perfect... almost

Another day of job and house hunting.

I met up with a realtor this morning and he was only able to show me one place. I loved it: plenty of space for the kids to play and not be in each other's faces all the time, three bedrooms. a big kitchen, three stories, 2 baths and an upstairs, outdoor terrace. Love, love, loved it. But he is asking $600/mo. and I'm not sure I can do that or how far he could be negotiated down. Not that I could do that with my extremely limited Vietnamese skills anyway.

I walked through the house, imagining the kids running around, doing homework in the open room by the kitchen, playing jumprope on the terrace, myself cooking com ga in the kitchen and it was like a moment out of some movie. Then I came to my senses and asked if he had anything that would cost a bit less.

Audrey came with me and she like it, too, but really wants to see the stacked house and is almost determined that we get it for a short time. But frankly, I'm really concerned about the claustrophobic feelings it's likely to induce. And there's really no area for moving around, something I know my kids need (having lived with them in a single room for more than a week now).

The afternoon was spent having a picnic of PB & J sandwiches and Vinamilk yoghurt at Hoan Kiem Lake, then over to Papa Joe's for the ice cream buffet and quicker internet (downloaded the new Skype). After the kids ate 6 bowls of ice cream with toppings (for 40,000VND), we headed back to the hotel and I used the slow internet to apply for some more jobs: writing and teaching. I've got my CV out to 5 or 6 places now, so I'm hoping something comes through. A couple people have said they'd put me in contact with folks looking for English tutors. Hopefully that comes to fruition as well.

Gotta get some cash flow in or I'm gonna be in a heap of trouble soon.