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.