Oh...Holy Night...

Christmas 2010... incredible.

We came back from Vietnam for Christmas.  We have been working on our house, visiting , and freezing out @$$ off!  We saw snow in Lilliwaup when we arrived!  A far cry from Asian Christmas....that's for sure!

Got to see....
nearly everyone!

At my mom's house for Christmas Eve:  Steve, Mom, Dave, Tami, Me, Gj, Terry

Tami, mom and me.... mom's two daughters....

Emily and my cousin's grandaughter....

Dave's daughter's family.

Tami, dad and me.

Christmas Morning.... we went to Hoquiam to see my dad.  My grandpa just had a mild heart attack earlier this week and went to Seattle for procedures.  He and my aunt made it to my dads for a quick visit.

Don Bell Sr.  88 years old.... widower, strongest 88 year old I will ever know! 

Eirik, Me, Gj, Emily, Gramps, Tami with her girls, Brianna and Hailee.

at my dad's house....

Hailee, Tami, Ali, and me

Later that day at my brother's house....  Ryan (our step brother), brother Donny, me and Tami.  Donald cooked over 6 limits of Razor Clams.... my grandmother came (mom's mom), she had a stroke in the last couple of months....

Having fun outside...

Donny has a fish pond on his property... stocked full of fish, Eirik caught about 6 or 7.... 

Donald's baby girl.... almost 4 years old already.

It was a good Christmas!

Bazaar Results - $16,000USD

Not bad for a day's work!  Pity the prep took over two months.  That said, it was an awesome day filled with lots of great shopping, great deals, fun activities for the kids, great food, prizes, silent auction, and just lots of 'community togetherness'!

80km out of the city

Finally, a break from the Nguyen Van Linh highway.  After circling that thing quite possibly 200 times in the last year it was nice to get off the highway and do something different!

There are a few groups that form, but for whatever reason, I have not been able to join.  On Bazaar day, a group of ex-pats went.  Racheal said it was great and I would LOVE it..  she would know.  So, on the 4th, they had an 'outing'....  I replied, "I don't see why I can't come!"...

we headed up the NVL then north about 400m then out west again.  we were on some newer country roads....  I was shocked!  we did a circle ending at the very end of the NVL so took it back to town.  But, 50km OFF the normal route!

There was some actual team work, wheel sucking, and good old race to the end.

Our 2nd stop (??? - can't complain, I no longer stop on rides, what's the point!) anyhow, I was feelign quite dizzy so the coconut was a really good idea.  It was very hot (as always).

Cervelo with her new Zipp 404's!.... clinchers!  the terrain was quite tough as we go from developed to undeveloped and back....

80km...  not bad.

Bazaar on Saturday!

I haven't decided if I will go back to my old self-serving selfish ways or not.  The immediate gratification of serving myself over everyone else sometimes isn't so bad, right?  I mean, why shoudl I care, there are enough people in the world to care, right?  It really ISN'T my problem...  It's certainly not MY fault.... 

No, I am sorry....not today, not today.

there is only 2 days prior to the Bazaar and I am freaking out.  It has been a growing experience of epic portions.  I never knew I could do what I have done.  That said, had I not gone and seen the babies of poor families that need a life changing operation, visited the school that gives kids a 2nd chance who would otherwise be thrown to the street, seen a 15 year old kid after becoming permanently disabled turning that into a positive thing for the Vietnamese people (he's Korean, an expat living HERE), seeing the hours our school kids volunteer to give orphan kids a fun day, and see the rudimentary, poor rural conditions some have to call home....

it gives me a back bone.

Like parenting...  sometimes, you just have to get a little uncomfortable.  Every night, I go to sleep in a bed with a stomach full of food and I don't worry about the water I drank.  though it is hot enough here to really not NEED clothes... I have clothes to wear....

if gives me a back bone!

Its been a really tough week.  I am in complete awe with our team, Delma, Linda, Quoc,  Helen, Teresa, Bich, Theresa, Lisa, and Katie... week after week, they continue to amaze me with the same effort and eagerness....  we squabble over this and that....  we have had 1st hand corruption, etc....

In the end, I hope it is worth it.

SSIS PTA Charity Bazaar - Information

SSIS PTA Charity Bazaar

Saigon South International School

Saturday, November 20, 2010 9 A.M. to 3 P.M.

Introduction: Saigon South International School (SSIS) is an international school in Phu My Hung located in District 7. Using English as the language of instruction, students from over 30 different countries work, study and play in a spacious park-like setting. Currently over 750 students attend SSIS in grades EC3 to 12.

Purpose of the Bazaar: To introduce the Vietnamese and Expat community to our school and provide financial support to various charities. We also have a deep appreciation and interest in the arts and crafts of our local culture and want to develop this interest and appreciation in our students and extended community. This will also be a good opportunity to purchase unique gifts for the holiday season.

Bazaar Participants include:

• Traditional handicraft artisans
• Vietnamese and Expat artists
• Established Vietnamese and Expat merchants
• Specialty restaurants and food vendors

Bazaar Charity Recipients

• Operation Smile
• Saigon Children’s Charities
• Anh Linh Love School
• CAS Outreach (SSIS student organized charity fund/volunteering program)
• Heart Says Free Move (SSIS student organized charity)

This year’s bazaar promises to be even more successful than last year’s. We have a much wider publicity campaign and expect more then 3,000 attendees. We encourage interested parties to apply quickly.

We are asking businesses to help us with the bazaar by donating either goods or services. These items will be raffled off or put in our Tombola. The raffle is the traditional ‘lucky draw’ where the recipient needs not be present to win. While the Tombola, participants purchase a chance at the lottery. For each chance they pull a number from the Tombola box and either it reads, “Try Again”, or “You won prize number: XX” and the participant immediately takes that pre-marked prize. Tombola is making its debut at this year’s bazaar and has been hugely successful at other international school bazaars.

Last year, the raffle drawing raised over 66,000,000VND, or 30% of the Bazaar’s profit! It was through generous donations from businesses like yours that made the event so successful!

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email.

Ms. Bich at SSIS: 5413-0901 ext. 11012 E-mail: bazaar@ssis.edu.vn

Contact me (Tina - PTA President) at:  pta@ssis.edu.vn

SSIS PTA Charity Bazaar - Update #2

Our committee has been working VERY hard to make this year's bazaar a huge hit!  With just three weeks to go prior to Bazaar, we have already secured tables for over 50 different merchandising vendors and 13 different food vendors.  Some vendors have secured more than one booth.

In additions to the amazing shopping opportunity that will be available, we have secured two big names for entertaining our kids...  Saigon Sports Academy and LEGO.  SSA will have planned clinics every 30 minutes that will cost a coupon or two to enter.  LEGO will have an open play area for creating with little LEGO and DUPLO...a coupon will be charged for entrance to the play area.   All coupons are 10,000vnd AND 100% if profit.

This year, the TOMBOLA will make its Bazaar debut.  Under the direction of Helen Daviglus, the TOMBOLA will attract many customers and they purchase chances to take home great prizes.  We will also have the regular lucky draw and silent auction.  Both Tombola and Lucky Draw will have some generous prizes, while the Silent Auction will have exceptional valued items for patrons to bid on.

It never goes without thanking HIGHLANDS COFFEE for their generous donation of beverage vouchers that the PTA sold for 20,000vnd.  These vouchers will pay for the operating/advertising costs of the Bazaar.  Thanks to HIGHLANDS COFFEE, we are 100% profitable before the doors open!  HIGHLANDS COFFEE is truly an SSIS and an SSIS-PTA partner.

Another major thanks goes to LOTTEMART for their incrediblely generous donation of 3,000 reusable shopping bags.  Each paid customer will receive a bag upon entry of the Bazaar.  The bag will make shopping easier.  It is the hope of LOTTEMART and the Bazaar committee that the shopping bags will be reused many times to reduce the amount of waste in our environment.  Thanks LOTTEMART for such a progressive step in moving towards a more environmental sustainable society.

Again, PEPSI has opened their hearts and will fill our ice chest full of cold tasty drinks all for Charity Resale.

Solaris and Epson have donated huge prizes for the silent auction and raffle.

Ben Thanh Art and Frame has made a huge donation of a painting for silent auction as well as their books and frames which we will sale for 100% profit.

This list is NOT COMPLETE, but just to give my very few readers a small glimpse of the amazing outpouring of our business community to this event.

Phan Thiet Velo

There will be a day (I hope) that I move back to the US.  At that time, opportunities like this past weekend will be gone.  Not many are willing to stick their necks out there... be laughed at... pointed at... and know that no matter what they do, they will NEVER be a local.  Many just stick to their own...  and there is NOTHING wrong with that...

but for the fine boys of Phan Thiet Velo, thanks for letting me ride with you! 

They arrived at my hotel abotu 7:20.  I had NO idea where we would ride other then the 'upper road'.  Thankfully!  That's an amazing new road that makes traveling to Miu Ne totally worth it.  This hill is just about 1/2 km from the hotel from the lower road to the upper road.  Its about .5km and averaged 9%...  hmm.... you bet I'll be going up and down THIS hill a few times!

Got the 'thumbs up' after the climb.  I was the last to the top... its been a while since I was the last.  All I could think is, "yeah... its gonna be good!"

I know they didn't know what to think of me, "aauuh, are you tired?"  they asked about every 5 minutes.  "NO, I am fine".  I ride w/ Saigon Velo and Quan 7, it is always a race and its no problem!  I TRY to tell them this, but.....

The guy on the mountain bike had no problems keeping up.  Great idea though, he went ahead on teh lower road as there is a lot of sand etc.

on the down hill, I guess I didn't know I looked so stupid stretching!  ha ha

Two (Jerry and Mr. Thinh) were on the motor bike for support!  I couldn't believe it.  After riding in the crap that is HCMC riding.... here I am on an open road, and a motorcycle escort for lights!  WHOA!

Thumbs up for the effort!

could I be any happier?

Stop after the sand dunes.... LOVE this part of the ride...

Not sure what they are pointing at....

Finally, the group shot.

It was a really short ride, only 25km for me with them... after they left, I snuck off for 10 more.  They said I could go again with them.

thanks for letting me join. 

When I came to Taiwan, riding with the locals at first was always a bit like this.  Communication is bad at best, sometimes, depending on who I rode with , there was NO TALKING... only hand motions and my bad Chinese.  But, a few nice ones gave me a chance... eventually, more and more gave me the chance.  By the time I left Taiwan, I had many cycling acquantences and joined many group rides.  Riding among females increased by 20 times as well.  Seeing a chick on a bike was more normal... seeing one that could keep up and actually be stronger, was also becoming, more normal.  Being a westerner.... women have arrived to this level decades ago...

Now, in Vietnam, I am where I was when I first started riding in Taiwan, but even less ladies, and have yet to find a local lady.  But, my riding with these boys is becoming more and more accepted...

the price:

some humilation, some pointing, some laughing, and a load of patience...

but at the end of the day, not one of them has left me with out a tiny bit of respect....  they know... we women are coming!

Mui Ne, Vietnam

Kids had one week off... so we typically take some sort of trip.  Last year we went to Mui Ne and rode our bikes from teh 1/2 way mark.  We had a tail wind and for 100km, average speed was about 35kph.  Not bad!  But now, the roads are so nice in Mui Ne, no need to ride tere.

We left Saigon at 3pm, picked Gj up at VL about 4pm.  It takes aout 5 hours to drive there.  It is only 200km north of Saigon, but the traffic is horrific and scarey.  Typhoon Magi was suppose to hit us leaving Mui Ne in its souther part... but, it took a turn to the north.

Thursday morning, Gj and I head out about 10:00 for a leisurly ride.  Just a 20km out and back.  The new 'upper road', Highway 706B is a 34km loop.  We are located about 7km into it.  There's about 300m of climbing (you need to remember, I life in Saigon, our only climbing is a 47m bridge).  Gj beats me on the two short uphills, but I get him on the longer climbs. 

There is never, leisure in leisurely riding...  ha ha... 

When we get back, our Pucci is very sick.  She is throwing up everywhere. 

She wouldn't even take table scraps....

Thursday night, eating at Jibes... The kids got candy necklaces from one of the French workers.  I was so jealous... I always wanted a candy necklace.

Emily models hers!... 

Eirik models his.  We sit at the same table every meal.  We go here for lunch and most dinners.  Its owned by the same people as the hotel.  Eirik had a big day playing in the waves (they were big enough to surf).  It seems I never get enough sun screen on him.

Friday morning, I go for Ride #2, solo... I just want to do a loop of the 'upper' road.  I made an appointment with Phan Thiet Velo for a Saturday ride.  Their average is 35kph, so I wanted to make sure I knew where to meet them, etc. 

 Always cows on the roads...

 Auugghh... so happy with Ride #2.  Though, slow, still happy. This is my 4th day in a row riding and 5 for the week.  Saturday makes 5 days in a row and 6 fo the week. 

WHOA... am I coming back from the .... 'lame'?  Am I getting better, I am feeling better.  though over the days of riding my mileage is really low for as many times of wearing spandex, I am feeling... OKAY!

 Jibes, Eirik playing pool....  lunch tht day.  Eirik has three admirers...  Its good for him to be the 'cool' one.

Dinner at Ganesh... an Indian restaurant, the owner of whom which we have befriended.

 Ride #3... meet the Phan Thiet boys.... and that they are... boys... strong little boys...  not to be conceited, but its been a long time since I have been the worst climber in a group...  I still got the thumbs up, but still dead last.  Well, there were only 4 of us!

 They didn't exactly know what to do with me... I could tell.  We ride the upper road out and then past the sand dunes and out to the beach. 

 After they rode by my hotel, I waited for them to pass a bit, then went back out for some more glorious riding.... we head back to Saigon and this type of riding is out again...

and happy to be riding

Hm.... I think there's a Golf Course here...

On the way back to Saigon, we stop to buy fresh dragon fruits