2013 DOWLER CHRISTMAS LETTER
Hi to you all,
Well what an eventful year!
Living in HCMC Vietnam has been amazing and we still love it. Our life consists of eating out most nights,
going for massages, going out for coffee, catching up with friends and having
visitors from overseas. Oh yeah, work,
forgot about that!
Phil’s work has
been ever changing this year…he started the year as a lecturer in the
Entrepreneurship area again but just a few weeks ago, following his epic 500km+
bike ride through Thailand he stepped up into the role of ‘Head of Department
for Management and Law, Centre of Commerce and Management’. He has found that he really does enjoy the
management side of things now he is back in that area again. It is only an interim position but you never
know where it may lead. Still enjoying
it here and possibly would be happy to never permanently live back in Australia
again.
RMIT Graduation day with some of Phils students
Leanne has stepped back from Drama teaching and is just English
teaching now…2 days at the Caravelle hotel and 2 days at the New World Hotel
teaching staff. Recently as well, she
has been doing 2 hours on a Wednesday night with young students….practicing to
be a Grandma? She has performed in 2
productions, the lead role in ‘The House of Bernada Alba’, and a smaller role
in ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ which she enjoyed immensely. Also for the first time in her life
participated in a sporting event…The Angkor Wat Marathon, although only
running/walking 10kms. She is enjoying living here as well and had the bonus of
all the girls visiting this year plus being able to pop home in June for a few
days.
The obligatory picture in front of the Christmas decorations in the city.
Whitney has the big wedding to Cameron planned for next year in August and all eyes are on that. She has been concentrating on all of the preparations and is planning to get her dress made in Vietnam if all goes well on their visit starting the 15th of Dec for a month. They are talking about moving to Brisbane from Mackay or even overseas for a short time maybe in the future so there are lots of exciting things happening for her. She is the last of the Dowlers working at G&S in the training department and seems to enjoy the challenge of her job.
Whitney and Cam drinking coffee in HCMC
Graduation photo with Grandma
Jaimee has also had a big year, she has been living in Melbourne with her partner Will since we moved over here. A big trip to Europe for her host sister Giada’s wedding in August and popping in to visit us on the way home was a big focus. It slowed her career plans a bit but she did work for an Autistic centre as a carer for most of the year. It was quite a challenge, telling us that a good day was one that she didn’t get bitten or hit. She has completed her Cert III and IV in Business this year and since she has gotten back to Australia she has started at a Public Concern company as a team assistant, a new and exciting step for her. She still loves living in Melbourne and has been joined by a lot of her good friends from Mackay.
Jaimee's visit to HCMC and RMIT
That is the year
in a nutshell…such an exciting time for everyone really. We miss our girls but know they are happy and
well and have lots of people around them that care for them.
Hope everyone has had
a great 2013 too and we all are looking forward to 2014….. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Christmas lights in the city
Christmas Carols in the Cathedral
Christmas carols in the Cathedral
Christmas Decorations at the Caravelle Hotel
