Week Four

This week I taught Contract Negotiations and Performance Management for students and faculty. The Performance Management workshop was interactive and focused on how the staff at VWA feel about the performance appraisal system at VWA- things they wanted modified. They also discussed those things that keep them from doing their best work and then problem solving those areas of concern.
We were invited to several outings- one being dinner with VWA's maintenance supervisor and his family. Generally speaking, Vietnamese parents want their children to learn English as English is now being taught in most schools beginning in kindergarten. Having a guest who speaks English as a first language is a special occasion. Therefore, we spent most of the dinner hour speaking with his 11 year old daughter, Thu,- she did very well- and her parents (Manh and Dung) were so proud!

The Vietnam Women's Academy has two buildings, the old building (4 floors) and the new building (15 floors). Classes are held in both, though most of the administrative offices, guest housing, conference rooms, and student housing are in the new building.

On Saturday we traveled to Ninh Binh- also known as dry Halong Bay because the limestone mountains take the shape of those in Halong Bay- the mountains there rise out of the Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most beautiful sights you will every see! Quan, our good friend, purchased a U.S. army jeep last year and was anxious to take us for a ride. The open air riding down the highway was fantastic. Once in Ninh Binh, we traveled the river by boat, hiked to caves and then headed to Cuc Phuong National Forest--we hiked in the forest/jungle for 4 hours--though we heard the cry of monkeys, we never saw them!