Reuniting with our worldschool family is always a highlight of our travels. We originally signed up for a worldschool hub in Vietnam and Thailand with three other families we met in Bulgaria, but the organizers canceled the hub.
We decided to come together in Asia with those families anyway. We will be in Hoi An for one month. We are living in a small hotel called Blessing Villa. We rented nine of the fifteen rooms. There is a pool, and a lovely family runs the hotel.
The kids hang out all day- swimming, playing Dungeons and Dragons, board games, and gaming. The adults are enjoying time together catching up.
Michael invented a new game called Poolby (like rugby, but in the pool). Kids vs. adults. It is a fun, hilarious, and rigorous form of exercise.
Michael and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary. We met 20 years ago. Neither of us could have predicted our journey in these last 20 years. We walked around Old Town and ate Mexican food. The clothing shops and lanterns are beautiful. There is so much to take in.
The other moms and I found a yoga class at Love Yoga studio. We plan to go a couple of times a week.
The food in Hoi An is just as incredible as the food in Da Nang. We are spoiled by the Grab App. Food delivered at the push of a button is dangerous. Vicki and I still go to the market and cook dinner occasionally. We put Lucas and Henry in charge of their own meals for the week. They have a budget and they can order or cook food. They are doing a great with the responsibility, and it is nice not to have to worry about feeding them.
The boys attend You Hub three days a week. It is a learning center where they are taking a month-long course in coding and graphic design. Day 1 was a success. Ryan, the teacher, is engaging with them. Their project for the month is to create an ad campaign for Hoi An.
Michael and Lucas found pickleball in Hoi An. Our friends, the McDougalls brought paddles, so we have pickleball buddies. The players at pickleball are welcoming. Many of the players are beginners, but we found some good competition. With backgrounds in badminton, tennis, and ping pong, many players in Vietnam pick up pickleball quickly.
On Tuesday, we went to the Marble Mountains. These five limestone and marble hills are named after the five elements of the ancient oriental philosophy. They have been a source of inspiration for artists, pilgrims, and explorers for centuries. The mountains have played a pivotal role in Vietnam’s history, serving as hiding places for revolutionaries during wartime and as spiritual sanctuaries.
We took a trip to Coconut Beach one afternoon. It is less touristy than An Bang Beach. The water there is calm and warm. We drank fruity drinks and floated our cares away. We spent a lot of time the first week relaxing by the pool. It is hot and humid during the day. After the first week, we are settled in and excited for the rest of the month.
