Hornets, fires, and slaughtered pigs-real world Vietnam

The first week of camp was an interesting one to say the least.  Monday and Tuesday went well going through the life skills, academic, and sports classes, but Wednesday was where it got interesting.  Some coaches thought the locusts were coming for the end of the world, the Vietnamese kids grabbed their noses and pointed at us to run, and all we saw was a huge swarm of bugs flying straight for us.  It turned out that someone in the town had ruined a hornet's nest and thousands of them were flying together to find a new home.  After we calmed down from the hornet attack (no one was stung, thank goodness) an electrical fire happened in the Red Team's room.  Once I heard my name being yelled from the upstairs room, I ran up to see the wires that were connected to the light switches smoking and melting away.  The Hoa An principal cut the electricity and had someone come in to fix the problem.  Thursday was a whole other story, since the volleyball coaches (Lauren and Morgan) approached me after one of their classes and told me about their dilemma.  Initially they thought a broken lawnmower was running outside the school, but one of the Vietnamese coaches clarified to them that it was actually a pig being slaughtered.  They were also able to see the half deceased pig be carried away to another destination, and refused to eat pork for lunch or dinner that day.

Stretching in Morality Class

Green Team enjoying English Class with Sophia and Lauren

The "Lucky Green Puppies" (?)

Volleyball demonstrations

Keara leading soccer warmups with Ricky giving peace signs on the side

Lauren teaching bumping in volleyball

Morgan teaching bumping in volleyball

Morgan waiting for a stray volleyball from bumping practice

Some of the coaches from Camp 4

Gee An

Candid photo of American directors

Vietnamese student's bike

One of the kids who hangs out around Hoa An (faking an injury)

Lauren's demonstration of "I am tired."

Green Tornadoes practicing English

"se-ven"

Jenny (Huong) posing in English class

Erika teaching Morality

Vietnam-the beginning

Friday night at midnight we finally arrived in Ho Chi Minh City after 31+ hours of travel.  A 7 AM wake up call Saturday morning had us eating breakfast and leaving the hotel for our Mekong Delta tour and our trip to the camp sites.

A view of the Mekong River in Southern Vietnam.

You should click on this photo.  The jar on the left is "snake wine."  The taste-whiskey.

Homemade Mekong Delta salt.

A little detour down one of the many smaller hubs of the Mekong.

Lauren posing on an elephant slide before lunch.

Lunch.

Class orientation!

A few of the students from last year

Excited new teachers

Amy learning her students' names

Lauren teaching her student how to spell "yellow."

Jenny with one of her students.

The yellow number one team

A few of our Vietnamese coaches

A few of my students from last year!

A quick stop in Japan

On a trip to Vietnam, a few of my fellow coaches and myself had a 6+ hour layover in Narita, Japan.  After being cooped up in a plane for 14 hours, we decided we wanted to leave the airport and take a quick tour of the city of Narita.  Naritasan (the giant temple in Narita) was our main destination, and it was definitely worth leaving the airport for.

Keara, Ania, and Erika found a Mexican restaurant in downtown Narita.

One of the many temples in Naritasan.

We assumed these were lantern type boxes along the sides of one of the temples.

Delicious ramen with fried vegetables and pork.

Out of all the American candies one could choose from...Kit Kat?

(also an amazing pose from Ania)

A road less traveled-the path from Denver, CO to Greenville, NC

July 4th I left Denver, Colorado to begin a week long road trip back to Greenville, North Carolina.  With plenty of food, plenty of drink, and a great friend along for the ride, this trip was one of the best driving trips I have ever had.  The first stop I planned was Pierre, South Dakota for 4th of July activities and a nice place to stop for day one.  

Carhenge, Nebraska

America's recreation of Stonehenge made out of old American cars.

The cherry colored road in Cherry County, Nebraska.

The rolling hills of South Dakota.

One of the many flooded areas Pierre, South Dakota.

A candle lantern at the rodeo in Pierre, SD.

Rodeo fireworks in Pierre, SD.

Smitten Kitchen inspired apple tarte tatin

This past month I really wanted some fruit pie.  I googled, yelped, and 4squared "pie" and "Denver," but the only answer I received in search results was cupcake shops.  Disappointed, I started researching pies I could actually cook on my own.

I came upon a food blog called Smitten Kitchen-where a couple from New York takes on different recipes and posts their results, regardless of success or failure.

There I found a post on apple tarte tatin, and immediately new this was my next cooking attempt. (the recipe is also at this link-with more detailed instructions than what I will provide)

The first step involved peeling, coring, and beveling the apples, then adding sugar and lemon juice for them to emit their natural juices.

Then I prepped the caramel with the healthiest of materials-butter and sugar.  (this combination on the stove must be constantly stirred-until it becomes a healthy brown color and the butter almost separates from the sugar)

As soon as the sugar has become caramel, remove the skillet from the stove, and place the apples round sided down to cook for 20-25 minutes.  Make sure to continue moving the apples around, and with a spoon constantly covering the apples with the caramel sauce.

Once the apples are cooked, cut out a puff pastry round and cover the apples, tucking it in on the sides.  Place the pan into a 400 degree oven, and let cook for 20-25 minutes or until the top is brown.  

Remove from oven, get a plate larger than the pan, place on top, say a prayer, then flip the tart onto the plate!

Success!