Journey to Peace Village

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.

Labels: agriculture, culture and society, Viet Nam