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Published: August 6th 2012
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Day 16 Teaching week starts
Got up at eight, and showered ready for the next move. Today we are moving to Nam Dinh to do our volunteer teaching week. There are six of us in the group: Nadia, Britty, Hannah, Becky mad me. The rest of the group of the original 17 should now have arrived safely at Sapa to start their trekking week. I was thinking about them all last night, wondering how their overnight train journey had gone! I do hope it wasn't too bad for them all. I think some will find it harder than others.
We all had breakfast before heading off into the local market to buy a bouquet of flowers for the couple who will be looking after us at the home stay. Without them, there would be no home stay! We set off, with our heavily laden backpacks, through the market, which really would benefit us having blinkers on as we go through the cages of 'fresh' chichens, chicks, ducks, rabbits, prawns, crabs and fish, which are actually still alive; the other goods, which includes pigs trotters, chicken feet, and other bits that I actually recognise! I won't be sorry to not have
to walk through there for at least a week!
The bags were loaded on to the bus, then the fun started! Two traffic police started to give the driver grief. We had to jump in the bus quickly, closing the doors as we were being driven away. All hell broke loose. We were soon being chased by the police on their moped! The rush off the traffic is usually horrific, but it seemed worse than ever. The driver was amazing. The bus came to a stand off with a taxi, not to mention all the mopeds, cycles and pedestrians! We were static. The police caught up and trying to get into the bus. The face on the policeman was a picture. You could see the angry, superior attitude in his face, which for such a young lad was quite discerning. There was pushing and pulling on the drivers door, shrieks from us, panic from Kevin. The driver pushed him off the door; we were off again. At this point you could literally feel the anxiousness of the diver, Kevin and the police, not forgetting us six in the back! We all ensured that all of the doors were locked.
The police overtook us in order to cut us off, but the driver was weaving in and out of ridiculously small spaces, across, and over lanes that you would not of believed possible, and went in the opposite direction. We were all looking around the small side streets and crossroads for a few minutes after we cleared the area, but we got away, and was off to Nam Dinh, no worse for the experience!
We arrived at the home stay; all six of us in one. That sounds a lot, but it is ok. It is a reasonably large room with three double beds. We had lunch with Kevin and the driver, it was an ok meal! We had a bit of free time, so got the washing done...in a real washing machine, that was a treat. The home stay lady loved the flowers we brought; her name is Mrs Tsin.
At about 3'0 clock, which actually became 4'0 clock we went to meet the headmaster of the school for an informal chat. The whole 'teaching' thing seems to be fading somewhat. The kids are not at school
until Tuesday afternoon as they have been on their long summer break.
Therefore we are doing:
Tuesday morning free, afternoon
2 - 4.30 Wednesday 1hr community work and 1 hour teaching, afternoon free
Thursday 9 - 11, afternoon free
Friday 1hr community work and 1 hour teaching, afternoon free
So the one. Week teaching comes down to very little! Nadia was really upset but she came up with a good idea of helping in the kindergarten in some of our free time. It wouldn't be so bad, but there is actually nothing much here that we can fill our spare time with! We went back to the home stay for tea, then we are going to the karaoke bar for drinks!
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