Journey to Peace Village

As I said in an earlier post, the best way to see Ha Noi is via motorbike. They have all kinds of hired motorbikes here, called Xe Om. I was a little afraid to take these, that I might get lost, but Chantelle and Chris from the hostel encouraged me. Pretty soon we were zooming across Ha Noi, seeing a lot of beautfiul monuments, fountains, and the vibrant nightlife. We went to a restaurant and Chantelle, who is part Italian, ended up ordering a Sicilian pizza. The pizza came topped with hard boiled eggs! It was a little too weird for her!
When we returned to the hostel, Chantelle and I rode together on a Xe Om. 3 people on a motorbike, I was in the caboose, zooming along, half frightened, half exhilirated. My shoe was falling off so part of me was curling my foot up, half taking in the city! When I finished I didn't know how to feel! Lucky to be alive? Adventurous? Foolish? Unique!!!!

I have been having problems with my finger lately. A wart developed, (perhaps from playing guitar). Mrs. Canh the teacher, and several visiting students were trying to help me with it. My main encouragement came from one of our students in class, who kept urging me to "endeavor" try. His name is Wei. He is in a wheelchair. Wei has taught himself English in 3 months. I am impressed by this young man's intelligence and determination. His mother takes his wheelchair up and down the two flights of steps every day to get him to class. She also carries Wei's younger brother to class on her shoulders. An incredible woman!

I admire a beautiful sunset over one of the many lakes in HaNoi.
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Chantelle is from Perth, Australia, and is volunteering in Viet Nam for two months. Her next stop is Sai Gon to work with disabled children.
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Wei and Mrs. Canh work on their English.
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One of the young students at Peace Village works on her coloring.
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My first day at Peace Village began as I took the bus. Ms. Nuyen, one of the coordinators, escorted me to learn the route. Riding the bus is still a surreal experience for me, the buses are quite comfortable, air conditioned with Vietnamese music playing in the background. Outside is the tangle of morning traffic, a monsoon of motorbikes, women wearing the big conical hats, balancing loads of fruit and vegetables on their shoulders. I feel innudated by this culture and yet I can't quite believe I'm here.
We arrived in class. There are 8-10 children who come to learn throughout the morning, with a variety of disabilities. Several are very young, one little girl has me sit by her for part of the morning.
The children are able to speak basic English, repeating things like "body parts"--eyes, ears, nose, etc. They also are able to identify, with a little coaching, colors and numbers.
Another little girl cried all the time during the morning. She had a hard time walking and had vision problems. Ms. Canh, the teacher, would walk her or give her water. I tried comforting her but nothing worked.
In the afternoon I went back to my lodgings, exhausted from just a few hours. That evening, I watched sunset with my young friend Chantelle, a volunteer from Australia. Red and pink tinged clouds filled the sky, and the sunset dazzled the lake. spreading bright rays on the darkening water. Stunningly beautiful.
How do I reconcile this to the suffering of the little girl? If only she could see the sunset....

This is Mrs. Canh's special ed class. I've been helping out these first few days....
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First picture from Hanoi, this is a park near where I live, across the lake is part of the downtown area.
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Customs House in Ireland
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One of the things that impresses me the most about Ha Noi is how hard working the people are. Most get up at 5 a.m. to go to their jobs. There is a lot of building going on here, and most of it is done by manual labor. During my tours I have seen many men moving cartloads of dirt and gravel, digging out areas with shovels, chiseling brick to break them up. I only saw a few earth moving machines.
Most of the clean up is also done by hand. There are many street sweepers out keeping the streets tidy, but I only saw one street sweeper on the main boulevard.
The children at the village are hard working too. They sew and embroider items, and use broken pieces of pottery to cut the cloth.

How can I describe it? Riding down the streets of Ha Noi on the back of a motorbike. My hair flaying in the wind, seeing red and gold flags everywhere. Whirring by ancient temples, monuments, the home of the parliament, and a lot of narrow, tall buildings stacked on top of each other.
Motorbikes, more than the people. And ramps by every house and building to help facilitate the parking of motorbikes. Women in conical hats balancing great loads of limes and litchi, a small pearlike fruit in season now.
Stopping by the traffic lights and being caught in the exhaust of a bus. Manuevering past the bus, in a narrower passage than you ever thought possible. Finally getting to your destination and letting out a big "WHOOOOO, hooooo."

Hi Everyone,

I have arrived safely in Viet Nam. The city of Ha Noi is a gritty jewel. It is a city of beautiful lakes, graceful women in ao dai, but also congestion, pollution and poverty. My hosts have been very kind in getting me settled. Mr. Phuong and Ms. Duyen escorted me to the guest house, right next to a beautiful lake in downtown Ha Noi. Mr. Hung is the manager and showed me around. Now comes the tough part, getting used to the heat and starting to grapple with the language and customs of this special place.

"Bye America" the young child said.

This has been a day when forests poured themselves into oceans and the sky reached down with a sleepy kiss. I see only air from the center seat of the plane, tendrils of clouds, the flesh of land unseen below us. A western sun shines through the window on my dress, reminding me of all life as it warms and glows through my tired body.

What will this trip bring? I have had moments of confusion and exasperation, but every step has also brought me into contact with the most supportive, helpful people.

A short poem:

"Night tried to intrude
on the right side of dawn
we make the journey
one hand open
the other still closed"

My aunt prepares dinner for me after a long day preparing for the journey. She is a terrific cook!
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I am now in Lyndon Station, on the eve of my departure. The terrific support of a variety of people has kept me going through a difficult transition. My friends at the College of Nursing at Marquette have been terrrific! Also, my boss Mike at NRCSA, an experienced traveller who has given me many pointers. My friend Ruth Lopez Najera, who granted me her shelter and sage advice. Of course, the women of the writing circle. My uncle and aunt have been most gracious hosts during this final point before I leave the States. Thank you all!