“Scatter joy!” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

My mission this time round was simple: it was to focus on one word only: joy.
I was here for such a short time compared to a year last time that I didn't want to commit to doing to much but focus on giving these children some joy. It's summer holidays and they are cooped up in that place with no one to take them out. I figured I would spend my time taking them out and providing experiences they can't get within the walls.
So, we went to the pool and the amusement park and ate at a lot of restaurants!

The swimming pool was of course a hit.... I had brought goggles and kick board and floating devices to try teach them how to swim a bit more.
I'm always reminded of that scene in 'finding nemo' where the seagulls are outside repeating the word 'mine, mine, mine'.
When I pull out 12 pairs of goggles they can use but have to share, all you can hear is 'Anna, Anna, Anna' constantly while I am surrounded by thirty pairs of hands trying to reach and be the chosen ones.

They were all so well behaved, I was impressed. They listened when I spoke and if they got to much and I told them to stop and listen, they did. Even the sharing was done, albeit the kingpins hogging a few pairs that the other children would not dare ask to use. The pecking order is alive and well here.

For the younger toddlers whom I couldn't take to the pool, I bought a wading pool and blew it up at the orphanage.

I was expecting chaos. But we only had to tell them once: this was for the babies, not for you guys to get in. They all stood around and watched and helped fill it up, and helped undress/dress the toddlers too.
There was such a nice vibe and energy to the interactions I was witnessing: although no one questioned the pecking order, they were a family. I really got the feeling of this, this trip around.

So the pool outings were a huge success as were their appetites!
I took them for banh xeo, a crispy pancake thing you roll with green salad in rice paper.... 23 boys ate 120 pancakes! I couldn't believe it! Duc, the eldest boy ate 12 on his own!
I was so happy they were eating and eating properly, good, nutritious food  with substantial meat. Not just filling up on rice as is the norm at the orphanage.

The amusement park was hilarious.
Tam Ky is changing and the western influence is creeping in slowly but steadily. This amusement park had a roller blading rink, bumper cars, flying chairs, a sand pit, a ball pit, tunnels, a jumping castle and plenty of video games.
Their faces as they walked in, mouths agape, just staring at everything. When I told them they could go play, feet scurried to and fro not knowing what to play with first.

The flying chairs was interesting. I should have guessed they would have gotten scared but I was to caught up in the excitement of them experiencing a real ride to think about it: half these kids get motion sickness!
So the chairs started rotating and 'flying' and I could see their faces.... Some were crying and others had their eyes closed focusing on their breathing. Oh dear! I was tempted to tell the controller to stop it, but after the initial shock of that feeling in your gut, they began to enjoy it and were laughing and smiling.
The boys enjoyed it more than the girls.

A few more rides were enjoyed before we retired for dinner, everyone on a high, dripping with sweat from running around....

The mothers even got excited and got on the rides with the kids and myself. Each ride was $1 which they all gasped and explained was sooooo expensive when they found out.
Another observation about Tam Ky: the gap between the poor and rich is widening. Salaries are increasing depending on what and where you are employed, but you could tell, an amusement park like this, would only cater to the richest families here.
I felt great watching my children run around having the time of their lives. As far as anyone knew, these kids were all part of the elite society here.
I had so many hugs and kisses and thank yous after each excursion, but especially after the amusement park. Each one of them exclaimed how happy they were as they kissed and squeezed me.
Even Thanh, the oldest girl in the orphanage who seems depressed and won't come out swimming: I made her come, even just to watch I told her, when she started protesting. I got tingles and felt like I was a bubble about to pop when I saw her on the jumping castle laughing and having a great time.

Peace Village was just as amazing. These residents never cease to amaze me.
Again, with a wave of new residents coming, the pressure is on these carers who are so stretched its not funny. They constantly seem to be working under a fog of lethargy. I don't know how they carry on. Especially in the 42 degree heat!!!!!

Again, even here, all the residents have banded together: a family unit. The more physically abled help the less so; they help supervise and go and run after them when one wanders of to far; they help feed the incapacitated ones; they try to maintain some discipline and order and sometimes I just couldn't help but laugh when ten different voices are yelling the same things all a few seconds delayed from each other.
They do their best.... Everyday is a new day.
I took 24 of them to the beach and I fell into a heap of exhaustion afterwards but it was so worth it. They joy on their faces, the excitement! I loved it when they all got down to the waterfront and jumped, rolled, crawled in. They seemed to have more guts than baby orphanage children!

Watching them made me think about the little things again and how easy it is to take for granted. I live 30 seconds away from the beach and watching them made me realise how I even take that for granted.

These kids remind me on a daily basis how fortunate I am, how grateful I should be for bare essentials such as hot water, a mattress and enough food to fill my belly.

Phu Ninh orphans made me feel the same way: these kids who have never left the mountains, came down to hoi an for a day of culture, beach and food. Their faces were priceless and I wouldn't do them justice trying to explain what and how they felt. Seeing temples and pagodas, the streets full of life.... Not to mention all the westerners.....

Seeing them see the ocean for the first time.... Wow. We caused a stir and had half the beach stare at us: the squeals of delight,cheers and screams they elicited, roused all the tourists nearby. I had to explain to them that this was the first time they had seen the ocean. And then the death stares turned to looks of understanding and compassion. Some even came and helped take some into to the water, while others were so fascinated by their reactions, they stood by and took photos! I was down there alone so I don't have many good pictures of their initial reactions as I was watching them all too closely panicked in case one drowned..... These guys are not like baby orphanage who at least splash in a pool. Some went under and gulped water as they didn't understand you had to hold your breath.... Again, the small things.....
Overall though, an unforgettable day for them and for me....

“The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better”

Through many of your donations, last year we were able to help many of the poor and underprivileged citizens in the community. I went and visited these families again and here is an update on how some of them have been since our support was given. Huge thank you to Jake and Ellis Silove who have and are still continuing to support these people this year...

1. Chi Nam has had a grant from the government being one of the poorest members of the community. This grant built her her first house! Yep. FIRST house in her life. I just cannot imagine being 'homeless' until my seventies.

The saddest part for me is that she has children and none helped her. My next project is to hunt these said children of hers... I haven't thought far enough as to what I would do to them yet though!
Chi Nam is so happy with the pig we bought her. She is pregnant right now and Chi Nam is over the moon. I have never seen anyone show love to a pig like she has. I have friends with dogs who they adore, but they have nothing over this piggy!

She loves it so much, she talks to it all the time and I swear the pig sat when she told it to, approached her when she commanded it and turned around when asked. Living out amongst the woods, surrounded by rice fields alone, piggy has been Chi Nam's companion. She loves it so much that now piggy is eating for piglets too, she was going through food at exorbitant rates . Chi Nam was going without to make sure piggy had enough food. I was astounded.
With more donations from this year, I left her money for pig food for the next 5 months so for the love of the pig, Chi Nam does not starve herself.

2.Family with three boys supported to continue with school:
The twins did very well at school, finishing up in top % of students. They were to shy to show me their certificates and then hold them up for a photo so I did it for them!

The older brother unfortunately did not do so well and failed four subjects. He is embarrassed and doesn't want to go back and repeat as his friends would be in the year above him . He said he was dumb and that he didn't want to go back. I asked him what he wanted to do and apparently he is nifty with electricals and so wants to start apprenticeship as an electrician.
His mother was really upset he didn't want to finish high school. We debated it over a few days and after giving him a week to think about it, he still came back and said he wanted to be an electrician. He was going to find out how much the fees were and I was going to help him, under the proviso that he studies and passes the written work too. He said he would as he has an interest in this whereas he found it difficult to get his head around the school subjects. In the mean time, he has joined his agent orange father in Danang, selling lottery tickets on the streets.

3.Orphan boy Vu:
An excellent student who topped his class! He wants to become an architect when he finishes high school.
He is concerned because the university for architecture is in Danang. He worries about his guardian, a grandmother like figure you may remember her from previous blog. She is getting on, arthritis is setting in and she cannot do what she used to do. She took in 8 orphans to look after all by herself at her peak! I told him to focus on his studies this year and we can cross that bridge later. I found it touching how much love and appreciation he has for this woman that his first thought was her when considering the possibility of having to move to Danang to continue studying.

4.Mr Nhat and his cow are doing well! The government built him a house and he is looking a lot happier. He does a little bit of farming when he can to help provide for his family. The cow has grown a lot and in 6 months they will start trying to knock her up!

5.Trinh is still at peace village, her salary being paid for by donations.
Trinh is one of five carers at Peace Village.
They added five new disabled children this week bringing the total to 40 residents.
Apparently the government think having three carers to forty children is enough.
Another carer is also funded by another volunteer.
If we weren't, the five carers would be three, leaving two on day shift and one by herself with the forty on night shift.
With donations, we have committed to supporting Trinh's employment, a struggling single mother herself, by paying for her salary for another six months. Since she is privately funded, she does not get health insurance like the government paid for carers and so, we have also paid for her annual health insurance cover too. This was a total of $30 for the year.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them"

The building is progressing at such a rapid rate! I couldn't believe my eyes from one week to the next how fast it all seems to go... Especially when they use a pulley system to lift all the sand and bricks up to the top level bit by bit with a bucket!

Vietnamese building sites crack me up in general: everyone working in rubber thongs, standing on ladders unsupported, hazards lying about everywhere, people up second level in crutches and foot casts overlooking the construction, children operating machines.....all I was missing was a chair and pop corn and I could have sat back and enjoyed the show all day!

Everyone has gone to great lengths to help such an amazing lady!
To all her friends, family, past volunteers and their fiends of friends that have helped fundraise for her dream to come true, she truly thanks each and every one of you from the bottom of her heart.

Her desire to help the orphans who leave and have nowhere to go once they turn 18 is still burning bright and strong.
If she could help them all she truly would!
Last week the second level was being complete, this week they were digging a water well and getting started on the plumbing and this weekend, they have already started to build the rooms upstairs where everyone will be sleeping apparently when they come to visit Tam Ky!
Brick by brick we are getting there!

In terms of the funding, Mrs H still needs $30,000 to complete it.
We have already raised $3000 however, we need another $2000 to complete the building itself.
The remainder $25,000 is to fit out the restaurant.

It's the last home run folks. Lets see if we can all band together one last time to help this lady complete her dream. There would be nothing worse than having the building stand empty and not have the funds to furnish it and get the party cooking!

“The sweetness of reunion is the joy of heaven”

... I have no idea how to word this entry to be able to convey the emotions and intensity of my 'homecoming'.
From the moment I touched down and heard the Vietnamese around me, I smiled so wide it felt like my face was going to rip.
After an insane ordeal with planes, delays, rerouting, I arrived a day late at 1am exhausted yet unable to fall asleep.
How could I sleep knowing my babies were 7km away!!!! I woke up every hour thinking 'is it time yet?'. And finally the hour arrived!
I emerged from my hotel, got hit in the face with humidity and the heat and instead of scrounging up my face and gasping, I stopped and closed my eyes for a second standing on a 'standard 'street in Tam Ky. The best way I can describe it is by comparing it to holding your breath a fraction to long and when you let go and come up for air, this feeling floats through your entire body, your lungs get tingly as they fill with oxygen again.... That's how I felt. And all I could think of was: I'm home.
So, after a famous Mrs Hanh breakfast, I hopped on the motorbike and off we headed to the orphanage. I was getting butterflies at the thought of seeing them all. They were all expecting me yesterday you see. Everyone here was telling me that for the last few weeks its been nothing but 'Anna is coming, Anna is coming!'
We turned down the little gravel road that leads to the orphanage and for those last 100metres, it was like, all sounds around me had ceased and all I could hear was my own heart beating and the sound of the wind in my ears.
I got into the gate and before I was even off the bike, one of the boys sitting up on a tree, spotted me. All that was missing were a pair of binoculars around his neck. Couldn't help but think he was stationed there to spot me first. He screamed my name, rolled out of the tree, came crashing down before running out. He was in a fluster trying to decide to hug me first or go tell the others. His little foot dance in which direction to go won in my direction for a second, got a quick hi five before his feet changed directions toward entrance of the orphanage to yell 'Anna is here, it's Anna!' And within seconds one little voice, then two, then three, then forty were yelling my name and running towards me. I just stood there, didn't make it past the front steps when I was ambushed and had all these arms hug me, touch me and reach out for a touch if they weren't close enough for a hug. Most were calling my name to get me to look at them and acknowledge that I had seen them.
It's like I was hit with a wave of adrenalin. Like I been roaming in the desert for months, searching for a water source, a life source.... I found it. Right here, on the front steps of an orphanage that houses 80 precious little souls.
Once the kids made some room, the carers each came and hugged me and everyone was amazed at how I remembered everyone's names. Even the children tried to test me but I never failed. Their smiles confirmed to me: yes, she remembers me and my name. I'm not someone who can be forgotten.
The toddlers were next and little Huy, who I first met when he was months old, dumped in the mountains left to die, came running up to me smiling saying 'na' 'na' and jumped into my arms. He is 3.4 years old now.

Long, who cried and had tantrums about every 15 minutes has transformed into a smiling little toddler who also approached me but wouldn't hug me until coaxed by the older children that it was ok.

I then had about fifteen of them drag me towards the direction of Sen. About twenty of them never left my side. They pulled away from me and sat on the sidelines as I went into the disabled room and greeted Son, Trinh, Duyen, Phuc and finally Sen. She has grown so much in five months! I couldn't believe it. She is a lot stronger and sturdy at standing. There must have been to much noise in there with my support crew and so she kept covering her ears. I got many kisses and cuddles in before I was whisked away to see the babies and meet a few new editions.

There were a few new carers there too and the way they greeted me was like they to, have known me for the last three years. They made it sound like I was talked about like a celebrity.
Apparently they have heard nothing but my name and stories about me from the kids and carers alike and so were eager to meet me.
The girls were proud to show me how the photo collage we made together was still intact on the wall, with pictures from our last year together.

It was chaotic and crazy and the orphanage was high on a buzz as I did happy laps around taking it all in again.

When I asked them what they wanted to do for the short time I was here it was unanimous: swimming pool. Then supermarket and then the markets.
I found it interesting that both boys and girls, first thing they wanted to do again was to sleep over at my house. Out of everything we did last year, that was one indelible memory and experience for them. Since there was no house to go to this year, swimming came in first choice next.

Peace village was also nothing short of an amazing welcome. I didn't actually think they would remember me and so they surprised me with their reactions: Son, Hai and Tri of course remembered me. Son was so excited to see me he practically dragged me down into his wheelchair.

He had a present for me that he bought and wrapped. It touched me, knowing that it would have cost him a fair bit in his world and that he had saved whatever money his family had given him to buy me a present.

Truc, as usual came running out as he does to greet anyone and I wish I could have captured the moment he registered it was me.... He did this gallop run and began clapping his hands as he ran to me yelling my name, squeezing me hard when he reached me.
A few of the other residents who are mute, were quite clear in their communication in their recognition of me. Some touched my face, others clapped, others started giggling and laughing uncontrollably.
The carers hugged me so tight I swear they cut off circulation for a second and then they were crying.
So many new faces at peace village. 35 in total now. All the newbies I met were just as amazing as my originals.... Such a wide range of issues and disabilities. And still only three carers rostered on a day to take care of these residents. I take my hat off to them. If this is not one of the worlds hardest jobs, I don't know what is.
PV wants to go to the beach and karaoke. Ok then! I agreed whilst quickly doing a mental check and realising I didn't pack ear plugs.
Regardless of the heat, excessive decibels, my rock hard mattress, mosquitoes and trying to fit everything I want in,  it's going to be a busy yet incredible three weeks.

 

Reflections from a Vietnamese friend...

The following piece was written by a friend of mine who attended my farewell party.... its translated from Vietnamese as best as possible! (My entry about the farewell is entitled "we only part to meet again" further down)

Last Sunday morning, my colleagues and I went to a send-off party of our foreign teacher (Miss Anna). She is an Australian teacher who mainly teaches for Galaxy Quang Nam (an English center of Galaxy International Education SJC) as well as a volunteer who has devoted  her time to the ill-fated children in Quang Nam province for years.

Everyone in the party was torn because of goodbye salutations. Particularly, she invited all ill-fated children in S.O.S villages that she took care of during the time she was in Tam Ky, Quang Nam, Vietnam. The children sang some tearful songs instead of saying goodbye to their respectable older sister -  Miss Anna.
I tried to keep back my tears by drinking a big glass of beer at one time but I failed to do that so I pretended by taking a piece of ice from the bucket under the table. The cold of the ice as was in a voice choked with emotion and the heart- rending in every word of their songs.
Each participant looked the one who seated on his left, on his right, in front of him …and the one who was at another table as he wanted to say something sacred but it was as ordinary as possible.
Perhaps, from the bottom of their hearts, they understood the reasons of their tears and it had completely slipped their minds a question that why a foreigner (Miss Anna) comes to Vietnam, she can do something like that for years despite of language difficulties, cultures…Whereas,  Vietnamese in general, and people in Tam Ky city in particular can not?
The songs named 'A Question Mark' presented by a boy sitting on a wheelchair and 'Father’s Love' presented by a girl with a sorrowful mien resounded in the peaceful and quiet of the hall. Yes or no, there was only the sonority of tear flows, the enlightenment and the boundless shame. 

At the end of the party, the children were suggested to stand in line before getting on bus to come back. One hurried to walk on his crutches, one tried to drag his feet, one was hard to turn his
wheelchair…but all of them were looking at a woman who has been with them, has helped them to find motivation to continue their lives for years. Another question appeared again but not in the attendants, in the children’s minds themselves that what their lives were like without Miss Anna – The same as they were or just  like a the meaning of the song A Question Mark that resounded in the cold of late frozen day.
Hopefully, the tears will be full of significance of sincerity and the same will be turned into compassionateness, generosity so that they can find a light ray in their dark lives.

Danang, Vietnam
Vuong Huu Vinh


Photos from farewell party:
*https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.420912834648945.98211.100001906971476&type=3