Team Journal ~ A Walking Tour with Students

Vietnam Team Journal: Wednesday, November 24

Quote: “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

Today was the long day for teaching, plus after-school activities. My classes went good, even with one seventh grade making and shooting spit wads the whole period and two cancelled classes. At lunch, a former teacher at the school, who I had kept in contact with, met me across from the school at the coffee shop where we had a nice visit and got caught up.

In the evening, we ate at our favorite pumpkin soup restaurant and then hurried back to the hotel to wait for some students to take us on a walking tour of this old quarter area. They arrived a little late, so we passed the time talking to other guests. About 20 students divided into three groups, and off we went in various directions. I had about 8 boys and one girl. My group took me to an old church, a bookstore, the Opera House, and a street coffee shop. The eleventh grade student leader was very good about trying to speak to me in English and directing the group. He even made sure we used the crosswalks, not that that makes any difference here in Vietnam.

Towards the end of the walking tour, we sat in these little Barbie-like chairs for coffee and ice cream. They told me to be careful because it might collapse, but it held nicely. And then I had to get up!! Ha!! After we got back to the hotel, students waited for their parents to pick them up. I went to my room and slept soundly until 5 a.m., my best sleep so far.

Roger Rossman

Team Journal ~ A Global Volunteers Poem!

Vietnam Team Journal: Monday, November 22

Quote: “The world is a book and those who do not travel have read only one page.”

Four adventurous Americans are we,
Came to VietNam to be
Volunteers for an organization called Global.
Some may think we are crazy or noble.

The students are what we want to reach,
And English is what we have come to teach.
Karen and Roger and Frankie and Pam,
Are the ones who must pass the students’ exam.

Will we be successful?
Or will we be dreadful?
Time will tell after the final bell.

Frankie Sugarman

Please Vote for Global Volunteers this Weekend!

Global Volunteers is engaged in a contest entitled 'Full Page Project' - put on by the Star Tribune newspaper in the Twin Cities - through November 21 amongst Minnesota non-profits and the winner will receive a free full page ad in an upcoming addition of the Sunday paper!

Please vote for us this week ~ you can vote once per hour!

Here is the link where you can register and then vote for Global Volunteers (please copy and paste the link): http://startribune.upickem.net/engine/Registration.aspx?contestid=22815

We would also encourage you to pass this link along to your family and friends, colleagues, classmates or students, and post it on your personal Facebook page or blog if you are able. Let us know if you have any questions, and remember voting goes until 5 p.m. Sunday!

Thank you for your support.