here that will help them learn more when I come home. 

Saturday we flew into Da Lat (learn more). This is a mountain town where the Temps have been in the 69s and 70s and damp. We have done the city tour and countryside tour and even the night tour to meet one of the ethnic minority groups. Konstantin did a tour the guide said was mainly Vietnamese people taking selfies. He loved it. If you are heading to Da Lat I highly recommend Happy Day Travel. They did all of our tours. Our guides, Tam and Ngoc, were fabulous, knowledgeable, and great at ensuring everyone was comfortable. We saw waterfalls, strawberry farms, bee and cricket farms, temples and pagodas, and so much more. We went to Lang Biang Mountain, rode a cable car, Konstantin even rode a mountain coaster to a waterfall. We packed a ton of fun into a few days. 

We actually came to Da Lat so I could participate in a Fulbright conference. I got to meet Fulbright scholars and researchers working throughout Vietnam on many different projects. I was completely impressed with all of their work and experiences. I want to dive in and work with them all and learn more about pangolin, plastic pollution western vs eastern medicine, and so much more. Our two days together focused on sharing our research focus and ideas, our challenges and accomplishments, and where we go from here. Many times my imposter syndrome flared with how did I even get in this room, I am not worthy. Then I remembered the words of my esteemed colleague Dr Courtney Teague who told me to change imposter to I’m possible and to only compare myself to the Nancy of the past, not to others. Courtney and I met at Nova and she continually pushes me to be my best self and to stay on the path. I appreciate her encouragement and guidance always!

I am ready to share my website, even though it is still in progress. Chck it out and let me know your thoughts! https://www.thoughtfulteachertech.org/home 

We are in the airport getting ready to head back to DaNang now. It is 12 days until our flight back to Miami, I am sad and excited all at the same time! Until next time!


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Only 3 weeks left? How did this happen?

11/29/2022

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Pleiku

My emotions continued to be high as we visited Camp Holloway. I knew from reading and research there wasn't much to see and you can't actually walk around as it is a current base for the army. Just walking in the same area my dad walked 60 years ago was strange. I got in one picture before a guard caught us and told us no pictures.

We also toured the Minh Thành temple and pagoda (learn more). This is such a peaceful place and huge. The detail was outstanding from the dragons, the roof, the gates, it is all so intricate and beautiful. 

We had lunch with our amazing driver who took us to a delicious spot for our Thanksgiving meal. Fish soup, clay pot rice, a fish dish with whole small fish, ribs, and so much more. It was amazingly delicious. 

Ho Chi Minh
We headed back to HCM Friday. Saturday we brunched at Eddie's Diner, an American restaurant and it was so very good. Best macaroni and cheese I have had in a while. That night we headed to the Saigon Opera House for the spectacular AO show (learn more). It is a bamboo circus, similar to Cirque. It was full of crazy talented acrobats and musicians who performed creative acts that displayed life in the city and countryside. Just amazing and I highly recommend checking it out if you are in HCM, Hoi An, and anywhere else it is showing. 

Sunday we took off for a full day tour of the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta. We stopped halfway there at an artist colony run by the government to help those affected by Agent Orange. We saw beautiful oyster shells and egg shell art pieces. The artisans are very skilled in their work and it takes talent and patience to create these works.

The Cu Chi tunnels are still intact from when the VietCong used them to escape, live, and fight. They are very tiny and crazy detailed. We tried tapioca, which I have only seen as a pudding but it is a root vegetable like a potato. It was really good and they gave us a mix of peanuts and sugar to dip it in. I looked it up online and discovered it is a South American product called Casava. Learning new stuff every day!

After our tour we had a delicious Vietnamese lunch at the tunnels. Chicken, beef, soup, veggies, rice and great conversation with our fellow tour passengers. After lunch we took off for the 2 hour ride to the Mekong Delta. We saw so much of the countryside with this tour. 

At the marina we hopped a boat over to Unicorn Island. We tried fruits, listened to native songs and instruments, and saw beautiful plants along the way. The mud in the river is rich with nutrients that helps foods grow in abundance, including water coconuts. We took a boat ride down the river. I was terrified before, during, and after. These activities are not made for overweight people with bad knees. Our tour guide and boat rowers were wonderful in helping me get in and out and making me feel safe while in the boat. Konstantin said he looked through hundreds of pictures of us on the boat and only found a couple where I didn’t look miserable. Yea well. We ended up at a coconut candy factory and watched as they made a taffy type candy and coconut crackers. The crackers are excellent! If you are looking for a tour company, I highly recommend Kim Travel and ask for our guide, Mr T. He was so full of information and  made the trip entertaining and insightful.

DaNang
We are back home in DaNang for a few days. Upon arrival we dropped our luggage in the apartment and headed to my favorite Italian place and got a cheese board and pizza, then went to the Turkish place for baklava, and then to the Irish pub to watch the World Cup. It was truly a multicultural night.

I met with my advisor from Fulbright and got more feedback on my website and project. I have some more work to do with organization and details, but it is coming along. I have a stuffy nose, which I often get after flights, so I am trying to take it easy. We brainstormed terms for people who live in DaNang...DaNangians, DaNangers, DaNangsters...

We leave again Dec 3-8 for DaLat and the Fulbright conference. I am excited to see what others are working on and to share my project. I am going to add more to the website and see what the scholars think about it all. I hope to have it ready to share with all of you next week!

If you would like to check out and join the Teacher share portion of my project, you can go to the Flip group: https://flip.com/ee780e69
We have 74 teachers and 7.5 hours of engagement so far in 2 weeks! I am very excited with the turnout so far. 

Can you believe it is only 21 more days? I don't understand how time has flown by so fast. I hope to learn more and share more during the next 3 weeks. I kinda don’t want to leave to be honest, but then I get these pictures from my mama of her and diddy at the Farm and I am ready to hug them and soak up all their amazingness. My mama is the best hype man you could ever have and my diddy is the epitome of patient and kind. I am so lucky and blessed that God picked them for me.


Have a great day everyone!

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Ho Chi Minh and Pleiku...and announcing my project

11/23/2022

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We spent a couple of low key days in DaNang in our adopted hometown after our Hanoi and Singapore adventure. We headed over to a delicious Turkish place called Istanbul a block over from our apartment. Delicious hummus, Shish kebab, and THE BEST BAKLAVA EVER.  I am not a fan of baklava, but Konstantin loves it. We were chatting with the chef owner when it arrived and I took a bite and then another and another. Konstantin looked down and said what happened to my baklava. It was so good. In fact the following day we went back just for dessert and he wouldn't share and made me get my own piece. My aunt Deda used to make baklava…she would have loved this Turkish version. 

​Ho Chi Minh


We arrived very late Friday in Ho Chi Minh…or early Saturday morning I guess. We kicked off Saturday bright and early with a jeep tour. Unlike in Hanoi this tour was just Konstantin and I and no other guests. Our amazing tour guide Bui Van Hai. I was completely impressed with his knowledge of history and his desire to help us understand the culture of Vietnam. We visited many different places, including the oldest pagoda, post office, the Independence Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral, and more. Our stop at the War Remnants museum was difficult for me. Seeing the soldier images, seeing the prison set up, is just more than I could take. I had an eye opening conversation with our guide. His dad was 18 and forced into being a soldier, much like my dad. We talked about how each of our fathers were pulled from small towns and pushed into service that neither wanted to do. Luckily we both have our fathers still with us, even with the scars of war. We got to see art made from oyster shells and burnt egg shells, too! Our last stop was at the Ben Thanh Market where Konstantin decided it was time to try durian. Both our guide and I tried to talk him out of it, but he persisted…until he smelled it and then noped out. 

We had a great lunch at Agave, a Mexican restaurant in District One. Tortilla chips here are more like pita chips, but still delicious. We then went to visit the 2nd tallest building in HCMC. Later in the week we also visited the tallest building and enjoyed fresh apple juice on the 81st floor. 

I found my favorite place in HCMC, right beside the post office…book street! So many books, so little time!

We spent a loud night enjoying Beer Street. They close the street at 7pm to vehicles and it becomes a walking street. Tons of bars and restaurants and VERY LOUD music. And a ketchup that was outstanding with my potato wedges. Konstantin had a seafood Vietnamese pancake and loved it. 

Monday I met with a teacher from Sarasota who teaches at the Canadian International School.  She graciously invited me to come in and chat about technology. Her high school classes use Google Classroom and use a lot of technology. She and her family are experienced International teachers, having taught previously in other countries. I was impressed with the campus and what she has in order to teach with.


Pleiku 


We had an easy flight to Pleiku Tuesday morning, I was very emotional arriving here. This is the place my dad was stationed 60 years ago. I called him after arriving and showed him the city from our balcony and he said it has grown a lot. After settling our things in the hotel we then headed to Meraki Coffee to meet a friend I had made through a Facebook group. Hao runs the coffee shop and has English clubs. Her goal is to help kids in Pleiku with their self confidence and improve English skills. 


Konstantin had an adventure the day of our arrival. He went to a church/orphanage/school here in the mountains outside of Pleiku. One of the people he knows from DaNang is from this area and had come to help out. He joined them and helped chop vegetables, serve soup, and hand out candy to the kids. He also got his first motorbike experience, which was a bit scary and a bit fun.


Hao graciously introduced us to others in the community and helped us visit schools here. We went to two different kindergarten schools, one of which is a STEM school. The kids here are so precious. They work in a Montessori environment and we got to see kids singing and dancing, learning words, practicing greetings, and playing. It was so much fun. We are working on ideas for how we help get more books for her club and supplies for the schools we visited. More info to come on that.


After our school visits we toured Pleiku, heading to an amazing restaurant our friend Hao recommended. It was unique and I am so grateful for the experience. They had cabin type structures where you ate. The menu was in Vietnamese but thanks to Google Translate and Google Lens we got it translated and ordered chicken, bamboo rice, and beef in banana leaf. Delicious doesn't even come close. Our driver took us around the area, where we visited the Bien Ho Lake and then we went out to the Bien Ho Tea Farm. Along the way we saw coffee farms, too. We stopped for a photo break and to get a drink before heading back to rest for our exciting night. So many beautiful flowers, gorgeous mountains, and so many people very excited to see Konstantin. He is quite the celebrity here. We learned tonight that there are only a handful of expats in Pleiku so that explains why we are always getting attention.


Hao kindly invited us to a gathering with her friends at a mountainside bar, Day and Night, where we met several more people, watched Japan vs Germany World Cup, and Konstantin even got to make stick bread over the fire. We laughed, cheered, and enjoyed a beautiful night amongst new friends. 


Tomorrow I am headed to Camp Holloway where Diddy was stationed. He has a cold right now but I have talked with him a couple of times since arriving. I was worried he might be upset about my visit here. Upset isn’t the right word. I was worried his Alzheimers would cause him to worry and obsess, but he has been very calm and happy to see Vietnam with me.


Thoughtful Teacher Tech


And now what I am really here for…my Fulbright work. I have created my website, but still have a bit of work to add to it. I have posted all of my research onto the site, but still need to add info from Vietnam. One of my goals for this project is to find a way to connect teachers all over the world with technology ideas. To make this happen, I created a Flip (formerly Flipgrid) group and added topics for different ways to integrate technology. I even have a student topic for kids to share their favorite tech ideas with teachers. I will share the full website when it is completed, but for now you can check out the Flip Topic!


I launched the Topic last week through email, social media, and text to friends and family who are teachers. In one week we have 9 responses, 130 views, 1 comment, 7 hours of discussion, and 70 members from all over the world. I am thrilled but of course want more! Please share with any teachers in your network!


All topics: https://flip.com/ee780e69

Broadcasting: https://flip.com/c33cc71e (like moviemaking, podcasting)

Assessment: https://flip.com/e1128aa6 (assessing learning)

​Gamification: https://flip.com/7585cb48 (game based ideas)

Student Share:
https://flip.com/f51a5917 (for students to share their ideas)


Design:
https://flip.com/7c179708 (like graphic design, posters, presentations, comics)


Robotics and Coding:
https://flip.com/9d395f40


Sharing:
https://flip.com/8d8e0a92 (sharing students work with peers, parents, the world)


As always I hope you enjoy reading our adventures and if you have any suggestions, ideas, or just want to say hello, please let me know!


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Another week, Another trip

11/15/2022

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HaLong Bay

HaLong Bay (learn more)  is a beautiful site. The water, the islands, the atmosphere is all just amazing. We took a bus from Hanoi about 2 ½ hours to HaLong Bay and boarded the Aquamarine Cruise. We did a quick stop at a pearl store along the way before arriving at the port. Let me tell you, the food never stops. Lunch was 7 or 8 courses of seafood, chicken, salads, soups, and more.

As we cruised out to the first stop we ate, took pictures, ate, took a few more pictures, ate…you get the idea. Our boat anchored in the bay and the first stop was kayaking at Hang Luon (Luon Cave). Konstantin went for the trip while I stayed back and read a book in the shade on our balcony. Then we headed over to TiTop Island where Konstantin hiked up 450 steps (110 meters/360 feet) to the top and saw some beautiful views, and I sat in the shade at the beach and enjoyed people watching.

After a brief swim we headed back to the boat and got ready for a cooking class, dinner, and karaoke. More food! Again the food was fantastic and we had a great time meeting new friends from Crimea, Ireland, and India. We watched and sang along with karaoke before crashing. The next morning Konstantin explored Surprise Cave before we had lunch and headed back to the port. I highly recommend this side trip if you are in Hanoi. The bus ride was not so great for me, so next time I will definitely get better transportation. 


Back in Hanoi

Back in Hanoi we again visited 4 P’s Pizza and got the cheese pizza recommended by my friend Becky. I was hesitant about the honey at first, but wow was it delicious. We headed over to the US Embassy and toured the Fulbright area of the Embassy. The staff is truly wonderful to work with and I enjoyed meeting everyone in person, sharing ideas for STEM, and our delicious lunch. Seriously the food here is amazing…I know it seems like all we do it eat, but well yea.
Then we headed over to the Temple of Literature (learn more). We saw the turtles students rub for luck before exams and even got to watch a taping of a television show with lots of kids. We did some walking around the Opera House area where we were staying. Traffic is overwhelming here and once again I was reminded how blessed I am to have been based in DaNang at Skyline School! I may have gone a little overboard on the shopping for gifts…and Konstantin may have added 10 shirts or more to his collection while i SIngapore and Hanoi, but it is all worth it!

Well what about your work?

It hasn’t been all play! While Konstantin went out exploring I finally started building my website for my Fulbright project. My advisor, Dr Vachel Miller from App State, has helped me narrow down ideas and figure out the hows and whys. I am happy with the look for now and have gotten some feedback from my family and friends I shared it with. If you want to take a look, let me know! 

Home again, Home again Jiggity Jig

We are now back in DaNang, hooray! Less people and streets I can walk without as much worry about getting run over. But we are only here a few days before we head to Ho Chi MInh, Pleiku, and a new destination Da Lat. Fulbright is having a conference with all the researchers and they asked me to join. I will be sharing my research and meeting other Vietnam participants. I am excited to meet others and see another part of this beautiful country. 

We are now off to pay phone bills and run errands. Gotta get repacked and reach out to all the schools I hope to visit during my explorations of south Vietnam!

As always I would love to hear from you! Any ideas for places to visit, schools or teachers to contact, or just say hi!


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Only a couple days late!

11/11/2022

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Um so I can't keep up with the days of the week and I missed Wednesday. Oops.

I am excited to be able to announce I am a Lego Ambassador. Prior to Covid I was selected as a Lego Master Educator and now this!

We visited the Museum of Ethnography in Hanoi. It shows a history of the people of Vietnam and has model homes of people through time outside along with a water puppet theater. We also stopped at the Vietnam Military Museum and saw the timeline of military operations and some of the planes and tanks from the battles. 

Friday while Konstantin was visiting Ninh Binh I went to the US Embassy and spoke with the Fulbright staff, checked out the American Center, and spoke with educators, students, and others interested in STEM from Vietnam. I made some exciting connections and can't wait to partner up with their students and my Hillel students when I return home. 

We went to the Lotte Center and went up to the observation deck. I was brave and stepped out on the glass floor. 65 floors and 272 meters up. It was a great view for sure.

We wandered through another street fair and Konstantin tried a burger from the one and only McDonalds in Hanoi. There are not many in the entire country, so he wanted to try it out. He said it was pretty good. 

That night I presented at Nearpod Camp Engage about Flocabulary.  I shared my favorite videos and the Flocabulary Art Director Rebecca Porter shared the behind the scenes of making the videos. It was very cool to learn how they go from idea to finished product. 

Sunday we left Hanoi for Singapore. It was a culture shock seeing McDonalds everywhere. I don't know what I expected but Singapore is a very modern country. Super clean, tall buildings, very few motorcycles…and quiet. Our driver from the airport was very nice and gave us a detailed tour as we headed to our hotel in Chinatown. Singapore is another version of Miami with expensive stores, top of the line everything…but everyone speaks English instead of Spanish. 

We stayed at Hotel Clover The Arts. It is really cool with each room having a different theme and design. We stayed in the cherry blossom room and it was really beautiful.  It was nice having a real window too. We were in a quiet spot, but walk ½ mile or less  in any direction and you find wonderful restaurants and fun things to see.

We did the Hop on Hop Off Big Bus tour. I love riding the entire route and listening to the history and info on the tour before we get on and off. I learned so much about the different cultures, history, and interesting facts of Singapore. The island is not very large (20 miles by 30 miles) but the port is one of the busiest in Asia. At any time there are up to 1000 ships waiting to unload. It is a prime spot for medical tourism, folks coming over for cosmetic surgeries are part of the main income. If you are Singaporean and want to go to the casino you must pay $250 an hour before going in. Tourists go in for free. If you don't want your relative to have access they will block their admittance. Interesting…we could've saved Aubt Deda lots of Nicole's by blocking her.

Little India is a vibrant area. The Diwali decorations were still up and the day and night view were lovely. With so many religions and cultures, Singapore could have major issues and racism problems. According to our guide the government has a panel of advisors from the different groups to ensure equal representation and understanding.


Probably the biggest surprise is if you want a car, you have to pay 100% in taxes and then more fees in addition to the price of the car. You have to get a 10 year certificate to register the car as well. You can extend it for 5 years but only one extension is acceptable. Sonyou see mostly new cars around. Many are electric or hybrid and one driver told us the malls allow free charging while you shop as an incentive.  Singapore is the 2nd largest exporter of used cars because of this. Housing is also super expensive in private apartments or condos. There is government housing that allows Singaporeans the opportunity to purchase apartments at a small fraction of the cost. 

We watched 3 different light shows while we were here. At Gardens By the Bay we watched their garden lights. I called mama and she watched with me. I woke her up, but it was worth it. Singapore is exactly 12 hours ahead of SC. We also went out to Sentosa Island and watched Wings of Time. I was floored by the amazing technical creations. Water serving as a screen foe the movie, fireworks, lasers, you name it and they did it. Superb! Then we came to the airport one night to see the Jewel. They built a mall in the middle of terminals one, two, and three. The center of the mall is a garden and waterfall. They have lights and music at night and then starting at 8 they do a laser show. After Sentosa I was underwhelmed with the show, but the whole water feature and garden was beautiful and peaceful in the midst of chaos. 

We came to Singapore for the EduTech Asia conference. It was held in the Sands Conference center attached to the Marina Bay hotel and mall. We went up to their 63rd floor observation deck. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of seating. It was really hot and no shade and seating makes for a quick visit. We did taste the world famous Singapore Sling. A virgin version, that is. It was just okay but the grape slushy was excellent and tasted very purple just like I like!
The conference was a great showcase of technology and teaching in the Asian area. I got to say hello to Nearpod at their booth. I also met up with a great VR company and hope to connect with them when I get back to Florida and bring their ideas to Hillel. I got to meet up with Monica Joshi, but Namya wasn't able to come due to passport issues. Thanks for the shirt and bookmarks! I also reached out to several Vietnam attendees in hopes of talking about my work. 

In Vietnam we are very lucky that the exchange rate is very favorable for American dollars, in Singapore it is not. This is an expensive place to visit compared to Vietnam, but not an opportunity I could pass up!


We are headed back to Hanoi in an hour. We will do a Halong Bay Cruise Saturday/Sunday and then we are meeting with the Fulbright team Monday at the embassy before heading back to DaNang Tuesday. We will only be home for a couple of days because we will go to Ho Chi Minh and Pleiku November 18-30. In between the travels I am writing and researching a bit more on SAMR and will start building my website for my project. It will be a combination of information on SAMR and teacher recommendations on tech tools. I may add a section for student feedback too. I'm going to be requesting teacher participation soon, so please look for that and help if you can!

If you have suggestions for schools or teachers to connect with in Pleiku, Ho Chi Minh, DaNang or anywhere else in Vietnam … let me know! 

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A new week and new adventures

11/2/2022

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Busy busy week!
Work
Thursday and Friday last week I had the great privilege of teaching model lessons in Science and STEM. I had so much fun. I have missed teaching the past month and this was a great chance to get back to it. My 5th grade Science lesson was on the water cycle. We watched Flocabulary, read a book on GetEpic, and watched a song with actions. Students made sketchnotes to show their  learning. Then we made up our own movements and made a water cycle bag to put up at home to watch the water cycle in action. The next day I had the same class in STEM so we discussed floods, a common occurrence in DaNang and Miami. We learned about flood walls from Brainpop and GetEpic, then we tried to make a flood wall. I had dug up sand the night before at the beach for this and I also gave them supplies like sticks, cotton pads, sponges, and plastic bags. It was interesting to see light bulbs go off with the different materials. We tested and found both groups flood walls held initially, but some leakage happened after it sat. 
I also taught a 2nd grade natural or man made product lesson where we learned about trees becoming paper and furniture. We learned sand can become glass and oil becomes plastic. We read a book, played Time to Climb on Nearpod, and drew pictures. The 4th grade STEM lesson focused on drag and air pressure. We used Brainpop to learn and then made parachutes our of what I found at our corner market. I had some felt like material, a round wax paper like thing with holes, yarn, 2 kinds of tape, paper, cups, straws, and sticks. The kids formed 2 groups and each group made 2 parachutes. We tested and then talked about what works vs what didn't work. It was so much fun!
This week I am in Hanoi. I got to visit Hanoi Westminster School today. It is a primary school and they have a uniquely designed building that just makes so much sense with their modular walls and open floor plan. I loved the art all over campus. Beautiful professional murals right beside kids artwork. They have magnetic walls so kids' work can be displayed using magnetics. No need for tape or sticky putty! I also loved their storage system in the STEM lab. 
I was able to see the 1st grade STEM lesson. Students danced and sang about shapes, then they used skewers to make shapes and structures. Their goal was to make a structure sturdy enough to hold a storage box. It was interesting to see how every group started out differently. Some were concerned about perfecting their clay ball that were fasteners. Some just jumped into the building. Others made squares and then connected. There were  2 groups that met the challenge and held the box. They each had different methods of building. One used triangles and one used square with support beams. All students at the end could discuss and explain what went well for them and what they needed to work on, so really everyone was successful! 
All of the classes I have visited have been full of hardworking and excited learners and that makes watching them a joy!
 I spoke with my advisor tonight. He always makes me feel like I have my stuff together. He thinks I am on a good track and likes my plans. Yea!
Fun
Friday afternoon we hopped a plane to Hanoi, a short 1 hour 10 min flight north from DaNang. We arrived to a bustling city full of people and vehicles. While it is a beautiful place, I am so happy we were placed in DaNang where there are less people and traffic...even though it certainly seems like a lot. 
We are staying in the Old Quarter. It is a busy area with shops, restaurants, and lots of people. We have seen many backpackers coming through. There are many hostels and homestays here that cater to the wanderers. We have seen folks from all over the world and met some very kind people from Germany, Australia, and more. 
We have walked and toured much of the city. We did a Jeep Tour, where they use old army jeeps to show you around. I like having tour guides show us around first so we can learn about the history of the area and some cool hidden spots. We met up at the Hidden Gem coffeeshop and had a fabulous Butterfly Pea Flower drink and so much food! We got to climb the Vietnam Eiffel Tower… a train trestle made in 1902 by the same designer as the Eiffel Tower. We saw different neighborhoods and historical areas, and had the best coconut ice cream. And we got to have a drink at Train Street. A little too close for comfort for me, but it was cool! 
Another part of the tour took us to a fresh market. Our guide told us people in Vietnam want to only eat fresh foods and know where their food comes from. The people who live in the neighborhood go twice a day to get their food. There are live ducks, chickens, pigeons, snails, fish and other seafood. When you buy, the vendors kill and clean the meat for you. I am used to getting my food at the grocery store without a face. It was interesting and I am glad I was able to see it in person, but I couldn't pick my meat out like that. I ordered duck once at Saskatoon (wild game restaurant in Greenville). When they played it in front of me my wonderful diddy quacked at me and I couldn't eat it. I cried when I found out my burger Aunt Jackie made was from a deer…it might have been Bambie's grandchild. 
We also got tickets for the Hop On Hop Off bus. This is an economical way to get around the city's historic places you want to visit. You pay about $7 and get a day pass. Unfortunately the military museum was closed Monday so we missed that, but did get to see the Citadel, Pagoda, and a few other places. Unlike when I went to Charmeston with Uncle Ed and Viv, we actually hopped on and off quite a bit. Viv and Une Ed just wanted to ride into Charleston and then walk everywhere. In July … in Charleston, SC…I will never forget that adventure for sure. Uncle Ed's birthday is coming up soon. I got a card all ready to send before we left. And somehow forgot and it came to Vietnam. I took a picture of it and sent it to Viv so she can show him. Best laid plans...
Before I came over I asked Tova Yemin, my wonderful colleague at Hillel, if there were any Jewish communities in Vietnam and she found one in Hanoi. I looked it up when we arrived and they have a restaurant,  so we went over for dinner. I told the Rabbi where I was from and he was happy to have us. We met a couple from Tel Aviv who came for dinner, too. I didn't play Jewish Geography, but should have. I am sure that we would have eventually found people in common. Everybody knows somebody who knows Tova!
My friend Becky messaged me and gave us a recommendation from her Sister in law to try Pizza 4P. We had a delicious lunch from there and a delectable lava cake. We have discovered they have a few locations in DaNang as well so we will be trying them again! 
When I was observing a STEM class back in DaNang I saw kids making marionettes and a teacher told me about the traditional water puppet show. I was able to get tickets to the theater here. It was absolutely amazing to watch. Listening to the native instruments and singers, watching the puppets, and hearing the stories was magical. From my teenage days back in Pickens I remember doing puppet shows with our youth group. That was hard enough without having to stand in water to do all the work. After the water puppets we went out to find a festival happening. We walked around and saw many traditional foods, crafts, and performances. 
I somehow managed to tweak my knee Friday between teaching, the plane ride and getting around Hanoi. We went to the pharmacy and between my limited Vietnamese, a few charades, and Google Translate i was able to get Tramadol and Tiger Balm. Konstantin has not enjoyed the smell of Tiger Balm, but it helps. I wish I had my heating pad but it kinda exploded when we tried to use it back in DaNang. Voltage is very tricky.  
We have a few more days in Hanoi before heading to Singapore! Friday I am sharing STEM lesson planning ideas with education students at Hanoi University and visiting a high school in the area! So much learning and so much fun!


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October 26

10/26/2022

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Fun stuff

We took a 2nd trip to Ba Na Hills this week. This time we didn't go on a tour, just got a ride from someone and bought tickets on the way. The fog was thick on the tram ride up and frankly I was scared. We got some pictures on the bridge but the fog was rolling in and out quite a bit. So we went on up to the French Village and Amusement Park. We went on a weekday and there were fewer people so less waiting than before on the weekend. We did some rides and stuff, then more rides, then the buffet, and more walking around. Last time we ate a different buffet of Asian foods. This time we ate at Arapang. It had a salad bar, soup bar, hot foods, cold foods, you name it! We tried the Indian dishes- delicious, the interesting choices- really good, and the good old fried chicken and smoked chicken…because Ga is my jam! Finally in the afternoon the fog burned off and we got some great pictures of the fall decor. We headed down to Golden Bridge and found the view much clearer, so more pictures. Then back down the cable car, this time in the clear. It was a great day and a lot of steps! 

We of course walked to the beach a few days this week. Sunday afternoon we hung out as night fell and it was beautiful. The colors were amazing and I was so happy to sit and enjoy the calming sounds of the waves. There were more people than we normally see, due to the weekend. It was interesting to “people watch”. That was one of Granny Cricket's favorite activities. I remember going to the Greenville Mall with her just so she could watch people and we would make up stories about them. We stopped by and got a nighttime snack of lemon velvet cake. So good. We almost took an apartment in that building, and I am glad we didn't because that coffee shop calls me too often. 

We also went to Mega Mart. Think Sam's or Costco. I finally found rice...but the bags are jsut a little bit too much for us to handle. 


I am headed to Hanoi Friday and will hopefully meet more teachers, then to Singapore for EduTech Asia. I am excited to learn more…if you know me you know I love a good conference! I keep checking things on the agenda I want to go too and there is not enough time in the day! While in Hanoi we will also be touring sites and getting to know the city and its history. We are planning a Halong Bay cruise, deciding on a day trip or overnight, so many options. Some of it I am leaving up to Konstantin because it becomes overwhelming after a bit.

I cut Konstantin’s hair this week and am about to go line up the back. I do this at home too, so this isn’t new but it is always an adventure. We also found a delcious spot to eat...again. Dirty Fingers is a BBQ smokehouse and it is so good. He got steak and I got 4 sliders to try different meats. The pulled pork and brisket were good, but the pastrami and roast beef were PHENOMENAL. I even ordered an extra pastrami to bring home. I made eggs and pastrami for breakfast and pastrami sandwich for lunch. YUM. 


My cousins Ki and Bryson have been keeping up the next generation family sports business. Ki is playing soccer in South Carolina and my parents have been going to cheer him on and play with his brother and sister. Bryson is playing football in Texas and his mom posts videos to Facebook to keep us updated. Their brother and sisters (Isaiah, Hadassah, and Adalyn) keep everyone on the sidelines entertained, too. Each year at Christmas the kids get a book and something to play with based on the book from us and my parents. This year they are getting Vietnam themed gifts this year, books about this area and stuff from here. I don’t think I am ruining a surprise…I am sure they have figured it out already…and then some are babies and they won’t be reading this anyway. My Duncan kids are growing up and that makes it a bit harder to shop for them…but they are readers and creatives so that helps.Rose is quite the designer and seamstress, Sky is a great cook, James is into fantasy, and Ysa is a sparkling unicorn kinda kid. Not sure what that will mean for their gifts but it makes it fun to find! I can not wait to see my Princess and buddies at Christmas this year! So many new babies! I get to meet Everest (who was born in the car last Christmas), Eleanor, Khalani, and I am not sure that Ember and Haven would remember since it has been a while since we have played together. I know Scientist Tula, Princess Katie, and Princess Willow remember but Jackson was little before so he probably doesn’t. I just got to see Winston and wish him a happy birthday. I video called mama and diddy and he was with them! I never know what he will look like when I see him, but I am always glad when he comes to town. It makes my Aunt Jackie and my mom very happy to see him. My sweet Macie is going as Elsa for Halloween. Her mom Emileigh sent pictures this morning and she is so cute! Last year she was not a fan of Santa so not sure how that will go this year. Last year she would just look away and say NO. Her fighting to get away is one of my cousin Sandy’s favorite pictures, mine too. At some point I have to get to the Ohio branch and meet all those beautiful babies, Sophia, Ellen Po, Niko, and Caroline. Aunt Ellen would be so proud of me and all of those great grands!

Work
I am creating my PD in SAMR for the school.  I worked on lesson plans for STEM classes I am going to teach later this week also. It's fun to try and figure out what I can teach and explain. I'm going to use some sketchnoting, a little bit of tech, and hopefully a lot of fun. I have to alter my language to meet the needs of the students. I have lots of videos and images to share with them too, hopefully we can understand each other. I am doing natural and man made with 2nd grade, Drag and Parachutes with 4th grade, and Water Cycle in 5th grade. I always overplan, but that is how I work best. Here are my plans and slideshows, feel free to use and share!

The Fulbright Alumni Bus Tour came to visit me today, I was pretty excited to share what I'm working on and encourage more people to get involved. We did a sit down interview. We gave them a tour of the school and showed off my favorite room, the STEM room. The teachers showed off many of the projects and I got to share how I observed classes in Vietnamese, but knew everything going on because it is just like my class at home. I told them how important connections are for me and how I try to make those connections with students and teachers. I told them how my first grade teacher Ms Tutt (now Mrs O’Shields) dressed up as a scarecrow for Halloween and when we were out for PE she removed the hay from her shirt because it was itchy. I still remember that and we are friends on Facebook and she keeps up with me and what I am doing. I told them I had a wonderful music teacher in Mrs Hughes who continues to encourage me, and of course Coach SUmmey who kept telling mama to let me go. Coach, I don’t think she appreciates all the encouragement but I do! I told them about my DuncanChapel kids who I bought socks for and how we took off our shoes that day and walked around in the socks. I told them how I listened and gave advice to Lorin about grad school and how I am so proud of all of my kids throughout the years, like Esther who came back at the beginning of this school year and I got to learn all about her new life in DC. And of course I mentioned our Global Maker Day event and how I came to join them through connecting with Jaime Donally. Connections are what make our lives more meaningful and I am forever grateful for all of my education and life connections. They said I did well with the interviews and they never had to prompt and ask questions, I assured them my Advancement team at Hillel has me do these kinds of interviews so I am used to it! Thanks Ilana, Greg, Avi, and Valerie for all the practice! I also talked about how Monica and Craig encouraged me to apply and believed in me when I wasn’t so sure about this. And how Monica and I were on the phone when I got the email telling me I was accepted and how we both kinda freaked out about it and then Monica said call your mom! You can follow the bus on their Instagram alumbus_crew_2022 or on Facebook you can follow the US Embassy in Hanoi to see the interviews. 

I am firming up how to share my observations and learning, but still working through that. I want to create a place where teachers can share ideas and resources that can continue after my time here is complete. I'm wrapping my head around how that would look and work. If you have suggestions I would love to brainstorm with you! 


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October 19 It has been a month already!

10/19/2022

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And the rains came

So it is the rainy season in Central Vietnam. Much like our home in South Florida when the rains come they bring lots and lots of water in a sometimes short amount of time. This leads to flooding. And we saw this first hand this past weekend. All day rain and rain and rain and by night our street had water standing as high and overflowing the sidewalks. I'm sure the tides added to it for our neighborhood as well. The weather kept us inside for a few days this week.

We walked to the beach Sunday and saw lots of debris, some uprooted trees, and a few sinkhole areas. Overall not too bad in An Thuong but other areas were hit worse. We saw pictures in the various Facebook groups we are in that showed higher floods that covered roadways and entered houses. Several of the motorbikes were underwater and lined up to be serviced. One underpass we have traveled on many occasions was covered almost to the top of the bridge. We read there was at least one death here in DaNang. Hue and HoiAn also had flooding, the two areas we visited over the last few weeks. What is truly amazing is seeing how quickly they are able to clean up and get people back to work and fun. We watched some heavy machinery on the beach moving tree limbs and other things that had washed up off the beaches. 

There are more rains predicted for this week, so we went to the grocery store to grab some food in case it is too much to go out. We went to LotteMart. It is 5 levels with restaurants, movie theater, arcade, pharmacy, clothing/home store, and groceries. They have escalators that you push your cart onto and ride up with it. It's a little freaky that ride. It is a treat to visit the store with all of the traditional Vietnamese foods alongside Korean, American, Chinese, and more. 

Our neighborhood is truly an eclectic mix of people and places. We found Athena Souvlaki this week and met the owner. She is Vietnamese and lives above the restaurant.  She said before covid she looked around and saw lots of hamburger places and pizza and other food, but didn't see any Greek. So she hired a chef/teacher from Greece who came over and taught her recipes and cooking techniques. During covid they closed and went to Dubai, but they are now back and opened back up just this weekend. We had delicious lemon chicken soup, hummus, feta, and more. It was a delight! 

We also visited Shamrock Sports Bar and had shepherd's pie. My nephew Dillon loves shepherd's pie. His daughter Macie spent the week with my sister, her Granny. They sent me loads of pictures and a video from my sweet great niece telling me all about her visit to Papa's work where she saw trains and then went to the park and played with grandma and grandpa, my parents. She is such a delight and loves my parents almost as much as they love her. I bought her a traditional Vietnamese outfit the other day and I hope it fits.
We also had a meatball banh mi this week. We have tried several Vietnamese dishes, but I haven't found anything yet that makes me crave that dish. Except the bread from the banh mi now that was a delicious fluffy treat. 
And to round out our international food tour, we tried Korean BBQ for the first time. We had delicious steak and all that stuff that comes with it. I tried a little, but not all of it. Konstantin of course loved most of it. 

We do a lot of walking around the neighborhood to see what is where. We finally found an area of restaurants I have seen on the Facebook groups yesterday. Another pizza place, couple of Mexican themed restaurants, and the Happy Heart. I was so excited to try their chicken club sandwich. I am a big fan of sandwiches and you don't find a lot of sliced meats around Vietnam. I was thrilled with the bread. It was so delicious! And the cinnamon roll was outstanding. I want to go back and try so many other items on the menu!
If it sounds like all we do is eat…well welcome to the Roper family favorite pastime. My Granny Cricket (mom's mom) would ask “Where we going for lunch?” while eating breakfast.  Konstantin says in Pickens we are either eating or talking and planning our next meal. 

Work work work work work (humming Rihanna)

It's not all play,  just like 90%. As I am working and writing about the SAMR model framework (learn more) for technology integration I am learning more and challenging my own thinking. I have never been a full on diehard gotta use tech all the time. I always advocate for thoughtful and purposeful technology use. Some of my personal challenges with SAMR are the ladder visuals people use. It always makes it sound and looks like you should be striving for the top. Thankfully I found some pushback on that concept that matches what I perceive. Instead the research I am looking at now places it on a horizontal continuum, thus not ranking them as better and worse. I know most of you have no clue what I'm talking about but no worries, I will post my paper here for you to learn more soon! If you want to provide feedback on my paper, I would love it. Email me nancypenchev@gmail.com and I will share it with you!
I met with my advisor here at Skyline and shared my feedback on what I have been observing in their classes and how it applies to my SAMR research. She was excited to learn about the levels of SAMR and now I am planning a PD for teachers on SAMR and will be teaching a STEM model lesson next week. I am excited to share ideas and build more connections with teachers here. 

I have reached out to schools around the country of Vietnam to see if I can come visit. I've made connections with teachers through social media who are eager to help as well. I am still envisioning my final product of what I will do with this learning. I had a solid idea but the more time I spend here, the more I wonder if that is the way to go. But I have time to figure it out so it's all good.

I am meeting with my Fulbright advisor Dr Miller who is at Appalachian State next week to share where I am in my journey and see what he has to say about my direction. He always helps me take a deep breath and refocus. I did several ISTE proposals before the due date, including one about SAMR and one about grants, awards, and opportunities like Fulbright that teachers can take advantage of to learn and grow. I think it is vitally important for teachers to get out in the world and see what others are doing and share their successes and missteps as well. The smartest person in the room, is the room…so you gotta put yourself in the right rooms!

Global Maker Day


I was so excited to be a part of Global Maker Day again this year. It is the first time I haven't presented with students from Scheck Hillel, but I loved everything I got to learn about and I am bring back ideas! This year we were hosted live at Roper Mountain Science Center in Greenville, SC! I was so jealous because that is right near my parent's house and I went to college in Greenville and started my teaching career there. however when 2:55pm came around and the organizing team on site ate crickets...nah I was glad to be sitting in Vietnam at 1:55am! I ran the Padlet and jumped in to chat as needed during the day long learning event. You can head over to our website and see the videos and challenges and be inspired to get started making! And look out Ki and Tula and my other cousin kiddos this summer we are headed to Roper Mountain to check out their amazing new dinosaur exhibit and more!


Adventures to come

We are still in the planning stages of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and Pleiku. I have reached out to teachers and schools and had a few respond. Looking forward to more destinations and learning! The IREX/Fulbright staff have approved my request to attend EduTech Asia in Singapore in November. I am excited to check it out and learn from amazing presenters around Asia (learn more). I am searching flights and hotels as I am getting all of this blog together.

My Aunt is Pretty Amazing

I told you about my cool cousin Dixie hiking Mt Kilimanjaro a couple weeks back and today let me tell you about my Aunt Jackie. She is 79, 80 in January and plays senior Olympic softball around the country. She was in Florida in May for a tournament that I happily got to watch her play in and just won a tournament in Myrtle Beach this weekend. My mom is the youngest of 5 kids. Deda and Ellen came along first then the second round of kids Jackie, and then 18 months later Jerry & Jean the twins came along. Don;t get Jackie and mama started on their poor me stories about only being the baby for a little bit until the twins came and the poor brown haired twin who didn't look like her brother. It’s a whole family thing we love listening to, along with the lightning strike and 12 second doughnut. 

​Not as many pictures this week due to the rain and us not traveling over the weekend...but still some cutie pies!

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Week 3...It is going too fast!

10/12/2022

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Surviving and Thriving

Ever had one of those moments that you feel like is a defining moment in your life, where you can survive it or find a way to thrive through it? That was my Thursday. I take Grab to work, Vietnam’s version of Uber. My phone couldn’t find a connection once I got downstairs to meet the driver, luckily I had arranged my ride from the apartment. Somehow the driver was taking me opposite of where I was supposed to be going. I couldn’t use my translator or the app to tell him. I finally was able to get him to give me his phone and I put my school in the maps and he was able to get me there right on time as we were going to a different campus that day. Stressed is just a small word compared to how I felt. I was in this foreign environment not able to clearly communicate and in that moment I felt myself shutting down. But I couldn’t give up, so I powered through and ended up fine. I am able to calmly solve a problem and make everything work out. Whew!

Work
 

I have spent this week visiting different campuses for Skyline. It has been very interesting to see the differences. As in most city areas, land is a premium so the schools build up. I remember in my freshman year at Anderson University I had a roommate from Japan, and she was amazed that the buildings were only 2 stories and the campus was so wide. Now I see why. The schools here are 5 to 6 stories and all the kids move up and down the steps, including the babies! I also got to visit the campus called the school in the forest. My guide at the school, Teacher Brady, said they take it even further to say the school in the forest and forest in the school. 
This campus is in a rural area that has trees surrounding it and throughout it. The students actually team up to plant trees, giving them a personal investment in the school. While the student numbers are low currently, because of the newness of the school location, they have built for the numbers they want, not the numbers they currently have. They have a kindergarten building for the youngest students, a primary building, a secondary building, and a building that houses the arts, library, and lunchroom. I loved their ambitious building plan to create space that would work for the future. They have a garden area that students tend to. They then eat from the garden and take the peelings and leftover food to use as compost. 

My visit to the Hill Campus coincided with a middle school field trip to that campus. The students did an experiential visit to the forest and learned to cook using a fire. I tried a sweet potato roasted over a fire. A little sandy but delicious. In the afternoon they did science experiments, bending chicken bones with fire and acid. They built cars and tried to have them move with baking soda and vinegar as “gas”. It was smelly but fun. They also used measuring tape and stopwatches to measure how fast and far wind up cars would move. The students were very excited and a little exhausted on the way back to our home campus. 

I was able to meet with the STEM chair for the Skyline schools at the Hill campus. I got to see their program and how they are integrating STEM in the schools. It was very similar to what we do at Scheck Hillel. They use Lego robotics, Scratch, Makey Makey and many other programs. They lead their students in discovering, making, and competing in STEM contests. I shared our programs, tools, and how we approach STEM learning. We talked about Science and STEM integration for my class and how our middle school has STEM as an elective and in high school it is a competitive class you have to apply for and they do competitions. I explained my personal philosophy with facilitating learning, supporting kids as they work and discover, and finding student passions. This is just another example of how even though we are separated by many miles, we have similar ideas and programs. 

Speaking of similarities, I emailed our Scheck Hillel ECE teachers to tell them of how I was watching a group of toddlers, around 2 year olds. The teachers were trying to get them lined up and as soon as they got two kids in line they would go to get more, while the first two wandered off. It was very reminiscent of the herding cat videos.

I was also able to observe some STEM classes this week. They are taught in Vietnamese so while I didn't understand the words being used I understood everything being taught and practiced in class. I saw 5th graders making hinges, 4th graders making marionettes, 6th graders building catapults, and 8th graders building model homes. The design process is the same in any language…build, try, adjust, try again, repeat. The students happily showed me their projects and were very proud of what they had managed to build. I was very impressed. The school uses a STEM curriculum from Arizona State University. They have so many great opportunities for productive struggle and learning from what doesn’t work. I watched a couple of Science/English lessons this week that also incorporated STEM and MAKER concepts. The kids were making percussion instruments to go along with their Sound lessons. I saw this in action through different grades and different schools and it was such a joy to see kids exploring and having fun while learning! Speaking of MAKER, Global Maker Day is October 18 and you can learn with students from all over the globe! This is my favorite day of the year, as it is student directed and led. Kids showcase their maker projects and encourage others to just MAKE! You can learn more and sign up by visiting https://www.globalmakerday.com/. 

Exploring 


We took a couple of afternoon trips to the beach this week. As we walked we saw beautiful sites, and also some sad things. We saw a few dead fish along the shore right alongside trash. A true beauty and the beast situation. My 5th graders are doing projects about water soon, so I will be sharing these pictures with them as a problem with water they could focus on in their work. We stayed about a minute too long and got soaked as the heavens opened up. It is the rainy season after all. Another day we took off to our beach two blocks away from our apartment. I wrote and researched for an hour and then decided I deserved a treat! So off to the beach for a Dragon drink (orange juice, pineapple juice, and coconut milk) and so Chicken and Cheese balls. So good!


Weekends are our time to explore more of Vietnam beyond DaNang. We visited MySon on our way to Hoi An (learn more). It has ancient ruins and amazing brickwork. We got to watch a cultural show with music and dancing that was very interesting.  The atmosphere is very calming…until the mosquitoes come. It is quite a walk into the woods as well but we'll be worth the trip. I.did appreciate the electric vehicle transport to the walk area. I appreciate the transport as well as the use of sustainable transport to help save this beautiful environment. I know my tree hugger cousin Laura would appreciate this part too! I took pictures of the structures in MySon and sent them to show my Uncle Richard. He was a brick mason before retirement and I know he appreciates good brickwork that lasts for so many years. 

Hoi An is a truly magical spot (learn more). We went to experience the full moon lunar lantern festival. I was able to purchase a lantern for 5,000 dong and set it floating in the river. The best part was mom and diddy were with us! I was able to connect to local wifi long enough to video call them and take them on a walk down the riverside. We took selfies, they laughed at Konstantin becoming a fruit seller, and saw the lantern being set into the water. This journey was to honor my dad and being able to have them with us along the way is so important for me. Thanks Whatsapp! If you are traveling to this area, you have to download Whatsapp. It allows you to communicate back home and most of the country here uses it to text and call as well. 

We stayed at the Hoi An Ancient House Spa and Resort. It is a long and windy journey through the hotel to your room. You pass a beautiful pool and gardens on the way. They have an excellent restaurant and a fun pool table in the bar! It is a great location, close enough to Old Town and the explorations, but far enough away that you can enjoy the serenity of being in the midst of frogs croaking. I would highly recommend this hotel if you are visiting Hoi An. 

I brought several dresses with me that are just a bit too long. I knew from our research that Hoi An is famous for its tailors so I figured I could get them hemmed there. We found a wonderful tailor to do my adjustments and I even had a custom dress made for me! Mimi is an excellent designer and her team is so fast! I stopped in one evening and the next day at lunch it was ready to try on! I loved the design and the fabric, which was so hard to choose from because I wanted them all! Michaela, also known as the perfect one, is my baby cousin who is getting married. Mimi assured us she can do wedding dresses too, so Michaela here ya go! 

Hoi An has many twists and turns throughout the village with hidden alleyways. It was fun to pop down one alley and end up in a completely new area…or find a connection to an area we had already explored. We found the Vietnam version of Dipping Dots…another Michaela reference here. When the Greenville Braves were our team, and Michaela was 3, Erin sold Dipping Dots at the stadium and she would put a rainbow flavor back on nights she knew Michaela was coming to games. That connection has lasted way past the team’s leaving. Erin still send Michaela Christmas ornaments and birthday cards…over 20 years now. Thank you Erin for loving our girl!

We enjoyed street food, pizza, and pineapple drinks. I have been drinking more pineapple juice these days in Vietnam. It is so good and refreshing in the heat of the day here. Konstantin found a spa, there were 100s, and was able to get a good deal on a foot massage and deep tissue body massage. He comes out in pain, but says it is a good pain. I am such a sucker for street vendors. We bought so many souvenirs and some treats for ourselves too. And wouldn't you know it…Konstantin found one of a handful of Bulgarians in Vietnam!

We managed to find a cool hangout spot called Chic Chillax on the outskirts of Hoi An. It had a nice crowd for a Sunday morning/brunch time. They had a cow just hanging out and a pond with ducks. I sent Michaela a video, man she is in this episode a lot. Michaela is a rancher these days and I sent her a video recommending she open a little coffee spot in her cow fields…and I sent a video to her mom Sandy who has Farm 159 in Dacusville, SC. The Farm has become my parents favorite spot to relax and fish. Sandy and Mike have this lovely spot they rent out for family reunions, weddings, and other events, as well as a tiny house you can rent on AirBnB. Every time I get to visit they have added more to the location and it is wonderful. I suggested they build a walkway like at Chic Chillax and some over the pond hammocks. Not sure how they could do it, but it would be cool!

Hoi An has a long history and many different cultures represented in its history. They have strong links to Japan, France, and China. One of the cultural sites you can visit and take beautiful pictures of is the Japanese Covered Bridge. It is super popular, so expect a crowd, but the architecture is beautiful. Other things to do in Hoi An include taking a ride on a boat down the river, going to the hugely popular night market, and the coconut basket boats (learn more). We didn’t get to go on a coconut boat this time, rainy season storms kept us from getting everything done we wanted, but it is only 35 min or so from our apartment here in DaNang so we can definitely go back another day.  We took a night trip to Cua Dai Beach for some beautiful sunset photos while in Hoi An. Night in Hoi An is a beautiful time, from the Old Town to the beach it is just charming! 

And sometimes you just need a taste of home…and I found an Adobo Mexican restaurant! It is a bit like Chipotle and SOOO good! We met the owner who just opened the place after deciding the one thing he missed from home was Chipotle. He is from Michigan and was backpacking through pre Covid and decided to stay. It is a couple blocks over from us. He had a good laugh at my happy dance at the first bite. So good!!!

This weekend I told Konstantin I need a break from the run, run, run of exploring. We are going to do some beach time here in DaNang and see what else we can discover about our own town! Maybe back to the Dragon Bridge show, a few markets around, and some rest. My blood sugar has improved so much here. Ya know it is weird how eating better and doing more exercise can have that effect…but I also have had lows. That is definitely new. So this weekend we are going to still walk around, see things, and play…but also take some time to reset mentally and physically. 
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Alright friends and family and complete internet strangers…thanks for reading. As always please ask questions, give suggestions, and let me know what you think! You can comment here or email me nancypenchev@gmail.com. 

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    Nancy Penchev
    2022-2023 Fulbright DA- Vietnam participant

    The author of this publication/website/blog/etc. is a participant of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program (Fulbright DA), a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. The views and information presented are the participant's own and do not represent the U.S. Department of State, the Fulbright Program, or IREX. 

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