Reflections by Mama Dang

Viet Nam, Revisited, Spring Break 2009
by Mimi Dang

Flying in to Ho Chi Minh City, formerly know as Saigon, our plane seemed to linger momentarily above the rice paddies that sprinkled the land approaching the airport, beckoning us to an agrarian way of life that existed long before the news media seared Viet Nam as a war torn nation into the minds of every American who watched the 6:00 PM news in the sixties. I was one such American who carried with me images of those times, but for many of the students who joined me in this journey some forty years later, there is no memory of a Viet Nam War. A short time later, as our bus exited the airport and plowed along streets crazed with mopeds and motorcycles, even in the late hours of the evening, dodging road construction sights and passing buildings so newly erected, the smell of freshly mixed cement still lingered in the air, the nostalgic sense of a bygone era gave way to a more compelling reality. A new chapter in the history of Viet Nam is emerging; a city, and a nation, in transition is relinquishing old customs and traditions to accommodate a rapidly booming economy, a city that has grown in population from a half million to seven million over night and an infrastructure that struggles to keep pace. Our bus weaves trough traffic; I wish longingly for our immanent arrival at the Palace Hotel, located in the heart of the city, following almost twenty-four hours of travel to arrive at this destination. Sleep would soon follow, but not before we consumed a midnight meal of such exotic delicacies as pigeon and frog, served on a platter, head to toe!

The next morning, we walked along tree-lined avenues, past large mustard-colored buildings housing the parliament, post office, opera house… remnants of the French colonial days. We were in route to find remnants of the War in a museum so aptly given the name the War Remnants Museum. The museum offered a harsh reminder that all sides have their story to share of “man’s inhumanity to man.” Many pictures were too gruesome for some students to linger long, but our spirits were lifted as we stumbled upon an exhibit toward the museum’s exit of drawings by young Vietnamese children, depicting symbols of world peace and unity and hope for mankind. This exhibit represents the spirit of a new generation of industrious people anxious to move forward into a more prosperous twenty-first century. Not until we traveled south to the Mekong Delta for a day of touring islands and candy-making cottage industries did we leave the ever-expanding city limits and finally see the rice paddies, which had beckoned us from our airplane windows. Once on our little boat adrift on the Mekong, sixth largest river in the world, a river that meanders through the whole of South-East Asia dividing the nations of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Viet Nam, a river that widens here in the delta as it makes its way to the South China Sea, we felt some relief from the intense tropical heat intensified by the pavement and traffic of Saigon. Our guide was chipper and introduced us to the makings of coconut candy and offered us tea with fresh honey and fruit, and local musicians regaled us with song. We had stuff animals and donations of clothes and hygienic supplies to share with our local hosts. We continued on our way on little boats on inland waterways and on pony and carts. Our guide assured us, we had touched the hearts of these local people with our small offerings of kindness. By saying this, she in turn had touched our hearts.

We were a group of twenty-five students and three faculty (twenty-three from Punahou and two alum from Sacred Hearts Academy) who chose to do something really different over spring break…to open our eyes wide, to experience a different culture, a culture that is in the throws of change; to witness this change and to learn about its history; and to reach out to its people. Each of us brought an extra bag of donated materials and we shared these items with people we met along the way. These donations came from parents, faculty and students of Punahou and Sacred Hearts Academy. We shared with girls at a Catholic Girls orphanage in Saigon and a coed Buddhist orphanage in Phanthiet, northeast of Saigon; we shared with students at the Marie Curie High School, once a prestigious private school and now one of the best public schools in Saigon. We had plenty of time to shop and to visit the Museum of Fine Arts in Saigon and to ride ostriches at The Mango Farm north of Saigon, where we also sampled the meat prepared as salad and egg rolls. Always, we pushed our envelopes of comfort, ever trying new things. But we also took time to rest and relax and to get to know each other, because, after all, we were on “spring break!” We stayed two nights at the Allezboo Beach Resort and Spa in Muine, considered one of the most unspoiled, beautiful beaches in South East Asia. And so we spoiled and were spoiled, gave and were given to, and returned to our lives in Hawaii forever changed and with so much to ponder. I return to Viet Nam each year with my husband, a former native of Viet Nam who was a refugee from the Viet Nam War and is now a math teacher at Punahou, and we take with us yet a new group of students, some returning for a second and even a third time. Each year I wonder will our students love this country and its people and fascinating ways as much as I do. And the answer is always, yes! For these students, the world has grown a little smaller and a little warmer. Global warming, can, after all, be a good thing… I would like to take this opportunity to thank our many parents who have showered us with notes of gratitude. Such kind words have touched our hearts. Your sons and daughters have touched our hearts. They have made us so proud to be their “fearless” leaders!

Mimi,
Thank you for your reflection. I am so proud of you. The thoughts of not having you with me is unbearable. I am going to miss your smiles, your energy, and your compassion. What will I do without you?
Husb.
Dec. 13th, 2010