In Saigon until Tuesday

My buddy, Colin, who I worked with in Korea, is flying into Saigon tomorrow with his girlfriend, Sara. Vuong and I are going to hang with them for a few days and show them around while they're in town. Be back on Tuesday.. with lots of photos for my blog! Here's a pic of us back in 2007 in Korea. Nice expression, eh?

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New Sign

So.. my school got a new sign outside the gate. Gold star for being famous!

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Same Location, Different Time

For some reason (maybe it was the 3 bags of M&Ms I ate last night along with the can of 7up I drank at Sophia's house), I didn't get to sleep until almost 5am. I woke up at 8:30ish this morning and was out the door at 8:45am to run around the park. The Vietnamese people don't like the sun so much as they value light skin (and not skin cancer so much). I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to get a good run in without being disturbed. Goldmine! I was right! I didn't get talked to, stalked, bothered, or annoyed ONE time because everyone is gone at that time of day! So.. that's what I'm doing. From now on, I'm running after 8:30am. Plus, I sweat more so more weight loss, right? Sometimes, I'm a genius!

Below are a couple of pics from last night. Went to Sophia's new house to check out the big five story five bedroom house that we'll be moving into next month. Sooo excited about the move!! More privacy! And no children banging on my window invading my space. AND I'll be with other "foreigners!" As much as I love the Vietnamese people and culture, I miss my own. So living with four other Western teachers will be good for my soul.

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Location! Location! Location!

So... today was my first day back running in two weeks because I was sick sick sick!! I didn't get a good workout in because it seems everyone wants to stop me and practice their English. If you know me, you know I'm extremely social and friendly (hello! MSU Homecoming King!!).
However, when I'm working out, I have my mp3 on, am listening to music, and have only ONE thing in mind - exercising! It's my time to myself. I don't want to be stopped and talked to. Hence, the primary reason for wearing my mp3. Starting tomorrow, I will run down the street - no more Bien Hung Park. I still have about 15 lbs I want to lose, and I can't do that if I stop and start and stop and start. It's bothersome at best. Does anyone else feel like I do? Do you just not want to be bothered when you're working out? Or am I just being cranky?

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Care Package!

Yaye! Got a care package today from my friend, Angela, back home. She sent me LOTS of Bath and Body Works wallflowers refills! Thanks, Angela!!

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May 24 Photos

Some photos of me teaching today. 1: Playing 20 questions 2: Listening to answers 3: Asking questions 4: Explaining "skin"

Kris Allen wins American Idol

Hiatus

Sorry I haven't blogged in the past four days. I was in the bed for that entirety sick with the flu. I'm better now, but I've given it to Vuong. Sadness.

Time for bed now, though.

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A Special Time in my Life

A photo from my team at FAU (Florida Atlantic University) Cheer. This is the team that took 1st runner up at the NCA College National Championships in 2001. Love these guys!

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The Power of the Internet

So, back around Christmas time, Vietnam beat Thailand in soccer for the Southeast Asia World Cup.. or something like that. I posted a blog with pictures about me going in the streets to celebrate with the Vietnamese people. It was CRAZINESS!

Someone on facebook found me somehow and posted a picture from that night. How amazing that a complete stranger.. from Vietnam... found me on facebook... and sent me this picture he found that one of his friends took!?!?! Small world, isn't it?

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Fair Prizes!

You know those prizes you work so hard for trying to win a game of some sort at a carnival or local fair? Well.. here in Vietnam, there are stores and stores where you can just buy these dang things! No tickets or effort needed.

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Serious Teacher? Me? Never!

Just look how excited the students get when I do back handsprings for them in class. Some call it bribery; I call it positive reinforcement. If they are good, I tumble for them.

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No Diet Sunday.. Again

I broke my diet today.

In front of me:

2 coffees with milk, a scoop of chocolate ice cream, and a brownie with chocolate syrup.

I "DID" run over 5 km (3 miles) this morning. Does that make up for this "fall off the wagon?" Just curious...

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A Great Find in DaLat

Blue Margaritas!!! It'd been a while since I'd had a good margarita. Finding this treasure was indeed a happy time.

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A King's Palace

So, Vee and I visited a former king's "palace" in DaLat. Apparently, it was his summertime getaway. Unfortunately, the fee to get in wasn't being used toward maintenance or upkeep as the place surely looked like it was out of 1953. The furniture was haggard, the inside was terribly dirty, and the "palace" was in an overall state of despair. Photos below.

The front of the building.

Before entering, you had to put on slippers to protect your feet from the grime inside.

Some shots of the inside of the house, complete with 1950s art deco.

The faboosh kitchen.

The back of the house and a horsie I found outside. I'm a cowboy!

Cable Car Ride in DaLat

In the cable car.

On the deck waiting for the cable car.

View of DaLat from the cable car.

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Pics from the Crazy House

Clearly where I belong.. Hey, man!

Senior Pic!!

Too Tired!

Around DaLat

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, it rained the entire time in the mountains so activities were limited. Here are some photos of some of the sites just driving around town.

The Local Train Station (That Is Now Out of Commission)

Ass! Well.. AssES!

Louis Pasteur's Training Hospital

Carriage Ride

90kg!!

HELL YEAH!! I'm 90 kg today! All my hard work of eating better and running 3 miles every morning is paying off!! This means I'm OFFICIALLY under 200 lbs!! For the first time in almost three years!! I still have a few more kg to drop, but I'm very happy now!! I've lost 22 kg since living in Vietnam for 8 1/2 months. That's 48.5 lbs!! 48.5 lbs!!!! And about 13 more to go (lbs, not kg).

Just wanted to celebrate by writing a blog! I will put more DaLat pics up tonight. Naptime now.

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My Trip to DaLat

So, I arrived home yesterday after spending a few days in the mountain town of DaLat. I was surprised that I didn't see a lot of foreigners there. Maybe they were smart and stayed away as it was cold and rained the entire time I was there. The buses were all booked on the way back until Monday night. I couldn't wait until then to come back, so I opted to take a taxi for the 5+ hour ride home. My thoughts on visiting DaLat can be summed up with the following statements: 'Once is enough!' and 'Never again!'

Luckily, I had my friend, Vuong, to keep me company. Aside from the rain, cold, and crowds of people, there were some bright spots. I'll be posting some photos from my adventures throughout the week. Below is a picture that best describes every day I was there.

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Adam Lambert's 'Feeling Good' Performance

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