Addendum to the Poem

The poem below was written at the urging of Galen Dickstein, as we wondered what to do to capture the sweet anguish of being lost on our way to the work project of the morning. The rest of the group made it to the Thuy Xan Children's House to "weed the center's garden". From what I understand, this was a vigorous and dirty digging project done in blazing heat. But the school was absolutely beautiful, and is again, a place that we would like to expand our relationship with next year, after spilling the drops of sweat on their soil.

Meanwhile, Galen and I were riding our bikes for 2 hours trying to find the group. When we thought we did, but then didn't at all, we sat in the silence and Galen began to sketch the desolate, but beautiful view in front of us. She encouraged me to write in my journal, or an accompanying poem. I sat in sweat for the first 10 minutes, working out our chances of survival if all we had were the contents of my bike basket: 2 bags of chewy candy for the kids, 1 liter of water, and 2 machetes. In my carry bag, I also had a melted piece of gum, the emergency contact list for the group, my journal, and 20 dollars. I counted our chances of survival as high, so I was finally able to write.

We all reunited at the hotel for lunch, dirty, tired, and sweaty from our various labors. Sickness is tapering off in the group, so we are starting to be represented in our entirety at meals and work. Nhi was so excited by this that she led a round of 3 toasts.

The early afternoon was spent as usual... in preparation for teaching our kids and recovering from the morning exposure. FYI, each day begins at about 7 for breakfast, showing up at our project by 8. We work until 11, get back to the hotel for lunch at 11 or 11:30. 12:30 - 3 is spent doing prep and recovery, and then from 3-5:30 we are with the street kids. When we come home from that, we usually gather as a group for a reflection or a group builder. Then dinner at 7, and home again by 8:30. Depending on energy levels, members of the group then go to internet cafes, browse the shopping, chill out downstairs or outside, or go to their rooms to watch a parade of horrible 80's HBO movies. Usually the last option is the most dangerous: plot lines with evil robots or Kurt Russell or dragons can create rather fitful night's rest.

Anyway, four members of our group went earlier to a new project - teaching English culture at the Children's House. This group of students (about 20) have been exposed to English longer and more extensively, so they are less about the alphabet and more about music, folk stories, and other cultural influences of the U.S. Smaller off shoots of our group will be alternating work with these students for all of next week... amazingly enough this will be our last week in Hue. Next Sunday, we'll head to Quong Tri to work more directly with Clear Path at their offices. When we get back from that stint, we'll head back up to Hanoi in preparation to come home. Meanwhile, we will continue to work with the street kids on their ABCs and numbers. Dave Whitaker was the genius of today... the got his kids playing a version of twister with numbers and the ABCs. Got some fine pictures of that flash of brilliance. The rest of us continue to work on in our various groups... three of us and two Vietnamese student interpreters work with groups of kids varying from 15-35. We've divided up the kids according to their grade, which doesn't necessarily match their age. They continue to just thrill us and break our hearts with their earnest, eager, and loving nature. We've made name tags for them, and one young boy asked Nhi if he could take his off to bathe... "but then I'll put it right back on, I promise. And I will sleep with it here, over my heart, and wear it back to school."

Angie and I led a quick discussion before dinner, about our work as a group and as individuals, and then we were off to our night plans (see above). Each day presents a challenge for growth as a group and as a person... even to the point of being overwhelmed or exhausted. Thanks to all who write comments on the blog. We are encouraged by it all, and grateful to have a chance to share and process this experience with our circles of support.