Makenna's Bike

Last week Simon's friend, Makenna, purchased a brand new electric bike. These are a popular way to get around our district -- when you need a little extra help with the pedaling. Makenna's bike is an HKBike Cap A2. It is battery operated and very quiet, but also quite sturdy. It has enough seat room for two people and a bit of storage. 

Happy Birthday Max!

This week Max had his 19th birthday. It was hard to be apart from him and we are very thankful for his surrogate family, the Squires, who are caring for him during his Co-Op placement.




Our Canadian son is thriving in the winter activities of Ontario. Much to our surprise he has been enjoying skating and skiing and doing very well learning about these.

Max has always had a desire to skate better and he has made huge improvement this winter. He has sent videos from the skating park and we are amazed at his new-found skill.

Max also spent a week in Ottawa at the Canadian Nuclear Energy Association Conference. He has been interested in Nuclear Engineering and was keen to learn about the industry. He did some great networking and enjoyed the trip to Ottawa.

We miss our boy but we are thrilled that he is thriving in his new home.

Soccer Season

Yesterday Simon's soccer team won their first game of the season! Well it is not actually Simon's team -- he isn't even playing soccer this season! But he is the Team Manager for the Varsity Girls soccer team at SSIS.

Simon's role is to set up the field before practices, fill water bottles, coordinate paperwork, keep statistics, and assist the coach in anything he asks him to do. He is truly enjoying this new activity, except for being in the heat and sun. He has equipped himself with sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water bottle and umbrella.

Shrove Tuesday

This week we invited friends to share pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. As we look forward to Easter, this marks the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. It was a fun evening with pancakes and maple syrup!

Windy City Diner

On the recommendation of a friend, today we searched (and searched and searched) for the Windy City Diner. It advertises classic Chicago-style comfort food and we were not disappointed. The atmosphere is not that much like Chicago but the food was delicious!

Basketball Tournament

Two weeks ago the Saigon South International School hosted the Mekong River International Schools Association Varsity Basketball Tournament. Eight teams from Laos, Cambodia, Northern Vietnam, and Thailand came to Ho Chi Minh City for a weekend of competition.

Simon was the flag bearer for his team in the Parade of Athletes

We billeted five boys from Laos and had a great time with them! Simon's team finished fourth in the tournament.

Week of Tết

Orchids are blooming everywhere at this time of year

We spent the Tết holiday week in Ho Chi Minh, rather than traveling like most people. During the Tết holiday it is tradition for local Vietnamese to travel to the countryside to visit extended family. Ex-patriots also travel all over South-East Asia and that leaves the city virtually empty after the celebration of New Year's Day. So it was a quiet week in the city which we thoroughly enjoyed! We planned a special meal or event for each day.

 We hosted a Cribbage Tournament which was a great family evening with delicious chili.

We went to the Boat House Restaurant to meet up with friends. Then on to the Trampoline Park. It was a hot afternoon of jumping. Great fun!












One day Lisa and a friend spent the day scrapbooking Christmas photos while Tim and Simon traveled with a group of friends on motor bikes to the beaches south of the city -- about 1.5 hours of driving each way.