Week 1

Hard to believe it but I've been here almost a week now. It's been like jumping down a rabbit hole into a completely different reality - as expected. I made it to Hoi An yesterday, where we will be based for the next 6 months. A gorgeous and interesting spot. Pete & I passed through here on our honey moon, long ago, but although it has changed a bit it's surprisingly the same too.
The week started with a very long day of travel via Singapore (8 hr stop) and an unexpected drop into Cambodia - Siem Riep- on the way on up to Danang. The first day we (myself and Steph another volunteer starting at the same time) were met and shown around downtown Danang for the first few days which was an enormous help in orientating myself to where I was and the very different surroundings, where to eat, how to get money, the way the taxi system works, what to expect to pay for things, the rhythm of the traffic, how the heck to cross the road etc. Although Danag is a big busy city with massive tourism infrastructure building going on, we were very much the odd ones out, being westerners. I barely saw another 'foreigner' for most of the 5 days I was in Danang and they were very curious about what we had on, our clumbsy attemts at Vietnamese, where we were from, why we are here.
Steph and I had 5 days of 2hr Vietnamese lessons in 5th gear to kick start our immersion into living here. It's not going to be easy. Some of the more useful things I can say (if I have my notes) are : "I am not a tourist, I am a volunteer", My name is Alison, I come from Australia, How much is that, thats too expensive, can you help me find a taxi,  Oi can you serve me......  If I can remember all of that it's not a bad start (I cant remember it all just yet). It's defintely helped though and has already put me a couple of paces ahead of the run-of-the-mill tourist here in Hoi An - but only just.
The last day and a half Ive spent being shown around by Karen, the founder of Lifestart, and her 2 Vietnamese sons, all very hospitable. Spent yesterday afternoon looking at house possibilities. So far some of the options I've seen have included a 3 storey place near Old Hoi An town with a disused shoe shop thrown in, another place across the road from the first one that had a recently (the day before) decomissioned hairdressing salon in the loungeroom, a new place right beside the river and further out of town but closer to the school, another right beside the school (boys may not like that one) and another quite close to the school. Then today stumbled across one thats across a small bridge from Old Hoi An town & boys would have to ride through the market to get to school. Could be fun.
Tonight had dinner on the sand surrounded by grass umbrellas and basket fishing boats pulled up on the sand at An Bang beach where Karens 2 sons ordered some amazing food. Has been about 29 - 32 degrees mostly and not much different overnight.
Havent worked out how to load photos on here yet so words will have to do for now.
Start work tomorow.

Hi one and all,

Some one said to me this week how are you managing with Al being in Vietnam and I said well it's like missing my right arm, pritty hard but you manage and the old saying of "you don't know what you have got until its gone" caries greater meaning. Enough about me.

Al is going well and has completed a solid week of in country training with three other volunteers and also language studies, that in her words has scrambled her head.

We have managed to skype which is amazing with Al taking the laptop into the street to show the sights and also to hear the traffic move noisely down the street.

The other thing that Al has been working on is finding us a house and so far has looked at seven ranging from being right in town, and one being on Cam Nam Island. Al has sent a few photos and a feature of them all have been lots of tiles and polished concrete floors.

Back at Red Hill, we handed over the keys to Jason and Donna who will be looking after our house and dogs for the next six months and it was the colmination of a big week of packing up and cleaning. So glad that's done and would not have been possible with the help of my mum & dad (Don & Meryl).

Hopefully soon we will be able to send through photos of where we will be living and working so stay posted (blogged)!

Pete

Al's departure

We said our good byes to Al and will be reunited in two weeks 

Alison has made it to Vietnam

Sitting at the kitchen table having got the kids in bed and it's sinking in that Alison is now in Vietnam.

For Alison all the packing is done, the last minute things have been organised, and the inevitable hiccup has been dealt with.

Yesterday we drove from Red Hill to Kew and had yummy pizza with Don & Meryl and Lyn and after having a good catch up with farewells, headed on our way to the airport.

At the airport we met the Francis & Groen clan members for coffee and an ice cream. Thanks for making the effort to meet us there and say good bye to Al particularly with Andrew due back at the airport at 6am the next morning.

At 10pm Alison said good bye and headed through the international departure gate on her way.

Once in Vietnam Alison will attend a weeks in country training and orientation and will start work on the 24st September at the Lifestart Community Centre.

Pete and the boys will leave on the 1st October and join Al to begin their big adventure.