I have created a monster...or at least a spoiled brat!

More nightmares last night!! I don’t know what the deal is..but I don’t like it! I was up again at 5am (at least it’s getting later) and was able to skype Scott so that was good! I woke up again at 8am to get some breakfast and head to the gym! I found a gym that is VERY western and has the same type of classes as my gym at home, so I figured it would be a good use of my time to join and take some of their group fitness classes. It is so hot and muggy and smoggy here that working out outside is out of the question (I learned that last year!)

I was MORE than impressed with the gym as it is really almost nicer than the gym at home (but equally as pricy). After a quick tour I decided I would take the Zumba class. At first I was the only western (uh oh) but then another woman joined and while I wasn’t sure she spoke English, I was pretty sure she didn’t speak Vietnamese, so figured I would be ok! The class was actually just like classes in the US. The people who knew what they were doing were up front, the people who didn’t were in the back, and there were a couple of weird guys in the middle! I was going along doing my best to follow her and I swear at one point she was either speaking English or I was understanding Vietnamese, and we all know it wasn’t the latter, so I figured she must know some English (she was saying things like 1,2,3 and let’s go). After Zumba there was a “bums and tums” class which sounded beneficial so I decided I would try that one too! Bad idea. Well, not so much a bad idea, but I don’t think I will be able to walk tomorrow. DJ (the instructor) came over to introduce himself and while it was a bit hard to understand him over the music it was nice to know he definitely spoke English. Zumba had about 30 people in it, this one only about 8, but DJ spoke a lot of English during the class. It was legit the hardest class I have ever taken! Squats and lunges, repeat. It definitely felt good to be working out, but this was a lot!

I wondered about the Vietnamese people who were members of the gym. It was definitely Western (aka expensive) so I figured they were the wealthy Vietnamese and probably well educated. When I was leaving class and walking down the stairs the Vietnamese woman behind me said, “Wow that was a hard class, huh?” It was actually nice to feel like I could communicate with someone and I wonder if most speak English or she was an exception.

On my walk, or should I say, hobble, back to the hotel, I found a Subway!! At first I was excited (I love their sandwiches) but then I was a bit disappointed. In only a year, a Subway, Pizza Hut and Adidas have gone in, and I am sure this is just the start of more to come. I also have forgotten to mention that on my way to breakfast in the morning I pass a “Boston Sports Bar” that I will have to try for dinner sometime!

After a well needed shower and lunch, I headed out to the orphanage. I have created a spoiled brat. Thoung lit up when I walked in (which, as always, melts my heart) and after a hug and a kiss I headed over to see some of the other kids who I haven’t been able to spend any time with. This did NOT make Thoung happy, as he burst into tears! I felt awful, but I also wanted to spend some time with the other kids. After a quick catch up, Thoung and I were off for our walk! We spent a good hour and a half walking in the pagoda. It’s about 5 stories and it’s a beautiful view on top, but the stairs are step and Thoung is still a little wobbly on his feet so I get a little nervous! I knew he wasn’t going to be happy coming back in, but I knew everyone would be eating (and yes, we were late for dinner!)

When I walked into the orphanage I saw most of the same women that were there last year, and I could be tooting my own horn, but I really think they remembered me! After catching up with the kids I did give them the pictures of us from last year, so if they didn’t remember before they definitely did by the time I left!

I met a lot of new people from a volunteer group and actually the first girl I met went to UNH! How crazy is that? Talk about a small world! It was actually very comforting knowing she knows Portsmouth! Another girl is from Pennsylvania, one form Canada and the rest from Australia. It’s always nice meeting new people!

After feeding time the kids are brought back to their rooms for the night so we all left. The volunteers live in a house about a 15 minute bus ride from the orphanage (the same bus I take) so it was nice to have some company for the first half of the bus ride! They were coming into district one (where I am staying) for dinner so we made plans to meet up.

After a welcomed shower, checking some emails and a quick nap, I met Lisa (UNH) Hannah (from Canada, 3 years out of high school, spent 6 months in Africa last year, is hoping to go back to school this fall) and Kim (a guy from Australia) for pizza at a restaurant down the street from my hotel. Nothing like pizza with some new friends!

Hugs and kisses from the spoiled brat I have created!