Out of the Country

It was time to leave the country as our visas expired at the beginning of October.  We chose to travel to Vietnam.  We enjoyed a whole week of applying for new visas, relaxing, sight seeing, studying history, and enjoying food and shopping which we can’t find in our current country.  The boys thoroughly enjoyed the break too: taking full advantage of the play ground and swimming pool at our hotel.  Caedmon is still taking about various sights we visited. 

We have now returned to the town of Barat, the boys are back in school (they couldn’t wait to see friends again), and we are again seeking the best way to spend our time.  We unfortunately had to return on another social-cultural visa, not our original goal.  As this visa does allow us to devote our time to language and culture study, John is still unable to work.  The work visa is stuck at the ‘Office of Workforce’ in the capital.  Why, we are still unsure.  So, John and our sponsor will likely travel to the capital later this month to iron out the details, hopefully!

In the mean time we aim to continue studying language and culture (I, Erin, plan to begin again), building relationships, and be thankful for our recent break!

We got to take a medium sized speed boat from our hotel to the city center.  It was a fun way to see the area.

We visited a war museum.  

The boys enjoyed all the airplanes, tanks, and helicopters!

Though we enjoyed a great deal of western things, there were still differences!

Reunification Palace
The presidential palace of the south before the end of the war and the official ending site of the war. 

Room to welcome dignitaries. 

Presidential family's personal dinning room.



Helicopter landing pad.



The red circles are where two bombs were dropped causing American dignitaries to be pulled from the country. 

French Cathedral (also named Notre Dame Cathedral)

French constructed Post Office, still in operation today.

All French post offices have the same layout, including this one. 
Girls in pink are wearing traditional Vietnamese dress. 

In Saigon, lots of motorcycles there too.

We visited an area of tunnels used during the war.
Locals constructed over 200 km of tunnels used for housing, preparations, travel, and other work. 

Hidden tunnel entrance, center, under leaves.  The opening was 1x1.5 feet.

Rooms were also part of the tunnel complex.  During the war the room actually had a flat dirt roof, disguising the location. 

A common trap initially used by the people for hunting food, but incorporated later into warfare.

Artifacts from the war. 
The locals collected unexploded bombs and used the gunpowder in the construction of their own weapons or bombs. 

A visit to the zoo!

The boys love seeing all sorts of animals!

There were at least 20 crocodiles on exhibit.

Having fun!

Whitman wasn't interested in being eaten. 

Wildebeest
(thinking of aunt Angela, who studied wildebeest in Africa)

Caedmon took the picture himself.

 

A temple erected by the French for locals.

I was glad not to be the center of attention.  Smartphones sure all popular around the world!

We thoroughly enjoyed the food!  Pastries, ice cream, and even Turkish and Indian food. 

Boats & Kids

Last week was an annual boat race showcasing traditional sail boats from Barat.  More than 20 boats began in the big city and sailed up the coast, stopping along the way.  Each stop included smaller races of 5 laps off shore.  Then event ended at the provincial capital, 4 hours north of us.  We had been informed about the races by many people, for quite some time.  Finally, after learning the boats had actually arrived in Barat, we ventured down to the beach to take a look. 

We watched the boats making their laps, then enjoyed lunch at a neighbor’s parent’s house.  It was amazing to see the teams of six sail these very tall, but very skinny boats. 

Traditional boats anchored at the beach.  Usually used for fishing or merchant travels. 

A Traditional Boat

Sailing

Racing

On Saturday we were invited to an annual talent show at a middle school.  We made the boys takes naps, then after eating grilled fish with rice made with coconut milk (at a local restaurant) we went to the talent show.  The invitation said it began at 7:15pm.  We arrived about 7:20 and were ushered to the second row where there were nicer chairs and a table with snacks.  We tired to politely decline, but were told these where the seats for those given actual invitations.  At about 8pm the event got underway with greetings from all the invited heads of local government offices, such as the local department of education, etc.  About 9pm the students began performing.  At 10:30pm we had to call it a night, though the event was still going strong.  We were quite impressed with all the kids who decided to sing or dance.  It was fun to watch!



All the participants performing together to open the event

a dancer

The boy's school

It is still very new to me, Erin, to have both boys in school (outside the home).  Even more so is the experience of schooling here in a different culture.  There were a few things I knew when they started, such as which days require which uniforms and that their finger nail length would be checked.  What I did not know I could not have guessed from my own personal experience attending school in the States as is quite different. 
When I first enrolled the boys I was hoping, but not expecting, to receive some sort of handbook from the school or at least some oral instruction about more than just the uniforms.  Instead it seems all information is given to the students, indirectly orally or via a letter, or through admonishing.  For example, Caedmon started school with a Mohawk.  After the first two weeks we cut it off.  Then one day as I picked the boys up, one of his teachers made a comment that she told all the students that initially Caedmon had a soccer player's hair cut, but now he has a "school boy's" hair cut.  I am terrible at understanding indirectness so I still wonder if his Mohawk hairdo was not ok for school. 
Other things I have been learning, which again I wish I could learn from a handbook of rules and regulations, have been that when nail length is checked hands get slapped if the nails are too long or dirty and then the child is told to "clean and/or cut them."  Because of the majority belief system here the boys are taught Arabic sayings for before they study and eat, and for afterwards as well.  This has been a great teaching opportunity for us with our boys to help them understand truth and explore the meaning behind actions. 
Another new experience was a Parent gathering, announced via letter sent home with Caedmon.  Every month parents, really just the mothers, gather for a monetary lottery (about $5 entry each), snacks, and a presentation on something related to child upbringing.  We all met at the school during class time for an introduction as to the dates and purpose of the gathering.  I hope this will be a good way to get to know other parents. 
Unfortunately lately there have been some unsettling things I've been learning about schooling here.  We learned from our grade school neighbors and their parents that kids are vaccinated at school.  My concern arose when everyone we talked to was clueless about which vaccinations are given.  Apparently letters or information are not sent home to the parents prior to or even after the vaccinations are given.  One neighbor said the schools didn't want to "frighten" the kids by sending home a note prior to the event.  Thankfully this occurred before anything of the sort was done at the boys' school.  We were able to discuss the matter with their teachers, and with Caedmon and Whitman as well.  Apparently at the boys' school only measurements are taken.  Which again no information was sent home after the boys' weight, height, and head circumference were measured, and then they were given a nutritional supplement (in the form of porridge).  I have to remember to be THANKFUL that our boys do not have any allergies!  The worse was yesterday when we learned Whitman's class (3 year olds) used matches for an activity.   They were putting the matches in a bottle, maybe for counting purposes but I am still really unsure. 
We aim to be culturally sensitive and appropriate, but at the same time protect our children from things that are in our control.  This balance is something we constantly, but more so this week, seek wisdom in.  More than anything I am so surprised by the things I take for granted, whether it is something I consider common sense or the manner in which I expect things happen.  Being half way around the world I am still amazed at how different things can be. 

 

Recently...In pictures!

The opposite of tag-less in a piece of clothing I recently bought. 
I guess that is what you get when clothing is made to be sold in multiple countries!

The epitome of unattended children. 
The pit is a result of mud being dug up for brick making.  These children live in the surrounding area and probably have brick-making parents.

Caedmon's teacher invited us to her child's wedding on Wednesday after school. 
Compared with our home culture all weddings here look the same, but our neighbor looked at the pictures and immediately said, "Oh yes, that is traditional Barat dress."

With the bride and groom.
Caedmon's two teachers on the left.

The boy's with teachers from their school. 
Whitman's teacher is the second from the left. 

 

Ants! 
A recent afternoon, I saw a small trail of ants around our bathroom door, so I used the trusty bug spray.  Then they came flooding out of the crack between the tile and door frame.  Yuck!

More and more ants.
30 minutes later, they returned is a much larger trail, moving up from the spot pictured above towards the ceiling.  So I sprayed some more.  Later the same afternoon I sprayed a trail I found under the kitchen sink, at which point they again poured out of the underneath part of the counter.  Then I sprayed the ceiling above the counter and they poured out of the ceiling.  I can handle a fair amount of bugs, but that many ants in one afternoon was more than enough.  Thank goodness for bug spray. 

John taking the boys to school!
We have been barrowing a motorcycle from a friend.  We can actually fit all four of us on it at the same time; looking quite culturally appropriate! 

 

What would you do with...?

Extra large bags of special treats sent by a very loving friend!

A bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips, a bag of walnuts, a bag of pecans, and 2 sticks of butter?
Sounds like cookies waiting to be made, but I, Erin, am not that quick to throw a batch together.  I have to do a lot more thinking about how to use these ingredients.  These are all items that we are not able to get in the small city of Barat.  In the big city butter, sold only in 1/2 pound increments, can be found.  Semi-sweet chocolate chips are rarely available or for a very high price, usually $8 for a regular sized bag.  Walnuts are occasionally seen as well, but for an even higher price.  These ingredients are special treats for us, so I am very careful in how I use them!  The butter I usually use for items in which taste is important, otherwise margarine is readily available and works just as well.  Ever since last Christmas pecan pie has sounded so good, so yes, maybe 9 months later I will finally be able to make one!  Most often, if I don't make chocolate chip cookies (which don't last more than a day in our house), I just eat the chocolate chips straight.  Although we live in a country that is one of the largest producers of cocoa, dark chocolate is not easily found here.  All the other chocolate is sufficient if I have a really strong craving, but boy the chocolate chips hit the spot! 
We'll see what all I decide to make with the above ingredients!

Unexpected

Western medicine-0, Traditional medicine-1

After Caedmon’s first three days of school he stayed home for the next three days with pink eye.  It all started with a neighbor boy.  By the end of the weekend all of the kids on our street had contracted it, along with most of the parents too.  Even John and I got the pleasure of experiencing pink eye.  I quickly bought antibiotic eye salve, though most cases are viral.  The boys healed up pretty quick; where as I took more than a week to heal.  All of our neighbors healed up before I did, even those that contracted it after me.  Those of our neighbors currently breastfeeding used breast milk to treat their families.  Apparently this is a world wide traditional technique as our optometrist in the States has many Hispanic patients that use the same method and have had success with it.  I was definitely humbled as I hold our western medical ways in high esteem.  Some other advice we received, and I am still skeptical about, was to pull on your ear lobes or use shallots.  I am still not sure where the shallots were to go as they can have a strong enough effect just being chopped on a cutting board. 

A Visit from the States

After our pink eye fiasco a friend from the States came for a short visit.  Though this was expected, it snuck up on us.  We had a great time catching up and being encouraged as he too has worked overseas. 

A Trip to the Big City

After our visitor left, a close local friend had minor surgery in the big city.  It was an infection that needed to be surgically cleaned out.  Thankfully all went well, but now she has a nasty wound that needs dressing changes twice daily.  As she too lives in Barat, I have had the pleasure of putting my nursing experience to work!  I have been changing her dressings twice daily for her since she has come home.  For some it may seem like a nuisance, but for me this is a great pleasure as I can help her AND be involved in an area I thoroughly enjoy!

A Visitor from the Big City

When we returned home from the big city a local friend also came with us for a visit to Barat.  It was fun showing him around and introducing him to our friends here.  We took one afternoon to cook a local dish from his home area, an island off the southern shore we visited a year ago.  We ate grilled fish with rice cooked in coconut milk. 

 

Our friend attempting to start the fire to grill fish.  Coconut husks are used as the fuel. 

Finally our neighbor behind our house helped us get our little grill set up.  She knew what she was doing!

Our neighbor's daughter with Caedmon.

Our friend watching the fish.

Our neighbor's kids with Caedmon.

Now we hope to get back into, or develop, a routine with the boys’ schooling, our own studying, and life in general!

A Big Week

We started the week by going to school.  Caedmon had his first day at a local kindergarten on Monday.  We decided to try sending Caedmon to a local school again, 2 years after the first try.  This time he liked the idea, is sufficiently fluent in the local language to communicate his needs, and has many neighborhood friends starting school as well.  Though he has already completed kindergarten at home, we felt repeating kindergarten at a local school would decrease at least one potential stressor: any academic challenges.  This also sets him up to be the oldest in his class and hopefully more of a leader than follower.  Thus far Caedmon has been enjoying each day at school and is excited to return every morning.  I am especially impressed with this particular kindergarten as there is a very nice play area (meaning various play structures in decent condition), many play items and posters in the class rooms, and teeth brushing and hand washing are included in the curriculum (neither of which are not strengths in this culture).  We hope to enrolled Whitman in the preschool portion as soon as enrollment actually opens.  This apparently occurs after the kindergarteners finish their first week which seems to be mostly just orientation. 

Whitman and Caedmon ready for school on the first day.

On the way to school. 
We walk to the main road (100 yards to Caedmon's right), then catch a small public transportation vehicle to the city center, then walk two blocks to the school.

Play area

Caedmon

Whitman with our host family's daughter. 
She just made the 4 year old cut off for the 1st year of kindergarten.  If kids are able they usually attend two years of kindergarten. 

Classrooms. 
Upon arriving kids set their backpacks outside their classrooms then go play.

After playing for about an hour, the kids all line up by class.  This week has consisted of songs, snacks, and orientation in this area.

Whitman has been playing during outside play time, then leaves with me until pick up time.  Hopefully this will help him warm up to the idea of staying in his own class.  School goes from 7:30 to 10am.

 

On Wednesday Caedmon turned 6 years old.  We celebrated at home just the four of us and in the afternoon with a party and many friends.  After school we picked up Caedmon’s present of a bicycle.  It proved very interesting getting the bicycle home.  The way home is a very busy main street, so riding the bike was out of the question.  Thankfully it fit, just barely, into a small public transportation vehicle.  There were at least four adults on each side of this small bus like vehicle with the bicycle between all of our knees.  Half of the passengers had to unload just so the bike and us could get out as we were the first off. 

Cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  Caedmon in his Wednesday uniform.

Opening presents!

Caedmon cutting his cake.  It is tradition here for the birthday boy to cut the cake.

We made a spider man head piñata and celebrated with neighbors, and many others who joined in.