Week 3...It is going too fast!

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.