Counting Those Last School Days...

We're dusting off the suitcases.  10 school days and counting!  We are nearing the end of our first year in Vietnam.  The end of the school year feels much the same as it always does - it has never been my favorite time.  Kids are squirrely, my patience runs short, you remember....

Quotes from the Waugh household in the last months:  (No joke.)

"Maeve, what will you do in the future? "  Charles

"I don't know.  I have never been to the future."  Maeve

"What kind of family doesn't buy their kid what they want to drink?"  

Sophie, in the midst of her chocolate milk detox.

"No, I'm going with your boyfriend.  I'm not going with my boyfriend 

because my boyfriend is always tired." Sophie, to Maeve as they dressed 

to the nines for evening "dates".

"Ooooh.  I'm all messed up."  Smoothing her dress, 

"But I still look beautiful."  Maeve,  after she climbed out of the way back 

of a taxi.

Charles Waugh has found a new favorite thing; fresh coconuts.  He drinks at least one a day and often makes them into coconut smoothies like he is here.  I had never before tasted fresh coconut milk.  At the grocery store, they are readily available with the outer husk taken off, and they run about $.33.

Scraping the flesh...

Maeve and Sophie enjoy a spot of tea.

New hairdos and an evening stroll on the river.  

One of the highlights of our week for Maeve and I was the all school art show at SSIS.  It was so impressive!  An evening opening event was so much fun.  There was so much great art to see, and an auction where you could bid on student art to take home.  (There was some magnificent artist created art that was beautiful as well, but a bit out of our bidding range.)  I did procure a delightful little student acrylic for my new classroom.  Here, Maeve checks out the kindergarten gallery.

Cool lit sculptures.

Maeve proudly displaying her new necklace that she purchased from the middle school jewelry club.  It matched her dress, of course.

One of Maeve's pieces in the show, a puzzle inspired by Eric Carle's work.

High school sculpture and lanterns on the stairwell.

Maeve had a special part in the performance art part of the opening night.  She got to model the art sombrero that her kindergarten class created...

along with her Chinese dragon bag with fireworks that she created.

She started the show and worked the runway....

Ms. Helen is her spectacular art teacher.

    Another highlight of the week happened again at the dentist.  I noticed that Maeve had a big hole in her tooth. (Ugh.)  We stopped in at the dentist to make an appointment, on a Saturday (!), and she said "Come right in!   Let's take a look."  20 minutes later, Maeve had a white filling, and I almost passed out when I saw the bill.  150,000 VND.  Equivalence in US Dollars?  Almost ten.  So there are some great flights deals from the states these days - maybe you would like to schedule a medical holiday to visit us and get your dentistry done?

   Maeve had yet another virus this week.  (It has been quite a year for her!  Hopefully next year will be better.)  I had an interesting middle of the night hospital visit for a vicious UTI infection (which is now better, thank you, thanks to a follow up visit to our regular medical practice here, which is quite acceptable.)  It was a moment when I was happy to be forty and not afraid to look at the doctor on duty and say, "No I am sure that I do not need painkillers via an IV."  

   I mentioned my new classroom above.  I am officially going to 5th grade in the fall, and really happy about it! I missed it more than I ever imagined I would.  I am happy for the opportunity to return.

   Maeve and Sophie practice their cheetah kung fu (Don't ask me, ask Sophie.) in their ao zais.

And once again, people from Charles past continue to emerge and share priceless pictures via Facebook.  (I appreciate that no one seems to have these kinds of pictures of me to share...)  This one has the best blackmail potential yet.   But keep them coming those of you who may have even more humbling pictures of my significant other.

    Hey!  We will be in NJ on the 24th of June for a week, in Michigan for a month, and back to NJ for a July 29th return to HCMC.  Do let us know if our path will cross yours.  

We also signed papers to put our house back on the market this week.  If you know anyone who is looking for a lovely house in a phenomenal neighborhood at a great price, please don't hesitate to look it up. 

       Can't wait to see some of you.  Coming back to the States will be fascinating and great, I think.  I'm sure I'll post after Sophie's big day this week.

Tam Biet.  Don't be a stranger.