AAAHHH! FINALLY!!!

Well it's been a really really really long time since I've been able to update my blog. It has been insanely hectic the last couple of weeks and its only now that I can take a short breather before I start again.

Ever since Ive returned from China, Ive been bogged down with projects, teaching, examinations, marking and reports. My colleagues were surprised that I could actually do that much work (simply because culturally, the Vietnamese don't work this hard or much. Believe me it's not because they're lazy, it's just that the culture here is to not work more then what you're paid to do)

I told them that the work's not difficult, however the load is very heavy and tedious, to make things worse the deadlines are always so tight (that’s because im always informed about them at the last minute…it’s a Vietnamese thing).

Well at least the exams and markings are over, and the kids are on a 2 week summer holiday, before they start their intensive holiday program (which I'm in-charge of) and that leaves me with time to build on the curriculum and work on the Singapore tour. Urg!

And So How Have Things Been?

I'm immersing myself in Vietnamese culture, quite pleasant. The people aren't exactly polite (especially service staff, they're quite a bunch of arses) but the friends ive made here are totally nice.

Ive met up with Thanh from last year's visit and he brought me down to meet his friend who owns a café-bar near the lake. He's asking me for advice on his business and Ive got a couple of ideas for them. Its great coz I have an outlet for creativity and hey theres no obligation involved. So this sunday we're gonna try a couple of recipes for coffee, its gonna be great.

Ka Fae Sua Dac (Kar Fay Su'ur Dac)

This is an iced honey-rich coffee with condensed milk. It’s the only thing I can order correctly in Vietnam and there's a café that I go to near my work place that makes it the way I like it. Full bodied mildly sweet with a lingering scent of the Arabica bean.

Coffee was introduced as a cash crop in Vietnam, however it's reputation has apparently not taken off. Perhaps its because of the overwhelming supply of coffee from south America and other parts of the world. But hey, that only means that this wonderful product can only be found here in Vietnam! Woo Hoo!