Monday, June 25, 2007
A ride into the countryside
I've had quite a time since my last entry. Just when I was getting settled into my teaching schedule and getting into the swing of things,I slipped and fell on my kitchen floor. I banged up my left knee pretty badly. I went to the doctor the next day and he took an xray. It isn't broken (they don't think) but itis sprained and I've een limping around Hanoi for a week now.
The knee seems to be gradually getting better. So today my friend Mr. Quyet picked me up so I could get my clothes from the tailor shop. After that he took me to visit his mother in the Vietnamese country side. The language barrier is always difficult, Mr. Quyet does not speak a word of English. Mr. Quyet's mother is 90 years old and lives in a suburb of Hanoi. We proceeded past farm fields and I even saw my first mechanical rice harvester, I small machine being driven by a farmer. Once there, I was treated royally and stuffed with all kinds of delicious Vietnamese food. Mr. Quyet's mother put me to shame, she was so spry and could even sit on the floor while I could just limp into a chair.
I also met Mr. Quyet's brother and his wife, who live next door. They have a large garden with fruit trees and they also raise some huge hogs! These porkers were well over 100 pounds and all quite done in by the heat.
I started out wondering if my knee could hold out, but I did fine! I really feel better now after the visit as I was getting pretty bored being in the apartment or at school all the time.
The knee seems to be gradually getting better. So today my friend Mr. Quyet picked me up so I could get my clothes from the tailor shop. After that he took me to visit his mother in the Vietnamese country side. The language barrier is always difficult, Mr. Quyet does not speak a word of English. Mr. Quyet's mother is 90 years old and lives in a suburb of Hanoi. We proceeded past farm fields and I even saw my first mechanical rice harvester, I small machine being driven by a farmer. Once there, I was treated royally and stuffed with all kinds of delicious Vietnamese food. Mr. Quyet's mother put me to shame, she was so spry and could even sit on the floor while I could just limp into a chair.
I also met Mr. Quyet's brother and his wife, who live next door. They have a large garden with fruit trees and they also raise some huge hogs! These porkers were well over 100 pounds and all quite done in by the heat.
I started out wondering if my knee could hold out, but I did fine! I really feel better now after the visit as I was getting pretty bored being in the apartment or at school all the time.
Labels: agriculture, culture and society, Viet Nam
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Mitch Miller and Me
Who could have dreamed all those years ago? Four decades in fact. Mitch Miller is my best friend as an ESL teacher! My mother was a huge Mitch Miller fan. We watched his tv show "Sing along with Mitch," and my mother had all his records. I grew up listening to such moldie oldies as "The Old Gray Mare" and "I've been workin on the railroad."
How the most obscure parts of childhood come back. In strange ways, but ways that make you smile and laugh! We have a book at Apollo called "Songs and games for children," and what dya know, Mitch's favorites are prominently sprinkled throughout the book! I've been able to utilize these old standards to help my teaching.
I've been workin on the railroad = present continuous tense
Billy Boy (Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy boy, Billy boy) = Can, abilities
The Old Gray Mare = Adjectives
Take good care of yourself = personal care, health and exercise
The children generally love these songs and catch on very quickly. Some even are humming the tunes afterwards. I find it delightful to teach them these songs and sing along. It is one of the highlights of my week and I often find myself singing or humming these songs as I walk home on the busy Ha Noi streets.
Further info on Mitch:
http://www.oldies.com/artist-view/Mitch-Miller.html
Hear Mitch:
http://www.rhapsody.com/mitchmiller
How the most obscure parts of childhood come back. In strange ways, but ways that make you smile and laugh! We have a book at Apollo called "Songs and games for children," and what dya know, Mitch's favorites are prominently sprinkled throughout the book! I've been able to utilize these old standards to help my teaching.
I've been workin on the railroad = present continuous tense
Billy Boy (Can she bake a cherry pie, Billy boy, Billy boy) = Can, abilities
The Old Gray Mare = Adjectives
Take good care of yourself = personal care, health and exercise
The children generally love these songs and catch on very quickly. Some even are humming the tunes afterwards. I find it delightful to teach them these songs and sing along. It is one of the highlights of my week and I often find myself singing or humming these songs as I walk home on the busy Ha Noi streets.
Further info on Mitch:
http://www.oldies.com/artist-view/Mitch-Miller.html
Hear Mitch:
http://www.rhapsody.com/mitchmiller
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Thoughts on Ly Thai To
Ly Thai To is the King Arthur of Viet Nam. It is said he was given a magic sword to repel a Chinese Invasion. After the enemy was defeated, a turle snatched the sword from him while he was on a boat in Hoan Kiem Lake.
Unlike Arthur, Ly Thai To is an actual figure who lived about a thousand years ago. It is interesting that his big staatue near Hoan Kiem Lake doesn't show him with a sword, but holding a scroll of the law. He is most valued for restoring law to VietNam rather than for feats of battle. After the magic sword is returned to its source, the words, the law, remains.
Unlike Arthur, Ly Thai To is an actual figure who lived about a thousand years ago. It is interesting that his big staatue near Hoan Kiem Lake doesn't show him with a sword, but holding a scroll of the law. He is most valued for restoring law to VietNam rather than for feats of battle. After the magic sword is returned to its source, the words, the law, remains.
Labels: literature, Viet Nam, Viet Nam and the West, Vietnamese history
