The view from the airplane window as I flew into Saigon, yielded the illusion that this city is infinite. Homes, apartments and stores are stacked tightly around winding city streets, buzzing with hoards of motorbikes, vehicles, and pedestrians. Ten million tuck into this city scape--this urban sprawl. The streets are dotted with small, child sized plastic chairs and tables, occupied by grown adults eating anytime meals. The city does not lack the original or the inventive. I see new things each minute.

Today, we met the owners and Vietnamese staff at CIS. The owners are hopeful that CIS will soon become the most successful international school in HCMC. They greeted us with warmth and anticipation, heralding our arrival as a newly forged diplomatic tie to Canada. Although politics and beauracracy are not absent, I felt a sense of pride to be a part of this new and seemingly monumental establishment.

It is already clear that the teachers and principal will have an excellent working relationship. The principal is an advocate for the teachers, and my colleagues are friendly and eager to establish ourselves as a "family."

Today, we also waded through the administrivia of opening bank accounts, which was a long and drawn out process. We also got cell phones! This means that I am the owner of a new shinny cell phone on which I can carry out conversations with you, my beloved friends and family.

Sorry for the lacklustre report, but I must head to bed.

Much love,
K