My time in Viet Nam has come

Only one week left. My flight’s on the 3^rd of January. I will head to Berlin to the evaluation camp right after my arrival in Frankfurt. The seminar takes place in Gussow/Berlin, somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Subsequent get back to the grindstone. I will go back to normality; get up at half past five in the morning, come back from work around six in the evening. I am curious to discover how my life has been changed by this year. I would wallow in self pity if it didn’t change me at all.

We had to move out of our house on the 17^th of December, due to the landlords missing backbone and omitted legal permit. The owner blithely ignored the problem which was provoked by them. They couldn’t stand the possible confrontation with the authorities. They mocked us and kept my deposit money in their pocket. They’re pathetic, but this circumstance won’t solve my case. We had to sell our furniture. I wrote around five hundred E-Mails to friends and acquaintances from Indigo. We got rid of everything with much effort and discounts of over fifty percent, sigh. Our hotel “Prince 57″ is not far from Hoan Kiem Lake. Thus the place’s very touristy. It is strange to be among many westerners again. The price level in Old Quarter is incredibly high. Everything is so expensive and inferior quality.

Our residence

Christmas in Viet Nam. Well, the shop window advertisement changed to a bizarre kitschy snowy something. I can even find cheesy Christmas pictures and banners in my Cau Giay District. The true acceptation of Christmas is mostly unknown. But at least the profitable strength of this event has been recognized during the years of western influence. For me, Christmas is best with family at home. But this year I stayed in Asia. I celebrated Christmas Eve with friends in Ha Noi. Besides I think that this New Years Eve will be different because it’s not the Vietnamese New Year. The Vietnamese New Year “Tet” is directed after the lunar calendar. Tet is at the end of January in 2009.

Actually, I miss my old residence. The people and the surrounding area. Even the noise of drilling, hammering and yelling of the construction workers. The melodies and singing voices of the mobile traders on their bicycles. The friendly but confused people who couldn’t stop looking at us mostly in combination with a murmured “Tay”. On the other hand I also miss the countless low-priced restaurants which supplied me all day long with snacks and delicious Vietnamese food. I miss the people who invited me for tea or rice wine. Even so the entertaining chats with locals. Further the laughter about my mispronounced Vietnamese. I miss the contrast. I found myself in a steadily changing neighborhood. My house represents the traditional style. It is located in a narrow, winding lane. It is high and contracted. My neighbors spoke no more than Vietnamese. I often observed the life from my roof terrace. I listened to Vietnamese voices, perceived the sound of motorbikes and watched the workers on their construction sites. I saw children playing, women washed clothes and men processed rice, vendors waited for customers, dogs romped around and here and there singing or whistling Vietnamese. Sometimes I was just quiet and studied. The life’s different a few streets ahead. There are large buildings, shopping centers and a developing amusement industry.

Around our residence

I haven’t had much holiday this year. Hence I stopped teaching at the beginning of December. But I kept work for Indigo and held workshops. VPV’s evaluation took place in a Welfare Center in Ba Vi, extended Ha Noi. It was all in all satisfactory. The time will tell if our comments, criticisms and encouragements will improve VPV’s operation process. I felt strange while telling my learners that the end of my teaching had come. I realized that I enjoyed my volunteering much. My pupils are important to me and I’d like to work longer with them. However, the subsequent weeks weren’t monotonous at all. I stayed in touch with many. I received SMS, E-Mails and calls. They invited me for drinks, parties and even marriages.

It is time to say goodbye. I leave my Vietnamese community. I have to return to Germany. The year passed too fast. I’d like to turn back the hands of time; spending additional time with friends. But then I remember one of my student’s words. She said: “I don’t say goodbye. I’d rather say, see you soon!” I agreed. Viet Nam, see you soon! Best wishes and a Happy New Year.

~ by buudien on December 27, 2008.