Embracing the Madness

Irreverence has arrived in Hoi An and has been bitten by a rabid dingo.  We've been having fun, soaking up the sun, eating lots of food and forgetting to take pictures (promise to do better in upcoming days).

The Smurfs have traded in their plastic ponchos for bathing suits, flip flops and sun burns.  They have embraced the Hoi An vibe and are exploring, biking, eating, drinking Vietnamese coffee and crossing the street like locals.  I think they could get used to this place if only that little peach they keep Skyping could be sent over in a padded box!

They've been treated to smiles from the black-toothed peanut lady at the beach and cuddles from the flea-bitten dog that sleeps in the hammock.  The water buffalo have not charged them on their walks through the rice paddy, and the Mary Poppins-style bikes are beginning to feel normal (or perhaps as Chris suggested, "My butt is just growing calluses.").

Foster, Brianna and Nolan are loving the "middle school" fun that Uncle Chris brings (read: locker room humor), and Brianna appreciates having another "girl" around in Kelly who's not quite as annoying as her mom.  All of us love our little glimpses of Atilia - the youngest Skyper on record who we see through a blurry fuzz as she keeps touching the camera and smearing our view of her.

Double-riding on the first day

What traffic?  Looks pretty calm to me.





Bad Biker Girls

The mandatory  Hoi An photo



Chris browses for underwear at the market.
"This is the BIG one for you!"

A children's choir welcomes the Smurfs to Hoi An.

Ancient City

Responsible parents

Dingo Deli Breakfast Sunshine

Nolan and Uncle Chris negotiate the surf.

Yep...it's Maine cold!

But, with enough sun, even Maine cold feels good!

For those of you waiting for the motorbike update, I survived my first day of teaching in Danang.  The class of 25 students who speak no English was no problem. Parking the motorbike in the city was.  After negotiating my way through five roundabouts in busy traffic, I would like to have valet parking when I arrive at the English School.  That is apparently not in my contract.  So, faced with a big curb and twenty neatly parked bikes on the sidewalk in front of the school, I opted for the helpless smile once again to get some assistance getting that heavy old bike onto the sidewalk.  I figured that attempting to gun it over the curb and through the plate glass window into the reception area on my very first day would make a poor first impression.

The class itself went off without a hitch.  Two hours after arriving, I exited the building and scanned the motorbikes out front - row after row.  I realized I had no idea which one was mine or even what color my bike was.  I walked around for about five minutes hoping something would jog my memory...nothing.  Eventually a guy reclining on one of the other bikes got up and pointed to my bike. I gave him a sheepish smile and vowed to buy myself one of those little antenna toys that people use to spot their cars in large parking lots (never mind that there's no antenna on the bike).

Tomorrow's goal?  Notice the color of the bike before entering the school building to avoid looking like a victim of early-onset Alzheimer's when I exit.  Call me an overachiever, but I think if I really focus I can manage this.  Stay tuned....