So in the end my Christmas was pretty tame. I spent the day sitting on my ass watching films. I attempted to watch the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy but halfway through the second film it switched from English to Vietnamese. No amount of fiddling the the settings could switch it to English and the subtitles lagged so much I gave up with it and moved onto another film. In the evening I attempted a variation on the theme of a christmas dinner. The oven in this house is broken so I was disapointed that I wouldn't be able to have roast potatoes until my mum suggested part boling them and then frying them. It turned out almost as good as real roast potatoes! I had some grilled chicken and some veggies, and some lame gravy made from a stock cube. Sadly stuffing mix isn't available in the shops here and I wasn't up for attempting to make that from scratch but at least I had some semblence of a decent meal without a noodle in sight! I had some NZ natural hokey pokey ice cream for dessert which also helped me enjoy my meal.

At the weekend I picked up another copy of Pirates 2 and so was able to finish watching that and I also got a bunch of other DVDs. At this rate I'm gonna have a whole suitcase worth of DVD's by the end of my time here! I am currently re-watching Flight of the Conchords but once that's finished I have a few other TV series plus a bunch of movies to watch.

These past three days I haven't done much other than teach but over the weekend I will no dount fit in a few more films. I've been teaching 3 double shifts this week so I get to work about 7.00, teach for 4 hours from 7.45 then after lunch I have another 4 hour class. It's pretty draining, particularly as I'm teaching low level classes so I have to try and keep them motivated and really pay close attention to what I'm saying - anything too complex and they just won't have a clue what I've asked them to do. Now I'm getting into it it's less daunting and it's getting a bit easier. Also all the other teachers are really friendly and helpful so I'm finding it pretty easy to get any questions I have answered.

I've got myself a otorbike driver who takes me to work every morning at 6.45 for a good price. He didn't try and over-charge me on the first day which is a good sign. An average price to get from Tay Ho to the languae school in 30,000VND but a few have tried to get me to pay 60,000VND+. This guy offered to take me for 25,000 straight up so he is one of the good guys! He waits for me at the top of the lane so Idon't have to waste time in the mornings walking around trying to find a bike so it makes the mornings marginally less horrific. Also this evening as I was walking to the supermarket I passed him and his friend having a drink at on of the random places on the street and after calling out my name he used his limited English to ask me how I was and wish me a happy new year. He's cool guy.

Yesterday my students gave me some weird thing called Banh Com which is a sticky green rice cake. It comes wrapped up in plastic which you peel away to eat. It's doesn't really taste like it's in any way related to rice - it's actually pretty grim. It is green though - a nice snot green. It has the texture of playdoh and smell like stale feet so its not something I will be keeping an eye out for in the future!

Tonight I am spending a lame new years at home. At this rate I might still be awake in an hour or so to see in the new year but my early starts are really getting to me so I may crash before then. I've decided against going out in Hanoi as by the time I get home after a long day at work I really can't be bothered to do much. It's not such an amazing event here, plus I would have to faff about getting a taxi or a motorbike taxi (from now on I'm gonna call 'em by their Vietnamese name, xe om, as thats much quicker to type!) back up here which might be pretty pricy. Am also put off after hearing that there was an increase in traffic accidents on the nights that there were important football games due to people driving in an even crazier manner than usual. I don't fancy dying on the way home tonight due to over-excited drivers!

I got some guide books last weekend so I'm planning my trip for Tet. I'm thinking Malaysia, and possibly a side trip to Brunei, depending on costs of flights and things. Plus I could go to Marks and Sparks in KL and buy things that I can't get here in Hanoi. I could shop in general for more than just tourist tat of knock-off goods!!! Plus it would be warmer which would be a bonus! Tomorrow I'm gonna sit down andwork it all out and check out some prices online, and I'll also look at options for Hong Kong and Thailand so I should be able to book something by the end of Friday! Yay travelling!