TEFL course is over!

What a relief, the one month of intense work has finally come to a close, and I ended up with a certificate that can get me a teaching job anywhere in the world (pretty good deal). Our class went out to a celebratory lunch at this absurd buffet. It was in a giant warehouse with fake waterfalls and trees, and since the new year is coming up and school is being closed, the place was swamped with highschoolers celebrating as well. It took quite an effort to get anywhere near the food; usually people seem to step aside if a white person comes through, but my ethnicity was of no help in the buffet area. It was every man for himself, and I had to battle with some very tiny women to even get myself some clams. Despite the rush, it was still really enjoyable to talk with my classmates (who are all really incredible people).
Afterwards, I went to the Vietnam Airlines office to check if my plane ticket was real. I was rather worried due to an article that was run today concerning a huge amount of fake airline tickets and people losing a lot of money. So, it is real, and with my fears abolished, I headed to a Lebanese restaurant to meet some friends for dinner and wine. The food was absolutely amazing, and was actually the most expensive meal I've had here yet. Let's see, it was 20 dollars for wine, champagne, and about 15 different entrees, no complaints here. After dinner we went to a bar/club where a local band, the Rice Throwers, were playing. They are absolutely amazing, and the lead singer is an adorable little Hmong girl (from a hill tribe).
Overall, it was a wonderful way to end the TEFL course, and I definitely feel like I'm really going to miss the people I've met in HCMC thus far. I'm excited to pack everything back up and start a new life, yet again, but I know it is going to be a big change. Hanoi is a lot less liberal than Saigon, and I hope I haven't become too spoiled by living in such a "westernized" city. I move on Tuesday, and pretty much have a mandatory vacation for the next two weeks because all schools are closed until after the new year. I am really looking forward to taking it easy for a bit and not having to wake up at 5:30am due to an obnoxious rooster downstairs.