More tidbits from Tam Ky! I am pleased, excited, beside myself, thrilled and in awe of the weather today – it’s actually a little chilly!!! I’m in HEAVEN!!! The natives are all in heavy coats. I am not wearing my trademark wet towel neck wrap and no fans are on in the house so papers aren’t flying everywhere!! I don’t know what the exact temperature is but it’s perfect!!

Tuesday afternoon went to the Baby Orphanage to work with the physiotherapist regarding the needs of the 3 disabled children. I was instructed on how to take care of Son – the little angel that went to Saigon. I start each morning at the orphanage by massaging and exercising Son. He just loves it!! Then its baby playing time. There was a rollicking soccer game with the male adults in our group and the older children this afternoon. Was so fun to watch – the little people got a kick out of it also. Everyone was lined up at the entrance to the orphanage watching the fun! My little Buddha Boy Tuan was fabulous today all dressed in yellow!!! Pictures will follow!

The evening was spent at HOA. I taught the 8 to 11 year olds tonight. We re-visited body parts, spelling words, and I read them a story while they had a snack I brought. They did a My Favorite Things worksheet and I took each of their pictures to put on it so I can save that and remember all of them. Will do that with all my classes this week!!

Amber and I went to coffee with Tin, the young man that I kept in touch with via e-mail before coming here. Walked to a nice coffee place down the road and had a good visit. His English is pretty darn good – generally the people here don’t think that their English is as good as it really is. We talked about a lot of culture stuff regarding Vietnam. At the Beach, Vietnamese women stay dressed from head to toe. If tourists go to the beach it is deemed rude to just wear a bathing suit. A shirt and shorts should be over it. However, if one is in a tourist town and by a swimming pool, a swimsuit is OK. But, if you walk to the beach and there are a lot of natives there, it is rude not to stay dressed in more than a bathing suit. Tin is a teacher at Quong Nam University here in Tam Ky. He was born in Tam Ky. Therefore, if he teaches 5 years at the college which is in his home town, he will be given a piece of land for free upon the completion of his 5th year of teaching. He chooses the property of his choice. He comes from a very poor family. One of 5 children and the one who is responsible for helping to care for his parents. His younger sister is a student at the university here. Home to work on lesson plans with Julie and have a girl chit chat! Was actually chilly during the night – a nice feeling!!!

Woke up to the same kind of weather – cooler, overcast and a nice breeze. Fun at the orphanage this a.m. I spent an hour massing little Son, the sick baby. He was so relaxed and happy – we walked around the orphanage and outside which he doesn’t get to do so it was nice to spend time with just him. Then played with children and had fun! It’s very difficult trying to get the mothers to change their ways regarding feeding the children while they lay flat and continuing to feed them when they are fighting the food and full and ready to be done. They have been doing the same thing for hundreds of years so hard to change now!!!

Went to the fishing village of Tam Tanh today to teach classes. There were 2 classes with 37 kids in each of them. Was not expecting that many but it turned out fine. These are kids that just come to us for an extra English class but they love to come and they are great kids – really smart!! Stopped on the way out to see the beach and the boats they use to go out in the ocean. They are cane boats that don’t look like anything I would want to go out in the ocean in! They are pretty good size – the oar is hand carved from wood and very rustic. Looks a little scary!

Had a fun class at HOA tonight – we studied sports! It’s hard to talk about things like snow skiing, ice skating, and cross country skiing to children who have no idea what snow is or looks like!!! It’s hard to study the seasons too!!

Well, it’s been another day in Tam Ky. The time goes so fast – we see so many children – and continue to be kept going by hugs and love from so many people – including everyone back home that’s thinking about, praying for and loving all of us here!!! The children appreciate it too!!!

More later!!! Will do pictures on next blog – need to get this published while it’s still the middle of the night back home!!! Tam Biet!!!