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Technology is a Tool, Not a Learning Outcome

Only 3 weeks left? How did this happen?

11/29/2022

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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Author

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.

Only 3 weeks left? How did this happen?

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

Another week, Another trip

Only a couple days late!

A new week and new adventures

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