Teachers Day

Today is Teachers Day in Viet Nam. This is a holiday when students show their respect to their teachers with flowers and gifts. Because the classes at KTV are usually at night, for the past two evenings we've been showered with beautiful bouquets, cakes and gifts, such as a large stuffed teddy for Mark! Mr Siu Siu in the centre of the group is the owner of the bakery that makes the most beautiful cakes in Bien Hoa and he's also a student at KTV, so I've seen many examples of his artistry on special occasions. Lovely sponge cake, but too much creamy stuff for my liking! Mr Thom, the school's principle is on the left.

When we went to teach Mark's private students yesterday, they gave him a state-of-the-art mobile phone and treated us to a fantastic meal at a very upmarket restaurant! I was taken next door to an aunt's house to be measured for something. I suspect it's for an Ao Dai, the traditional dress of silk trousers and long tunic, but I didn't like to ask. I was taught never to look a gift horse in the mouth and I like surprises. Just watch this space!



At the Restaurant with Brad and Jojo... that's picture of a quail egg that was almost ready to hatch, which is considered a delicacy here!! Mark has no qualms, unlike me! After that appetizer (!) we were served a huge plate of yellow pancake with seafood and meat, which you help yourself to and wrap in lettuce leaves and rice sheet like a parcel.
Then a large pot of fish and pineapple soup into which is added greens and finally large prawns and sliced liver. It's quite spicy and I know it sounds weird but actually it tastes great as the flavour of chilli (not too hot) and pineapple counteracts the fishiness.





Judy arrived this morning with gifts as well; ties for Mark and a beautiful scarf for me. I've been looking for a scarf ever since I arrived but couldn't find any, so I don't know where she got this one! We have so many flowers we're trying to find someone to give them to.

I was just writing my monthly newsletter for www.who2.co.uk on the theme of respect because of what I've observed here in Viet Nam. The students mostly have respect for their teachers as far as I can see. (There are always exceptions and teenagers are the same everywhere.) There is great respect for the family; there has to be, as mostly everyone lives with their family until they marry and maybe even after that!

I'm always amazed at how the hordes of motorbike riders, cars, buses and trucks exercise respect in their manoeverings, with few traffic lights and no traffic cops, while accidents are probably no worse than at home. As there is no insurance, anyone involved in an accident must report to the police and pay for any damage and if they don't have any money, they go to prison, especially if someone is killed. But there seems to be none of the road rage that's been proliferating in the UK and no shouting or obscene sign language that I've seen so far.
Actually they all give the two finger salute, as you may have noticed in photographs, which is a greeting here and not an insult!
There's also respect for the natural rhythm of life, getting up with the dawn and going to bed before midnight, at least here in Bien Hoa. In this society no-one can afford to miss school or work.
The most amazing thing to me is the respect these people have for America, even after that terrible war! Some of the men learning English even take the name of American presidents; George Bush is popular as well as Bill Clinton. People often call out to us while travelling by motorbike... "Are you American?" I don't know whether their respect is out of fear (of police or whatever,) or because these people are naturally gentle and respectful.

We arranged to have the rest of the weekend free so we can take a trip to Da Lat, a famous beauty spot in the central highlands, thinking we could just go and get train tickets at the last minute. We'd been advised to get an overnight sleeper for the journey north as its quite a long way. (Probably like going from London to Scotland.) However, it turns out that all the sleepers are full, so we'll be setting off at 6.30 in the morning and going by bus instead, which should take about 5 hours.
More news and pictures when we return!