Our FAVORITE coffee

Better than our own Starbucks.

Somebody is going to miss these!!

Our Last Night in Vietnam

On a river boat ride drinking coffee and sodas.

New Years Day in Vietnam

My, Khan (My's brother), and Jung (My's sister-in-law).

Khan, Jung, My, and her former students are working hard to prepare for the New Year's Feast.

People are gathering for the feast.  There were about 40 people so it was definitely crowded and fun.  The food was terrific.

Everyone worked hard to provide this wonderful meal.  It was all sooo good.

Mike, Jolene, Dr. Maebo, My, and her former students take a final goodbye picture after the feast.  We would leave early the next day and would not be able to see them again.

Pictures of the Dong Nai Community College

My stands before Mr. Dat (a former colleague of My's) and his class, teaching everyone about oral hygiene.  Mr. Dat is a very smart man, probably the best English speaker that we met in Vietnam.  His students adore him, and we all liked him a lot!

The students of Mr. Dat were very polite and professional during My's lecture.

Mr. Dat, My, and Mr. Pho(the director of Dong Nai Community College).  My said she has always wanted to be the director at a school so her dream came true when Mr. Pho allowed her to sit in his seat.  How nice!

Another one of Mr. Dat's classes that we were able to speak with the students about oral hygiene.

Somethings to remember...

Coming back Vietnam, I met again my family, relatives, friends, as well as my former students. I was profoundly touched by their warmth. Although living far away from the homeland, Vietnam is always in my heart. Vietnam is developing day by day. Many new buildings are springing up like mushrooms after rain. The number of motorbikes and cars are increasing rapidly. Vietnam today is experiencing tremendous change.

Growing up in the countryside (not far from Bien Hoa City center), I remembered the smell of rice on an open fire and the sounds of rooters waking people up in the morning. Giant banyan trees, fresh water wells, bamboo hedges, lands of farms and orchards created a colourful and picturesque view of my village. You could smell fresh cut rice and see drying hay along roads during the harvest season. Those are Vietnam in my memory and I wish to keep intact the beauty of the past. My family has grown up in this village for many generations. Unfortunately, my village is gradually vanished in front of my eyes. Half of the village has undergone change as the result of urbanization. The vast rice fields, orchards, clean air and peaceful life were replaced by new buildings and noisy roads. Half of the village is still under the urbanization process. The villagers no longer want to take care their lands and orchards. A deep sadness penetrated in my heart when I saw this scenery. My family had to move our ancestors' resting places to a new location. The picture of my grandma's tomb that Jimmy took is possible last one before we move her remain. Hopefully, their resting places won't be disturbed in the future.

Jimmy and I walked three nights on the roads that I used to go to my middle and high school. I nearly got lost because of new roads and Jimmy directed me how to go back my brother's house. What a shame! The urbanization process brings serious environmental change. Many motor vehicles are constantly discharging toxic gas into the city 's atmosphere. The town is so polluted and noisy.

I had a great opportunity to visit the School of Deaf and Blind, Orphanages, Community Colleges and Dental School. It was such a good experience. The smiling and happy faces of children and students will stay with me forever.

I would like to sincerely thank you to Dr. Maebo, Jolene, Mike and Jimmy who stepped out of their comfortable zones to make this adventure with me. Thank you to my family, friends supported me to make the trip possible. I don't want to close the chapter of our adventure because it has just begun. Hopefully, we will be back Vietnam next two years.

Smiles and hugs from my family, my friends to welcome us home and drops of tear to say farewell to us are always in my memory. Good bye and see you again!

Chao tam biet va hen gap lai ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoPX2JejUTg&feature=related

Pictures to My's orphanages blog Part 3

Le and her husband in their house.  They were so kind to drive us everywhere, invite us for a spectacular lunch at their nice home, and help us run errands.

My and Le at their home.  Le is a former student of My's when she taught in Vietnam.

Le's home.

Pictures to My's orphanages blog Part 2

An orphan who had been living at the pagoda since the age of 5.

My with an orphan at the pagoda.

Le, the head nun, and My with some orphans at the Long Thanh Pagoda.

Teaching the young orphans at the pagoda how to brush is My Nguyen.

One of the bedrooms at the pagoda.  Two children to one bed.

Pictures to My's orphanages blog Part 1

One of the garden where the residents of the Long Thanh Pagoda grow their own vegetables to eat.

Some of the orphans at the Long Thanh Pagoda, and there is a nun in the upper left hand corner.

An orphan who cooked Bahn Xiao (Vietnamese pancakes/omlettes) and a lady who lives at the pagoda.

A male orphan of the pagoda who paints wonderful work.

My and Le bowing with incense sticks at the pagoda.

Visiting Dongnai College of Education

On Dec. 30th and 31st, Jimmy and I visited Dong Nai College of Education where my brother teaches English. We were welcomed warmly by the staff and students. We visited three classes to present various topics such as tooth anatomy, caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease and proper brushing and flossing technique. The students were interested in the topics and participated in our presentation by asking many questions. Their politeness, respect and appreciation made us feel very happy to be there. We really enjoyed the atmosphere when the students stood up to welcome us. They raised their hands and stood up when asking and answering the questions.

I would like to thank you Mr. Khanh, Mr. Pho, Mr. Dat and Mr. Han who gave us an opportunity to visit school and to have the presentation. Thank you Jimmy for being such a good teacher assistant. We had a wonderful time !

The orphanages in Bien hoa and Long Thanh

Xin chao! We are back in Seattle for a week and have just recovered from jet lag. On Dec. 29th, Jimmy and I visited Disabled Orphanage in Bien Hoa center. Many of the kids at this center are disabled. They include autism, mental retardation, deaf and blind. After visiting the campus, we gathered around children to give tooth brushing instruction. We donated many toothbrushes and toothpaste to the center.

In the afternoon, my friend Le and her husband took us to another orphanage in Long Thanh, half an hour drive from Bien Hoa. The Dieu Phap pagoda/orphanage is not only the place to worship Buddha but also home of the orphans and disabled elderly people. Most of the children were abandoned at the foot steps of the pagoda. The kind hearted nun provides them a family shelter and helps them to receive an education. Many children have grown up, graduated from high schools, colleges and universities and become the useful citizens to society. Some of them are back the pagoda to help the nun to raise other kids. In addition, the pagoda has a nursing care for disabled and poor elderly people. Most of them have no family and suffer from serious illness.

We brought some items such as rice, noodle, oil, toothbrushes and toothpaste to the pagoda. We also spent our time to give oral hygiene instruction to young kids. On Dec 31st, we visited this place again to give more items : thermoses, bowls, spoons, chopsticks, rice, noodle...

Jimmy will upload the pictures of these orphanages very soon !

Dai Nam Cultural - Historical Park (Disneylandish Place)

On Dec. 28 , Jimmy, my friends and I visited Dai Nam Cultural- Historical Park that is located about 40km from Saigon. Jimmy called it "Disneylandish place". Covering an area of about 450 hectares, the park has been under construction for the past 10 years and is expected to be a biggest park in the country by 2010.

This park displays historic images of Vietnam's 64 provinces and cities, replicas of the wonders of the world (the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, Angkor Wat, Thailand's Golden Pagoda, and the Kremlin), the zoo and the wide ranges of recreational activities. Dai Nam Quoc Tu (Temple of Four Gratitudes), the most important temple in the park, is used as a worship place for people who helped to build the country such as the Lac Long Quan, the Au Co mother, The King Hung .... Near the Dai Nam Quoc Tu is the Ngu Hanh Son (The Five Mountains). The Five Mountains symbolize the five elements of the universe: mental, wood, water, fire and earth. Inside the mountains are exhibits history of Vietnam from Lac Long Quan and Au Co eras to the Nguyen Dynasty, the 1975 liberation of the south...

Visiting this park, my friends and I reviewed many legends, stories and history of Vietnam. Jimmy and the kids got bored when listening to all stories but they had a great time while riding roller coaster.

Dec. 28 Continued

Breakfast at the cafe with My's former students.

Outside the main temple at the Disneylandish place are My and a former student Le.

5 dragon structure at the Disneylandish place.

A group picture at the Disneylandish place.

Inside the main temple where there are gold colored statues of Buddha, a Vietnamese king, Ho Chi Minh, and som other figures.

Dec. 28, the third day Dr. and company are gone

Our group went to the Disneylandish place.  

A roller coaster that a small group and I went on.  It was a blast!

Some pictures of the structures in the Disneylandish place.

We are standing on a bridge with a gate behind us at the Disneylandish place

The Great Wall structure that surrounds the entire Disneylandish place.

We met with more of My's former students today, about 8 of them.  We met for breakfast at a cafe and afterward, some of them and their family members came with us to a very big and nice Disneylandish place.  On the outside, it looked like the Great Wall of China and there were many Asian looking temples inside the walls.  Also located inside the walls were a zoo, a theme park, many statues, and lots more.  

Dec 27 Continued Pics

Quang teaching My how to ride a motorbike

My's Grandmother's resting place

My cleaning the bathroom

A shot of the temples where the Anniversary was held.

Dec. 27 Continued

Asian Dragon and Lion Parade

Our group of people that went to the Anniversary

From left to right- Teng, My, Quang, and Quang's little brother (sorry forgot his name!)

The main temple in the back

My and Quang's little brother

Extremely crowded (shoulder to shoulder crowded) street of people coming and going.  We were trying to leave and it took us half an hour to walk half a mile!

Dec. 27, second day Dr. Maebo and company are gone

Today we did quite a bit of traveling to visit some of My's relatives (her cousins and aunts on her mother's side).  My went to her grandmother's and ancestor's resting place to visit.  When we got home, Ngie and My's sister-in-law Jung had a nice meal prepared for us.  Afterward, I helped Jung wash dishes while My partially cleaned the bathrooms because she lost a bet to me (but I dont think she did a good enough job so I had to go help her lol).  That evening, My's cousins Quang and his younger brother took us to a temple for a celebration of the 310 Anniversary of Dong Nai province.  It was very festive, crowded, and a wonderful experience.

Dec 26. Continued

Buddha statue inside the main temple

The main temple of the pagoda

Food being prepared for a big ceremony

Cooking area in the kitchen where Ngie volunteers

The kitchen area

Dec. 26, first day My and I did stuff without Dr. Maebo, Mike, and Jolene

Well, Dr. Maebo, Jolene, and Mike left at 5 in the morning on this day, and they had quite the stressful morning.  I think Jolene may have already posted what happened so please read hers about it.  My and I went to breakfast at a nice cafe with 3 of her former students, Duc, Tuen, and Ngie.  Afterward, My, Ngie, Tuen, and I rode motorbikes for about 40 minutes to a pagoda in the countryside.  Neat experience.  On the way back, it rained and hailed like crazy and I was completely soaked when I got home because I had refused to buy a rain coat.  How dumb I am. 

Breakfast at a cafe.  From left to right- Tuen, Duc, Ngie, My, and Jimmy

My and Tuen are on their motorbike driving to the pagoda

In front of the main temple at the pagoda