New Year's Day Tradition

They have a great tradition here in Vietnam. They spend three days or more visiting friends and family and celebrating the New Year. We were invited to travel with our friends around the city to visit the families that they worship with weekly. Since so many people had left Ho Chi Minh City the roads were a lot less crowded so Mark asked if he could try out our friends motor bike. I did not want to make him nervous, ha, so I opted to let one of our friends drive with him, besides he is younger and if the bike goes down he can jump off faster and heal quicker than myself !! He started off a little shaky, almost ran up the curve and scared the security guard of our building but after two times around the building he decided he was ready to try the big streets.
The first family we visited was only about 5 minutes from us and he did pretty well, a few challenges, turning left into a slew of motor bikes and then the great circles where many often get hit. Everyone congratulated him on making it there safely. I could not believe that our friend was actually talking on the phone as Mark drove, only the young can take such stress !!
It was a great visit, we gave them a scripture for the year for their family and then said a prayer of blessing. Oh did I mention the Asian hospitality? They always serve you something to drink, water, juice, for the holidays soda and sometimes fruit, nuts candy. I did not need dinner last night.
The second family was across town and this time Mark had a taxi make a U turn in front of him, he handled it like a pro. After driving back across town he decided to let our friend take the wheel or handle bars again. We have decided that a car is preferable but unrealistic because of the cost so I guess we will have to continue with the taxi's. All in all it was a fun day of seeing how these folks live and being able to spend some individaul time with them.

New Year's Day visits

YEAR OF THE BUFFALO ( Ox)

For those of you who don't know, on Monday we start the Chinese Lunar New Year. This year is the year of the buffalo. This is a really BIG event in Vietnam. They have been decorating for weeks and everything is closed for at least three days. Many are leaving the city to go back to their provinces to visit family. I was told to stock up on food as even the markets will be closed. I went yesterday and boy it was worse than after an earthquake in Calif. Most people here have little or no refrigeration so they go to the market daily. I am not sure what they will do next week but they are buying like there is no tomorrow. I have also been told that prices will go up after the New Year so on Sunday everything goes on sale, kind of like Black Friday in the states. Mark and I decided to go to District 1, the tourist district to see how they had decorated. They go all out. They had blocked off many streets and decorated down the middle of the street with flowers, waterfalls, music and many scenes from China. It reminded me of the New Years parade in Pasadena. It was great fun. We ended our evening at I Love Burgers, Mark found it and had to check it out. We had been to a friend's for a really big Vietnamese New Years lunch so I was not really hungry, but the fries were good. For lunch we were treated to wonderful spring rolls, a huge fish with his head still on and large shrimp, still in there shells and those sad eyes saying do you really want to eat me ? I still have a hard time eating them, even though I do love them. We ended the meal with watermelon. These people eat such healthy foods.

Well Happy New Year, again and Blessings to you all.

HAPPY CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR

English/ Vietnamese Lesson

Last week we had a friend visit and bring three students that he tutors in English. They wanted to visit and practice their English. We spent several hours asking them questions and them asking us questions and practicing both languages. At the end of our time we played restaurant and they would ask us what we wanted in Vietnamese and we answered them in our limited Vietnamese. They said that they could understand us so it made us feel like now we could tackle that restaurant around the corner from us. We can ask for pork, chicken, rice and tea and mineral water. They were amazed that only the two of us lived in this big place. It was a fun learning experience.

More New Friends

A road trip to a Province

Yesterday Mark and I were invited  on another road trip.  This time we left at 5:15 Am, to beat the traffic.  We did get out of town quickly and then stopped for another Vietnamese breakfast.  We had already eaten so Mark had tea and I tried their coffee.  They serve it with condensed milk, I had it over ice and it was pretty good.  We then proceeded to a province about 1 1/2 hours from the city.  I love getting out of the city, it is so... quiet.  Not much traffic and you get a chance to see more of what they grow here.  We saw cashew trees and trees that they use the leaves to brew tea.  We again sat on the tile floor and listened as people shared from their hearts about all that was happening in their lives.  So many miracles !  The picture is of one of the boys that came with his mom.  I had a candy cane left over from my Christmas stocking so I offered it to him.  He was so polite and would not bite it but sucked the thing until it was gone.  We stopped for dinner at an all you can eat place.  They offered 70 different types of food.  We sampled many new things, one being seal.  It was served on a sea shell and marinated in something.  It was different.  I also tried some green drink which turned out to be a watercress veggie drink.  I think I will stick to the lemon juice.  I was told it is suppose to help pimples. Not my problem any more, maybe I will bottle it and sell it to the youth of America !!

The Families

Dalat Road Trip

On Sunday evening we were having Pizza in town with our friends when we were invited to go with them up to the mountain town of Dalat for two days.  Wanting to see more of the country we agreed.  They picked us up at 7:30 Am on Monday and off we went.  There were six of us including the driver.  Mary, who is in the furniture business had to make  several stops on the trip to take New Year's gifts to several of there furniture stores.  Our first stop was a small roadside stand selling Pho (pronounced fir) which is the usual Vietnamese breakfast of noodle soup to which you add, sprouts, mint leaves, lime, and chili sauce, if desired.  It usually also includes pork in it.  It is quite filling.  I am getting good with the chop sticks.    Lunch was also a roadside stopping place for tourist.  There we had rice, of course, a bowl of fish and beef and another veggie type soup.  We bought fruit from the market next door.  Our next stop was a coffee shop, to wait, while Mary continued her visits in another town.  I enjoyed a scoop of coconut ice cream that came in a coconut.  As we continued on the road, we began climbing the mountain.  It was only a two lane road and those trucks are really big.  Did I mention that our driver kept his hand on the horn most of the time.  I had a ringing in my ears all day and then after we arrived I was still hearing horns.  We found out later that he drives a big truck for the furniture company and prefers that to the mini van we were in.  As he got use to the van his speed picked up and his daring in passing oncoming traffic. Our dinner, which we were told was small, until we arrived and then we would have a larger meal.  Mark and I opted to wait, they ate duck, rice soup and veggies, their version of a light meal.  We finally arrived around 8:30. We were exhausted so we checked into a beautiful hotel and went and found some hamburgers next door at a western cafe.  One bowl of rice a day is our limit.  

Dalat is a beautiful town, it reminds us of a town in Calif called Big Bear.  They have a lake and even their own version of the Eiffel Tower.  It was also very cold, probably in the 40's and the wind was blowing.  We had not been this cold since last Dec in Acton.  They only had a small portable heater in the room for warmth.  Brr...They also have many trails for hiking.  Chris I thought of you and Jeanette.   You would like it there.

We only had two hours to spend there before we had to begin the trip home.  They took us to an outdoor market which sold all the beautiful flowers and fruits and veggies they are famous for. Our van was a lot fuller coming home with our goodies.  

We stopped at two different homes of students that Mark had in his Nov class.  The first was off a dirt road, they had to meet us to show us the way.  The wife was in town with her sister who had just had a baby.  They have seven children of their own and they grow tea.  The two girls did a dance that they had performed at their Christmas Celebration.    It was so cute.  They made us feel so welcome.

The second family grows coffee and served us some while we visited.  They have ten children, six grandchildren and one on the way.  She is only 49 yrs old, and she ministers at two different churches.  Her life is quite full.  These people have so much joy and concern for the unsaved.  We were blessed to be there.   

It was a long time to be in a car but the joy of being with those families was well worth it.  I think next time we will fly up and spend some more time exploring the area.  

Dalat Road Trip

New Year's Day

We found out that Vietnam celebrates the arrival of the New Year but not like they celebrate the Chinese New Year, which is the end of Jan.  We look forward to that.  It was a quiet evening. No fireworks, they are illegal here but they did start the Karaoke early, like 2 PM in the afternoon.  I feel asleep around 10:30 so I am not sure when they stopped.  New Year's day most places were closed.  The streets were busy with people all going somewhere, not sure where?  We were invited to a friend's for the day.  We arrived around 8:00 AM and because the room was packed they had us all sit on the floor.  I spent the next 7 hours mainly sitting on the hard tile floor.  My bottom will never be the same.  Mark got to share.  A visiting lady gave us some home grown coffee.  It smells great.  I will take some home to my daughter as she loves coffee.  It was a special day set aside to welcome in the New Year and focus on where our Father is leading.  I hope you get my drift !! It was an awesome time !

I just have to share with you about my wonderful grandsons.  I am not the least bit proud.    We talk by Skype and last July, when we first left and started talking to them they actually thought we lived in the computer.  So cute.  They were really shy talking to us but not so any more.  Today I spoke to them and they told me all about their Sunday school lesson and everything from their new Polar Express train set to what mommy made for Christmas dinner. Gavin even gets a special trip to Chuckie Cheese because he has stopped whining !!  He is so proud of himself.  I told them about our trip to the Singapore zoo and they want a trip to the zoo when we visit ! I can't wait.  Miss you guys.

 

Thanks to all of you who keep in contact with us by email.  We love hearing from you, keep them coming.  It is my anchor, especially my sister who checks in with me daily.  I love you Sis.