Sunday, June 13, 2004
Subject: Day 7
Guess who??
We had a great
day with the kids. After breakfast (pho again) we had the "My
Vietnam Art Contest". The kids had some amazing drawings. Some
of the winners received scholarships - one boy literally jumped for joy.
Tears! Then the grand prize winner, a girl from the hearing impaired
shelter, gave a speech and then her mother gave a speech. Not a dry eye
from the US delegation!! After that, we met our "family" groups
and the kids tore into their craft bags. Then someone brought out the
first Polaroid camera. Chaos! They love having their picture
taken. Then we had a good lunch (you guessed it, more pho).
Actually I think pho is served at every meal but most times there are other
dishes as was the case today. After lunch, my roommate Barb and I did a
little shopping had a short rest, did laundry in the bathroom sink and headed
out to the Nha Trang Oceanographic Institute where we met up with the
kids. They really enjoyed the exhibits. Then it was off to an early
dinner of Nem Nuong, specialty of Nha Trang. It was fabulous! Best
meal I've had so far, but no pho!! We sat with our "families"
and the kids and social workers showed us how to make the pork roll which includes
fresh herbs. Prior to today we had be cautioned to avoid anything fresh
that isn't boiled or peeled due to the water it's washed in. Today we
were told that to turn down the herbs would be offensive, so I picked just a
few then popped a Cipro after dinner.
Tonight was the
talent show - each shelter performed as did the Catalyst group. We did a
terrible dance but the kids went wild. Thank goodness. Some of the
shelters did skits that were incredibly sad - about kids living on the streets,
begging, getting beat up. So, so sad.
What a great
day. These kids are SO beautiful and relatively happy. I think life
in the shelters is better than what they had before.
Tomorrow is
beach day. Hope the weather holds out. It is the rainy season and we've
had showers/sprinkles off and on every day.
Don't forget to
check out our blogs. I think our dance might show up there...
Good night!
Kathy
Little Roses
