A couple of very smart cookies turned up for today's Grade 11 class.
I have a bit of a history of being tired & grumpy on Tuesday mornings, not helped much by occasional displays of inexplicable laziness and stupidity from otherwise quite intelligent kids.
Lovely student X and cute student Y ("lovely & cute" seems to be the most common phrase used by female members of staff to describe students) launched a preemptive strike today, under the cover of darkness. Oops, I mean used Valentine's Day as their weapon delivery system.
I was neck deep in exam scores as they purposefully entered the room, striding directly toward me. "Teacher, Happy Valentine's Day", they both harmonized in very sweet voices, presenting me with two hand-wrapped colorful gifts and angel smiles.
Their efforts were fruitful. I was charming, polite, patient and caring with the entire class for the rest of the lesson.
Moral of the story, students? Bring me gifts to receive happiness in return. 
While on the subject of Valentine's Day in Vietnam, yes, I've made plans. I don't see the need for a specific day set aside to express your love & thanks, but hey, the Vietnamese people love to celebrate anything and I love to spoil Quynh, so why not. Tonight we're off to a lavish, exotic, sumptuous dinner at the Park Hyatt, complete with all the typical VDay trappings. It's sure to be a very special evening.
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Sent from my iPhone
Stephen McGrath
