First day of work

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So yesterday we were finally allowed into the hospital! Apparently it is normal to have to wait so long as you need alot of documentation and such in the hospital. After waiting for about an hour, we went up to the 7th floor to what I think was the cancer department. We brought out a box of coloured pencils, pens and paper and sat for a few hours and drew and played with the kids. They were very excited when they saw us and were happy to have something to do.

This little girl kept talking to me in Vietnamese, so I got one of the local volunteers to translate for me, she was asking me to draw things for her, so I drew a cat, butterflies, etc. Then one of the boys came over and showed me a pokemon book, asking me to draw a pikachu. Some of the others boys saw this, so they all lined up in front of me, waiting for a pikachu drawing! They were so adorable!

We are not sure what exactly we will be doing everyday, but our main aim is to entertain the children and make them forget about their illnesses. I think we succeeded in doing so yesterday!

We only work from 2 to 4.30 in the afternoon, so we have some time to do other things in the morning which is really nice.

Yesterday it was Elizabeth's birthday, so after work we went into town to meet up with the others for dinner and drinks. It was a lot of fun, and Hanoi's night life is cool - except for the fact that everything closes at 12!

Today was our first real weekend day, so we spent the whole day relaxing and treating ourselves. This morning we went to the pool and hung out for an hour. After lunch (at an Italian restaurant with fries!) we went to get a massage - a very very weird experience. We were put in seperate rooms with a little Vietnamese girl who punched and slapped us around for an hour. I wanted to scream and some points - it hurt, tickled and felt good at the same time. After this three of us went to get our nails done. I have never had nice nails before, it feels so weird! But they were very good at it and it looks really good (see pictures).

(sorry the pictures from the hospital don't seem to work, but I will try to add some soon)

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Photos

At Dragonfly
A shisha bar in the old district

Our pool
The pool at a hotel near our house

Nails
Katrine and I with our newly painted nails

Comments

[Mor]

Hi Julie. Your really made my day today, first with the long good talk we had on skype this morning and later with 2 wonderful entries with lovely pictures. I feel proud of you, and your friends! Mor

[Lotte]

Great Sunday reading
Dear Julie, I echo Janne's comments. Sitting here on a dull Sunday afternoon, it was great to read your very positive story on first day at work. - What a warm feeling to get, reading your story and looking at the very telling pictures from the hospital. And your nails look great. Regards also from Benedikte, who is now on to Brussels for the next 3 days. Her 18 year's party Friday went very well over expectations! Knus Lotte

[Alexandra]

My beloved Julie, I'm so, so glad you seem to be enjoying Hanoi so much. Its great that you have some time for yourself in addition to working with the kids. As expected, you've already made lots of friends :) Are you working in French a little or is English a better choice? Or do you always need a translator? Beautiful pictures. I hope youre as well as you seem. Lots of love, i will write to you soon. In the mean time, i check your blog daily! Take care.

[Gustav]

Nice!
Wo0ot! care'o'meter: (-------------------------|-)!!!! Er det dig der har tegnet den der pikachu for så skal jeg også lige ha en ik? Det lyder som om du har haft det sjovt! Min første karakter har jeg lige fået idag i historie....... 6.5/7! ouch! Du er vel glad for at Hanoi by night er fedt ik? Glæder mig til at komme ned og se dit lille "paradise" ses om nogen uger. Guf!