Sweltering in a swamp!

Vietnamese school holidays can mean only one thing – summer school strikes again!  This time last year I was newly qualified and teaching at a summer school in Shropshire, UK as a residential teacher and activity leader: twelve months on, it’s summer school again, this time on top of my regular teaching schedule here in the city.  It’s an intense course, consisting of five three-hour classes each week over two months, which leaves little time for the students to forget what they have learnt during the previous lesson, but can also leave weaker members frustrated and dumbfounded at the pace of teaching!  My students are a good bunch of vivacious teens who are far more willing and capable than my regular class of the same ability.

We’re now nearing the end of the course and it’s been a busy couple of months (which accounts for the lack of blog posts lately).  As well as their lessons, students participate in movie days and a 'summer getaway': a day at a ‘craft village’ in Cu Chi (home of the famous tunnels).  This trip was by no means compulsory for teachers, but I figured it would be good fun, a chance to spend some time with members of staff I don’t see that often and could only be good for class morale.  The 6.30am start was a slight deterrent, but the offer of free breakfast, lunch and company branded summer school t-shirt and cap swung it for me! *cough*

Tootling down the road towards head office on the day of the trip, I was met by hundreds of students and a cacophony of Vietnamese voices: in situations such as this your iPod is your best friend!  So, all present and correct - donning our company clothing, we were on our way.  All students and teaching assistants appeared to have ID badges – I guessed my face and complexion alone were enough to indicate I was in the ‘right’ place.  The two hour bus journey was relatively painless and I made a new friend, in the form of Khang, a 12 year old beginner who had only been studying at the school for three days.  I only wish his enthusiasm to learn and interact with native English speakers was infectious.

Upon our arrival, we stepped off the coaches only to be hit by the horrendous heat and humidity.  It’s hot in the city most days, but this was something else.  Crossing swamps on flimsy foot bridges and arriving in a large opening, we found the pottery classes had been cancelled and we were now spending all of our time outside, with little shade or seating.  The students (accompanied by their teacher and teaching assistant) were to complete the challenges, obstacle courses and traditional Vietnamese games all in the baking heat.  Needless to say, this was not what I had signed up for – as a Guider I’m all for team building and problem solving; just not in such a harsh, unforgiving climate with more than 200 pupils ranging from ages 6 to 16.

After a few hours of trying Vietnamese style Girlguiding activities, which included separating different coloured pulses and seeds into containers, throwing a ball through a high hoop (Quidditch style) and hitting a drum whilst blindfolded; we retreated to the relatively ‘cool’ canopied eating area for a basic meal of soup, boiled rice, nondescript unidentifiable meat, soggy veggies, iced green tea and ice cream – pretty standard as far as catered lunches go here.  Feeling distinctly wobbly I slept for the majority of the bus ride home and drank my body weight in water.

The heat stroke I suffered meant I was unable to teach my class of teenagers that same evening: all that only to be credited with an extra 60 minutes in my ‘bank of hours’: not the best day.  The kids, however, seemed to love it – which is the main thing after all.  One more week of summer school to go, then I’ll have my mornings back and can spend them catching up on some much needed time in the land of nod.

 

A xx