Thanksgiving

What a week this has been.  That old saying of 'it nevr rains but it pours' is so true.  After a busy weekend in Singapore and this last frantic week I am sitting having coffee feeling a little tired and a tad guilty but I will get to that in a minute.

My friend Denise and I

Tuesday was International Teachers Day.  This was a lovely day made all the better when school organised a movie and supper evening.  Thankfully it was local to me in Phu My Hung so it was just a quick walk over to the cinema.  Myself and a few others decided not to go to the actual movie, it was James Bonds latest movie and I only saw it a few weeks ago, but we stayed for the supper then left when the movie started.  Lots of people from school were there -Teachers, Teacher aides, the Nannies, the Cleaners and the Guards - it was really lovely to see some many people from all aspects of school life standing around just chatting, and taking photos of course.  Thanks Denise.
Thursday was Thanksgiving.  In previous years we have celebrated with our friends Red and Iggy but alas they are no longer in Vietnam but in the true spirit of Thanksgiving we were invited to some other friends to share this American Tradition.  This was our third thanksgiving and I really like the idea of a day to remember all the things we should be thankful for and there are so many.  Following the tradition of voicing what you are thankful for this is my thanks - I am truly thankful for my wonderful family whose love I knows travels across the oceans that separate us, I am thankful for friends that enrich my life both old friends and new friends; and I am thankful to all those people who come into our lives for a short time then leave again to continue their own life journey but who leave us wiith happy memories.
The other thing that is such a big part of thanksgiving is the food which is not so different from our own Christmas Dinners, the turkey, the beans, mashed potatoes even the cranberry sauce but what is with the muffins with the main meal!
Needless to say we had a wonderful time but unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for Catie and Scott, we all had to work in the morning so it was certainly not a late night for us.
Friday came and I was once again heading off for a work dinner.  This was just for a group of us who are part of a leadership team.  I am privileged to be part of this team and enjoy the discussions that arise at our meetings though I have to admit there are times when, after a few hours, my mind can no longer stay focussed.  It was once again a great opportunity to chat outside of the school environment, at school we are all so busy that are conversations are work centered, so it was nice to learn a little about my co-workers lives.
So that brings me to Saturday.  I am having a quick coffee behind I head off to meet my fellow librarians for a work meeting.  We have softened the work related focus by going for lunch at the same time.  Matthew is with Josh at an Athletics Carnival - hence the feelings of guilt, I would have liked to be there supporting him; I  missed both Bella's basketball and Joshua's soccer - they both played in places that just don't work timewise for me after school, I don't envy Josh running an 800m race in what is probably 35 degree heat by now - but he is young and very fit so I am sure he will enjoy it.
Tomorrow we have the Terry Fox 5km run to do in the morning so there will be no sleep in - but with only 3 weeks before Christmas break we can't complain.