Free Time

It's all the kids have these days--hours and hours to do as they please. Of course, this often resorts to playing video games, but not always. On Saturday evening, Audrey and I went swimming with some students (past and present) while Stuart rested. He's had a cold for the past few days. I managed to press through the embarrassment of a bathing suit, just for my daughter's sake, and enjoyed swimming in the cool evening for a couple of hours.

The past two days have been only in the low 80s, much cooler than the past week. It began heating (and humidifying) again last night, so I'm expecting another hot one today.

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For a project that Audrey is working on, we needed plain, unlined paper. There are a few shops at the market that sell school supplies, so we decided to check there first (rather than take the taxi to the supermarket). Sure enough, four stalls in a woman had an open pack of A4 paper. "Bao nhieu?" Out came a string of words and I caught the 10,000VND part, but something came after it. Six.. something, it sounded like. She repeated it and I though perhaps it's 10,000VND for a certain number of pates, though six sounded like a ridiculously low number. Then along comes a Hong Duc student to help me out. Yep, 10,000VND for a certain number of pages: 60, to be exact. So I handed her the money and we waited patiently for her to count out 60 pieces of paper and wrap them in plastic for us.

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Anyone know how to use fresh turmeric? I couldn't seem to get the shopkeeper to understand that I wanted dried turmeric and she threw the fresh root into my bag. I haven't a clue how to use it and have little luck hunting online.

Really, I must buy some more spices when I get paid and head back to Hanoi.