Sunday, January 30, 2011

Lucky Money

Here in Vietnam, we are now preparing for the Lunar New Year. This time of year, we put money into red envelopes to give to children to wish them good luck, health, etc. This year, my students are getting two-dollar bills if they visit my house to see me.

Aside from giving out lucky money, I have a two-week vacation from work with absolutely NOTHING to do!!! Heaven!
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    Thursday, January 27, 2011

    I curse you, iphone autocorrect feature!

    A message to/from my boss:

    Wednesday, January 26, 2011

    Earthquake in Vietnam!


    So today, after I got home from watching a movie with my pal, Steph, I sat at my desk for a bit. I noticed a slight jolt and then another one and then another one. I thought it may have been an earthquake, and then I thought to myself, "Nah! Not in Vietnam!" and went back to my chatting. Besides, I'm a good ol' Louisiana boy. How could I possibly know what an earthquake feels like? I deduced that it must have been a truck passing through or the neighbors ... or something because 'there are no earthquakes in Vietnam.'
    Later, my friend, Tyler, sent a message, "OMG! Did you know there was an earthquake?" Turns out I was right!! It WAS an earthquake! My VERY FIRST earthquake! How exciting! -and uneventful, really! But I'd always wanted to know what an earthquake felt like, and now I do.
    There was a 4.7 off the coast here in Southern Vietnam. I'm about 110 miles away from the epicenter. So now when I get one of those goofy surveys from a friend asking if I've ever felt an earthquake, I can tick that off the list.
    That little blue man indicates where I am.

    Sunday, January 23, 2011

    Classroom Photos

    Only five students showed up for my favorite class. This is indicative that the Lunar New Year is upon us as all students take a break for some time to prepare for the festivities.In another class, I had the students sit far from each other to make them speak louder to hear their partners (they are shy). So, the little buggers just leaned in, defeating the purpose :)

    Monday, January 17, 2011

    Chilly Morning

    Oh... Mah... Gaahhh!! This is the COLDEST it's EVER been in the 2 1/2 years I've lived here. Global warming, man. Global warming.

    Friday, January 14, 2011

    Funny t-shirts

    Last night, two of my students had on funny shirts. So random.

    She had no idea what 'swagger' was.

    And this.. well.. this is just wrong. But funny.

    Friday, January 7, 2011

    How to get around the facebook block in Vietnam

    Copy the following information into word pad, then save it (replace existing) to: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
    Then, you can access facebook normally!

    # Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
    #
    # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
    #
    # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
    # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
    # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
    # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
    # space.
    #
    # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
    # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
    #
    # For example:
    #
    # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
    # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

    # localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
    # 127.0.0.1 localhost
    127.0.0.1 localhost
    127.0.0.1 wat.microsoft.com
    127.0.0.1 mpa.microsoft.com
    127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 practivate.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 ereg.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 activate.wip3.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 wip3.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 3dns-3.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 3dns-2.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 adobe-dns.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-2.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 adobe-dns-3.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 ereg.wip3.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 activate-sea.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 wwis-dubc1-vip60.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 activate-sjc0.adobe.com
    127.0.0.1 adobeereg.com
    127.0.0.1 insider.msg.yahoo.com
    153.16.15.71 facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 apps.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.apps.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 login.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.login.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 touch.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.touch.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 vn-vi.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.vn-vi.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 m.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.m.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 register.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.register.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 graph.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.graph.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 static.ak.connect.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.static.ak.connect.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 developers.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.developers.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 error.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.error.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 upload.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.upload.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 pixel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.pixel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 0.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.0.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 en-gb.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.en-gb.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 blog.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.blog.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 1.152.channel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.1.152.channel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 channel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.channel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 0.152.channel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.0.152.channel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 connect.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.connect.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 api.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.api.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 0.50.chanel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.0.50.chanel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 error.152.channel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.error.152.channel.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 bigzipfiles.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.bigzipfiles.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 vi-vn.connect.facebook.com
    153.16.15.71 www.vi-vn.connect.facebook.com

    # ::1 localhost

    And.. facebook is REblocked.

    Whatevs. That's what proxy servers and software are for.

    Google: hotspot shield. Download it, run it, open facebook. Life will be joyous for you once again.

    Thursday, January 6, 2011

    A Care Package!

    So once again, my wonderful friend, Shana, has come through for me! When I was living in Korea, she sent me a care package of goodies. I just received a package from her today that she sent for Christmas complete with Bath and Body Works Wallflower refills (which EVERYONE knows I love) and Crest White Strips!! Hooray! Thanks, Shana!!

    Wednesday, January 5, 2011

    Facebook UNblocked in Vietnam

    So after a week of a block of facebook here in Vietnam, we no longer need a proxy server or program to access it.

    I wonder what that was all about. What was the point? Is the UNblock just a temporary thing? Did too many people complain, and the government gave in to the protests? Did the higher-ups stumble across my blog and realize I had a point? haha

    I wonder..