2017: I'll never teach in Asia . . .
2018: Moves to Vietnam 2015: Gives up learning French because pronunciation is hard 2018: Puts a lot of effort into learning Vietnamese, a tonal language The irony of the last year has not been lost on me. This last year, I've made some of the biggest decisions of my life (so far) and can happily say that I have no regrets. I went home to Atlanta and Chapin over the winter holidays. I got to see friends and family. What I discovered was that while I do miss the people I've left behind in the States, I do not miss living in the States. It was odd stepping off the plane in Atlanta and understanding everything that was being said around me. I missed the now familiar tones of Vietnamese, even though I don't understand most of it. Being here in Hanoi, while stressful at times, has improved my mental well-being. The first half of 2018, stress, anxiety, and/or depression made an appearance almost every day. I had a realization in maybe October that, here in Vietnam, happiness isn't an emotion any more . . . it's a state of being; It's become the norm. Don't get me wrong, I still get stressed and anxious and depressed at times (this is a very crowded and busy city where I still don't know a lot of things) but my average day is a happy day now. . . . It's amazing what changes happen when you allow them too. I gave away at least 80% of my possessions, packed 3 bags and moved to literally the opposite side of the world last year. My rationale: why not? I've started running (I'm up to ~10 km max . . . that's plenty for me), I've taken up pole dancing as a sport (. . . not in the exotic sense dad . . . It's just the closest thing to aerial silks . . . yes I know Om Factory has aerial classes . . . they're too easy), I've started eating pork and beef (selectively . . . but still), I drive a motorbike, I live with 3 amazing women who I can talk to about anything (seriously, we talk about the weirdest things . . . I love you guys), and I've made some great friends along the way. Things I'm excited for in 2019: - Quokkas . . . Austrailia, here I come! - Hang Son Doong . . . biggest cave in the world and a $3000 drain on my bank account --> Happening June 2019!! - Grace visiting . . . Tet in February - Parents and Jesse visiting . . . After Hang Son Doong in June - Continuing to study Vietnamese (Thank you Tram for all your hard work teaching us!!) - Europe (Italy, Ukraine, 3rd place TBD) - July 2019 - Parsley (teaching friend) moving to the Philippines - July 2019 . . . Now I have a better reason to visit there
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ShannonMath Teacher living and working in Hanoi, Vietnam Archives
February 2022
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