Vietnam at last....

After what was beginning to seem like a neverending year I finally boarded the Vietnam Airlines plane to Hanoi via Ho Chi Min City.  In a spooky nod from the universe when I introduced myself to my seat mates I discovered that they were returning from attending a course in New Plymouth (where my family live in New Zealand) and that they knew of and admired the work of KOTO.  In fact they all worked at a hotel situated about 500yards from the KOTO restuarant.  A good start.

In the melee that is transferring from international to domestic in Ho Chi Min the universe not only nodded it practically poked me when I met John and Roz Oliver, a delightful couple from Sydney.  John was worked for many years as a major fundraiser for KOTO.  He is now works on behalf of a program called Blue Dragon which rescues children from trafficers.  He and Roz told me proudly that two children they had sponsored from the program have gone on and passed through KOTO...a fabulous outcome all round.

After what seemed like an interminable time in the air I was met at Hanoi by 5 smiling faces of some of the KOTO teaching faculty and alumni. These wonderful young people fussed round me like I was made of priceless ming china.  By the time they delivered me to my home for the next three months I was no longer feeling nervous...I was feeling re-energised and full of hope and determination to do whatever I can.

One thing though...I will need to acclimatise to the traffic noise out side the hotel...these are some photo's taken from my balcony! 

6 am in the morning...starting the day

9am...getting busy....

and 9pm at night...still busy...and very, very noisy!

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Three more sleeps...

My last exam is tomorrow, then all my pent up excitment about going will bubble up and create chaos in my psyche I'm sure.  My suitcase is packed and the three boxes of donated equipment (thanks again Frazer and Hughes) will be sent via DHL.  It almost seems unreal that after a year of scrimping and saving, badgering people for money and goods, painting squiggles on wriggling kids, juggling pets and houses and pestering friends to sell raffle tickets I will finally be in the air and on my way.
The good people at KOTO have plans that encompass some teaching, some menu refurbishment, some master classes and I'm guessing a lot of playing around with flour and sugar and butter...bring it on!
I didn't end up getting a video camera, I realised that it would be too hard to video a class at the same time as I'm teaching it, but I will be taking a plethora of photos and updating this blog on a much more regular basis....methinks the kids will be a lot more interesting than me!
So bear with me, buckle up and lets take off for culinary adventure....Hanoi here we come!

Photo's taken by one of my old students...

Here are some shots taken by the very talented Alex...he's so good he can even make me look good!

market stall and final basket raffle drawn....

Newtown was so quiet today...apparantly there had been some kerfuffle between the council and the Under the Blue Moon Festival organisers and numbers were really down...however we still managed to make the grand total of $277.65! Thanks to Jo for her immense patience hanging around all day, ferrying me there and back, and for making a batch of the best biscotti in Sydney.  We finally sold all the sweet things, most of the clothing and junk and gave away the rest...you've gotta love Newtown.

When I got home I asked Ness to draw the final raffle...the winner is Louisa of Randwick...congratulations, the basket will be delivered this week. For some reason the blog won't upload the video, check it out on Facebook.

 So that's it for the fundraising, in two short weeks I will be flying off for my three month adventure.  The blog will be a lot more interesting then with uploads of the kids and the fabulous city of Hanoi.
To everyone who has supported me financially, with donations, by pet sitting so I could work and simply with moral support....thank you from the bottom of my heart - you all know who you are and I will be cooking Vietnamese banquets when I get home next February.

Market stall at Newtown on Saturday 30th

I am madly amassing anything and everything that I can sell at the free markets in Newtown on Saturday 30th.  We will have a plethora of books, some clothing, choc chip cookies, face painting and the last few raffle tickets for the remaining gift basket.  Come on down if you are in the area...we'd love to see you.

Cupcake class for Jann's girls...

Grace chops the chocolate, Eugenia weighs the butter

 Today's class for Grace, Eugenia and Akira was great fun.  The girls learned how to make 'The best chocolate mudcake Ever', how to whip vanilla buttercream to the perfect consistancy and how to ice a cupcake with flair!  Thanks to Jann for organising and subsidising the class and to the very generous Mum's of Grace and Eugenia and Akira respectively who donated even more to my trip.  Thanks so much, and thank you to the girls for being such attentive delightful students.

Grace measures the flour

Akira gets the lowdown on applying buttercream

Icing frenzy...

Akira

Eugenia

Grace

Some of the finiahed products

and then we all had lunch...yum

Raffle winner...

I have just heard that David Knott who won the first basket of goodies has a daughter who works at the Childrens Hospital here in Sydney and he is donating the prize to the kids!  What a sweetheart, lets hope some of them are well enough to enjoy the yummy munchies.  There will be photos to follow.