A poem I wish I had written

Heya Folks,
Life continues with surprising ordinariness in Hanoi, so in the absence of any exciting news this week I thought I'd post one of my favourite poems, which has alot of relevance to my trip and experience. Enjoy!

(actually called 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay,
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh I kept the first for another day!
Though knowing how way leads onto way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

SarahHeadsEast xx

PS Thanks Joey, I read this on your blog, thank you for reminding me of why I'm in Hanoi, and reminding me of one of my favourite poems ever!

For Willow

Heya Folks,
I hate this blog to carry feline-related bad news again, but this post is for Willow, who sadly was hit by a car on thursday. A true wild cat, adventurous, feisty and independant. A real free spirit amongst the cat world, and sorely missed.


Bless.
SarahHeadsEast xx

this....is a big carrot

A photo.....of one of the best lessons ever. Remember the story of the Enormous Turnip? The Asian culturally-altered version includes a big carrot. Linz if you're reading this.....this...is a big carrot.....
Here I am dressed up as said carrot. of course.


SarahHeadsEast xx

xe đạp - an update

Heya folks,

My apologies once again for not updating the blog in so long...my computer is temperamental but workable at the minute, and I seem to have been extra busy recently teachering. I now have a regular gig at a nearby Kindergarten on a thursday afternoon, which is really good fun. There's not much planning involved and its very interactive, all I have to bring is enthusiasm!

By far the highlight of my working week is the private tuition I do with the son of a neighbour here on Quan Thanh street. Hung is super-intelligent and super-keen and I can honestly say that the lessons I do with him barely feel like work. Tonight we played a Memory game, in which I cobbled together a bag of 'stuff', laid it out for him to identify, and then covered it up for him to remember. It was an instant hit and thankfully recyclable.

In other exciting news, sunday last I decided to treat myself with my hard-earned wages and so, with the help of a Vietnamese friend, went out and bought a bicycle!! I'm very very happy with my new wheels, and so pleased I decided to buy that instead of it's ever-popular motorised counterpart. Love peddaling myself about the city, and I've found the traffic to be not as scary as I expected, just takes awareness and common sense. And remembering to drive on the right!!! Not only is it super-healthy, I'm also really relieved not to be ripped off by moto-taxis or relying on buses which never turn up or go on random detours! Peddle-power rules!

Thats all folks! Shall add a photograph of my new xe dap (bike) soon!

SarahHeadsEast xx