I am off today, and Lee and I went to visit the iconic Ngoc Son Temple, which is located on a lake in the heart of Hanoi. The story is a turtle lent its claws to a king to make a golden sword to conquer his enemy, which was returned to the turtle upon the king’s success. This lake was the site of the virtually extinct soft- shell turtle. The last one living in Hoang Kiem Lake died at age of 500+ years (yes!) and weighed 550 pounds at its death in 2016. Only 4 are known to be left in the world.
While there, elementary school children, under the vigilance of their teachers, approached us and asked if we would practice “English conversation” with them as they are preparing for a competition. Now, understand that my husband is a kid magnet. Literally in under 5 hours of his arrival in Hanoi, I was orienting Lee to our local shopping area, and 2 little boys ran up to him (as he was getting out of the taxi!) and gave him a hug and their mother requested a picture. He looks a bit like Santa Clause and his cheerful demeanor just radiates.
Of course, we were happy to talk with these children. Lee and I noticed the teacher videotaping our conversation, which I learned was for providing the children with feedback, as it appeared the children were also practicing social manners. One precocious 3rd grader with multiple little ponytails and a big personality quickly set an older peer straight stating, “It is not ‘Can I talk with you. It is May I talk with you PLEASE.’”. I had to hide my face as I wanted to laugh and her older peer looked apologetic and charigned. I made it a point to chat with him for a bit. The children had small notebooks with pieces of conversation in Vietnamese and English in case they became "stuck". It was a point of pride to the little 3rd grader that she didn't require the use of a notebook.
These children shine a bright light on the future of Vietnam whose population will top 100 million this year. Their English fluency and more importantly, comfort in holding a verbal conversation with others, are skills which will take them far, no matter what their career choice may be. I think we spent more time talking with the children than we did touring the temple! The teachers requested a group photo, which we gladly agreed to, and we are sharing one with you, with the teachers approval. As we were all leaving the temple together, Lee and I made a circle with the children, and I took a picture of our shoes as it would be lovely to know in what direction their footsteps take them and who knows where our own next footsteps will go!
Postcards from Hanoi Summer '23,
Karen
PS... The little 3rd grade girl wanted to wear Lee's hat and sunglasses for the picture. She was so excited and called herself a "cowboy"!
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