Old Memories, New Memories, Thoughts and Ramblings - Part Two

Chúc Mừng Năm Mới      (Happy New Year)

Tết Nguyên Đán  or Tếtis the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year marking the arrival of spring based on the Lunar calendar.  Tết in 2019 is today – Tuesday, February 5^th(although by the time I post this it will be February 6^thin Vietnam)

Since we were in Saigon leading up to the New Year, we saw all the preparations taking place.  Flowers and trees being planted, decorations encompassing pigs (I'll explain in a minute), lots of red and yellow since Vietnamese believe these colors bring good fortune, gift baskets of all sorts (kind of like a combination of Easter and Christmas here).

Beautifully Decorated Bank

Doesn't everyone carry trees on their motorbikes?

The orphanage getting decorated for Tet!

Check out the beautiful yellow flowers and lanterns

With the exception of one trip, we always go to Vietnam soon after Christmas and/or our New Year.  And that always coincides with me being at my heaviest weight (can’t seem to choose those salads over Christmas cookies, pumpkin bread and all the other ‘once a year’ foods that get consumed between Halloween and New Years.)  

I probably have my picture taken more in Vietnam (and posted somewhere) than over the rest of the year. Each year I say – I am going to go to Vietnam at a healthy and happy weight.  But alas, once again it didn’t happen.  (I should just up and go during the time of year that I am at my best, healthy weight. But that is not what these trips are about, so I just smile and cringe as the pictures are posted and think – hey, there’s more for the kids to hug!!)  

However, given my weight this year I found it fitting for it to be the year of the Pig (the last animal in the Vietnamese zodiac).  

I know next to nothing about the zodiac signs, so I thought I’d do a little research (here I go again Erin!)  If you want to read a bit about zodiacs and how the pig is near and dear to my heart, read on.  

If you want to just skip to more sharing of the trip, jump down to Old Memories, New Memories, Thoughts and Ramblings 

Quick Zodiac lesson:  The zodiac is the term used to describe the circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude that are centered upon the ecliptic - the path of the sun. The term zodiac derives from Latin zōdiacus, which in its turn comes from the Greek ζoδιακoς κύκλος(zōdiakos kuklos), meaning "circle of animals". (I wondered where the 12 came from.)

The Great Race and how the Pig fared (it made me giggle)

Apparently there is a story in Chinese mythology of a great race deciding which animals made it into the Zodiac and in what order.  Legend has it the great Jade Emperor wanted to name each of the years after 12 of his favorite animals. He gathered them all together and told them he was holding a great race. Each animal would have to race against the others for their spot in the celestial calendar. The first year in the calendar would be named after the animal arriving first (the rat as it turns out). The second named after the second, etc.

If you want to read the whole story of the race, click on the link at the end of the blog. But since this is the year of the pig (and I can relate), I’ll simply share the pig’s story.

The first 11 animals had crossed the finish line and there was only one spot remaining in the Zodiac. What animal will conclude the race? the Jade Emperor wondered.

Over the horizon, a loud squealing burst forth from the river. The pig waddled towards the finish line, yet was moving at a surprisingly swift gait.

The Jade Emperor gave the pig a sharp glance as he crossed the finish line. "How has one such as you, who possesses such surprising speed, fallen so far behind?" he asked.

The Pig snorted and shared: "Sorry, Exalted Jade Emperor - I was hungry and stopped for a snack and a little nap.  With food and a nap,  I have more energy and speed.”   (I can so relate!!)

Pig's appetite had made him late, but he did arrive before the close of competition and became the 12th Animal of the Zodiac. 

The pig decorations in front of our hotel!!

Who can’t love the pig's philosophy on life ????

 I have gotten much better about trying Vietnamese food and have actually come to like many things I have tried. 

Having Pho with Long!

 But I’d be remiss if I did not share that Julie and I eat more pasta and pizza in Vietnam than spring rolls and pho. 

a little gelato at a French cafe down the street

  So, yes we did nap and snack in Saigon, but don’t worry, we were good and made sure Erin, a much more adventurous eater, got to experience Vietnamese cuisine!

Look at her working those chopsticks!

Old Memories, New Memories, Thoughts and Ramblings 

I realized as we traveled around Saigon, and back and forth to the orphanage, that if someone were to ask me recommendations of places to go, eat, see, visit etc, I would have more information to share about Saigon than NYC or Chicago or even Boston.  

Rooftop bars in Boston? Haven’t been to one.  Saigon?  Been to a few (some multiple times) and have strong opinions of which ones are best. Chill bar?  Best views in my opinion, but I definitely don’t like the ‘vibe’.  They have a dress code that is very particular about your footwear (I’ve been forced to wear ‘shoes provided by them that were 3 sizes too small vs the open toed sandals I was wearing).  I purposely bought foldable ballet type slippers with the sole (get the pun???) intention of only using them for this bar.  As we went in last week, the woman checking us in could not have told you what my face looked like (no eye contact), but she simply eyed the shoes each of us were wearing.  

Carrying my flip flops as I wear my 'ballet' slippers!

Hey, it’s their bar, their view, they can make their own rules – but I would advise people “great views, but a bit pretentious, a ‘go to be seen’ type of bar”. There are other more informal, laid back open air bars with less compelling views and still others with nice views, but not outdoors.  This realization that I had acquired this much information for a city half way around the world blew me away.

So then I found myself almost viewing this trip as if it was a walk down memory lane.  Sometimes I felt like I was watching a movie of past adventures.  

There was a lot of “hey Julie, remember when …. ?????

·     we went to the Rex rooftop with Jemma, or the year we were at the Rex and met that woman from Canada who we invited to join us for drinks”.  As we talked about “Rex” with such familiarity, Erin thought it was a person.  We never made it to the top with Erin, but we introduced her to “Rex” as we walked by (on our way to our favorite Italian restaurant in Saigon).  Again I don’t have a ‘favorite’ in the North End of Boston. (sigh – maybe I need to get out more at home)

·     “Hey Julie” ….. Look at that “Jazz Bar” sign – do you remember before they started constructing the metro that we were across the street and I insisted on taking a picture of that sign?

•    And how about the time with Charli when we were literally flipped over during our massage?

 So, as I continue to share some thoughts on this trip, I'll share some comparison pictures too.  How the kids have grown will blow you away.   

......until Part Three, feel free to read how all the animals made it into the Zodiac!

The Great Race

Old Memories, New Memories, Thoughts and Ramblings - Part One

Julie does such a fabulous job of blogging our adventures.  I’m glad many of you have expressed your appreciation of her work. I don’t know how she does it, because it is exhausting being here (between the 12 hour time difference … and we are never here long enough to really adjust), and the chaos of the city, the language, money, directions etc.  I try and do my part (and I believe I am a worthy travel partner J), but I know there are many things she automatically takes on that I don’t have to worry about.  I certainly could do them, but it would add more stress.  So, Julie Wilson – thank you for all you do. You are the best!!!

I don’t know if this is my last trip to Vietnam.  There have been other years I have felt it was the ‘last one’ and yet here I am again. However, as this one comes to a close, I feel like this chapter may be over.

On my first trip here I intended to simply meet the kids Julie had sent pictures and videos of, and experience a truly unique and different culture.  Multiple trips were never on my mind.  South east asia was not a bucket list item.  And here I am – my sixth trip to Vietnam (I think six - I should check I guess). 

I never truly understood why I kept returning and yet all I can say is it was a ‘calling’.  It has felt ‘right’, there really wasn’t a question of ‘if’, but ‘when’.  For some mysterious reason, I believe God simply put it on my (our) heart that this was what He wanted us to do.  One time I remember saying to Rusty – why am I (we ) doing this.  We make all these arrangements, spend this money, invest this time, for a few days/hours of spending time with these kids.  I’ll never forget his response.  Well, if you do it for one week and there are 51 other people that do it for the other weeks, then those kids have additional love year round.  

And Erin just said something that hit me as well.  We were talking about coming in and out of these kids lives and how you can go online and see people who believe this is doing the kids an injustice … popping into and out of their lives.  Of course the ones we have come to know (“our kids”) are sad when we leave, but isn’t that true in anyone’s life?  When all of our family gather together during the holidays or on vacation, I’m sad when everyone goes back to their lives, but I’m thankful for the memories I have stored up. And we give the workers at the orphanages so much credit.  I could not do what they do day after day after day.  By being there we give them a bit of a break too.  Who knows – maybe our trips here have been less to do with the kids and more to provide support to the workers.  It really doesn’t matter whether we are here for the kids or the workers, when all is said and done – I can’t begin to express the love and joy I have felt from spending time with everyone (yes Long – for sure, you too!!). 

And especially on this trip there was also so much joy to reconnect (really just with smiles and hugs since we can’t communicate) with the workers.  Hugging is not expected in Vietnamese culture and yet there were many, many hugs upon arrival and departure.