Orphanage Info

Ok the visa is straightened out, now we're just waiting on the weather. Oh and I've gotten a few questions about my um; teaching credentials (haha), so for the record: no teaching experience is necessary for this, and although I was an Ed major for... a semester, my only classroom experience has been observing and aiding in a 2nd grade class and an art room. Also, I have been asked if I speak Vietnamese fluently- not quite. In preparation for this trip, I have managed to learn hello (chao), goodbye (tham biet), and Happy New Year (chuc mung nam moi) - which for them, starts in Fubruary and is their only big holiday. So thank god, to teach you are only required to know English. Lastly, I've also been asked for more info about the orphanage so here is what I have:

Website:
http://orphaned.org/index.html
Summary: The Dieu Giac Temple Orphanage is located in central Saigon where it shelters and cares for over 120 abandoned, orphaned or street children. They range from several months to 18 years of age and are of different ethnic groups and religious backgrounds. The children of the orphanage are taken care of by a group of Buddhist nuns and volunteers. All the children who reach school age are sent to local school like normal children. After school hours, the children learn handcrafting such as knitting, embroidering and making wooden toys. Volunteers will teach English to these disadvantaged children in a classroom setting with focus on communication skills. In most of the cases, volunteers teach children ages 6-15 for about 14-20 hours a week. Teaching English to these children not only offers the privilege of serving humanity, but also provides a significant opportunity to learn about teaching, cross-cultural adjustment, and team relationships. Volunteers can also support the shelter's administrative staff in its daily tasks or organize extracurricular and creative activities such as games, drawing, and singing for the children. Volunteers will be required to travel between the shelters to give lessons.

Website about a documentary made on the orphanage:
http://www.intafusion.com.au/eachgrain/index.html
Visitors Blog and Short Video Clip of the Children:
http://shawnayangryan.blogspot.com/2007/07/dieu-giacs-