Making Progress With the Locals

Yesterday my parents came to District 6 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam! I enjoyed the adventure of taking them around my district. Too bad they will only be in my district for a day but while they were here, Carolyn and I took them to our "pineapple place", showed them our school, got fruit juice and went to a market.

While showing my parents our normal spots, they were able to see the kindness of the people we have met here. Carolyn and I have visited this juice shop on occasion and in earlier visits, the old man who works there has communicated that he would like us to teach him English. We have started slowly by teaching him names of fruit! The other night as we passed by the store he motioned for us to come in but I had not had dinner yet and we told him we would come back later. Yesterday when we stopped by, we discovered that he had a gift for us! He had brought us a souvenir from some place he had visited! Unfortunately the flavor of the candy is from the nastiest fruit on the planet. We are a little afraid to try it but it was a nice gesture.

My parents went back to their hotel and Carolyn and I went off to school later that night. On our way home we decided to get dinner from "my egg lady". Unfortunately, she had no eggs. So we decided to get her soy, which is rice with interesting meat and noodles. While Carolyn was finishing up her conversation with another woman close by, egg lady came up to me with her own soy and fed me. Yes she scooped a spoonful and put it by my mouth. Then she cleaned something off my face and gave me another bite. Carolyn was next! I cannot think of the last time I have been fed but I do know that sharing food with someone is a sign of friendship!

Seven more months to grow these relationships! So excited!