Vietnam's Next Top Model

So if you've been keeping up with my blog, you'll remember that back in May I started a new, healthy lifestyle. I've really cut down on meat A LOT, have increased my intake of fruits and vegetables, and have been exercising a minimum of four times a week, recently in the early morning hours. I've, also, taken up coaching cheerleading and tumbling again, and that definitely keeps me active. I've lost 30 lbs so far, and last night one of my students snapped a photo of me in class. I decided I would be a model in the photo. Again.

Gymnastics in Vietnam

Every Sunday I've been getting together with my cheer boys to teach them back handsprings and eventually back tucks to put into their competition routine for December. Below are some photos of yesterday's practice.

Tony's getting ready to throw his back handspring.

This is Huy in mid-air.
C-U in his handstand just before the landing.
This is Hung (boi) with, unfortunately, bent legs. We'll work on that.
And here's C-U again getting ready to throw his back handpspring.-

Cheerleading in Vietnam, Aug 17th Practice

We had a really tiring but good practice today. It was the first day we did everything full out to counts. Then we did it with the music. The routine is almost finished. Below are some photos of today's practice.

First, we danced!

-Then, we stunted!

Afterward, we all sat down and reviewed the morning's practice. T'was a good day of cheer!

Ngo Quyen High School Cheerleading Video

Not quite perfect yet because they just put everything together today, but this is the first video of Day 1.

Photo of the Day

Standing Back Tuck, 10 Aug 2001

Old as dirt and big as a house, but I've still got it!

Cheerleading in Vietnam, Aug 10th Practice

This morning, my cheerleaders at Ngo Quyen High School had an amazing practice! We finished one motion sequence, and they got a lib pyramid. They're gonna WOW everyone who sees them!

Fixing motions.

The boys practicing their motion sequence.
Everyone practicing motions together.
Then, we stunted! Here I am probably talking about nothing at all.
And the end result: A lib pyramid!

Late Birthday Photos

So, my birthday came and went a couple of weeks ago. Actually, I didn't want it to be a big deal this year (for the first time EVER in my life), but it indeed WAS a big deal. I had 5 parties thrown for me, 5 cakes, and got lots of gifts. I especially enjoyed my students and friends who I got to celebrate with. Enjoy the photos below.

The factory workers that I teach at Penflex Vietnam took me out for a Korean dinner with coffee afterward.

I hadn't eaten goghi mandu since I left Korea three years ago. Yummy!

My Mystery class had a party for me.

Then they threw cake in my face!

When I went home that night, the students I taught at Tan Mai Church surprised me with cake and a gift. This REALLY surprised me and was so special to me.

Funny Text Message

This is a message from one of my students -just a slight issue with the language barrier.