Do you know where Hanoi's teenagers hang out?

...I do. And its not on street corners, in parks or metro stations drinking cider. Actually, it's the Ice Cream Parlour. I went there post-teaching for an ice cream, and discovered its Hanoi's place to see and be seen. And its so utterly harmless too, people just hanging out sitting on the backs of their motorbikes, chatting and eating Ice Cream. There's not even anyone smoking. Great. The Ice Cream is famous for being the best in Hanoi apparently. And it doesn't disappoint. Kind of a hybrid of ice cream, lassi, frozen yoghurt and something a bit grittier that I cant fathom.

Teaching continues to be both fun and tiring. I'm teaching really little kids, only around 5years old, but they are very keen, which makes my job very easy indeed. The emphasis is on games and songs and anything interactive, as this is an afterschool club, the rote grammar stuff they get in school. I actually made up a game yesterday, in which students had to run around the classroom asking each other 'How old are you?' and 'What is your name?' and it was a joy and a pleasure to see how much they enjoyed playing it.

I am transported to and from the project on the back of a motorbike. Rushing through the Hanoi streets after dark is exhilarating. In Hanoi, it's the only way to fly...


Until Next Time,

SarahHeadsEast xx