Marathon Teaching

So today was our most teaching intense day with 8 classes from 9.30 to 20.15, 6 of which (from 14.30 to 20.15) were without break (!) Highlights include one of the Vietnamese teaching assistants introducing us to a pretty nice gym (far larger and better equiped than any gym I've seen in London, not that that says much!) for £5 per month so joined up to that bad boy and hopped on the benches for the first time in a long time.

After teaching had dinner with Benny which was good good. Eye been a little pinkish lately so went by the pharmacist and picked up some special drops for it (two sets of drops, one for cleaning out the eyes, the other for the treatment. Total cost for treatment: £0.60). Had some very nice smoothies on Pho Hue on the way home--mine was pineapple, strawberries, and honey and I added some cinnamon into the mix (taking a page from the old Pieces). Bike's been acting up a bit-- its straining a bit even in top (4th) gear so a little perplexed but who knows. Benny thinks someone might've swapped out the parts for shittier ones (apparently has happened to him before without him knowing) but will take it to our bike guy-- "Danny" to see if he can figure out whats up with it after we get back from Danang/Hoi An on Thursday afternoon.

Yesterday was the old 6.30 wake up for teaching from 7.30 so thats always fun. In between classes we got some high quality Bun Cha (noodles with pork and greens all on diff plates that you mix in to a bowl with the pork and the broth, very nice) and took a little naposie before heading over to Maison Centrale, otherwise known as Hoa Lo prison, which was built by the French in 1896 to detain Vietnamese political prisoners. One third of the original prison has been made into a museum to showcase how horrible the French were to the Vietnamese detainees and how wonderfully the American troops were treated during the war when they were here (volleyball, dance classes, language classes, guitar lessons, you name it, apparently they were competing with Club Med for the contract). The other two thirds was torn down in 1993, in its place now stands the "Hanoi Towers" a modern residential and office block.

Then lounged in Moca Cafe on Nha Tho by the Cathedral and drank coffee, read the completely unbiased Vietnam News, published by the government and features many an article on how prosperous people are becoming and how responsible the govt is (ok its not quite that bad, it actually is quite a good newspaper considering). Then went back to teaching and met up with Charlotte and Ann at Hapro on Hoan Kiem lake afterwards. These were two women (mother and daughter, Ann being probably 40s and Charlotte being in her 70s) we met on the train from Beijing to Hanoi. Very cool to see someone so exciting and engaged travelling despite being quite old. She does talk quite a bit though! They had just come from Hoi An and said it was very nice so we have high hopes. Anyway, computer is acting up and our flight is early in the morning so will post either from Hoi An or upon our return. Lots of love, P