Past few days goodbye's
Austin's gone, Cieran's gone, Jim leaves tonight. It's very odd.
Yesterday as we drove up onto the bridge I looked around as I always do and saw what I always see, and realised that it'd be the last time I'd drive the drive to Binh Minh. We'd told the girls on Tuesday that Thursday would be fun and games, so they had cleared the tables and chairs away. We played pin the tail on the donkey, and then they tried to teach us a game, and then Austin and I got the sweets and beads out and they made bracelets. It was great watching them, I'm so happy we eventually managed to buy some beads and elastic.
I had thought I would cry, but it was difficult to be sad having seen them all have so much fun. I really hope they get new volunteers to teach them English, because they are an absolute pleasure to teach, and as they are so keen they have so much potential. I hugged my girls goodbye, and a few of Austin's girls too.
When Tien and Thao arrived, Tien translated a message they had written for us, which was very sweet - saying they were very happy to have met us, if we come back to Vietnam we must visit because we are considered family, to have a safe journey and to keep in touch. I told my girls I would email them the photos I have taken (yep, these kids have the internet!). I also gave my girls scissors, glue, stickers and crayons which they were really happy with!
My class at Binh Minh:
Austin and his class:
Yep, he had way more kids than I did!
Oh Wednesday afternoon at Dieu Giac the other volunteers wern't in so Austin and I had the kids all to ourselves! Austin was dancing around with some of them, and there was a whole crowd of kids watching who were all just screaming with laughter, it was brilliant! And a lot of the shy kids were being friendly and wanting to play. I was chasing, trying to catch and tickle two boys (Lam and Tin) and a girl (Yeng- whose usually shy). It was exhausting but SO much fun!
I didn't see much of Tun because some of the older girls had taken him up to their dorm. Yesterday Tun was really grouchy, I think he is teething. The daughter of the woman who looks after him was holding him upstairs and looking down on the courtyard, when he saw me he started boucing up and down and flailing his arms :) I went up to say hello and he put his arms out to me, so then I walked around with him upstairs. We then sat and looked down on the other kids playing, and Tun pulled himself up to stand! He was holding onto a plant pot for support to begin with, but then he let go and stood all on his own for ages (I was there ready to catch him, of course). The only reason he stopped standing was out of his own choice. Tar came along and held him for a bit, but then he began to get grumpy again. Then Tun walked along, holding my hands, for further than I think he has before. It's amazing, how much he has changed in just two weeks, when he took a few steps with hands firmly supporting him around his middle, and now he needs very little support at all!
It wasn't long until someone took him away from me, but it was good because it meant I could play and talk with other kids, whereas when I'm holding Tun I spend the whole time telling off kids who are being cruel to him, or having kids (who shouldn't be trusted with him) grab him off me. Thats why it was really nice to take him upstairs and watch the kids.
Yesterday seemed to be the monthly ritual of setting up a table in the courtyard, and covering it with bowls and plates of food, and praying to a centrally places image. While the Nuns were praying all the kids had to leave the courtyeard and stand around the edge. One of the older girls was holding Tun and he was crying, so she gave him to me. I walked up and down with him, and then discovered that what really cheered him up was splasing his hands in the drinking water-fountain, trying to drink water out of a cup, and watching a cup fill up and then spilling it. It was adorable and he was making gorgeous happy baby sounds again, and grinning. But then one of the older basically told me to stop :( Then the daughter of the woman who looks after him took him back.
Han was being really cute. He's about 3 or 4, and likes being held. He was wanting me to hold him and spin him around, he kept saying "why-ee" which I guess means spin. Then I'd pretend to be really dizzy, or pretend to drop him, which he found hilarious. I carried him around and played with him for a while.
Recently Austin and I have been staying for the evening meal, it's nice to spend that time with the kids, and also it's about that time that I get really hungry. Today was speacila and we had the food that had been laid out on the table for the prayers (so of course it was cold), but it was a huge variety compared to what they normally eat. I decided to sit with the girls this time.
I think Austin found it pretty hard saying goodbye to all the kids, and I can't believe that I'll have to say goodbye today.
Yesterday as we drove up onto the bridge I looked around as I always do and saw what I always see, and realised that it'd be the last time I'd drive the drive to Binh Minh. We'd told the girls on Tuesday that Thursday would be fun and games, so they had cleared the tables and chairs away. We played pin the tail on the donkey, and then they tried to teach us a game, and then Austin and I got the sweets and beads out and they made bracelets. It was great watching them, I'm so happy we eventually managed to buy some beads and elastic.
I had thought I would cry, but it was difficult to be sad having seen them all have so much fun. I really hope they get new volunteers to teach them English, because they are an absolute pleasure to teach, and as they are so keen they have so much potential. I hugged my girls goodbye, and a few of Austin's girls too.
When Tien and Thao arrived, Tien translated a message they had written for us, which was very sweet - saying they were very happy to have met us, if we come back to Vietnam we must visit because we are considered family, to have a safe journey and to keep in touch. I told my girls I would email them the photos I have taken (yep, these kids have the internet!). I also gave my girls scissors, glue, stickers and crayons which they were really happy with!
My class at Binh Minh:
Austin and his class:
Yep, he had way more kids than I did!
Oh Wednesday afternoon at Dieu Giac the other volunteers wern't in so Austin and I had the kids all to ourselves! Austin was dancing around with some of them, and there was a whole crowd of kids watching who were all just screaming with laughter, it was brilliant! And a lot of the shy kids were being friendly and wanting to play. I was chasing, trying to catch and tickle two boys (Lam and Tin) and a girl (Yeng- whose usually shy). It was exhausting but SO much fun!
I didn't see much of Tun because some of the older girls had taken him up to their dorm. Yesterday Tun was really grouchy, I think he is teething. The daughter of the woman who looks after him was holding him upstairs and looking down on the courtyard, when he saw me he started boucing up and down and flailing his arms :) I went up to say hello and he put his arms out to me, so then I walked around with him upstairs. We then sat and looked down on the other kids playing, and Tun pulled himself up to stand! He was holding onto a plant pot for support to begin with, but then he let go and stood all on his own for ages (I was there ready to catch him, of course). The only reason he stopped standing was out of his own choice. Tar came along and held him for a bit, but then he began to get grumpy again. Then Tun walked along, holding my hands, for further than I think he has before. It's amazing, how much he has changed in just two weeks, when he took a few steps with hands firmly supporting him around his middle, and now he needs very little support at all!
It wasn't long until someone took him away from me, but it was good because it meant I could play and talk with other kids, whereas when I'm holding Tun I spend the whole time telling off kids who are being cruel to him, or having kids (who shouldn't be trusted with him) grab him off me. Thats why it was really nice to take him upstairs and watch the kids.
Yesterday seemed to be the monthly ritual of setting up a table in the courtyard, and covering it with bowls and plates of food, and praying to a centrally places image. While the Nuns were praying all the kids had to leave the courtyeard and stand around the edge. One of the older girls was holding Tun and he was crying, so she gave him to me. I walked up and down with him, and then discovered that what really cheered him up was splasing his hands in the drinking water-fountain, trying to drink water out of a cup, and watching a cup fill up and then spilling it. It was adorable and he was making gorgeous happy baby sounds again, and grinning. But then one of the older basically told me to stop :( Then the daughter of the woman who looks after him took him back.
Han was being really cute. He's about 3 or 4, and likes being held. He was wanting me to hold him and spin him around, he kept saying "why-ee" which I guess means spin. Then I'd pretend to be really dizzy, or pretend to drop him, which he found hilarious. I carried him around and played with him for a while.
Recently Austin and I have been staying for the evening meal, it's nice to spend that time with the kids, and also it's about that time that I get really hungry. Today was speacila and we had the food that had been laid out on the table for the prayers (so of course it was cold), but it was a huge variety compared to what they normally eat. I decided to sit with the girls this time.
I think Austin found it pretty hard saying goodbye to all the kids, and I can't believe that I'll have to say goodbye today.