Well, it's happening (like 89% at least). Today I let my boss know that I am planning to fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on August 30th (my 25th birthday). 3 months notice is pretty nice of me, right? So it's real. Like really real. I can finally talk about my plan on social media and be Facebook official with this major life change.
I'm going to live-blog the experience for two reasons:
1. To keep my friends and family in the loop if they care to be.
2. To help anyone who is considering trying what I am about to do. English teachers to Speakers of Foreign Languages are a very bloggy/chatty bunch, and I have found blogs by various nomads and expats extremely helpful.
In my next post, I will go further into what steps I have taken so far in my journey to Ho Chi Minh City, and what my exact plan is, but for now, here are some FAQs that I have been answering for months any time ANYONE has found out I am moving:
Q: Do you speak Vietnamese?
A: No. And I am terrible at picking up languages. Just ask my poor, patient Russian boyfriend.
Q: Have you ever been to Vietnam before?
A: Nope! Barely even traveled at all, actually.
Q: Is your boyfriend going with you?
A: While it is true that Max and I have been dating for almost 5 years and we are very serious, the answer is no, he will not be moving to Vietnam with me.
Q: Do you know anyone in Ho Chi Minh City?
A: No. Friends of friends live there, that is about it.
Q: How long will you be in Vietnam?
A: At least a year, but we will see how it goes. I also plan on traveling for a few months after my teaching contract is up.
Q: Do you know where you are going to live?
A: I know where I am going to stay for the first month. After that, who knows!
Q: Do you have a job lined up?
A: Nope. I am taking a certification class (CELTA) through a program called Apollo in HCMC and I am going to apply for jobs once I am there.
Q: What are you doing with all of your stuff?
A: This is an ongoing problem. Can I store some at your house? :)
Q: Why?
A: Because I can.
